What a fascinating perspective! As you probably have a greater base of experience in my country than I in yours, I must assume you describe the situation now accurately. It is hard to admit that the U.S. is as fractured as it is. I suggest that education even more than geography is the relevant factor. One possible cause for a modicum of optimism is that, if education and the resultant economic mobility fuels most of the split, that is where we should aim our resources in order to heal the breach.