Category / 37.2 Polarization / Articles
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De-Platforming Works
With Ye’s banning from Instagram and Twitter, the polarizing debate around “de-platforming” — the banning of users from social media platforms — has been revitalized. The artist formerly known as Kanye West was suspended from Instagram after captioning photos of comedian Trevor Noah with racial slurs. He then moved to Twitter, where he was banned…
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Elites Need to Engage with Populist Sentiment
When people complain about the electoral college or similar aspects of American government, some like to quip that, “the U.S. isn’t a democracy. It’s a republic.” While America is not a direct democracy, it has many democratic elements, and it is best understood as a democratic republic. At least some of the polarization in America…
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Under the Influence
Polarized biases surrounding drug use. An opulent, postmodern Los Angeles manor hosts an intimate collaboration between a platinum American Express card and a glistening white assortment. The snowy powder aligns and forms a perfect route to euphoria. A charming figure modeled with elegant locks, a spotless complexion, and designer wardrobe matches her nose to the…
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Disco Elysium Wants You To Take A Side
In Disco Elysium, before the politics, before the mystery, before history and even consciousness, there are your skills. However, unlike the tabletop RPGs that Disco Elysium takes inspiration from, your skills talk to you. They listen into every conversation, interject with advice or whim at every pause, bicker amongst each other at every conflict. At…
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Post-Dobbs Polarization: the Future of the Republican Party
Across the country, thousands of women skipped work and took to the streets on September 30 to protest the recent Dobbs v. Jackson decision. The “Day Without Us” demonstration was an intersectional effort to speak out against the leaked decision. In front of the Supreme Court building, women carried signs reading “SCOTUS Liars”, “Abortion saves…
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Inequality is Killing the American Middle-Class
The biggest issue in 2022, despite the focus on crime, January 6th, and abortion, is the economy. In an October 2022 poll from the New York Times and Siena, 44% of Americans rated inflation or the economy as the most important issue facing the country, the only topics to get double digit response rates. While…
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The Forces Behind Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy theorists have always been among us, from Q-Anon, to COVID-19 deniers, to flat-Earthers. However, more recently, conspiracy theories have gained a strong foothold in American politics, with many politicians openly embracing them. At the same time, political polarization in the U.S. is at one of its highest levels. A 2022 survey conducted by the…
