This week, we had a lively chat about the American culture war theme in this election.

My final impressions are that much of the culture war divisions are not real. The assumption that the urban/liberals/technocracy is sneering at the nonurban/old economy/conservatives/moderates/religious folk is a political fiction. Most urban dwellers come from other parts of the country. Before my husband moved to NYC, he lived in Cleveland. Urban dwellers have family that go to malls, live in small towns, and go to church. There are misconceptions that the liberals in cities want to teach 12 years olds about sex education and want to undermine other ways of life. I think that the culture war is really about a painful transition to a new economy and there are those who really being left behind in this process.

Please read Tim Burke for a more nuanced discussion. I really must read Nixonland.