I watched the SOTU address last night, well, at least as much of it as I could stay awake for.

I am an Obama fan. I route for him. Perhaps because he is the coolest President that I have lived to experience. Even cooler than Clinton. And he is our first black President. I got to experience his election, which to me was a remarkable event and sheds a ray of hope on everything else I am about to say.

But these speeches always seem more about pomp and circumstance than real substance. And honestly, last night was no different than the other 30 or 40 SOTU speeches I have heard in my lifetime…I guess the first I can remember would be one of Nixon’s (I was 14 when he waved goodbye and good riddance to the nation).

And then there is the aftermath…the opposing party’s response. And that is always the most laughable event of the night. I have never in my entire life heard a response that was favorable in any respect…never.

Could you even imagine such a thing? It would be historic!

And the scientific unlikelihood of that ever occurring alludes to the topic of this post…

the political divide.

Where and when did this great divide originate? Anyone out there know??

Perhaps from a debate that took place long ago, around 1800, between Thomas Paine and Edmund Burke. It seems that their debate centered mainly around the topic of the French Revolution, with Paine adopting a pro-revolutionary stance and Burke taking sides with the French Aristocracy. That’s about all I will say about this until I delve deeper. But it is interesting to think that maybe this great divide actually had a beginning, somewhere.

It seems to come down to the role and efficacy of government in our lives…in society.

The right clamors for limited or no government. The left progressive or more government.

Who is right?

Perhaps neither. Both standpoints reveal inconsistencies, maybe even downright hypocrisy.

The right plays to the populist sentiment that all government is bad and all politicians corrupt…well, with the exception of the largest government program of all…the U.S. military budget. That one they are more than delighted to support and expand.

The left wants more government involvement in our lives…well, with the exception of anything that has to do with our private lives…that is sacred ground that must be left untouched…even at the expense of the unborn.

Is there by chance a middle ground where we can agree and things can actually get done?

Not a chance.

Why?

Because these political stances are rooted in ideology and ideology is the ultimate impact blinder.

We would rather pledge allegiance to ideology, than to real human progress.

Why?

Because the ideology gives us our identity. Sean Hannity could never agree with anything Obama could ever propose…even if it was substantially right of center. Because Hannity’s ideology compels him to disagree. He has built a career on it. As has Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck…the champions of right-wing ideology.

And of course the left has its own champions as well.

So the political divide lives on and grows. And threatens our republic.

What will close it?

I believe a change in mindset.

One that makes impact the impetus…not ideology. One in which human progress is not instantly labeled as “progressive.”

One in which people power is more important than political power.

But I won’t hold my breath.

image credit: “Caveman Chuck” Coker via Compfight cc