... according to Robert B. Talisse, anyway. Though not, he adds, necessarily a conscious one.

This sounded ridiculous, but of these two American chains, which do you associate with liberals, and which with conservatives?

• Starbucks
• Dunkin' Donuts

• Sam's Club
• Costco

It was surprising to me, as a non-American who has never lived in America, that a) I immediately found that I did have strong conservative / liberal associations for the above chains, and that b) my feelings match those of the average American.

Talisse's point is that these allegiances are deliberately cultivated, and that this kind of tribalism is harmful to democracy.