Reflections on Unity, Division, and the 2024 Presidential Election

This excerpt from Greg Twemlow's Medium article reflects on the state of American unity and division in the context of the 2024 presidential election. Twemlow draws a parallel between the perceived unity of America in 1991, symbolized by Whitney Houston's Super Bowl performance, and the current state of division, arguing that America's economic and political decline began after this pivotal moment. He points to events like the Dot-Com bubble burst, 9/11, the financial crisis of 2008, and the 2016 election as contributing factors to this decline. Twemlow also highlights the role of economic inequality, political polarization, and social media in exacerbating these divides, arguing that the "United States of America" feels increasingly like an oxymoron. He expresses concern about the rise of China as a unified superpower while America struggles with internal strife, and suggests that regional alliances among states may be a necessary solution to address the deep-seated divisions. Despite his concerns, Twemlow holds onto hope for a future where America can regain its unity and strength.About the Author - Greg Twemlow writes and teaches at the intersection of technology, education, and human judgment. He works with educators and businesses to make AI explainable and assessable in classrooms and boardrooms — to ensure AI users show their process and own their decisions. His cognition protocol, the Context & Critique Rule™, is built on a three-step process: Evidence → Cognition → Discernment — a bridge from what’s scattered to what’s chosen. Context & Critique → Accountable AI™. © 2025 Greg Twemlow. “Context & Critique → Accountable AI” and “Context & Critique Rule” are unregistered trademarks (™).