Coincidence: there is trouble brewing among my sibs over politics, and I think it is all to do with tribalism. We six are very dispersed geographically (IA, CO, GA, UK). Four sisters, two brothers including me. We started doing a weekly Zoom meeting during COVID and kept it going—a great way to stay in touch, share news, reminisce.
But then as the 2024 election season got underway, all four sisters started whinging on about Trump "threatening democracy", etc. Imagine trying to talk about politics with people who read nothing but the NYT, and who never questioned anything they read there, and who believed that there was nothing else worth reading.
I just don't engage them. There would be no point in trying to debate, because the sisters are not equipped to debate, but only able to recite tribalist talking points. Also, they are all very simmeringly angry about the election, so anything they say becomes strangely and awkwardly emotional.
I think what has happened is that my sisters imagine they are "doing politics", but really they have abandoned politics—which I think of as a realm of argument, tradeoffs, compromises, negotiation—and have become merely tribalist advocates (I enjoy political debate, bc I like examining ideas, and am thoroughly non-partisan).
I also think that this sort of switcheroo from good-faith political engagement to bad-faith invective and reflexive opposition is giving in to the dark side of human nature. It's as if Trump's appearance in American politics gave people the "permission structure" to devolve into something very un-American. To them, Trump is not a politician; he is a monster/would-be king who is out to destroy the country. He is beyond politics, and so he must be opposed by any means necessary.
Personally, this is kind of tragic, because I love my sisters, but they have become so saturated in this tribalism that they find it very difficult to refrain from talking about it (which I insist upon during the Zooms). I feel we are drifting apart over this, which is too bad at this point of life (the youngest of us is 60).
Another good and timely article - A needed pep talk for my recent slogan of "Be the Neighbor you want to have".
One point of disagreement though, re the paragraph about traits with the result "Freedom will continue to vanish".
The behaviors listed are bedrock to human nature. We cannot eradicate them. Our only hope is having a government with authority too weak to accommodate and promote those behaviors. That starts with turning away from DemoPublican politics, voting in their election charades, patronizing their corrupted media, and supporting their "schools".
"America was built on principles, not tribes."
Coincidence: there is trouble brewing among my sibs over politics, and I think it is all to do with tribalism. We six are very dispersed geographically (IA, CO, GA, UK). Four sisters, two brothers including me. We started doing a weekly Zoom meeting during COVID and kept it going—a great way to stay in touch, share news, reminisce.
But then as the 2024 election season got underway, all four sisters started whinging on about Trump "threatening democracy", etc. Imagine trying to talk about politics with people who read nothing but the NYT, and who never questioned anything they read there, and who believed that there was nothing else worth reading.
I just don't engage them. There would be no point in trying to debate, because the sisters are not equipped to debate, but only able to recite tribalist talking points. Also, they are all very simmeringly angry about the election, so anything they say becomes strangely and awkwardly emotional.
I think what has happened is that my sisters imagine they are "doing politics", but really they have abandoned politics—which I think of as a realm of argument, tradeoffs, compromises, negotiation—and have become merely tribalist advocates (I enjoy political debate, bc I like examining ideas, and am thoroughly non-partisan).
I also think that this sort of switcheroo from good-faith political engagement to bad-faith invective and reflexive opposition is giving in to the dark side of human nature. It's as if Trump's appearance in American politics gave people the "permission structure" to devolve into something very un-American. To them, Trump is not a politician; he is a monster/would-be king who is out to destroy the country. He is beyond politics, and so he must be opposed by any means necessary.
Personally, this is kind of tragic, because I love my sisters, but they have become so saturated in this tribalism that they find it very difficult to refrain from talking about it (which I insist upon during the Zooms). I feel we are drifting apart over this, which is too bad at this point of life (the youngest of us is 60).
I wish I knew what to do.
Michael, thank you for sharing your testimony, which, sadly, is too familiar today.
It seems you're doing all you can—loving them and avoiding conflict.
I wrote this in 2017. It may contain a nugget of help. https://intellectualtakeout.org/2024/11/politics-ruin-thanksgiving/
Another good and timely article - A needed pep talk for my recent slogan of "Be the Neighbor you want to have".
One point of disagreement though, re the paragraph about traits with the result "Freedom will continue to vanish".
The behaviors listed are bedrock to human nature. We cannot eradicate them. Our only hope is having a government with authority too weak to accommodate and promote those behaviors. That starts with turning away from DemoPublican politics, voting in their election charades, patronizing their corrupted media, and supporting their "schools".
Thank you, Larry.
I agree with you about a government too small to accommodate.
Regarding schools, it seems that a significant increase in homeschooling is necessary to preserve freedom.
On July 4th, I launched EthicalGovtNow.org Visit (free) Evaluate. Decide for yourself. Only $12 annually for full access.