Political scientist says current polarization leads to distrust, abandoning norms

 

To many, the January 6th riot at the Capitol underscored the polarization in today's political climate. 

In an interview with ABC57 NightTeam anchor Tim Spears, Steven Webster, author of "American Rage: How Anger Shapes Our Politics", said the current political climate actively lowers trust in government and causes voters to abandon traditional democratic norms. 

"So, one of those norms is accepting people with different points of view," Webster said. "Increasingly, Americans see those who disagree with themselves as opponents to be defeated, rather than people who have different opinions."

Watch their full discussion, here: