Lords of the Flies

As the controversy swirling around Senate candidate Roy Moore intensifies, it would seem that a strong strain of tribalism has come into play.   For Moore partisans, it would seem that unless his accusers of pedophilia can produce a tape showing the actual moment of unlawful contact between him and a 14 year old girl, there is no crime.  Probably there are a few republicans who would even argue against charges in that event.  Similarly, a reporter contacted people in Johnstown, Pa. who voted for Trump a year after the election to see if they had changed their minds.  When first interviewed, these mostly lower middle class whites were skeptical of Trump, but were ready to give him a chance to make their lives better.  Fast forward and the same people who set a time limit of 3-6 months to show results now say all that doesn't matter.  When pressed, they admit the attraction of Trump is he gives them permission to hate.   That seems to be what their lives have devolved to in 2017.   The fact his declared policies would actually make their lives worse means little or nothing to them compared to the opportunity to yell at black NFL players who kneel to protest racial injustice.  Roy Moore is tapping into a similar well of tribalism.  It is a dark road we are travelling and unless the citizens of Alabama choose to shine a light on Dec. 12, it will get darker still.  The title of this post refers to the William Goldman novel about the travails of a group of prep school boys marooned on an island with no adult supervision and the horrific society they develop on their own.  When I first read the book, I could barely believe the story was possible.  Now, not so much.  Piggies of the world, Unite!