re: #202 Naso Tang

At the risk of sounding pompous, the fault lies with a tendency to tribalism which is inherent in human nature.

Tribalism gives importance to people because they can measure themselves against other tribes, and they can easily find blame for problems in the others. We evolved in groups where everyone knew everyone who mattered and the only real danger came from other groups. When our leaders tell us that it is the others who are the problem, instead of telling us that the others are just like us then we revert easily.

Our leaders are becoming populists acting in their own best interests instead of the collective, and we like it.

It’s not genetic. We may have evolved in groups, but genes do not determine behavior as clearly as your comment implies.