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Race, ethnicity, and often religion play a major role in American political participation and voter identity. Candidates have had to adapt the ever-changing identity of contested voting blocks, and the coalition politics of the “new citizenship”. The politics of the duel Americas encourages politicians and the electorate to divide into identity groups. Sociologist Jennifer Hochschild defines identity politics as groups who seek to be treated as a person who is defined by their “ascriptive characteristics.” Subscribers to identity politics reject the melting pot ideal of America and embrace the differences in the population. And politicians have no problem pandering to the different groups.

Factionalism in the American electorate only adds to the appeal of popularity politics played by contemporary politicians; instead of appealing to the establishment (parties), candidates only have to win over the public by 51% in order to be elected. Social inequality seems to be the prevalent divisive theme; this type of inequality stems from economic and racial inequalities that separate the public into pockets of hostile constituent groups. The idea of social division stems from Platonic ideals of philosopher-kings, the esoteric minority ruling over the unenlightened majority; the U.S. has established itself as a Republic. The bureaucracy acts as the decision-making power with CEOs and corporate-coveting presidents’ benefit in the way of political capital when big business succeeds. Citizens play a small role in influencing the government, which was not what democratic principles imply.

In recent years, the American dream has given way to immigrant intolerance due to the poor white Americans who are being drained by corporatism in Washington. Economic inequality breeds social inequality; the American public senses the divide within the population, and the media focuses on the divide, yet there has been no uprising against the corporate-funded government. The land of opportunity has diminished and left its people in serious doubt about the capitalist economy that is supposed to trickle-down to the common man.

            The socioeconomic underpinnings of the racial divide in America, leaves the ethnic minorities stuck in poverty for generations. The increased internationalization of the American economy and the loss of menial labor that was suited towards the unfortunate in society (major factory closings, job transfers to low-wage paying nations). America quickly adopted the economic policies of a knowledge-based market, but failed to educate its majority.

The entire nation loses its sense of community when the divide between citizens allows them to feel ‘better than’ or ‘worse off’ than others in a democracy. It is imperative of the American government to adopt policies that reaffirm the significance of the majority of the U.S.; which are not the elites, but the middle and working-class. The new American dialogue is led by corporate interests and the cries of the middle-class, minorities they are crushing through structured policy.

The American government has created a cyclical process of responding to political apathy among the electorate by giving away their voice to the highest bidder; which exacerbates the economic and political distress of the poor.