In these times “the American people” is a fiction. We are a country divided, even fragmented, even shattered, even splintered. “The American people” is used by politicians of both parties to pretend full support for ideas and programs, which have purely partisan character and intent.
“The American people” does take on a transitory meaning when there is a major natural disaster or a 9/11. Americans become one and focus on solutions and healing before they forget and split apart again.
America is a socially, religiously, ethnically, culturally and racially diverse nation. So it is not unexpected that we face many obstacles to being one people. So maybe “the American people” is just a dream. Still it is a dream worth believing in and working toward, bringing with it benefits we can only imagine and hope for.
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