It's good to see an article point out that liberals do not "ahkshully believe" anything. So many of the big twitter brand accounts spent a lot of time and energy insisting that there was some kind of consistent ideology behind their actions.
For the ones at the top, it's the sadism of a tribe of megalomaniacal neurotics who have to terrorize the occupied population constantly to convince themselves there's no potential for a revolt. For the ones at the bottom, it's cravenness, coupled with the vicarious feeling of power they get from being the regime's pet tattletales, and snitching on a grandma for walking around in the Capitol. There's no higher-order thought process at play, they're just animals.
I enjoyed the essay but I have to say I’m very skeptical Trump, even with the best intentions (which he likely has) and strong political discipline (which he clearly lacks), could materially alter the system. The state’s bureaucracy is implacably hostile to him and he is, by nature, more a talker than a doer.
I agree though that liberals are discomfited (‘terrified’ maybe too strong a word) more by what he represents than what he is. Namely, the rejection of multi-culti, rainbow nation, Right Side of History progressivism. The material welfare of their system depends almost wholly on straight white men behaving as they’ve always done: loyal, patriotic, honest. If those people as a group come to believe that the system does not represent their interests and is largely illegitimate, the post-war consensus is shattered and all manner of things move into the realm of possibility. Will they so come to believe? We’ll find out together, I guess!
It's good to see an article point out that liberals do not "ahkshully believe" anything. So many of the big twitter brand accounts spent a lot of time and energy insisting that there was some kind of consistent ideology behind their actions.
For the ones at the top, it's the sadism of a tribe of megalomaniacal neurotics who have to terrorize the occupied population constantly to convince themselves there's no potential for a revolt. For the ones at the bottom, it's cravenness, coupled with the vicarious feeling of power they get from being the regime's pet tattletales, and snitching on a grandma for walking around in the Capitol. There's no higher-order thought process at play, they're just animals.
I enjoyed the essay but I have to say I’m very skeptical Trump, even with the best intentions (which he likely has) and strong political discipline (which he clearly lacks), could materially alter the system. The state’s bureaucracy is implacably hostile to him and he is, by nature, more a talker than a doer.
I agree though that liberals are discomfited (‘terrified’ maybe too strong a word) more by what he represents than what he is. Namely, the rejection of multi-culti, rainbow nation, Right Side of History progressivism. The material welfare of their system depends almost wholly on straight white men behaving as they’ve always done: loyal, patriotic, honest. If those people as a group come to believe that the system does not represent their interests and is largely illegitimate, the post-war consensus is shattered and all manner of things move into the realm of possibility. Will they so come to believe? We’ll find out together, I guess!
so you think heritage foundation staffers are gonna do TND or just reagan 2
Great article!