The election season has been bizarre to say the least. In a strange way, it's actually weaned me from my obsession. I *live* for election season. It's my favorite time of the year. I can't wait for Meet the Press, I get giddy when the debates are on. Everyone talks politics. Every paper is chock full of interesting articles, surveys, statistics .... It's like I've died and gone ...back to political science classes at Converse. But this year, I'm left disillusioned, confused, angry, frustrated and frankly detached. I've actually stopped reading. I've stopped analyzing it, making predictions (ok, so I do have one -- I think Chris Christie is going to make a come back and shock us all), and talking to anyone who will listen about my favorite candidate. I've lost hope...I couldn't even keep up my presidential candidate series on this blog. I actually felt like it didn't matter. For the first time, I'm let down by our political system. (For me, this is detached...I know, I am still way more involved than the average person. I was probably due for an intervention at some point). You see, even at our most dysfunctional, we were still America. We were still that city on a hill, a nation that stood for something. But now, now I feel like we are under attack. Our values are under attack -- ironically enough, by a group of people who are angry because they think
their homophobic, racist, radical values are under attack. Apparently, there's a significant portion of America that has lost its mind. Apparently, we're angry, and this anger has completely blinded us to the very principles that make us 'American'. We've realized that we aren't where we want to be in life, and somehow that is someone else's fault, not our own. Sure, the government has gummed up the cogs of productivity, and sure, it's time to clean house. If you want real change, then elect some rando to the Senate or the House. But this is the President we're talking about. THE. PRESIDENT. The person that represents us to the WORLD. The single most important to protect us from the goons with nuclear weapons.
Today on Morning Joe (what can I say old habits die hard...I'll never give up on Joe), the new Esquire poll was discussed. White men and women are the angriest people in this country - which is probably hysterical to everyone else in this country that doesn't fall into those two categories. (To read more about this survey click
here.) I recently came upon a National Journal article, and coupled with this survey, I've learned a lot about what seems to be the key to Donald Trump's success.
The National Journal posted an article by John B Judis discussing the "Return of the Middle American Radical" ... and I found some slight comfort in realizing that perhaps this crazy year is just somehow a normal part of our political ebb and flow. It's a long article, but I highly suggest you read it
here. If not you can just read my synopsis (and my opinions).
In 1971 Donald Warren conducted a survey finding that about a quarter of the electorate fell into a category he called the "Middle American Radical" that, "
was neither conventionally liberal nor conventionally conservative, but instead revolved
around an intense conviction that the middle class was under siege from
above and below" (National
Journal).
This group of people were predominantly not college
educated and held blue collar or low level white collar positions. For
the most part, these people felt as though the government favored the rich and
poor simultaneously, while leaving them out. They typically supported
government endeavors like medicare, price controls, and wage regulation (oddly
enough they also distrusted the government). On the other hand, they also held
rather conservative views on race and poverty. Over the last decades, this
sector has supported candidates like George Wallace, Ross Perot, and Pat
Buchannon. This summer these people, previously unorganized and (slightly) silenced, found their leader, and they have bubbled to the surface once again.
Surprisingly enough, most of their issues have stayed in tact over the decades. Illegal immigration is the new hot
button, replacing racist ideas of the 60s, albeit, it's now just another form
of racism. Trump's bombastic personality attracts these 'angry' radicals, and
his showmanship does feed their need for a forceful candidate to come to their
aid. It seems that unlike candidates like Bernie Sanders, who is garnering support based on
his [crazy stupid unsustainable] policies, Trump gains support in part by
personality, part from his policy, but mostly from his overall messaging. Trump
is a populist, painting himself as a knight on a white horse coming in to save
the day. He's going to save America from free trade agreements, a weak economy, China, and
illegal immigrants. He isn't necessarily the new wave of Republicanism, instead he's the result of the populist movement that I believe is pulling Republicans (approximately 30-35%) to the dark side. And, slowly, Democrats are coming too. If Trump's appeal only stays with this 'radical' middle America, he's looking at only about 20% of the electorate on a national scale [breathe a sigh of relief]. However, we've spent months waiting for this fire to subside and it hasn't. I have said for the last 16 years, that America is in need of a strong moderate leader (ahem, Mitt) that is able to govern from the center and cater to both sides. It was said that Clinton's move to the center in 1994 helped to eliminate the middle class radicals -- only to have them rear their heads again after 8 years of excruciating conservatism and similar years of liberalism.
Somehow in the midst of our anger, we have forgotten that our nation was not created on foundation of consensus, but one of compromise. Political parties have become hell bent on forcing its own will without any consideration for the other side. The last 16 years of our history have been wrought with bitter fights and numerous gridlocked shutdowns. The very quality that distinguishes America from the rest of the world is its ability to provide refuge for all, despite conflicting cultural, political, and religous viewpoints. That in spite of all of the very things that tear nations apart around the world, Americans are able to join together to create a national government of and by the people. The Middle American Radicals seem to have their knight in shining armor, but for the rest of us -- where is ours? (ahem, Mitt.)
