So wait - after a respiratory virus, let's call it SARS-C, that killed > 10% (25/200 = 12.5%) of their population, they split into two major groups that are now at each other's throats, when before they had a generally-ok alliance / relationship?

Where have I seen this before.. Think.. Think..

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bad_username 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

No, the outright political warfare in the US you are alluding to began much earlier than 2020. Things were getting quite ulhealthy already back in 2015/2016, probably even earlier. The "black swan" for this deep division was (I believe) not the epidemic, but the proliferation of the smartphone and social media, and the earlier transitioning of traditional news to infotainment format.

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emilsedgh an hour ago | parent [-]

I'd attribute it to 2008 financial collapse, and in general, the pressure put on the middle class that began a decade earlier.

And I genuinely believe blaming things on social media and news is just a diversion so we wouldn't look at the main issue.

	▲	andrekandre 17 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		2008 was the big one, but i really think the ball started rolling after 9/11...
	▲	hammock an hour ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Knowing what we know now, imagine how much it would have accelerated back then if the elites hadn’t been able to smother out the Occupy movement. Wild to think about

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3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

[deleted]

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mckirk 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I mean, it's understandable; having to endure a lockdown _with_ Doordash was really rough on our civilization.

	▲	rustystump 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Ya, imagine not being able to pay for the doordash because your job was nonessential. Real rough indeed being hungry.