I don’t believe there ever has been at any point “a reasonable social consensus in the United States.” The “good old days” may have been so for some, but hardly for most.
But I do believe the Democratic Party, throughout its history and on every level, has been single-minded in its efforts to ENSURE that nothing approaching “a reasonable social consensus” can be achieved. Indeed, the Democratic Party has always thrived on fomenting chaos and us-vs-them-ism.
Believe that you are wrong. Neo paganism and the values and practices inherent to it began to be embraced by large segments of the population beginning in the late 1960’s. It is true however that the Democratic Party has become the political vehicle of the neo pagans and is a radically different institution than it once was.
Divide and Conquer has ALWAYS worked.
"Did GOD really say...?