bloombergview | "Politics" might even be the wrong word for it. As Bishop describes it in his book (and Andrew Sullivan does in a new essay in New York magazine),
the divide is really more about identities, or tribes. Policy disputes
aren't what separates us so much as differences in attitude and
language. Which is why Donald Trump, despite his New York County address
and all-over-the-political-map statements on the campaign trail, seems
to be mainly just deepening the divide. Attitude and language -- and
loyalty -- are what he cares about most, so those are the buttons
that he keeps pushing.
How do we counter this growing tribalism, and growing
conviction that those outside our tribes are motivated by Satanic
impulses? I don't know! If I did, I would have told you already. Still,
as a starting place, I recommend this: Just assume that those who
disagree with you politically are really, really stupid.
