Reports this week revealed how former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush will come together, along with their wives, former first ladies Michele Obama and Laura Bush, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. Serving as co-chairs of the official America250 commission, the two presidents – one Republican, one Democrat – will assist with the organization of a year-round celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The commission, which was created by Congress in 2016 to oversee plans for the 2026 celebrations, aims to bring together members of both parties at a time when America is more divided than at any other time since the Civil War. Officially named the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, the organization will oversee educational programs throughout the country’s 250th year, as well as community engagement initiatives designed to foster unity, increase understanding about America’s founding and history, and give voices to the many communities who live on these lands. But no matter how much Congress may try, America faces real division – and much of the country doesn’t even agree with the other half about what America was founded to be.
America Is Very, Very Divided
America has been polarized for some years now – and the problem only seems to be getting worse. In fact, some academics have even warned that political division in the United States has gotten so heated, and so charged, that it has now become full-blown political factionalism.
In 2020, when Joe Biden won the presidential election, the data showed that Americans believed that the candidate they didn’t prefer would cause lasting damage to the country. For example, some 89% of Trump voters said that they were “very concerned” about the direction of the country under Joe Biden’s leadership. Meanwhile, some 90% of Democrats said that same about Trump.
A poll conducted for this election, however, may offer some hope for the future. According to the Associated Press/NORC survey, some 91% of Americans – regardless of their political views, believe in the right of every American to equal protection under the law. 91% believe in the right to vote, 90% believe in freedom of speech, 88% in the right to privacy, and 84% in the freedom of religion. Where things get rocky, however, is when it comes to the media and to guns. Some 77% said that they believe in the freedom of the press, while 54% said that they support the right to keep and bear arms.
So…it’s a mixed bag. America is divided on contentious social issues, but on the big ones like the right to vote, it looks like the Democrats might be exaggerating the threat.
Are Obama and Bush Much Better?
While America might be more divided on some social issues, Obama and Bush are by no means in a great position to solve the problem – not least because they refuse to talk about any of these things! In fact, the data shows that both former presidents are still disliked by huge segments of the population – though, Obama still beats Bush.
It’s hard to really tell just how the American public feel about the two former presidents – the last two to serve as commander-in-chief before President Donald Trump changed everything. We do, however, have some data from YouGov that shows the country remains fairly divided on both of them. For example, YouGov data shows that former President Bush is disliked by about 30% of the public and liked by 42%. Some 25% say they don’t care either way. Obama, meanwhile, is substantially more popular. He’s still disliked by some 27% of Americans, but 56% say they’re still a fan. That’s remarkable for a president who is arguably to blame for much of the polarization America faces today, with the final years of his presidency ushering in an age of racial partisanship that America hasn’t seen since the 50s.
Donald Trump’s figures are remarkable in comparison. He’s disliked by 40% of the American public – far more than Obama and Bush – but he’s also more popular than Bush, with 47% expressing support. A dramatically lower number of Americans say they are “neutral” about him, too; only 11%. So what does this mean? Well…it makes Trump arguably the most popular, and simultaneously the least popular, president in modern American history. So, sure, he’s divisive.
The question is…is he divisive because of his policies, or is he divisive because America is divided? It’s a “chicken or the egg” kind of situation, and this problem isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Americans may well hope that the upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations do a lot to heal America, but those celebrations will come in the middle of a brand new administration. Whether it’s Donald Trump or Kamala Harris in the White House by then, it’s hard to imagine that one side will have successfully won the hearts of most of the American public, with Harris vowing to continue the unpopular legislative legacy of President Joe Biden, and President Donald Trump promising to return to the days of MAGA.
If Bush and Obama think they can solve America’s problems by turning up and waving to people, flying a few flags, and making speeches about how America is the greatest, they could be in for a rude awakening.
Here’s What the Commission Hopes
In a 2023 report, commission Chair Rosie Rios described how much has been accomplished by the organization so far, but stressed that there is a “long road ahead.”
“I will continue to serve the American public faithfully as I did during my eight years as Treasurer of the United States under the Obama administration, along with both the Obama and Biden Treasury Transition Teams. We will continue to create the enthusiasm and momentum required nationally to execute a 250th anniversary worthy of the American people. The transformation required to be an organization equal to our aspirations has been significant, with much more work ahead. I look forward to working closely with the Commission to fulfill our critical mission to the American people,” Rios wrote.
The commission continues its efforts to educate, engage, and unite, but time will only tell whether their efforts will have the lasting impact on the American people they hope to see.