It just struck me: US conservatives cling to guns the way they cling to fossil fuels, religion, race and heterosexuality. It's a fear or inability to assess consequences through any other lense than tribe and/or identity. That diagnosis might be the first step to a cure. (thread)
First of: us-vs-them is objectively passe. Our current global problems have little to do with tribe or identity. E.g. global warming does not care about race, sexuality, nation or political affiliation. We need solutions that work for everyone.
Finding and implementing those solutions requires systemic (preferably scientific) analysis in which tribe and identity are nothing more than bias and noise. So why are solutions framed in terms of tribe and identity?
Maybe the simple explanation is the best here: there are enormous vested interests in guns, fossil fuels and organised religion. All these interests are threatened by solutions that do better when rechearched and tested in an objective manner.
So their best bet is to convince people that their products are a core part of peoples tribe and identity. The conservative movement in the US is defined by the marketing efforts of rich but outdated industries that can't compete without abusing tribe and identity politics.
This is a worldwide problem by the way. E.g. fossil fuel interests also drive the identity politics of Russian and Saudi rulers.
But knowing this allows us to thwarth the abuse of identity politics by adressing the problems without threatening tribes or identities.
But knowing this allows us to thwarth the abuse of identity politics by adressing the problems without threatening tribes or identities.
Religion
Many of us want to feel they are part of something bigger that gives their life purpose and meaning. Don't threaten that!
Just don't put up with the divisive us-vs-them thinking and outdated sexual mores that some religious professionals try to sneak into the deal.
Many of us want to feel they are part of something bigger that gives their life purpose and meaning. Don't threaten that!
Just don't put up with the divisive us-vs-them thinking and outdated sexual mores that some religious professionals try to sneak into the deal.
Fossil fuel
Most of us are creatures of comfort. Never imply renewable energy threatens that. Explain that putting solar panels up is a clean alternative to digging and drilling that will provide their tribe and identity more jobs and money than the old fat cats are offering.
Most of us are creatures of comfort. Never imply renewable energy threatens that. Explain that putting solar panels up is a clean alternative to digging and drilling that will provide their tribe and identity more jobs and money than the old fat cats are offering.
Guns
Accept it for what it is: the near universal desire of guys to pretend they can beat other guys.
It was never about safety. And the willingness to indulge in Trump shows the constitution is not a priority. So don't get sidetracked 2nd amendment or safety discussions.
Accept it for what it is: the near universal desire of guys to pretend they can beat other guys.
It was never about safety. And the willingness to indulge in Trump shows the constitution is not a priority. So don't get sidetracked 2nd amendment or safety discussions.
Please mothers, wives and sisters: don't threaten our manliness. Just assure us lovingly that we don't need assault rifles to be fearsome. Give us a kiss when we install a children-proof firearm safe at home. Suggest that training and screening separates the men from the boys.
To sum up: when some products of vested industries like guns, fossil fuel and organised religion become objectively problematic, they try to block alternatives by making us believe these products are essential to our tribe or identity. Don't be fooled.
