If you have any doubts about the effect of divided groups upon their mutual societies and nations then all you have to do is look at what is happening now in the Middle East where Muslims are killing each other with impressive resolve.  What you are seeing is the most mutually violent, most mutually destructive, selfish demonstrations of the effects of divisions in humanity that are artificial, manmade.  (Emphasis on “man.”)  Such attitudes of “I am right, you are wrong” assure all groups in that region that there will never be peace.  The like can be said of Palestinians and the Israelis. 
 
Now, apply that to your thinking here in the U.S., except here the division seems to exist between “the people” and the government.  Now, remember that “the government” is simply an agent of governance.  It is a process that coordinates efforts to maintain the good working order of a nation of diverse people.  It is obvious that corporations use the offices of government to their advantage.  There are no prohibitions against it!  Thus the public is virtually locked out of the circles of influence in government.  

It is essential that the public NOT assume the attitude of “us against the government.”  That is a lose-lose proposition that will go sideways every time.  Again, we must ask, “What works?” as Kurt Wright has guided us so wisely.  What would work to aid the union of public groups?  What works is finding commonalities among the groups, developing workable options, choosing the most workable options, and then implementing one or two most workable options by a union of public action groups.  The essential aspect is what Wright suggests – retaining the most workable parts of the situation while creating solutions to the aspects that are no longer functional.  

It would be wildly interesting to observe diverse groups as Green Party, Democrats, Republicans, Libertarian and other political groups strive to find their commonalities rather than their differences.  Imagine this:  A venue of these groups working in small mixed teams of 5-11 people; guided in the Design Team Process by capable facilitators; working through the Schematic for Validating Social Sustainability; finding commonality with the three core values that provide the immutable standard for measuring and discerning socially sustainable moral and ethical beliefs, assumptions and cultural expectations.  This type of rational interaction would make political campaigns look ridiculously immature with their knee-jerk responses of either-or options.  It would also bring the People into a political union that could challenge moneyed lobbying.