Post: #1

It seems that in the U.S. we are taught to think of politics in terms of principles. If you believe in free markets, you are a conservative. If you believe in public welfare programs, you are a liberal.

However lots of politics breaks down to simply us vs. them thinking.

It is against my principles to torture anyone, for any reason. Many people here, when reading about CIA torture of prisoners reactes with something like "Who cares what happens to terrorist scum?" In this, they are clearly taking an us vs. them approach. People like this presumably would be shocked to hear that American prisoners of war were tortured, but apparently do not have a moral aversion to torture in general.

Post: #2

in domestic relations, You will see tribalism become the more prevalent school of thought as we become more multicultural. You already see the racial and ethnic division taking place. This will tear the country apart in the long run.

In international relations, you should always consider tribalism because it ultimately is us vs them. While I'm opposed to torture as well, you don't show sympathy to your enemies. You crush them.

Since reading The Way of Men, I've become more tribal in my thinking.

Post: #3

If politics were about principles then people could just vote about principles.

Everybody knows the hot topics people is divided about, Americans should make a list and vote every decade or so on the following:

1.Immigration
2.Gun control
3.Foreign wars
4.Gay marriage
5.Abortion
6.Taxpayer funded vs. customer payed healthcare.
7.Taxpayer funded vs. customer payed education.
and a few others most painful topics

These big questions that divide people should just be settled by a direct vote that would solve it for that particular generation of voters and people would get what they want, but sadly if they do that then politicians would lose hooks by which to draw votes. People are forced to vote for a personality (a public image) and not for the issues that are bothering them. Such a farce if you think about it. Of course it boils down on how the candidate manages to display an image of being supportive for as much tribes as possible.

Post: #4

It is getting bad in the U.S. but it is nowhere near the level in ither countries.

I remember being in Israel, a few Israelis would make comments about killing all Arabs. Not terrorists, not people who attacked Israel, just all Arabs.

As bad as it is here I have never heard an anti-immigration proponent say anything like that.

Post: #5

Politics is mostly expressive, not instrumental. http://econfaculty.gmu.edu/bcaplan/e410/pc11.htm

Post: #6

Tribalism always trumps principles the moment the shit hits the fan.

Post: #7

I can see why Israelis have a tribal instinct. They are in close-quarters with lots of other tribes who are openly hostile towards them and want to destroy them. In the US, our enemies are on the other side of the planet. Now if Mexico were ground zero for Islamic extremism, then perhaps you would see an even greater tribal instinct in the USA. Currently, Mexicans come here to get on welfare or work shit jobs, they're not trying to wage jihad against us. That's why we aren't that tribal. But if you recall after 9/11, Americans had bloodlust and some would have gladly supported the annihilation of all Arab Muslims.