The Real American Divide.

              The real conflict in America today isn’t between conservatives and “liberals” (which everywhere else in the world are called Social Democrats.) It’s not between Hawks and Doves, and It’s increasingly less about Democrats and Republicans. The traditional parties have realigned, and the gap is now between two groups I’m calling Normies and Abbies.

              “Normies?” very simple: normal people. Oooh!! Scary! “Who defines “normal,” you say? Good question, because the definition of normal changes and category expands.  Remember the great cultural war over homosexuals? Well, gay rights won, and what was the world-shaking result? Nothing. Aside from risqué Gay Pride Parades, the vast majority of same-sex couples are boringly…normal.

A good definition: Normies are ruled by common sense. Race, creed, sexuality: all the same.

“What’s common sense?” you say. Well, if you gotta ask…

–Normies believe in working hard, taking care of their own, and helping the next guy. They respect people who do those things, who respect them back, and don’t respect those who don’t.

–Normies don’t put politics in the center of their lives.

–Normies aren’t in the bullshit business: they don’t give it, don’t take it, and don’t tolerate it.

–Normies are open to new ideas, but want to be sure they work.

–Normies live in the real world, not a Vision or a Cause.

              Start to get the picture?

              Abbies? Abbie Normals. (Apologies to Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder.)

They live for the Vision and the Cause.

              –These are the not-Normies. They’re the opposite, and proud of it. They define themselves as not-Normies, and believe they are intellectual and moral superiors of the Normies. They call the Normies Nazis and racists, and bigots; insult them every day and now wonder why the Normies have turned their backs on them.

              –Abbies believe the Vision and the Cause: a better world than this one, they know what it is, and that gives them the right to force everyone to obey their orders on making that world.

              –Normies want to be left alone, Abbies can’t leave anyone alone.

              –Normies believe in live and let live. Abbies believe in making everyone live their way.

              –Normies will tolerate Abbies. Abbies will not tolerate Normies.

              –Normies just want to get jobs done, Abbies will turn every single organization and institution into an Abbie Army.

              Today, Abbies have slowly turned lots of organizations and institutions into Abbie Armies. You can tell: they still have the same names and brands but aren’t the same. Only Abbies get hired or promoted, and the product pushes Abbie agendas. No Normies Wanted. But a funny thing happens: The more they concentrate on the Abbie Agenda, the worse they get at their main job. Sooner or later, Normies just turn away, and BAM!  there goes half their customer base. The Main Product starts to fail, and then comes the failure cascade. The brand becomes poison. Abbies tell themselves it’s because the customers aren’t deserving enough—they’re racist, sexist, bigots, so double down on the Agenda. Which drives more customers away, and so on.

              –Maybe someday someone gets the bright idea of succeeding by selling to everybody.

              Today’s politics reflects this conflict. The Democratic Party is fervently committed to the Abbies. The realigned Trump GOP is trying to appeal to Normies; we’ll see how genuine the change is. Normies have a nose for phony-baloneys and if the GOP isn’t real, Normies will shop elsewhere.

              And maybe that’s the difference: Abbies believe in the Vision and the Cause. Normies are rooted in the real world. Can they find common ground? Sure! But before you can compromise, you have to have mutual respect. Abbies don’t believe Normies deserve it, and Normies don’t tolerate those who don’t respect them. Stalemate. Hopefully it won’t take a disaster to break the deadlock.