Stupid Society Leads to Stupid Politics
This book, written by three moderate-conservative scholars, addresses the rise of Trump, the reasons behind his rise, and the issues to be addressed in dealing with it. According to the authors, Republican leaders have enabled Trump’s ascendancy—teaching their supporters to mistrust Washington and hate government while exploiting the Tea Party for electoral gain. Their rhetoric opened the way for Trump’s nihilism—establishing the tone for a rise in populism, nationalism, nativism, protectionism and a strong man-leader. Although Trump cast himself as an implacable opponent of powerful moneyed interests and as guardian of working people, his agenda is the opposite. Trump’s behavior is rooted in the evolving politics of the extremist Republican right, which has sustained an attack for decades on democratic norms. This norm breaking is part of the Republican right’s (and Trump’s) assault on our institutions as Trump meanders toward autocracy. According to the authors, the response to Trump will be found in efforts to forge a new economy, a new patriotism, a new civil society, and a new democracy. A new era of civic commitment is required to reverse the effects of Trumpism.
Trump’s rise reflects the radicalization of the Republican right’s leadership in tolerating and stoking the fires of resentment, conspiracy theorizing, and demonizing of opponents and the media. Creating the conditions that gave rise to Trump, the party establishment lost control of what they had created. By blurring the line between fact and falsehood, a despot may throw things into confusion—enabling him to ride the storm and direct the whirlwind. (Page 63)
Of particular concern to the authors is the violation of norms—defined as “a standard or pattern, especially of social behavior, that is typical or expected of a group.” (How a person is supposed to behave in a given social setting.) “Trump is the Normless President, and his ascendancy threatens to inspire a new wave of norm-breaking.” While Trumpism was seething beneath, the Republican right has been undercutting the norms of American politics for decades. George W. Bush, the Republican Party, and movement conservatism bulldozed the field for Trump without even knowing what they were doing.” (Page 70) “The election of Trump in 2016 represented the culmination of the GOP’s war against norms.” (Page 82) Decades of polarization, increasingly rancorous partisan warfare, and systematic campaigns to delegitimize government have eroded the ability of formal institutions to check executive abuses. “Trump’s denial of facts and his assault on the media appear part of a larger effort to suppress dissent, intimidate opponents, and sow confusion.” (Page 98) ‘The Trump administration’s efforts to weaken federal intelligence agencies and make them obedient to the White House have been advanced by the pro-Trump media’s embrace of a conspiratorial conception of a ‘Deep State.” (Page 115) Trumpism was idealized by Steve Bannon who identified three parts of the agenda: (1) national security and sovereignty (2) economic nationalism (3) the deconstruction of the administrative state. (Page 143)
“If the financial collapse and the subsequent bailout helped give birth to the Tea Party movement, a combination of fear, anger, and unease over cultural change fueled it and eventually led most of its supporters into the Trump orbit.” (Page 155) Cultural backlash is more important than economic discontent in determining support for right-wing populists. This attraction is due to ideological appeals to traditional values and concentrated among older generations, men, the religious, ethnic majorities, and less educated sectors of society. This dominance of culture over economics applies to support being seen for Trump. (Page 156) “Attitudes about race, religion, and immigration trump economics.” (Page 157) “Anxiety about cultural change was one key to Trump’s strength.” (Page 161) This is seen in the strong support for Trump among Christian evangelicals. (Page 164) Trumpian politics depends upon fanning grievance, not responding to it. The decline of civil society helped create the circumstances for Donald Trump’s rise. (Page 224) “A steep drop in civic participation has accompanied our diminishing faith in each other and in institutions.” (Page 226) Atomized individuals who felt disconnected from the political system and their communities are more likely to follow a despot like Trump. (Page 227) “The weakening of civic culture, the decline in social participation, and the crumbling of mutual trust began long before Trump’s rise, but all contributed to his success. Trump’s divisive approach to politics only widened this decline in civil society. (Page 229) ‘Trump’s rise was made possible by a long-term war on public life that cast public endeavor, the public sector, and public concerns as inferior to private striving and private interests.” (Page 287) The most disturbing aspect of Trumpism is its dark pessimism aboRead full review
Verified purchase: No
