> But rather than splitting up the populace in increasingly finer-grained ways, why don't we just do something to address the poverty in our society?
Because the actual specific dynamics are different for different parts of society; when you try to address the problem without regard to those differences, which tend to be very closely tied to identity because they are one of the things that forges shared identities, you end up addressing the broad problem in the way which address the way that problem manifests in the most dominant group primarily.
> I assume "the squad" knows how to use political power as well as Manchin,
Better, probably.
> but the fact that they don't
Uh, they do.
What they don't do is have the position Manchin (or Sinema) does by virtue of the 50-50 balance in the Senate, and the reliable support of Republicans when they oppose the rest of the Democratic Party.
Because the actual specific dynamics are different for different parts of society; when you try to address the problem without regard to those differences, which tend to be very closely tied to identity because they are one of the things that forges shared identities, you end up addressing the broad problem in the way which address the way that problem manifests in the most dominant group primarily.
> I assume "the squad" knows how to use political power as well as Manchin,
Better, probably.
> but the fact that they don't
Uh, they do.
What they don't do is have the position Manchin (or Sinema) does by virtue of the 50-50 balance in the Senate, and the reliable support of Republicans when they oppose the rest of the Democratic Party.