I agree with much of what you say, but I also believe many of us are being manipulated to believe that we are more different than we actually are. On a day-to-day basis, my friend and I cared about many of the same things. We both valued community, family, and friendship. But her church has made her see false divides and to espouse so-called "values" that are not really hers. I don't have the answers, but our tendency to assume that the right wing has nothing in common with us (and vice versa) is part of the problem -- and part of the right wing political strategy to polarize and energize their base.