What is it about politics that makes people go insane?

I'd disagree that there's no other issue like politics: religion? It's probably even worse. :P And on that note, I'm not so sure with politics that it's so much about nationality (although I certainly believe it's a part, people want to feel *they're* the most supportive of their country), because religion, a similarly heated issue, transcends even national boundaries. I would say these issues are the closest things to a person's identity short of debating whether a person himself is good/bad. Sports teams, etc, just don't have the same weight, because you probably don't invest your "self" into those things. But many people do invest their "self" into politics and religion, some to the point that these issues seem to act as extensions of their personalities, so when those come under attack, those people see themselves and their value systems as under attack and get riled up in no time.

But I see those people as short sighted, 'cause letting politics and religion essentially merge with one's identity isn't something I see as a preferable course of action, quite frankly. I'd call it a sign of maturity to be able to be detached enough from these things to keep cool when such debates arise and keep it in perspective that your beliefs aren't you. When those two merge to a high degree is where you get people willing to blow themselves up over Allah, or Ideology XYZ.

Jam it back in, in the dark.