Bananamerica: Unity Index Hits 29-Month Low Amid Biden's Lawfare Turmoil
Key findings
- An overwhelming 80% of Americans say the country is divided, with only 20% believing the nation is united.
- This sentiment of division is shared by a majority across 36 demographic groups
- The TIPP Unity Index reaches its 29-month low
- Lawfare takes its toll as 50% of Americans say Biden is using the DOJ to thwart Trump’s return to power
- 52% state Biden’s DOJ is cutting sweetheart deals with Hunter Biden while persecuting Biden's leading political opponent
President Biden mentioned "unity" and "together" in his inaugural address more than a dozen times.
Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: Bringing America together. Uniting our people. And uniting our nation.
He promised to lead the polarized country on a healing path toward unity.
We can see each other not as adversaries but as neighbors. We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting, and lower the temperature. For without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury.
Fast-forward 31 months.
The nation is at the peak of the division since Biden’s inauguration in August, as scientifically measured by the TIPP Poll. The President has miserably failed to foster unity.
The data shows that his actions are contributing to the division.
The Unity Index
In keeping with its innovative tradition, TechnoMetrica developed the Unity Index, a barometer of the country's unity based on the question: In general, would you say the United States is Very United, Somewhat United, Somewhat Divided, or Very Divided?
It is the only objective measure that tracks unity in the United States.
The chart shows the answers to the question from the TIPP Poll of 1,359 adults completed on Friday.
77% say the nation is divided. Notice the intensity of the response in the chart. Nearly one-half (46%) believe the country is very divided, and another 31% think it is somewhat divided.
Independents feel it the most (82%), followed by Republicans (81%) and 70% Democrats.
We converted the raw responses to a compact index to compare the various demographic segments and track unity over time.
The index ranges from 0 to 100. Above 50 indicates unity, while below 50 indicates division. 50 is a neutral value.
This month marks the 29th month of the index's tracking.
Democrats’ Lawfare
Lawfare is Democrats’ new tool to fight Trump.
They are fighting Trump in four theaters and torpedoing him with a mountain of criminal charges. It is approximately a year since the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago on August 8, 2022.
Since then, the Biden DOJ has slapped Trump with nearly 44 felony charges for the document violation case (40) and Jan 6th (4). Manhattan County prosecutor Alvin Bragg charged him with another 34 charges for the hush payment case. Georgia Fulton County prosecutor Fani Willis will likely charge the former President next week. Based on the 70+ charges levied, Trump faces 641 years in prison.
AG Merrick Garland, a Biden appointee, appointed Special Counsel Jack Smith. We anticipated that overzealously going after Trump, close to the election, would likely further divide an already polarized country and plead for restraint by Garland. Our predictions have already come true, as reflected by the Unity Index’s all-time low readings.
One-half (50%) think Biden is using the DOJ to prevent Trump’s potential return to power. Nearly eight out of every ten Republicans (83%) and about one-half (46%) of independents believe so. Democrats (50%) are the exception who don’t recognize the aggressive prosecution of Trump.
Furthermore, 51% agree that Biden’s DOJ is cutting sweetheart deals with Hunter Biden while simultaneously persecuting his leading political opponent. That includes 79% of Republicans, 50% of independents, and 36% of Democrats.
Behind The Numbers
In August, all 36 demographic groups we track are below 50.0 and believe we live in a divided country.
Only one group crossed the index level of 35.0. Also, eleven groups improved on the Unity Index in August, and 25 groups decreased.
The groups that feel extreme division in the country are the 65 or older, white women, the $50K-$75K income bracket, single women, rural residents, liberals, and independents.
The table below presents the Unity Index for 36 demographic groups we track for August 2023.
America’s Future
Republicans are getting ready to start an impeachment inquiry of President Biden, who will likely be impeached in the House. If the Senate will impeach him depends on the severity of the findings.
But the extreme polarization is already taking a toll on the country. In a TIPP Poll conducted in June, 34% of Americans believed that America would not exist in its present form 10 years from now. Interestingly, 41% of Republicans and independents thought so.
Mr. President, we agree with you. Without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury. Show some magnanimity, pick up the phone, and call Garland to call off the dogs on President Trump. It would be the first step if you meant what you said about unifying the country in your inauguration speech.
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