Post by robeiae on Sept 17, 2019 8:08:49 GMT -5
Here: quillette.com/2019/09/16/understanding-americas-cultural-and-political-realignment/
Now, the piece integrates some Pew polling data with some *questionable* social theory from Ken Wilber, but I think still provides some insights (the conclusion in the piece is absolute rubbish, however). In particular, it separates out the Modern Right from the Postmodern Right in a way that makes a lot of sense to me, identifying the latter in a way that captures its support of Trump (support that is critical for Trump, imo), while also--perhaps unintentionally--distinguishing it from what was the core of the Tea Party movement:
In my view, members of this group might easily vote Dem in a given election--I'd wager that many, in fact, do vote Dem on down ballot races--if it wasn't for the current love affair the Dem leadership has with identity politics.
Now, the piece integrates some Pew polling data with some *questionable* social theory from Ken Wilber, but I think still provides some insights (the conclusion in the piece is absolute rubbish, however). In particular, it separates out the Modern Right from the Postmodern Right in a way that makes a lot of sense to me, identifying the latter in a way that captures its support of Trump (support that is critical for Trump, imo), while also--perhaps unintentionally--distinguishing it from what was the core of the Tea Party movement:
The group that is least understood in American politics is the Postmodern Right. While postmodernism on the Left focuses on the failure of modernity to address social justice in term of identity politics, the Postmodern Right questions the fundamental economic worldview of the Modern Right. In Pew’s survey, they show up as a new category named “Market Skeptic Republicans.”
Like those on the Postmodern Left, they share a strong skepticism of America exceptionalism, an overriding pessimism about the country, and they are critical of both political parties. They are the first ever “Republican-leaning group that is deeply skeptical of business and the fundamental fairness of the nation’s economic system.” They do not believe in lower taxes, which until recently defined the modern GOP, and they have an unfavorable view of banks and other financial institutions. Unlike other Republicans, Market Skeptic Republicans believe American capitalism is unfair, “an overwhelming share (94 percent) say the economic system unfairly favors powerful interests.”
The media often lumps them in as traditional conservatives because of their opposition to immigration. But that’s a mistake. They favor legal abortions in higher numbers than the Traditional Left Democrats, and they are the most secular of all Republican groups. They are also most interested in a white identity politics, mirroring those on the Left.
They are also the least loyal to the GOP. As Pew notes, “They stand out for their criticism of both political parties when it comes to caring about the middle class.” They hold a more favorable view of Donald Trump than most other Republican groups. Though not well known and ignored by the media, they are a larger voting group than the religious Right in the Republican Party, making up 10 percent of all engaged GOP voters.
Like those on the Postmodern Left, they share a strong skepticism of America exceptionalism, an overriding pessimism about the country, and they are critical of both political parties. They are the first ever “Republican-leaning group that is deeply skeptical of business and the fundamental fairness of the nation’s economic system.” They do not believe in lower taxes, which until recently defined the modern GOP, and they have an unfavorable view of banks and other financial institutions. Unlike other Republicans, Market Skeptic Republicans believe American capitalism is unfair, “an overwhelming share (94 percent) say the economic system unfairly favors powerful interests.”
The media often lumps them in as traditional conservatives because of their opposition to immigration. But that’s a mistake. They favor legal abortions in higher numbers than the Traditional Left Democrats, and they are the most secular of all Republican groups. They are also most interested in a white identity politics, mirroring those on the Left.
They are also the least loyal to the GOP. As Pew notes, “They stand out for their criticism of both political parties when it comes to caring about the middle class.” They hold a more favorable view of Donald Trump than most other Republican groups. Though not well known and ignored by the media, they are a larger voting group than the religious Right in the Republican Party, making up 10 percent of all engaged GOP voters.
In my view, members of this group might easily vote Dem in a given election--I'd wager that many, in fact, do vote Dem on down ballot races--if it wasn't for the current love affair the Dem leadership has with identity politics.