"How Identity, Not Issues, Explains the Partisan Divide"

[markie]

and a response to this article on Twitter...


#BlackAmerica has known this since 1619.


https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-identity-not-issues-explains-the-partisan-divide/

"...If Americans slide into seeing all policy debates as battles between Us vs. Them, we stop selecting policies based on their actual content. Ironically, this would lead to choosing policies that don’t match our personal values, because the content and evidence would become less important than the source. In short, seeing politics as a battle may worsen things for everyone."

[Martin68]

1. The problem is that we can't escape the Us vs Then radical conservatives. "We" aren't making

decisions based on identity. "We" are making decisions based on which policies we think will be best for everyone in the nation. "They" are the tribal anarchists.

[slightlv]

2. I don't we how we escape the "Us" vs "Them"

when policies are designed around the identities of the "tribe." (re: deSantis, Trump, R's in general).

This even includes us Democrats, because our identities are wrapped around policies that try to do the most good for the most people. We try our best not to leave anyone behind, knowing always someone will be left and trying to ease their way, anyway. That is who we are. We care; we have empathy. We have walked the walk they walk today. And we want to make their steps a little lighter, if we can.

I can't get in a Republican's head. Not a Magats, not an elite's, not even an R-next-door. I have some R's as friends (not many). We just have some subjects we never talk about. I don't understand them and they know it; and they state they don't understand me. And we leave it at that. They're caring people to those they *know.* But to those unwashed masses they don't? They're hardcore. I just don't get it. It's like no empathy beyond family and close friends. (shrug)

The elites I'll never understand because, Lord knows I'll never be rich enough to be tempted to be mean, standoffish, miserly, or greedy. Even now, when hubby and I both worked, my greatest joy was having enough money to buy tickets to a play for me, my sis, and my Mom all to go see together.

The Magats? I don't even WANT to try to plumb their depths. That way lays madness... and totally beyond my understanding.

Republicans - at best, they care if you're one of their own. If not, stay away, you're not worthy of anything.

Democrats - we've probably already been where you are. Let us help, if we can.

Where do the policy/identity differences blast through there to make a difference to throw out one or the other? The very existence of one is anathema to the other!