by Primo Encarnación

With another GOP jello-wrestling match about to metastasize to our televisions tonight, I was contemplating on the huge differences between the Kandidate Klown Kar they have, compared to the compact, talented field of candidates the Democrats will be presenting on Saturday. There is a Great Rift in American socio-economic and political life, and it’s larger than it’s ever been.

There are two Americas.

In one America, the Constitution sets up the mechanism of government, and protects the rights of individuals. In the other America, it empowers the individual to ignore the government and the Constitution whenever it suits them.

In one America, the melting pot of our pluralistic democratic republic absorbs and celebrates the many cultures, races and religions who find refuge here. In the other America: be white, be Christian, speak English or get the hell out.

In one America, kids are homeless and starving. In the other America, they deserve it.

In one America, police are there to protect and serve. In the other America, police are there to protect and serve themselves.

In one America, slavery was its Original Sin, affecting every aspect of its history until this very day. In the other America: “Slavery? Not so bad. Get over it!”

In one America, if you can’t make a profit while paying your employees a living wage, you shouldn’t be in business.  In the other America, if you can’t make a profit while paying your employees a living wage, screw ’em.

In one America, education is the solution. In the other America, education is the problem.

In one America, science has discovered an existential threat to humanity in climate change caused by unrestrained capitalistic exploitation of resources. In the other America, climate science is a hoax and an existential threat to humanity’s unrestrained exploitation of resources to obtain capital.

In one America, inequality of treatment, opportunity or outcome is often racist. In the other America, pointing that out is racist.

In one America, two people of the same sex pledging a lifetime of unconditional love should be celebrated. In the other America, they should be stoned to death.

In one America, a free press means that journalists can pursue and report whatever line of inquiry they want. In the other America, the press is free to be the unquestioning stenographer of whatever they are told, and not a jot nor tittle more, nor less.

In one America, people who hear and obey voices telling them outlandish things are mental patients. In the other America, they’re televangelists and/or right wing politicians.

All that leads us back to this: In one America, debates for the Presidency are an opportunity to discuss differing solutions to the multifarious problems facing us at home and abroad. In the other America, debates for the Presidency are an opportunity to reinforce discredited memes and debunked theories at the top of your lungs.