Polarized America: the dance of ideology and unequal riches

This chapter documents that this surge has continued through 2004.Our data confirm the more casual observation of polarization in the conflict over aid to the contras in Nicaragua, the confirmation hearings and votes after the nominations of Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court, the rhetoric of the "Contract with America", the budget showdown between Speaker Gingrich and President Clinton in 1995, and the impeachment process in 1998-99. Measuring Ideology and Polarization: A Quick PrimerHow do we know that polarization has occurred?Every aficionado of American politics would label Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Paul Wellstone (D-WI) as liberals, Sam Nunn (D-GA) and Jacob Javits (R-NY) as moderates, and…