Explaining the rift

David SHAW’S columns are thoughtful and intelligent, but I think he really showed a failure to grasp the basis of the polarization in the U.S. (“A Polarized Society Leads to Polarized Journalism,” Oct. 24). It’s not about a single issue (Iraq) or a list of issues as such, like abortion, civil rights, etc.

The reason most Democrats believe this is the most important election of our lifetime is that we think that the Republican leadership has firmly grasped all three branches of government, has ended the separation of powers, and is well on the way to eliminating the democratic (small “d”) and constitutional form of U.S. government as we know it.

Based on history, many fear that once our open society is lost, it will not be regained in our lifetimes.

The rift is between wanting to continue a basically secular, rights-based and law-based society (both nationally and internationally), and an authoritarian, theocratic, militaristic regime in which since God is on our side, might makes right.

Leone Hankey

Los Angeles