"What distinguishes polarization from tribalism? Kennedy and Hatch were polarized, but they saw each other as legitimate actors, if misguided, working to create a better America. In today’s environment, their counterparts see those on the other side as evil, trying to destroy our way of life."
But suppose the other side, Republicans, have signed on with extremists who literally are trying to destroy our way of life--one of inclusion built over the past 75 years, one striving toward economic equality, one that believes our shared government should help all of us, not just a subset? Whether that comes from ignorance, selfishness, or evil--for is it not evil to let children starve?--doesn't really matter.
Putting healthcare out of range for aging and compromised people who will suffer and die is definitely one way to destroy a way of life. Incarcerating or killing folks without due process, ditto. Refusing to hold crooks accountable or pardoning them so you won't look so bad, also ditto. No narrative seems to fit our time right now--we are being attacked by our fellow citizens, really for reasons that are based on lies and ignorance and fear. If that's tribalism, it's on one side only.
It really is cruel, when you think of it, that letting the elderly or compromised die without care does not seem such a bad thing to certain politicians, because these constituents just cost the taxpayers money. They don't add to anyone's wealth, they just soak the system. It's a cold calculation.
Health care has gotten so expensive, thanks to Republicans, that allowing assisted suicide for those who can't afford health care would be more merciful, in a way. A quick death as opposed to a very slow and painful death. And given that suicide is an absolutely horrendous idea to consider.
I agree, and have always wished for legal medically assisted death, as euthanasia has been a wonderful end to my pets' lives. It's sad to think that we humans would need it because our own government wants us dead.
The worst forces against our democracy were Gingrich, McConnell, Trump, and the Supreme Court with McConnell helping to get the Supreme Court as one of those forces.
Reagan picked up Gingrich's drum and started a slide to the right. When his dementia started the Republicans turned a blind eye when Nancy started carrying out Ronald's ideas for her husband.
But back then, at least the two parties were still talking to each other and sometime reaching a compromise or an agreement.
The worst thing that came out of the Reagan presidency was the drastic tax cuts for the wealthy, corporations and adding a taxing Social Security checks.
Yup, I have been saying for a long time that Gingrich is one of the roots of the evil that is American politics today. He is the prime example of the fascist world view, which has been practiced for at least the last 30 years, by no one more so than the current "leader."
While Gingrich was preaching getting down and dirty to his fellow politicians in the fascist party, he was leading by example: his wife was dying of cancer while he was cheating on her with his current wife, the ambassador to the Vatican during the 1.0 regime, no less.
Gingrich's own "career" did not last very long, but his poisonous preaching is and will be having a lasting effect on this country. I am an atheist, so I don't believe in hell, but I do wish him an agonizing death for all he did, when the time comes.
Convicted felon Drowsy Don would not have been possible without this malign evildoer.
"Tribalism" and refusing to do the right thing because it might aid the enemy who is evil and is destroying America is an explanation of R Congressional behavior that makes sense.
Another explanation not offered here is plain old greed. Trying to remake the rules so that the rich get richer and more powerful. Not always clear whether the greedy are using "tribalism" as a tool or whether they really buy into the other side is evil tribalism.
I am not sure what you mean. What I meant is regardless and by nature the Democrats are polarized within themselves.. but they manage to get it somewhat together ultimately. Democrats are not appealing to in a unified way to the better angels in us. We argue amongst ourselves about the particulars including the way to oppose, how or what to oppose, and lose our power this way. The right is just after power.
I don't know what the answer is to stop the hate coming from the MAGA far right. How do we stop or regulate the radio, cable news, YouTube videos, and all the extreme right platforms like Truth Social and Twitter is becoming?
There doesn't seem to be anyway to stop the spread of disinformation, conspiracy theories and hate rhetoric to regulate such online speech due to the first amendment citing free speech.
Phoenix, “Silentium est consensus”…use your voice and spread the message you believe in…one voice at a time…through all of the tendrils of the grapevine from the roots upward. Speak up in line at the store, to your coworker, at the drive through, to your babysitter, to your neighbor, to your barber, with your pickle ball group, etc….you don’t have to say a lot…just leave no doubt about what you stand for. Then be kind.
