Polarization

Like Bison, humans form groups to maximize the chances of survival and propagation. As do bacteria and other life forms.

In most species these bonds are largely instinctive, but in humans there is a conscious intellectual element as well, because of the nature of our brains.

In a peaceful and ordered society this tendency is channelled into team sports, among other things and is generally considered to be positive.

In a troubled society, the energy goes into supporting opposing political factions with potential for actual violence as we have witnessed in the US lately.

When things turn really nasty, the opposing group is de-humanized and made ready for slaughter in a confrontational war, or by way of 'ethnic cleansing'.

In the last few years we have been slowly slipping down this greasy totem pole, driven by an accelerating pace of wealth finding its way into fewer and fewer hands, at the expense of people at large, with very predictable results.

Because it has happened so many times before in history, resulting in revolutions and mass slaughter.

The wheel keeps turning, if we let it...