Tom Ellis
Jul 7, 2022

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An interesting analysis, though I likewise question your hypothesis of genetic determinism (based on a mere 10,000 years out of the (roughly) 200,000 to 1 million years of our current human genome.) I think the correlations you propose are more easily explained (following Occam’s razor) by lifestyle: farmers live isolated lives, and therefore have more closely knit communities and inherently fear and distrust outsiders—whether ethnic, social, or religious. This lifestyle predisposes them to conservative politics and the toxic allure of demagogues (like Trump) who champion them as “real Americans” and demonize the outsiders…

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Tom Ellis
Tom Ellis

Written by Tom Ellis

I am a retired English professor now living in Oregon, and a life-long environmental activist, Buddhist, and holistic philosopher.

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