According to Bishop, the author of The Big Sort, in 1976…
““According to Bishop, the author of The Big Sort, in 1976 less than 25% of Americans lived in places where the presidential election was a landslide. In other words, we lived next door to and attended school and worshiped with people who held different beliefs than ours. We were ideologically diverse. In contrast, in 2016, 80% of U.S. counties gave either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton a landslide victory. Most of us no longer even live near people who are all that different from us in terms of political and social beliefs.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
America has shifted from living among diverse political views to residing in homogenous communities, reducing exposure to differing opinions.
In simple terms: People now live among like‑minded neighbors, limiting political diversity.
Key Takeaway
Seek out diverse perspectives and engage across differences.
Themes
political polarization
community
social cohesion
media influence
identity
Mood
concerned
reflective
motivated
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- neighborhood gatherings
- online forums
- workplace teams
- school classrooms
- local government meetings
Key Concepts
social homophily
echo chambers
political geography
civic engagement
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you intentionally connect with those who think differently?
- What barriers keep us from political political diversity?
A Different Perspective
Even in diverse areas, people may self‑select into like‑minded groups, limiting true exposure.