The progress towards inclusiveness along racial and religious lines that seemed to be slowly happening is being tested. We are becoming more selective in our treatment and accommodation of various non-Caucasian and non-Christian groups, not based on good data but largely on fear. We seem to be trending toward racial, religious, and political purity.

Along with this is the loss of the political system’s ability to function as a real representation and governing body of the whole. We appear to be governing along a solely partisan agenda. This has left a lot of the people feeling disgusted with our political system and feeling irrelevant in any decisions.

For example, the recent health care bills included no Democratic amendments or input, unlike the Affordable Care Act with about 200 Republican amendments included. More people voted for the Democratic presidential candidate than the president, but no attempt was made to find a middle ground. That would have taken “regular order” and courage on the part of the Republican congressional people.

Countries around the world when descending into tribalism become dysfunctional and unstable over time. Are we heading in that direction with our Republican and Democratic divisions, white and minority divisions, paranoia and fear of differences in people who don’t look like, dress like, worship like or talk like what we define as normal. This is tribalism.

This president — in his verbal behavior, lack of historical perspective and expansive narcissism — seems to be trying to move us on that destructive path.