Brian M Downing
The politics and temperament of the emerging left-of-center majority are in place. There of course is no guarantee that they will be the same in a decade or so but a spirit of reconciliation or even civility isn’t likely to emerge, let alone prevail. The object of politics now is not to correct opponents or win them over but to destroy them. That goes for all sides.
Present context
Americans were once united by belief in their institutions, history, place in the world, and basic moral principles. Politics took place within that environment. That weakened significantly in the post-WW2 decades of impermanent residences and material prosperity and was gravely damaged by the turmoil of the Vietnam War and Watergate scandals.
Most Americans have grown up in center-less, antagonistic culture, without grounding in history or civics and free of national obligations. American life has become egocentric, coarse, and belligerent. Attention is not on continuity between past and present but to breaking the burdens of the past, which are seen as essentially bigoted, chauvinistic, oppressive, and elitist.
An otherwise atomized youth cohort is finding community and meaning in righting all wrongs and creating a new society.
Moral imperatives
Animating the emerging illiberal majority are dangers and crises that cannot be tolerated any longer. They call for an uncompromising approach and extraordinary measures. Norms, laws, precedents, and constitutional provisions are obstacles that have lost their hold. Concerted action can overwhelm them.
The critical importance of climate change has been widely accepted by scientists for years yet the political response has been paltry. The issue is becoming more than a national issue. International support for immediate action makes the domestic movement stronger and more uncompromising. The use of fossil fuels must be curtailed and replaced by renewable sources. The consequences of failure have suddenly gone from harsh weather and rising seas to the extinction of humankind.
Gun violence trailed off for many years but has recently risen. More importantly though, mass shootings are salient in the news, especially when they take place in schools. Pew Research shows a sharp increase in support for gun control and declining support for gun rights. Some politicians are calling for buyback programs, others for confiscation. That would be met with determined opposition in many parts of the country but that is of no concern to the emerging majority.
Anti-tradition cycle
The 1920s and 1960s saw great turmoil and disaffection with prevailing norms as protests over racial injustice and sexual harassment swell and bring other causes into the movement.
The present administration’s insensitivities have brought conservative principles – market forces, acceptable or inevitable inequalities, tax structure, traditional religion – under increased criticism. Policies and positions aside, the administration defends foreign adversaries, issues statements that are false or misleading, and demonstrates little knowledge of world politics and domestic norms. The administration is becoming a proxy for all conservatism.
Critical voices come from within conservatism but most of the right rallies to the administration’s defense. They do so in the belief that if the president goes down, through electoral or legal processes, they will soon follow. The process is underway and the lines are being drawn.
© 2019 Brian M Downing
Brian M Downing is a national security analyst who’s written for outlets across the political spectrum. He studied at Georgetown University and the University of Chicago, and did post-graduate work at Harvard’s Center for International Affairs. Thanks as ever to Susan Ganosellis.
Brian M Downing is a national security analyst who’s written for outlets across the political spectrum. He studied at Georgetown University and the University of Chicago, and did post-graduate work at Harvard’s Center for International Affairs. Thanks as ever to Susan Ganosellis.