Primates are social animals, not Steppenwolves wandering the social landscape totally isolated. We naturally assemble into groups with like interests and consequently similar behavior, and these groups often do have competing goals which often lead to conflict. The marketeers certainly know this, and spend a lot of time and money playing their demographic targeting games. Politicians certainly know this, too, and exploit it. But they didn't create it, they maneuver themselves to represent these groups.

What are liberals and conservatives, workers and employers, homeowners and renters, officers and enlisted men? Sure, there is mobility, and should be if we are not to live in a caste society. But we can't pretend that we are all rugged individualists and social isolates, And that the problem will all go away when we become solely responsible for our fates solely due to our own efforts. We can't all be cowboys. In fact, there are damn few of them left.

Go to a city council meeting and tell me there are no classes. And I mean in the audience, not on the Board.