I could not agree more on the "it is closer to religion" point. I have been saying this for a decade now. National politics has replaced religion, community, an

I could not agree more on the "it is closer to religion" point. I have been saying this for a decade now. National politics has replaced religion, community, and family for many people. Political parties and political virtues are how one defines themselves and how they fit into the world. Due to moving frequently (even within a 2 hour radius), more dispersed families, lack of long term involvement in a truly local community (be it a club/lodge or a church), and politics becoming a replacement for relgion in defining what is "right" and what is "wrong" people on both sides are looking at political opposition in manners similar to the Crusades or Protestants vs Catholics. Politics has become a singular (or at minimum, the dominant) identifier for so many people, that seeing someone who opposes your views means that they are not part of your community. I think re-establishing communities that bring meaning to people's lives would go a long way to helping get through this rough patch. These can be clubs, churches, sports, etc. People need something that they are passionate about that connects them to other people and let's them focus on something local. I think shifting eveyone's attention back toward their local politics and community (where most of the governing that actually impacts you is done) would do wonders.