We are.
They all profit from the division, but we're responsible for it.
This is a nation of diverse...everything. Cultures, races, identities, politics, religions, philosophies and ideals. There are abound to be lines of division and different camps aligned along these areas. And that's great, that's where learning and growth happen, not unlike two tectonic plates meeting.
But there's an ancient war tactic so basic and so efficient it's lasted for millennia - divide and conquer. 300 million people are hard to control. But groups of people, if embittered enough, will fight each other as the ones at the top watch. They place their bets, they aid and abet, and last man standing wins. They may offer the wedges that divide us, but it takes all of us to really drive 'em in.
Why do this? With following comes power; with power comes wealth and privilege; with wealth, privilege and power, a person or party becomes invincible. The things we're wrestling in the mud about - abortion, lgbtq, religion - are merely colored flags to those in power. If we fight under a green banner, so-an-so will support green. Were we to change it to yellow, that would suddenly be the best color ever.
It's simple but it works like a charm. Look up The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street one day.