You are doing good in the world and receiving it too. I have questioned what the value is of interacting with strangers or virtual friends here in the past, but then someone will thank me for a post or add a personal story that illuminates what I've been saying, and I realize that speaking out is an important contribution. I'm so glad you're here. Let's chat! We have each other.
I like this essay but it relies on the reader to know what tribalism is. My ideas about tribalism are shaped by the movies, which is not a good source. The associations I make to primitive ways of living, brown/black people and violent agency, all combined, are uncomfortable ones. They are negative and racist. And then there’s fascism, which in my understanding is not ancient as tribalism is. Where does it come in? I understand it better. So when I see conversations about how we are being overtaken by tribalism, I am uncomprehending/I don’t really get it. I like this essay because it gives me insight into Gingrich’s tactics and what followed. But the concept of tribalism is still tripping me up and googling the concept was not helpful.
Rubbish. Project 2025 is a public admission of treason. That element must be uprooted and eliminated... Full Stop... if this republic is to survive. They know it, and they also know that they do not have the "sacred honor" the Forefathers had
This pretty much covers and connects the dots, but still fails to draw the obvious straight line.
As stated, we are tribal because the red tribe thinks Democrats are evil. Full stop. Plain and simple.
Why? Again as stated, right wing media, starting with talk radio and morphing into FOX news.
The straight line, to me, is the right wing media’s weaponization of free speech into an organized effort to harm with lies. We can see the results.
It is not a free speech right to falsely shout FIRE in a crowded theater. We have people falsely shouting FIRE in a crowded country, and we have to think hard about if it’s OK.
"What distinguishes polarization from tribalism? Kennedy and Hatch were polarized, but they saw each other as legitimate actors, if misguided, working to create a better America. In today’s environment, their counterparts see those on the other side as evil, trying to destroy our way of life."
But suppose the other side, Republicans, have signed on with extremists who literally are trying to destroy our way of life--one of inclusion built over the past 75 years, one striving toward economic equality, one that believes our shared government should help all of us, not just a subset? Whether that comes from ignorance, selfishness, or evil--for is it not evil to let children starve?--doesn't really matter.
Putting healthcare out of range for aging and compromised people who will suffer and die is definitely one way to destroy a way of life. Incarcerating or killing folks without due process, ditto. Refusing to hold crooks accountable or pardoning them so you won't look so bad, also ditto. No narrative seems to fit our time right now--we are being attacked by our fellow citizens, really for reasons that are based on lies and ignorance and fear. If that's tribalism, it's on one side only.
It really is cruel, when you think of it, that letting the elderly or compromised die without care does not seem such a bad thing to certain politicians, because these constituents just cost the taxpayers money. They don't add to anyone's wealth, they just soak the system. It's a cold calculation.
And as un-American as it gets.
and they have health care...
Yes, talk about Congressional welfare - so many perks, so few hours of work.
Health care has gotten so expensive, thanks to Republicans, that allowing assisted suicide for those who can't afford health care would be more merciful, in a way. A quick death as opposed to a very slow and painful death. And given that suicide is an absolutely horrendous idea to consider.
I agree, and have always wished for legal medically assisted death, as euthanasia has been a wonderful end to my pets' lives. It's sad to think that we humans would need it because our own government wants us dead.
The worst forces against our democracy were Gingrich, McConnell, Trump, and the Supreme Court with McConnell helping to get the Supreme Court as one of those forces.
Reagan picked up Gingrich's drum and started a slide to the right. When his dementia started the Republicans turned a blind eye when Nancy started carrying out Ronald's ideas for her husband.
But back then, at least the two parties were still talking to each other and sometime reaching a compromise or an agreement.
The worst thing that came out of the Reagan presidency was the drastic tax cuts for the wealthy, corporations and adding a taxing Social Security checks.
Yup, I have been saying for a long time that Gingrich is one of the roots of the evil that is American politics today. He is the prime example of the fascist world view, which has been practiced for at least the last 30 years, by no one more so than the current "leader."
While Gingrich was preaching getting down and dirty to his fellow politicians in the fascist party, he was leading by example: his wife was dying of cancer while he was cheating on her with his current wife, the ambassador to the Vatican during the 1.0 regime, no less.
