Tribal America And Voting Behavior

This article describes the political narratives of the left and the right in America. It explains why many American's ignore their economic self interest in their voting behavior. It argues that we belong to tribes on one of two narratives, and that we are willing to sacrifice our self-interest to support the tribe that we primarily support. I happen to belong to the tribe on the left, so I am probably biased, but much of the narrative on the left came in response to a real crisis. That is, the social welfare programs were part of the New Deal that was created in response to the Great Depression. It seems to me that the conservative narrative, that views government as the enemy of the people, is primarily an imaginary danger that is created by propaganda. Government is the only countervailing power feared by those who benefit from oligarchy. The oligarchy is small, by definition, it can only win elections, and capture government, by selling its narrative to the general public. They are pretty good at that game, and the Great Depression is part of ancient history for many Americans; it is tougher sell for that reason.