Political polarization in America
From the comment thread of a favorite blog:
"I don't know whether a term like "centrist types" has much actual meaning in the current climate. If you're a progressive, you're very probably to the left of where you were just a couple of years ago. As a group, our presidential candidates certainly are. Individually, people like Biden and Warren have moved left. In the current climate, is Medicare for all who want it centrist? Free college for families whose annual income falls below a certain threshold — is that centrist? The top marginal rate on income proposed by Sanders is 52% — does that make him a centrist, since it's to the right of Dwight Eisenhower? Is every capitalist a centrist? Is Warren a centrist because she's not Sanders?
These labels seem dumb. And counterproductive. They don't capture the dynamic I see, the meaningful one, which is that there are two old men in the race with fervent supporters who want to tear stuff down. Take-no-prisoners followers. Too often angry and hostile. Eager to identify enemies and destroy them. More than that, more dangerous even than that, is the fundamentalism in both camps. Both groups have it all figured out. They've got all the answers. Make America White Again versus Look, It's An Oligarch, Let's Get Him!
Trumpism is the biggest threat the U.S. has faced since December 7, 1941. Trumpism is nihilism. Nothing exists except the will of Donald Trump and the dynasty he'd inaugurate if he could. You don't meet this threat by picking your own savior and turning over your mind to him. We meet the threat together with the mass resistance of people resolved to vindicate the rule of law and defend our democracy.
Everything else is just self-indulgence."
"I don't know whether a term like "centrist types" has much actual meaning in the current climate. If you're a progressive, you're very probably to the left of where you were just a couple of years ago. As a group, our presidential candidates certainly are. Individually, people like Biden and Warren have moved left. In the current climate, is Medicare for all who want it centrist? Free college for families whose annual income falls below a certain threshold — is that centrist? The top marginal rate on income proposed by Sanders is 52% — does that make him a centrist, since it's to the right of Dwight Eisenhower? Is every capitalist a centrist? Is Warren a centrist because she's not Sanders?
These labels seem dumb. And counterproductive. They don't capture the dynamic I see, the meaningful one, which is that there are two old men in the race with fervent supporters who want to tear stuff down. Take-no-prisoners followers. Too often angry and hostile. Eager to identify enemies and destroy them. More than that, more dangerous even than that, is the fundamentalism in both camps. Both groups have it all figured out. They've got all the answers. Make America White Again versus Look, It's An Oligarch, Let's Get Him!
Trumpism is the biggest threat the U.S. has faced since December 7, 1941. Trumpism is nihilism. Nothing exists except the will of Donald Trump and the dynasty he'd inaugurate if he could. You don't meet this threat by picking your own savior and turning over your mind to him. We meet the threat together with the mass resistance of people resolved to vindicate the rule of law and defend our democracy.
Everything else is just self-indulgence."
https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2019/12/america-in-2020-will-probably-rhyme-with-britain-in-2019/#comment-container
Welcome to blogging! I've added you to my morning reading list. Centrists DO still exist, but it's getting harder and harder to find them on the ballot. I miss Howard Baker, who knew that communication and collaboration is how things get accomplished.
ReplyDeleteThanks! And thanks for commenting!
DeleteI will vote for any Democrat against Trump. You are correct about the severity of
ReplyDeletehis threat to America.