> From the outside looking in, American politics has long since ceased being about policy and ideas, it is now a contest of identity
Lay political discourse (and especially partisan media) does frequently fit the description of identity banners and other tribal + value markers.
But it's also very, very wrong to say that politics has ceased being about policy and ideas. It is definitely true that there are marked differences between policy goals advanced by parties (and sometimes individuals within). And it's not exactly rare that you can find lay participants who have a policy or ideas that are important to them.
Lay political discourse (and especially partisan media) does frequently fit the description of identity banners and other tribal + value markers.
But it's also very, very wrong to say that politics has ceased being about policy and ideas. It is definitely true that there are marked differences between policy goals advanced by parties (and sometimes individuals within). And it's not exactly rare that you can find lay participants who have a policy or ideas that are important to them.