[nyokodo]

> We hold to tribes first, not beliefs.

By default yes, but we broadly overcome the default in many aspects of life so we should be collectively beating back political tribalism as much as possible. We’re not slaves to our basest instincts.

[monkeydreams]

> We’re not slaves to our basest instincts.

Individually, yes, but only in a limited fashion.

But with so many paths for tribalism, with each taking so much effort to bring under our conscious control, that the average person only seems to change the direction of their tribalism rather than bringing tribalism itself under control.

[nyokodo]

> in a limited fashion.

With the proviso that everything human is subject to limitation, I don’t accept the same degree of determinism that you appear to accept. An only marginally curtailed tribalism doesn’t resemble English Common Law, the Bill of Rights, the Geneva Convention etc, even in their imperfect implementations. We can do better and sure as heck don’t need to backslide.

[monkeydreams]

> I don’t accept the same degree of determinism that you appear to accept.

I have argued my point poorly, I think, to have left you with the sense I am throwing up my hands and saying fighting tribalism is pointless.

Probably a discussion for another day as I need to focus on work right now.

[senectus1]

We use beliefs to link tribes to a common cause.

A fantastic example of this is USA. so many different Abrahamic tribes all operating under the same beliefs to push a common social and political system.

Beliefs are earworms and dangerous.