By Shane Goodman Publisher/Editor
Time to cross the street?
Segregation has been said to be somewhat natural, as most of us tend to want to be around people who we have similar interests with. We tend to live in neighborhoods with people who look like us, act like us and, not surprisingly, vote like us. But as President Clinton once said, “Some of us are going to have to cross the street.” And he is right. Unfortunately, fewer and fewer of us are doing it.
In this week’s cover story, freelance reporter Douglas Burns takes a look at the bestseller book, “The Big Sort,” and interviews author Bill Bishop, who shares his thoughts on a nation that has become more polarized and is accomplishing less as a result. Historical data proves that as our communities become more homogenous, our voting habits do, too. Burns shows how the divisions are becoming more distinct here in Iowa, too, from the conservative communities of northwest Iowa to liberal meccas like Iowa City. The changes haven’t happened overnight, but the trend is clear and doesn’t look like it will reverse any time soon. Our story helps shed light on the issue and take a look at ourselves and where we fit in.
Thanks for reading. CV
