Mindless sheep exist on both wings of the bird. I often criticize the Democrats for their far-left views, but we are now witnessing the dark side of blind party politics. The latest headlines surrounding Megyn Kelly state she would remain loyal to the Republican Party “even if Trump dropped a nuke on another country.” Independent thought is collapsing.
When you step back and look at the broader data, the American people themselves are not aligned with this type of blind loyalty. Poll after poll shows the opposite. A CNN poll found that 59% of Americans disapprove of military action against Iran. Reuters/Ipsos polling showed only 27% supported strikes, while far more opposed them. Another CNN survey shows just 34% approve of the war, with two-thirds believing there is no clear plan. Meanwhile, over 75% oppose sending ground troops, which is about as decisive as it gets in modern polling. Even more striking, a CBS poll found that 92% of Americans believe the war should end as quickly as possible.
So the people are not demanding war. The media, on the other hand, is fueled by partisan politics. Instead of thoughtful debate, we are seeing ideological entrenchment where individuals align themselves with a party to the point that they are unwilling to question anything that comes from their side. This is not confined to one party.
There are extreme Democrats who will support policies regardless of consequence simply because they oppose Republicans. There are extreme Republicans who will support actions regardless of consequence simply because they oppose Democrats. The middle ground, where independent thinking once existed, is being squeezed out. That is how societies break down.
When political identity replaces independent thought, you no longer have a functioning republic. You have factions. Each side becomes convinced that the other is so dangerous that anything is justified to stop them. That is precisely the mindset reflected in statements suggesting that even the destruction of another nation would not be enough to reconsider political allegiance. This is modern-day tribalism.
The Economic Confidence Model has always shown that political polarization rises sharply during periods of declining confidence in government. As trust erodes, people do not become more rational. They become more emotional and more extreme. They seek certainty in group identity rather than truth. That is what we are witnessing right now.
The irony is that while the political class continues to push conflict abroad, the population itself is clearly against it. The polls could not be more consistent. Americans do not want war. They do not want escalation. They do not want endless foreign entanglements. But leadership is no longer responding to the people.
When people stop questioning their own side and begin to justify anything simply because it aligns with their political identity, that is when a society becomes vulnerable to its own collapse. It no longer requires an external enemy. It begins to destroy itself from within.
This is why independent thinking is now more important than ever. Blind loyalty to any party is a detriment to society. It prevents accountability and reason. No one wants war. The data proves that. The real question is whether people are willing to think for themselves or continue to follow respective tribes wherever they are led.