George Epstein: Creating more We’s and fewer They's

Who is “We” and who is “They”? If you’re a Red Sox fan and the Yankees are in town, wearing a “Certified Yankee Hater” T-shirt is possible the most gentle possible expression of your feelings. The Bronx Bombers are definitely Them – or more precisely Dem. On September 11, though, the most rabid Bosox booster felt the closest of kinship with our fellow Americans in New York. All Americans are We when it comes to defending ourselves from terrorism, while Al Qaeda is the ultimate They.

Last November, New Hampshire Republicans celebrated stunning election day success, burying Democratic candidates in every statewide race and taking absolute control of the legislature. All Republicans were We that night. Things are very different as I write this. The Republican House is about to vote on whether to override the Republican governor’s budget veto. Even more unusual, the personal rancor has legislative leaders referring to Governor Benson as a “spoiled brat” and a “dictator” – clearly a He and not one of Us from the legislatures perspective.