Unlike previous generations who grew up believing liberal democracy was the final political form, Gen Z entered a world with no clear answers. This void, combined with infinite internet access, fueled a competitive explosion of fringe ideologies as they searched for new models.

Economic policies benefiting older, asset-owning generations at the expense of younger ones are reshaping politics. The traditional left-right divide is becoming less relevant than the conflict between classes, which is highly correlated with age, creating unusual political alliances between formerly opposed groups.

Instead of incremental shifts around a moderate center (e.g., between 4 and 6 on a dial), US policy now swings violently between ideological extremes (3 and 9). This dynamic makes stable, consensus-based governance on issues like immigration nearly impossible.

The U.S. political landscape is increasingly adopting authoritarian rhetoric and tendencies. However, this shift comes without any of the supposed upsides of authoritarianism, such as hyper-efficient infrastructure or public order. The result is a dysfunctional "authoritarianism without the good stuff."

Political parties now adopt positions primarily to oppose their rivals, rather than from consistent principles. This is seen in the multiple reversals on COVID-19 policies and vaccines. When beliefs flip-flop based on the opponent's stance, the driving force is tribalism, not ideology.

As the general public tunes out of daily politics, the remaining participants are the most extreme, creating an "evaporative cooling" effect. This leaves a small, hyper-engaged, and radicalized group to dominate political platforms, distorting the perception of public sentiment.

The US has historically benefited from a baseline level of high competence in its government officials, regardless of party. This tradition is now eroding, being replaced by a focus on loyalty over expertise. This degradation from competence to acolytes poses a significant, underrecognized threat to national stability and global standing.

Recent election results reveal two distinct Americas defined by age. Younger voters are overwhelmingly rejecting the political establishment, feeling that policies created by and for older generations have left them with a diminished version of the country. This generational gap now supersedes many traditional political alignments.

The current level of hyper-partisanship is not a recent phenomenon but the culmination of a continuous, 40-year decline in public trust across all major institutions, including government, media, and church. Trust was significantly higher even during past national traumas like the assassinations of the 1960s and Watergate.