Group B

Group B  Polarization​ is a division into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of  opinions or beliefs    News:    ● Due to the Democratic majority elected into the House, after the 2018  elections, Mitch McConnell, the majority leader of the Senate, calls for  bipartisanship. However, some Liberals have called McConnell’s claim  ironic as he refused to hold a confirmation hearing for former President  Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court among other things.  ● Scientists have seen an increase in anxiety disorders within the  American population, mostly due to cultural acceleration and change  as well as economic status. This anxiety can be increased by technology  and social media as it can increase the feeling of lacking in life.  Amplification of multiple news stories to something the whole world  can obsess over creating the impression of a world filled with chaos and  danger — allowing anxiety to fester and create extremist groups.  ● A poll ran by NPR displays that about 80% of Americans are concerned  that the negative tone and lack of civility in Washington will lead to  violence or acts of terror. However, Democrats and Republicans argue  about who to blame for the political atmosphere. Democrats mostly  blame Trump, while Republicans are split between blaming the media  and the Democratic Congress. Moreover, the independents are also  split in blame, between Trump and the media.      Discuss:  1. Do you think polarization is a problem? Why or why not?  2. Do you think there is an increase of polarization, bipartisanship, or  neither in the public?  3. Do you think the depth of the news item sways opinions?