…that humans have evidenced in every society and civilization since we came down from trees: tribalism; otherism; xenophobia; social hierarchy; gender distinctions; religion; violence; mob psychology; group conformity; competition for resources, position and power; infanticide; sexual drive; and yet a few others to which we are reticent to admit.

None of these are inherently negative. In the context of species evolution, every behavior that survived has had value. It is only in the context of today’s complex, interdependent, and technologically capable world that they have become problematic. And it is only by means of social constructs and conventions that we keep them in check, or (more often) channel them into socially acceptable and even constructive directions. All modern societies are simply different models for doing this. An argument in favor of or against any individual model simply reflects the values and perspective of the commenter.

I would suggest that the U.S. constitution and the culture of tolerance and diversity it at least attempted to engender was perhaps the pinnacle of human social evolution. And, for all of its stumbles and mistakes and internal conflicts, the American Experiment has been arguably the most progressive (albeit, optimistic) and (thus far) successful attempt in history to comprehensively recognize and address the potential conflicts and pitfalls inherent in human nature.

But, in view of our current and worsening partisan divides, we may also be demonstrating the limits to which humans can coexist in a uniform society while still keeping our innate biological traits in check. It follows that current tensions on display are evidence that the patchwork of laws and social conventions we have used to coexist for 250 years is finally coming apart: too many people with competing values, a declining base of resources and jobs, too much change, and too much fear of the unknowns and uncertainties that change promises.

It is not unreasonable to think those seams could give way and the delicate web of societal constructs break. The final result is anyone’s guess, as is the time it would take to arrive there. But the interim promises violence, confusion, power struggles, economic chaos, class conflict, and general social disruption. And there is little chance the outcome would be better than what we have now.

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