What we talk about when we talk about political beliefs

“Politics,” they say, “ain’t beanbag.” In other words, it’s not just a game. Today, many descriptions of American political life begin with the observation that there is a great deal of disagreement when it comes to our political beliefs. And this disagreement is characterized as being increasingly rancorous, polarized, and ubiquitous. Family get-togethers turn sour over political arguments. Relationships end, or don’t ever begin, because of political differences. Red states and blue states, or, more accurately, the more rural and more urban parts of every state, see themselves as fundamentally at odds. Of course, our politicians are part of this, too. Whether they set the tone or reflect it back at us, their campaigns are notable for their relentless negativity, and their efforts at governing

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