ABSTRACT
This chapter first looks at the evolution of one of our two political parties since the 1960s, as it moves ever more closely to creating a divisive culture. The original Verba and Almond (1963) participative model previously defined American civic culture in a way that needs to be thought about more carefully. We are no longer in their “participative democracy”: Instead, we are backsliding in a different direction. The advent of social, economic, and technological changes (as well as an authoritarian leader in the wings, with his supportive political party) may be edging the country ever more in the direction of authoritarian rule. The result could be increasing marginalization of minority groups, with serious impacts upon efforts to deal with an unending pandemic that impacts LGBTQIA+ people.
