How? American culture is not homogeneous.

@St-Sinner no, it's not. Remove the commonality of government and what would tie the nation together?

Every region has thier own culture - hell, just look at the difference between country folk and city dwellers within a 100 mile radius and they share very little besides language (which still has variations) and currency.

@1of5
I thought the country flag, anthem rallies the nation.

I was trying to say that it is hard to love governments of Bush/Cheney and Trump who lie to the nation in the name of patriotism.

@St-Sinner those are all government approved symbols, though, spread by the government.

There's a movement in Washington state called State of Liberty to create a 51st state out of eastern washington, largely due to differences in lifestyle - cultural differences - that affect each sides political decisions. They'd be happy to either leave the US or kick western Washington out of the US.

With bush/cheney and trump I whole heartedly agree. Been mentioned here before that cries of patriotism is the refuge of scoundrels.

@1of5 I will read more about the Washington movement but it sounds like one against the universal social security numbers saying that they not want to be stamped like cattle and be identified. It did not succeed.

By the nature of things you get to decide that if you do not accept government, which means that it can be all embracing love for everyone within the borders, or it can just mean racial bigots like me from my town.

The nation is permanent, a bigger concept and its citizens support the nation, not oppose.. A government is periodic, a smaller concept and its citizens should oppose it when they disagree.

@St-Sinner There always seems to be a government representing a country and the majority of the people are always complaining about it. The politics is irrelevant. A country will always be represented by government, regardless of political persuasion unless you prefer anarchy.

@Geoffrey51 Yes, people will complain because of conflicting stands on an issue. It is encouraged in a democracy. It is a healthy thing to not make it easy for a government, have opposing view and the opposition to make divisions. The country's sovereignty, stability, progress and direction are more important than of one group of people elected to lead. If that group does not work properly, it will be changed by people.

@St-Sinner But the mechanism will still be there. Regardless of persuasion the Government represents the country.