One of my pet theories (and I was saying this years before talk of "education polarization" became a big thing) is that the sides in politics have become what they were in school: the Tough Kids versus the Smart Kids. And conservatism has become the Tough Kids claiming that they're being bullied by the Smart Kids. Isn't it ironic, don't you think.
"Tough kids" and "smart kids"? You've overlooked the hippies and the goths -- and plenty of other subcultures and individuals that don't suit your binary formulation.
As for the supposed irony of the Tough Kids claiming that they're being bullied by the Smart Kids? What, then, do you make of the situation in San Francisco, where "Progressives" have branded Tech Bros (the Smart Kids?) as bullies who've destroyed the city's bohemian (as well as working-class) character?
And it's not even THAT simple: To a significant degree, those Tech Bros are more like Frat Boys than Smart Kids -- and the bohemians and [a highly diverse array of] working stiffs are all over the (political and cultural) map.
Interesting parallel that seems to have some truth to it. But, perhaps, some myth to it as well. The odd thing is that the Left has been winning the culture war against the “bullies” for over 60 years, we’ve won overwhelmingly, and we’ve not been exactly gracious or humble about it. Perhaps politics is not like the playground where muscle has the advantage. But that might be what you mean by "ironic."
Have the Smart Kids been worse about being sore winners that the Tough Kids are about being sore losers? I don't think so. The Tough Kids *really* don't want to accept the possibility that Smart Kid values might have defeated Tough Kid values in the marketplace of ideas fair and square. It's too humiliating to think that these nerds who they should be beating up might have won their cultural clout legitimately; they *must* have cheated. Thus they get more and more dependent on conspiracy theories, even if they're as ridiculous as QAnon or birtherism.
A very good summary of the myths, so prevalent in American politics that I have totally despaired of even arguing with people who hold them. The worst comes when you are confronted with an upper-middle-class white liberal in a very affluent neighborhood arguing that Republicans are the party of rich white people. However, I want to hear more about the cultural dynamics that are not limited to the US. Working-class people all around the West are embracing the populist right. This is a stunning reversal from the century of left politics. So why?
This is a terrific piece, perhaps not so much for its debunking of these two myths, which I think most of us understand, but for some really clear and persuasive stats. That’s what we (the Persuasion Community) need to Fight the Good Fight!
“Democrats now hold nearly 2/3 of all House seats with above-median incomes, and Republicans hold nearly 2/3 with below-median incomes.”
That’s the kind of fact we can remember, and it’s so dramatic that it can produce the cognitive dissonance needed to wake someone up. It will be useful for at least a few years.
Unfortunately, substacks bury these things quickly. We need to work around that and compile these where they are easily accessible. Could you help with that? Or could we help you with that?
On Myth 1 (2nd half): “This looming dominance of the left helps to explain why Republicans are so scared of immigration.” Taken literally, you nailed this. But, what do you think about the more interesting possibility: “The *Myth* of looming left dominance helps explain …” If you’re right that these myths are widespread, that should be true!
On Myth 2: “Rich Republican, Working class Dems.” You might point out that your view was already making headlines in 1970 with the Hard Hat Riot in NY, which beat up college-student peaceniks, and got the hard hats invited to Nixon’s White House. Then 1972 was the first, and only time, a majority of union families voted Republican. Myth 2 seems particularly hard to kill. It’s like one of Krugman’s Zombie Ideas.
Hi Yascha -- interesting views - and could be thought to be legitimate info - if you backed it up by naming and verifying your sources.
Being an outsider looking in - especially from the other side of the World - using it's news sources along with the Net -- without naming the sources so they can be vetted --"doesn't get it - where 'Facts' matter".
Also - and I hope that you bring the subject up - because it has never has happened in American politics before -- is the total capitulation of the Republican Party - into a cult - where total fabrication / lies are the norm - and they don't care - having given up on everything - to worship Trump.
It is across all demographics - and if you don't factor it in -- your only writing opinion- so far.
I hope you take what is here "to heart" - because it counts to veracity.
80 years of being on the rock we all live on - is my verification of he above - it's called experience.
