Political Extremes

Contrary to conventional wisdom, common political ground does not necessarily make it possible to forge a consensus. Instead, common ground may actually make every small difference between groups even more valuable as a tool for snatching donors and voters away from rivals. Indeed, the primary purpose of political parties is to create a group identity by exaggerating every difference between rival groups, and to obscure larger similarities sitting in plain view.

The reason political extremes fight one another so viciously is because they have so much in common. It is the job of the demagogue to convince you that it truly matters whether the chicken that laid the eggs you eat was white or black.