The “culture war” is work avoidance. It keeps our attention away from the reality that our democracy is weakening when people in elected office follow guidance of the billionaires and not the best interest of their constituents. Instead of addressing this difficult challenge, there is hyperbole about the natural tension between moving forward as a pluralistic society and preserving our traditions. These tensions will always exist. Politicians who use the culture war to fire up their conservative base are doing a disservice to the USA.