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22 Sep, 8 tweets, 4 min read
With an election just behind us and another beckoning a year from now, political pundits are dusting off their perennial observations about a “polarized” America.

latimes.com/business/story…
Actually, these observations don’t need to be dusted off because they’re never put on the shelf, no matter how wrong they’re proven by actual facts. The truth is that America is nothing like a polarized country.

latimes.com/business/story…
Polarization suggests a 50-50 split on a topic, not 60-40. In the first situation, it’s hard to find a common ground; in the second, a common ground has been reached — it’s the ground where that 60% majority lives.

latimes.com/business/story…
Large majorities agree on the most pressing issues of the day: They favor abortion rights, stricter gun controls and more COVID-related restrictions, especially on unvaccinated people.

latimes.com/business/story…
One indication that chatter about America’s perilous divide may be overwrought came just this past weekend, when a rally in D.C. to support the Jan. 6 insurrectionists turned into a comic-opera flop, with ralliers apparently outnumbered by journalists.

latimes.com/business/story…
Politicians who have bet their futures on siding with a smaller subset of Americans on all these issues — and they are almost invariably Republicans — may want to rethink their strategy. Signs are beginning to emerge that the public isn’t going along.

latimes.com/business/story…
It’s proper to note that majority rule should have its limits; the minority side shouldn’t be ignored in the making of public policy.

The problem arises when extremist views that are manifestly inimical to the public welfare are afforded outsized respect.
latimes.com/business/story…
The way to silence that noisy, swaggering, ranting camp that wants to overturn those priorities is to confront it, head-on.

Read more from @hiltzikm at latimes.com/business/story…

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More from @latimes

Los Angeles Times Profile picture
22 Sep
Twin blazes continued to threaten California’s towering sequoia trees and create new miseries for nearby residents, spewing smoke and worsening air quality across central California on Wednesday.

latimes.com/california/sto…
From Fresno to Tulare, the air was hazy and ash-filled from the Windy and KNP Complex fires. Officials in the San Joaquin Valley and the Bay Area issued air quality alerts warning residents to take precautions.
latimes.com/california/sto…
The National Weather Service said air quality would be affected in at least eight counties Wednesday: San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kings and the valley portion of Kern County. latimes.com/environment/st…
Read 4 tweets
Los Angeles Times Profile picture
22 Sep
“If you’re wondering what Jesus would do, by now it should be pretty obvious: Love your neighbor, take the shot,” writes @AbcarianLAT for @latimesopinion. latimes.com/opinion/story/…
“About half our city firefighters and police officers have refused to vaccinate.”
“The Firefighters 4 Freedom Foundation, a group of more than 500 members of the city’s Fire Department, has sued the city in state court, declaring themselves ‘pawns in a political chess match.’”
Read 8 tweets
Los Angeles Times Profile picture
22 Sep
Jack Ryan Greener grew up in San Diego – active, athletic, riding waves, working as a surf instructor in Nicaragua. He loved Brazilian jujitsu and had a beginner’s white belt. But on Nov. 29, 2018, his life changed. latimes.com/travel/story/2…
Shortly before Greener was scheduled to graduate from San Diego State in fall 2018, an accident during a jujitsu class left him with a broken neck. “Old Jack died Nov. 29,” he later wrote. latimes.com/travel/story/2…
His spinal cord wasn’t severed, meaning that Greener had enough brain signals and activity to regain some mobility. How much? It’s frustratingly unpredictable.

“I’m going to walk out of here,” he told his doctors. latimes.com/travel/story/2…
Read 8 tweets
Los Angeles Times Profile picture
22 Sep
Simone Biles’ schedule last week began with enviable glamour.

Her week also took a somber turn.

Keeping all parts of her life in balance is infinitely more difficult than the routines she performed to win seven Olympic and 25 world championship medals.

latimes.com/sports/olympic…
Asked how she maintains her equilibrium, she smiled.

“I think it’s just really taking everything one day at a time, and that has helped me stay the most sane.”

latimes.com/sports/olympic…
Biles wouldn’t discuss her congressional testimony because she wants to move forward, but the trauma is never far from her mind.

For Biles, moving forward includes being the headliner of the impressive cast of the 35-city Gold Over America Tour.

latimes.com/sports/story/2…
Read 6 tweets
Los Angeles Times Profile picture
21 Sep
Despite an appeal by Gov. Gavin Newsom for all Californians to voluntarily cut water use by 15%, Southern California has lagged in conservation efforts and water usage has slightly increased in Los Angeles and San Diego, according to newly released data.

latimes.com/california/sto…
On average, Californians reduced water use by just 1.8% statewide during July as compared to the same month last year. In Southern California, however, water use hardly changed among the region’s 19.7 million residents. latimes.com/california/sto…
According to the new data, water use across much of Southern California dropped by just 0.1% overall, and rose by 0.7% in Los Angeles and 1.3% in San Diego.
latimes.com/california/sto…
Read 4 tweets
Los Angeles Times Profile picture
21 Sep
“What is a COVID-19 vaccine mandate worth if it includes exemptions for ‘sincerely held religious beliefs’? Very little, if anything at all,” writes the L.A. Times editorial board for @latimesopinion. latimes.com/opinion/story/…
“If the definition of religious beliefs were contained to major, established religions, there would basically be no exemptions because no major religion bans vaccination against COVID-19 or other diseases.”
“Given how large a loophole religious exemptions create, no one should be remotely surprised that thousands of Los Angeles employees are lining up to claim religious exemptions from the city’s vaccine requirement for its employees…”
Read 8 tweets

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