“Polarization” is perhaps the ultimate dirty word in America’s political lexicon.

Dire warnings about the rising polarization of American society have long been a staple of cable news commentary and newspaper op-ed sections, and politicians in both parties regularly vow to resist or reverse it. As a consequence, the idea that “divisive behavior” of any kind is inherently bad has become about as axiomatic as anything can be in American politics.

During a weekend appearance on CNN’s State of the Union alongside Jake Tapper, Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg became just the latest figure to trade in this all-too-familiar trope. Using much of the interview to contrast his strategy and policy aims with those of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren (the two candidates in the field running decidedly to his left) the mayor of South Bend made a banal but revealing remark: