@RyanHuber Part of it seems to be compensatory - American and Canadian society appear to have at every level lost their sense of collective/communal purpose long ago, so it is left to the individual to find their own purpose largely alone.
The utter lack of collective purpose leaves a void people often try to fill with materialism, self-obsession, & increasingly bizarre personal identities.
Being a cog in the machine will never be fulfilling if its main function is to further enrich the rich.
@RyanHuber That is part of the appeal of right-wing populism (and other incendiary ideologies): it makes adherents feel like they are part of some righteous crusade, something bigger than themselves - it gives them a sense of purpose & a vision for the future, however hollow, vague, and packed with corrosive lies it may be.
To effectively fight right-wing populism, it is necessary to offer people a compelling collective purpose, a part in something bigger than them, & a vision for the future...
@IrelandTorin I'm pondering this and having a beer and a bowl. Will likely respond on the morrow
@RyanHuber I would say, in the most literal possible sense, that identity politics is out of control on both sides.
Conservatives and progressives alike obsess over the politics of individual identity - their own, and those of others. Defining one's identity by membership in tribal political groups and by one's positions on hot-button issues has become mainstream.
Children have been raised for decades to believe they are "unique" & to view themselves as distinct from the rest of society.