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US politics is increasingly tribal because of the realities described. The irony is the political landscape is controlled by the DNC & the RNC, who are effectiv

US politics is increasingly tribal because of the realities described. The irony is the political landscape is controlled by the DNC & the RNC, who are effectively the political equivalent of Mastercard and Visa. No other parties can get on a debate stage or any airtime. The two political machines are partnered with huge corporate media companies to manipulate popular opinion, instill fear and rage and to destroy any coherent opposition, including within those two manufactured and manipulated tribes

lazyeye 5y ago
I agree with what you're saying. An important fact that has gone completely under the radar is the radically changing demographics of the media (both sides). The media used to be much more decentralized with a much greater diversity of views (rich and poor). Now with increasing technology and centralization of distribution, the demographics of people in the media is largely that of the elites. Journalists working for CNN, Fox or MSNBC are paid very high wages, come from the best schools and according to all conventional markers are in the top 10% of society. And this is reflected in the content they put out which is to generate controversy, keep the plebs squabbling amongst themselves and divert attention way from wealthy elites. This is their agenda and it's working fabulously.
- olivermarks 5y ago
  We also live in an era of career politicians. Previously proven business and societal success was leveraged politically in campaigns by candidates becoming politicians. Today we only have choices of mckinsey/academic/media/think tank generic empty suits to vote for. This is true all over the western world. Example: DNC's chosen one Buttigieg cargo culting being a politician: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/pete-buttigieg-barack-obama-plagiarism-tweet-speech-2020-election-us-a9356466.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politic... I'm a registered Democrat FWIW in case this triggers someone
  - lazyeye 5y ago
    Sometimes I think democracy is like the human body. As it ages it becomes more frail and riddled with disease.
    - olivermarks 5y ago
      I've been reading 'Brave New World revisited' by Huxley..: 'Under the relentless thrust of accelerating over-population and increasing over-organization, and by means of ever more effective methods of mind-manipulation, the democracies will change their nature; the quaint old forms—elections, parliaments, Supreme Courts and all the rest—will remain. The underlying substance will be a new kind of non-violent totalitarianism. All the traditional names, all the hallowed slogans will remain exactly what they were in the good old days. Democracy and freedom will be the theme of every broadcast and editorial—but democracy and freedom in a strictly Pickwickian sense. Meanwhile the ruling oligarchy and its highly trained elite of soldiers, policemen, thought-manufacturers and mind-manipulators will quietly run the show as they see fit.' https://gutenberg.ca/ebooks/huxleya-bravenewworldrevisited/huxleya-bravenewworldrevisited-00-h.html https://gutenberg.ca/ebooks/huxleya-bravenewworldrevisited/h...

lazyeye 5y ago

I agree with what you're saying. An important fact that has gone completely under the radar is the radically changing demographics of the media (both sides). The media used to be much more decentralized with a much greater diversity of views (rich and poor). Now with increasing technology and centralization of distribution, the demographics of people in the media is largely that of the elites. Journalists working for CNN, Fox or MSNBC are paid very high wages, come from the best schools and according to all conventional markers are in the top 10% of society. And this is reflected in the content they put out which is to generate controversy, keep the plebs squabbling amongst themselves and divert attention way from wealthy elites. This is their agenda and it's working fabulously.

olivermarks 5y ago
We also live in an era of career politicians. Previously proven business and societal success was leveraged politically in campaigns by candidates becoming politicians. Today we only have choices of mckinsey/academic/media/think tank generic empty suits to vote for. This is true all over the western world. Example: DNC's chosen one Buttigieg cargo culting being a politician: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/pete-buttigieg-barack-obama-plagiarism-tweet-speech-2020-election-us-a9356466.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politic... I'm a registered Democrat FWIW in case this triggers someone
- lazyeye 5y ago
  Sometimes I think democracy is like the human body. As it ages it becomes more frail and riddled with disease.
  - olivermarks 5y ago
    I've been reading 'Brave New World revisited' by Huxley..: 'Under the relentless thrust of accelerating over-population and increasing over-organization, and by means of ever more effective methods of mind-manipulation, the democracies will change their nature; the quaint old forms—elections, parliaments, Supreme Courts and all the rest—will remain. The underlying substance will be a new kind of non-violent totalitarianism. All the traditional names, all the hallowed slogans will remain exactly what they were in the good old days. Democracy and freedom will be the theme of every broadcast and editorial—but democracy and freedom in a strictly Pickwickian sense. Meanwhile the ruling oligarchy and its highly trained elite of soldiers, policemen, thought-manufacturers and mind-manipulators will quietly run the show as they see fit.' https://gutenberg.ca/ebooks/huxleya-bravenewworldrevisited/huxleya-bravenewworldrevisited-00-h.html https://gutenberg.ca/ebooks/huxleya-bravenewworldrevisited/h...