Mostly, in-groups exist to be recognized by out-groups. It does seem to validate them on one level or another.

Politically, the system comes down to doing and saying just about anything to secure the all-powerful individual's VOTE in a given election. If ten million people vote for a stupid and completely wrong-headed thing, and 1000 people make the intellectually proper assumption, the people who are wrong get their way---and it IS the law.

Both, or all, of the various positions taken represent the the heartfelt feelings -- of one WE or another!

'Tis a quandary decidedly NOT to be wished---on anyone. And still, it is the best of all possible options if FREEDOM for the various peoples involved is to be respected and taken into account as the ideal for all.

Watch out for the tyrany of the WE!!

Just a thought or two.

Art