Gingrich's own "career" did not last very long, but his poisonous preaching is and will be having a lasting effect on this country. I am an atheist, so I don't believe in hell, but I do wish him an agonizing death for all he did, when the time comes.
Convicted felon Drowsy Don would not have been possible without this malign evildoer.
Gingrich has always been a nasty character
A great article, thanks.
"Tribalism" and refusing to do the right thing because it might aid the enemy who is evil and is destroying America is an explanation of R Congressional behavior that makes sense.
Another explanation not offered here is plain old greed. Trying to remake the rules so that the rich get richer and more powerful. Not always clear whether the greedy are using "tribalism" as a tool or whether they really buy into the other side is evil tribalism.
This is excellent. Notice that Orstein focuses on how the tribalism of the GOP grew to this toxic level. The Democrats are polarized but not tribal.
Let’s acknowledge that being on the receiving end of the Right’s tactics and vehemence is polarizing to others.
I am not sure what you mean. What I meant is regardless and by nature the Democrats are polarized within themselves.. but they manage to get it somewhat together ultimately. Democrats are not appealing to in a unified way to the better angels in us. We argue amongst ourselves about the particulars including the way to oppose, how or what to oppose, and lose our power this way. The right is just after power.
Newt Gingrich, who would have thought. This was well before I had really paid attention to politics.
The man cheated on his wife who had cancer. I guess that is evil.
Yes he did and his present wife Calista is about the same age as one of his daughters. His morality is definitely nothing to celebrate.
In spite of the fact that at the time, he called the "movement" he led "The Moral Majority." What a hypocrite.
He cheated on his second wife, too.
I don't know what the answer is to stop the hate coming from the MAGA far right. How do we stop or regulate the radio, cable news, YouTube videos, and all the extreme right platforms like Truth Social and Twitter is becoming?
There doesn't seem to be anyway to stop the spread of disinformation, conspiracy theories and hate rhetoric to regulate such online speech due to the first amendment citing free speech.
Phoenix, “Silentium est consensus”…use your voice and spread the message you believe in…one voice at a time…through all of the tendrils of the grapevine from the roots upward. Speak up in line at the store, to your coworker, at the drive through, to your babysitter, to your neighbor, to your barber, with your pickle ball group, etc….you don’t have to say a lot…just leave no doubt about what you stand for. Then be kind.
I understand your reply and agree for many of us, but I am old in poor health and housebound, no living friends and only one relative.
That is why I'm on Substack, trying post articles about what the government is doing and commenting on other people's posts. :)
You are doing good in the world and receiving it too. I have questioned what the value is of interacting with strangers or virtual friends here in the past, but then someone will thank me for a post or add a personal story that illuminates what I've been saying, and I realize that speaking out is an important contribution. I'm so glad you're here. Let's chat! We have each other.
https://medium.com/the-political-prism/tribal-instinct-how-humanitys-oldest-reflex-became-a-political-weapon-e1375e257887
I like this essay but it relies on the reader to know what tribalism is. My ideas about tribalism are shaped by the movies, which is not a good source. The associations I make to primitive ways of living, brown/black people and violent agency, all combined, are uncomfortable ones. They are negative and racist. And then there’s fascism, which in my understanding is not ancient as tribalism is. Where does it come in? I understand it better. So when I see conversations about how we are being overtaken by tribalism, I am uncomprehending/I don’t really get it. I like this essay because it gives me insight into Gingrich’s tactics and what followed. But the concept of tribalism is still tripping me up and googling the concept was not helpful.
Rubbish. Project 2025 is a public admission of treason. That element must be uprooted and eliminated... Full Stop... if this republic is to survive. They know it, and they also know that they do not have the "sacred honor" the Forefathers had
This pretty much covers and connects the dots, but still fails to draw the obvious straight line.
As stated, we are tribal because the red tribe thinks Democrats are evil. Full stop. Plain and simple.
Why? Again as stated, right wing media, starting with talk radio and morphing into FOX news.
The straight line, to me, is the right wing media’s weaponization of free speech into an organized effort to harm with lies. We can see the results.
It is not a free speech right to falsely shout FIRE in a crowded theater. We have people falsely shouting FIRE in a crowded country, and we have to think hard about if it’s OK.