Use Meaningless Words II: Divisive

Rhetoric: Divisive proposals/policies are bad!

Reality: Big Issues can't be solved without upsetting someone - it means we have real choices

Divisive Defined: A derogatory label attached to an opponent's policies, proposals, or statements implying hostility, disdain, unwillingness to compromise, or callow disregard toward another group of people in an effort to create disunity, disharmony, and dissatisfaction. See also "wedge issues."  

When National Public Radio's Guy Raz asked Ari Shapiro how , Shapiro discussed the crowd's 

Discussing Paul Ryan's impact on Romney campaign events crowds, National Public Radio's Ari Shapiro told Guy Raz, "They really love Paul Ryan. They're passionate about this guy."

"What is it about Paul Ryan that gets them motivated?" Raz asked.

"They like the ideas he puts out," Shapiro said, "They like the budget, his willingness to not just criticize the other side, what the Democrats are doing, but put out proposals that are really controversial, that are, you know, very divisive in some ways, that have drawn a lot of criticism from Democrats. The Republicans I'm talking to see that as a badge of honor, and they think it was a bold decision of Romney to bring Ryan onto the ticket knowing that he's going to take all this incoming fire."

Political campaigns, and elections in particular, are - and should be - about competing policy ideas how to solve the issues of the day.  Some issues, especially important issues, cannot solved with universal consensus.  An election without differing proposed solutions and policies is an election with no meaningful choice at all. 

Still, it is a rhetorical device used across the political spectrum.  In his acceptance speech, Paul Ryan said, "You would think that any president, whatever his party, would make job creation, and nothing else, his first order of economic business.  But this president didn't do that. Instead, we got a long, divisive, all-or-nothing attempt to put the federal government in charge of health care."

Policies or proposals that target, favorably or unfavorably, one group over another are also labeled "divisive."  Two current examples:  

Proposals favoring one economic group over another, particularly in tax policy are labeled "divisive."  “'Congressman Cicilline engages in divisive class warfare where he tries to paint himself as someone who will stand up to the wealthy on behalf of the middle class,, said Doherty Campaign Manager Ian Prior."

Opposition Gay Marriage, particularly opposition, is labeled "divisive."  When Romney expressed support for traditional marriage, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation wrote, "If Gov. Romney truly desires to represent all Americans, Log Cabin Republicans encourages him to avoid divisive social issues and focus on jobs and the economy."

QUESTION:  Do you agree that "divisive" is an overused word in politics today?  What is an example you have seen where it was used correctly?