Political Culture

The United States' political culture, or the widely shared ideals and values which define the relationship between the citizens and their government, could be described as conflictual.  The vast number of people living in America makes it impossible for there to ever be any type of consensual culture.  The population of approximately 316 million people in America creates numerous factions of people with different views and opinions, and this contributes to our "conflictual" society.  Another element that makes our political culture conflictual is brought up in Brook's article.  The difference in ethnicity between Red America (conservative, heartland) and Blue America (liberal, coastal) is astonishing.  Brook states (specifically in his nearby counties) "In Montgomery County 60 percent of the population is white, 15 percent is black, 12 percent is Hispanic, and 11 percent is Asian. In Franklin County 95 percent of the population is white."  This data further proves how divided america is, therefore making conflictual political culture.  In Frank's article  he talks about the factions between Red and Blue America and also the smaller groups of high schools like jocks and nerds.  This proves that there is conflictual culture everywhere.  All of these different beliefs contribute tho this society that is anything but consensual.  I agree with Kayla when she says "As long as there are red and states, there will always be conflict in their ideas and expectations of the government."  This statement she made is exactly the point of why there is conflictual culture in America.  As long as people have different beliefs (which they always will) then the culture is conflictual.