Maybe we don’t view the world so differently after all

Republican and Democratic voters disagree on a lot, don’t they?

Immigration. Acceptable tax levels. The extent of public programs. Whether Donald Trump is an acceptable president. 

Especially the last one.

But when it comes to morality issues, the difference between Republicans and Democrats isn’t massive. In fact, R’s and D’s agree more than they disagree.

At least that was the upshot of a Pew Research report from earlier this month, which showed that when presented with 15 subjects, a majority of Republican and Democratic voters agreed on 12 of them.

We’ll start with this one. Cheating on your spouse.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican (93%) or a Democrat (88%), the research shows you’re going to frown on that as “morally wrong.”

Under the “no big deal” tab we have “eating meat.” Only 6% of Democrats and 2% of Republicans think it’s morally wrong. 

Next to that folder, we have “using contraceptives.” A combined 9% of Republicans believe that’s morally wrong compared to 7% of Democrats.

Along the same lines is the use of in vitro fertilization. Again, 12% of Republicans and 6% of Democrats believe it’s morally wrong.

A few more people have a problem with gambling (24% of Dems, 33% of Republicans) or using marijuana (15% Democrats, 33% of Republicans), but the split isn’t systemic.

A minority of both Republicans and Democrats believe it’s morally wrong to spank kids (12% R’s, 35% D’s). That same holds true about getting a divorce (13% D’s, 33% R’s).

Even two historically contested issues – euthanasia and the death penalty – finds that majority of both parties are OK with both practices. With euthanasia, 48% of Republicans and 23% of Democrats are opposed to it. 

On the death penalty, 48% of Democrats and 20% of Republicans find it morally wrong.

So, what do we disagree with?  Abortion, of course.

The gulf between R’s and D’s is the largest on this one with a 71% majority of Republicans saying its morally wrong while 24% of Democrats say so.

Pew asked about “homosexuality” — 59% of Republicans believe it’s morally wrong. Only 20% of Democrats do.

The last one is “viewing pornography,” but the gap between the two parties isn’t as large. A 65% majority of Republicans and 39% minority of Democrats view it as morally wrong.

The data brings up a point that’s easy to forget in our era of perpetual campaign cycles. 

Republicans and Democrats are both Americans, and they’re a lot more alike than they think they are.

Political campaigns are about persuading voters. It’s about pulling together groups of people around a common banner. Ultimately, it’s getting more support than the other guy.

Doing that means accentuating the differences. Over and over and over again.

No political candidate is running on protecting your right to eat a chicken sandwich or take birth control pills. The opposition to either is so small that they’re not at risk.

Transgender kids in sports? Abortion? Now, that’s a different story. 

Both are divisive issues. Both sides are pretty well dug in. The viewpoints tend to fall along party lines. So, in the past few cycles, candidates have pounded these issues so often we think they’re the only issues confronting the Republic. It’s as if nothing else is going on.

When, in truth, there’s all sorts of things Republicans and Democrats agree on. Pew polled on moral issues, but what about basic threats? Identity theft. Child predators. Addictive mind-rot crap masqueraded as news on social media (see last week’s column).

We could make a Mad Lib of all the issues and values most Americans are on the same page on, regardless of party.

This column isn’t a noble call for everybody to sing kumbaya. I’m naive enough to think that we’re all going to bury the hatchet and hit restart on our political allegiances.

The data shows what we all know in our hearts. 

In campaign season, it’s hard to keep it in perspective.

Our views on the things that really matter are more alike than we’re led to believe.

(Kyle Melinn is the editor of the Capitol news service MIRS. You can email him at melinnky@gmail.com.)