SWING-STATE WISCONSIN: A Possible Bridge?

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We touched upon a few ideas why Swing-State Wisconsin is so divided, in our last blog post. You may recall that I mentioned Jonathan Haidt’s work regarding “The Culture Wars,” and how those wars have exacerbated.

You may also recall I mentioned that we’ve self-gerrymandered ourselves, both geographically and socially (physically and online). For the most part, Minorities and Democrats gravitate toward urban areas, Caucasians and Republicans toward rural ones.

Rural Resentment in Wisconsin

UW professor, Kathy Cramer, traveled to 27 Wisconsin counties, documenting her fascinating findings in a 2016 book: The Politics of Resentment. This Political Science teacher said what surprised her most, was how many rural residents actually resented the metro areas. Madison and Milwaukee (according to some of those residents) seem to get all “the goodies” in the state.

Goodies like high-speed rail, other expensive projects, and, or simply the attention from those in power. A handful of folks in Friendship confirmed these notions during interviews for SWING-STATE. Some said their areas get overlooked for things as large as road construction, as small as political sign distribution.

Sometimes the resentment of these “outstate” folks (a term they generally despise) focuses on cultural differences as well. Apparently, many perceive urban dwellers as educated, elitist and leading somewhat odd or aberrant lifestyles.

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Both Sides of Swing-State Wisconsin

I, myself, grew up as what people called a “Townie/Gownie”– somebody who came from a rural area, but attended a college in the large city nearby. I experienced both sides of the equation. I’d occasionally hear country-folk criticizing the “rich, spoiled Beloit College students.” I’d occasionally hear college students referring to the “Townies,” as if they were from “Hicksville, USA.”

Fun fact: Carthage College asked me to speak about SWING-STATE roughly a year ago. As I laid on my bed, thinking of a few things to say, I thought of my “Townie/Gownie” experiences over the years. Then I got thinking how I’d really gotten the chance to look at life from both sides now. The rural and the urban.

As God is my witness, as I arose to write a few notes, Judy Collins’ version of “Both Sides Now” came on the radio. I’d subsequently like to say that it’s life’s illusions I recall, and that I really don’t know life at all… but that would really be stretching it.

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60 Minutes and Swing-State Success

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I was surprised to see “60 Minutes” gather a handful of Conservatives and Liberals together in Swing-State Ohio, as we did in Wisconsin. The interviews were predictably feisty at first, with little agreed upon. The news magazine was shocked to see some friendships had formed, 6 months after their taping. Oddly enough, Democrats and Republicans were out shooting guns together, not to mention participating in other hobbies with each other.

The participants had found the 20% of things they could agree upon in life, then pursued them together with passion. A mindset I discovered in Friendship, Wisconsin as well.

Friendship in Friendship, Wisconsin?

Initially Red and Blue were wary about any joint interviews, so we met separately, then moved on to another city. Two weeks later, 4 of the 12 participants (2 Democrats, 2 Republicans) decided to meet at “Friendship Park” to talk things through. Both sides agreed that avoiding the topic of politics was no solution at all.

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I asked these folks what I asked everyone in SWING-STATE: “What might bring us back together as citizens of Wisconsin and America?” This particular group found a few issues they could work together on, including opioid abuse and human trafficking. Across the state, the answers ranged from “climate change,” “term limits,” to “electing more Conservative Democrats and Liberal Republicans.”

The most common responses for unity have been “a crisis” and “merely listening to one another a whole lot better.” One Party leader in Fond du Lac said that we may have to wait for less polarizing candidates.

In any case, our friends in Friendship (like those in the Buckeye State) not only listened to one another, but smiled and shook hands in the end. As is the case with most personal conflicts, sitting down and talking with the other person(s) is usually the best way to go.

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Final Thoughts On Swing-State Wisconsin

Legendary Political Editor, Dick Ciccone, once told the late Milt Rosenberg (WGN) who our biggest global enemy actually is. The Chicago Tribune veteran told the “Extension 720” host that our biggest foe isn’t Russia, North Korea, China or any other foreign power today. He said our greatest current enemy is our own hyper-polarization, which hasn’t been this bad since The Civil War.

In this respect, Dick Ciccone agreed with one of our greatest Presidents, Abraham Lincoln, who delivered one of his most famous speeches in 1858. As you recall, Mr. Lincoln assured us (as Scripture did) that “a house divided against itself cannot stand”(MATTHEW 12:25, MARK 3:25). Truer words have never been spoken.

Bryan Oldenburg is a Filmmaker and Digital Marketer in Beloit, Wisconsin