The 2012 Election
A Choice Between Competing Values and Visions
Four years ago, the national election was decidedly about change. The country was engaged in two wars and in the midst of the worst economic meltdown since the Great Depression. For the first time, a major party had chosen an African American as its presidential nominee. The majority of the voters were ready to try something different. This year, while the mood of the electorate is more subdued, the political climate is, if anything, more intense. Polls show that Americans are more polarized than ever in their views on issues, though united in their disgust for partisan gridlock in government….
