frustration seems to give rise to extreme polarization.

Conservative or Liberal are labels for the philosophical tendencies of individuals and extend to the political associations they make.

When these labels have a life of their own, and begin to define the people in these association, and those people enbrace the lable---then the polarization occurs that cancels legitimate thought. Slogans substitute for reasoned discourse, and the "faith" becomes something to be defended.
This, of course, explains your series of on-going apologies for Preznit Bush
and the mis-steps of his failed administration of Retardlicans.

See what I mean?