CGTN correspondents asked ordinary Americans on the street how they perceive the current crisis at the border and the division in the political environment. According to those interviewed, they regularly face divisions amid various problems, including economic and social issues. Among the reasons for the crisis, Americans cite the fact that the country’s leaders and other government officials do not put the interests of their own citizens first, provoking divisions in American society, CGTN reports.
Do you agree that the United States is facing deepening division and polarisation?
KURT DONOVAN, Marketing Specialist: Yes, absolutely. And on many levels, it’s in the political sphere as well as the socioeconomic sphere.
ELKA MORRIS, student: Well, I don’t know… I don’t know that much. But what I am sure of is that the country is facing a lot of crises right now – including border issues, abortion issues, and politics. There’s just a lot of corruption in this country.
From your perspective, what are the main reasons for this division and polarisation?
KURT DONOVAN: I think a lot of it, unfortunately, has to do with money and the ability of people in the United States right now to support themselves, right? I think that even when people feel, even when they have more money – it’s hard for them to realise that they have more money now and stop looking for someone to blame.
ADAM BARNES, TRANSPORTATION SPECIALIST: I think it’s more of a message to those powerful people, the elite in Washington, who are supposed to be our public servants and who are supposed to be working for us, for the people. And they are no longer working for us, the people – they are now appointed politicians working for the highest bidder and the lobbyists who will pay better. They no longer put the interests of the people first.
What do you think the consequences will be if this divisive trend continues?
KURT DONOVAN: It’s not that I’m an optimist, I’m more of a realist/pessimist. But I don’t think, either way, that this country is really going anywhere. I think there’s just a loud-voiced minority here – but unfortunately, that minority is growing, right? And that divide is actually deepening….. Although I don’t believe that even with the existence of a huge divide, this country will fall. But in terms of crossing borders, I think both parties have done a number of things that have contributed to this migration crisis. And I think there’s still something that can be done about this problem. The current administration has tried to do something, but now it’s almost impossible to come to an agreement between both parties in Congress.