Yes, terrific writing and terrifying conclusions. The attack on whiteness has little demographic sense or substance. Lumping Asians in with African Americans is like saying Arsenal and Chelsea fans are blood brothers.
It is shocking to see how these specious narratives can take control of the media.
Keep on exposing the truth, Yascha. Demolish the narratives that are dividing the nation.
It is really funny reading this and recognizing the tap-dance around just admitting that Democrats are the party of the upper class and wealthy elite, and the Republican party is now the party of the working middle class. Just admit it and move on . org.
"Progressives usually dismiss these trends; after all, as they rightly point out, the policies Trump actually pursued while in office usually favored the rich and large corporations over the economic interests of working-class voters."
A big fat lie repeated makes it a bigger and fatter lie.
First, most qualified and non-partisan economists have admitted that the Trump tax cuts did more for the working class and minority Americans that any other tax cut.
Second, and this is even more important, DEMOCRATS ARE WORSE THAT LIARS ABOUT THIS... THEY ARE INTELLECTUALLY DISHONEST BECASUE THEY KNOW THAT WITH OUR PROGRESSIVE INCOME TAX SYSTEMS INCOME TAX INCREASES ARE ALWAYS GOING TO CAUSE GREATER TAX LIABILITY TO HIGHER INCOME FAMILIES AND THUS TAX DECREASES ARE GOING TO RESULT IN GREATER TAX BENEFITS TO HIGHER INCOME FAMILIES. DEMOCRATS LIE TO HAVE THEIR CAKE AND EAT IT TO. PASS A FLAT TAX AND THEN IF A TAX INCREASE FAVORS THE HIGHER INCOME FAMILIES DEMOCRATS WOULD JUSITIFIED IN THEIR CLAIMS.
A flat tax? Instead, how about keeping taxes high on the higher brackets (say, over $250k/year) -- while eliminating loopholes -- and cutting taxes for those further and further below?
If you've got a problem with that, I've got an oligarchy to sell you.
One of my pet theories (and I was saying this years before talk of "education polarization" became a big thing) is that the sides in politics have become what they were in school: the Tough Kids versus the Smart Kids. And conservatism has become the Tough Kids claiming that they're being bullied by the Smart Kids. Isn't it ironic, don't you think.
"Tough kids" and "smart kids"? You've overlooked the hippies and the goths -- and plenty of other subcultures and individuals that don't suit your binary formulation.
As for the supposed irony of the Tough Kids claiming that they're being bullied by the Smart Kids? What, then, do you make of the situation in San Francisco, where "Progressives" have branded Tech Bros (the Smart Kids?) as bullies who've destroyed the city's bohemian (as well as working-class) character?
And it's not even THAT simple: To a significant degree, those Tech Bros are more like Frat Boys than Smart Kids -- and the bohemians and [a highly diverse array of] working stiffs are all over the (political and cultural) map.
Too many "pet theories" on how to herd cats! ;-)
Interesting parallel that seems to have some truth to it. But, perhaps, some myth to it as well. The odd thing is that the Left has been winning the culture war against the “bullies” for over 60 years, we’ve won overwhelmingly, and we’ve not been exactly gracious or humble about it. Perhaps politics is not like the playground where muscle has the advantage. But that might be what you mean by "ironic."
Have the Smart Kids been worse about being sore winners that the Tough Kids are about being sore losers? I don't think so. The Tough Kids *really* don't want to accept the possibility that Smart Kid values might have defeated Tough Kid values in the marketplace of ideas fair and square. It's too humiliating to think that these nerds who they should be beating up might have won their cultural clout legitimately; they *must* have cheated. Thus they get more and more dependent on conspiracy theories, even if they're as ridiculous as QAnon or birtherism.
A very good summary of the myths, so prevalent in American politics that I have totally despaired of even arguing with people who hold them. The worst comes when you are confronted with an upper-middle-class white liberal in a very affluent neighborhood arguing that Republicans are the party of rich white people. However, I want to hear more about the cultural dynamics that are not limited to the US. Working-class people all around the West are embracing the populist right. This is a stunning reversal from the century of left politics. So why?
