Why does identity politics seem more and more to be the future of American politics?

Question

I find it depressing. Americans seem to care less and less about the principles discussed and more about more about the identity of the individual politician running. Does the candidate have the same race as me? Does the candidate have the same sex as me? Does the candidate share the same religion as me? What is the candidate's sexual preference and is it the same as mine?

More and more it seems like is the biggest factor towards deciding elections. If the candidate has the correct mix of identity politics working then the content of what they say seems to hardly matter.

Answer 1

You're right. People keep saying things like "He'd be a nice guy to have a few beers with, but that doesn't mean he should be president." They imply that they gauge things on a different scale than that. Yet they don't. They keep voting Junior High Most Popular. It's appalling.

Answer 2

Nope its the future end.



The slack jawed yokels who only want Fat White Christian Males are becoming a minority. This is like the brilliant supernova of their hatred.



Already, Romney is trying to identify with Latinos and women... By 2016 the illiterates with Confederate Flags will be dinosaurs.

Answer 3

"identity politics" is just another way to say "divide and conquer", and that is part and parcel of the Democratic playbook!

Answer 4

While there is more of that going on these days, most people are still blindly partisan, and that is our real problem.