- Before the Civil Rights Movement (1960s), US Congress was built around compromise among Democrats and Republicans with minimal confrontation/hostility.
- After Civil Rights, Republicans (Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon, etc.) recognized that subliminally appealing to anti-black voters would help them “thrive”.
- The conservative movement sparked campaigning and voting decisions driven by tribalism, or group belonging, instead of actual policies.
- Tribalism has strengthened as declining labor unions have been replaced by lobbyists representing the wealthy and corporations.