This is a terrific piece, perhaps not so much for its debunking of these two myths, which I think most of us understand, but for some really clear and persuasive stats. That’s what we (the Persuasion Community) need to Fight the Good Fight!
“Democrats now hold nearly 2/3 of all House seats with above-median incomes, and Republicans hold nearly 2/3 with below-median incomes.”
That’s the kind of fact we can remember, and it’s so dramatic that it can produce the cognitive dissonance needed to wake someone up. It will be useful for at least a few years.
Unfortunately, substacks bury these things quickly. We need to work around that and compile these where they are easily accessible. Could you help with that? Or could we help you with that?
On Myth 1 (2nd half): “This looming dominance of the left helps to explain why Republicans are so scared of immigration.” Taken literally, you nailed this. But, what do you think about the more interesting possibility: “The *Myth* of looming left dominance helps explain …” If you’re right that these myths are widespread, that should be true!
On Myth 2: “Rich Republican, Working class Dems.” You might point out that your view was already making headlines in 1970 with the Hard Hat Riot in NY, which beat up college-student peaceniks, and got the hard hats invited to Nixon’s White House. Then 1972 was the first, and only time, a majority of union families voted Republican. Myth 2 seems particularly hard to kill. It’s like one of Krugman’s Zombie Ideas.
To Frank Lee -- there alwas has to be at least one "wing-nut".
Hi Yascha -- interesting views - and could be thought to be legitimate info - if you backed it up by naming and verifying your sources.
Being an outsider looking in - especially from the other side of the World - using it's news sources along with the Net -- without naming the sources so they can be vetted --"doesn't get it - where 'Facts' matter".
Also - and I hope that you bring the subject up - because it has never has happened in American politics before -- is the total capitulation of the Republican Party - into a cult - where total fabrication / lies are the norm - and they don't care - having given up on everything - to worship Trump.
It is across all demographics - and if you don't factor it in -- your only writing opinion- so far.
I hope you take what is here "to heart" - because it counts to veracity.
80 years of being on the rock we all live on - is my verification of he above - it's called experience.
Yes, terrific writing and terrifying conclusions. The attack on whiteness has little demographic sense or substance. Lumping Asians in with African Americans is like saying Arsenal and Chelsea fans are blood brothers.
It is shocking to see how these specious narratives can take control of the media.
Keep on exposing the truth, Yascha. Demolish the narratives that are dividing the nation.
It is really funny reading this and recognizing the tap-dance around just admitting that Democrats are the party of the upper class and wealthy elite, and the Republican party is now the party of the working middle class. Just admit it and move on . org.
"Progressives usually dismiss these trends; after all, as they rightly point out, the policies Trump actually pursued while in office usually favored the rich and large corporations over the economic interests of working-class voters."
A big fat lie repeated makes it a bigger and fatter lie.
First, most qualified and non-partisan economists have admitted that the Trump tax cuts did more for the working class and minority Americans that any other tax cut.
Second, and this is even more important, DEMOCRATS ARE WORSE THAT LIARS ABOUT THIS... THEY ARE INTELLECTUALLY DISHONEST BECASUE THEY KNOW THAT WITH OUR PROGRESSIVE INCOME TAX SYSTEMS INCOME TAX INCREASES ARE ALWAYS GOING TO CAUSE GREATER TAX LIABILITY TO HIGHER INCOME FAMILIES AND THUS TAX DECREASES ARE GOING TO RESULT IN GREATER TAX BENEFITS TO HIGHER INCOME FAMILIES. DEMOCRATS LIE TO HAVE THEIR CAKE AND EAT IT TO. PASS A FLAT TAX AND THEN IF A TAX INCREASE FAVORS THE HIGHER INCOME FAMILIES DEMOCRATS WOULD JUSITIFIED IN THEIR CLAIMS.
A flat tax? Instead, how about keeping taxes high on the higher brackets (say, over $250k/year) -- while eliminating loopholes -- and cutting taxes for those further and further below?
If you've got a problem with that, I've got an oligarchy to sell you.