Not since the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War have our homes and our lives been so fraught with political charge.

One look at Facebook shows just how deeply politics has invaded our homes and personal lives. It’s everywhere. From cable news to periodicals, no one can escape the rampant reports of lawyers, senators, secretaries, and yes, the president. Trump tweeted this, Mueller said that, Melania did the unthinkable. Gasp.

These days, it’s immigration. Last month, it was gun control. Last year, it was Russian collusion mixed with sexual assaults, followed by #MeToos. Before that, it was the most divisive and angry campaign season to date. Maybe that’s where it started, or maybe it’s been a long time coming. Either way, we now live in the most politically charged reality in 45 years. This charge accompanies – or perhaps is driven by – the dramatic polarization that has risen without our knowing and is only bound to get worse.

Heard of the echo-chamber effect? It’s where “ideas or beliefs are amplified or reinforced by communication and repetition inside a defined system.” A “defined system” could be a social media platform, a news agency, a church or even a political party. Especially a political party.

We humans are tribal creatures. We’re clicky, prone to gather in groups with other like-minded individuals. This habit of ours has bred all sorts of organizations, giving each its unique cultural flavor, and while efforts can be made to diversify the beliefs and ideas within a group, such efforts are a death blow to the political party.

Each party is bound to the promotion and success of its agenda. The more in-house people who share the same beliefs, the better. And if those people are passionate? Better still. If too many people don’t support the agenda, the party loses steam, and thus, loses life. Therefore, it’s in the party’s best interest to have as many passionate people as possible share the same beliefs. Instant echo chamber. With built-in amps and subwoofers.

What we’re seeing now is what’s crept up on us while we have been unaware, and it’s about to devour us while we watch. It’s like the sun going down. At first, your eyes don’t notice it. By the time they do, the dark is all around you, and you forgot your flashlight.

The two-party system – that thing that was supposed to be a check against oligarchical oppression – has become a pair of megaphones aimed at each other in a perpetual shouting match, their clamor overflowing its banks, spawning anger and even hatred in those whom it ensnares.

Heard of the echo-chamber effect? It’s where “ideas or beliefs are amplified or reinforced by communication and repetition inside a defined system.” A “defined system” could be a social media platform, a news agency, a church or even a political party. Especially a political party.

We humans are tribal creatures. We’re clicky, prone to gather in groups with other like-minded individuals. This habit of ours has bred all sorts of organizations, giving each its unique cultural flavor, and while efforts can be made to diversify the beliefs and ideas within a group, such efforts are a death blow to the political party.

Each party is bound to the promotion and success of its agenda. The more in-house people who share the same beliefs, the better. And if those people are passionate? Better still. If too many people don’t support the agenda, the party loses steam, and thus, loses life. Therefore, it’s in the party’s best interest to have as many passionate people as possible share the same beliefs. Instant echo chamber. With built-in amps and subwoofers.

What we’re seeing now is what’s crept up on us while we have been unaware, and it’s about to devour us while we watch. It’s like the sun going down. At first, your eyes don’t notice it. By the time they do, the dark is all around you, and you forgot your flashlight.

The two-party system – that thing that was supposed to be a check against oligarchical oppression – has become a pair of megaphones aimed at each other in a perpetual shouting match, their clamor overflowing its banks, spawning anger and even hatred in those whom it ensnares.