America's post-pandemic political shift to the right

The Hill ^ | May 5, 2020 | Grady Means

[betty boop]

The coronavirus has led to the greatest economic catastrophe in our lifetimes. Record losses in the market, record bankruptcies, record unemployment and, soon, record insolvency of local governments. This social and economic firestorm will lead to massive shifts in political alignment. The question is, which way will politics shift this year and over the next several years?

Powerful arguments can be made on all sides. But a few factors are worth considering.

[IrishBrigade]

‘Please name any crisis that resulted in less power accruing to government.’

there probably is an example somewhere in the annals of history; but off the top of my head, can’t think of one...

[betty boop]

‘America, in general, is center left and quite feminized, currently.’

How astute of you to notice the "feminization" angle. The Feminist Movement has profoundly transformed traditional American culture. We are living in what the author John Fowles called "an Eve-flavored age." Think about the ramifications of that.

Plus where have all the MEN gone? It seems 'way too many have allowed themselves to be "denatured" by irrational, power-hungry females.

[IrishBrigade]

‘If Trump can run against Joe Biden he will win in a walk.’

but we all know he isn’t running against Biden; he’s running against biden’s running mate...Joe’s only purpose is to win more votes than Trump, which he can certainly do; once elected, he will be like the post stroke Woodrow Wilson, a figurehead waiting to die or become incapcitated...

[SauronOfMordor]

The job of universities used to be to ensure that somebody coming out with a degree was somebody who could think, analyze, research, and apply logic.

They do not appear to be doing that any more. They have dispensed with any pretense of having quality control for their products. What’s needed is some other way to measure intellectual quality.

[IrishBrigade]

‘How astute of you to notice the “feminization” angle.’

thanks, but another poster noted that; I only responded to it...

[1Old Pro]

We'll see, the arguments make sense however there are many whackjobs in government and on the Left that will make any shift harder.

Bottom line, sometimes the laws of nature must take over and we simply have to stop this nonsense overspending, money doesn't grow on trees. If that is true, then the shift to conservative spending is inevitable - can't balance budgets based on fuzzy math and pie in the sky defined benefit payouts.

[ScottinVA]

I disagree; America is center-left and turning bluer.

[Salvey]

where have all the MEN gone?

And where have all the warriors in the military gone?

[redangus]

Single moms, Ritalin and Adderall and soy containing products everywhere inclouding baby formula.

[ScottinVA]

Ew. That involves touching liberals. Icky.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Reject Socialism, liberal tyranny and the Corrupt Democratic Party. Trump Landslide! Only a rejection of the Left will save us.

[nathanbedford]

Historically, vice presidential selections have not turned elections. Sarah Palin could not do it. A vice presidential pick can hurt, as did the senator who needed electric shock treatments but on the whole the vice presidential candidate is a placeholder.

I understand that this might very well be different because Biden is certainly different. But what an odd sell to the voter to argue that the man who's going to be president on your vote is not the one who will act as president because he is incompetent.

Michelle Obama is perhaps the only possible candidate who could break this rule because she would certainly deliver the black vote and that has become the staple of the Democrat party. But the party now must also land the Hispanics and educated white suburban women. Hispanics are vulnerable to Trump and suburban women must certainly have 2nd thoughts about Biden's sexual proclivities enough, perhaps, to take the edge off that block for the Democrats.

No other Democrat comes to mind with the charisma to take over the Democrat campaign from the 2nd slot. Not Cuomo, not any of the women who ran for the nomination, not Cory Booker who might try to do the same for the ticket that Michelle Obama is believed to be capable of doing, not any Democrat senator or governor that I can think of. Remember, it must be someone with real charisma to reshape the role of the candidate for vice president so that it dominates the election.

I still think the coronavirus is the only thing that will defeat Trump.

[Oatka]

[Reily]

I don’t think black men will be all that enthused about Michelle. Black women yes, black men no, suburban white women who think Kwanza’s real yes, but they’re voting Rat anyway!

[sergeantdave]

“America, in general, is center left and quite feminized, currently.”

Actually, it’s not. But people who immerse themselves in and wallow in the Nazi media propaganda will believe that down is up and black is white.

[ScottinVA]

Reject Socialism, liberal tyranny and the Corrupt Democratic Party.

Well, I'm certainly down with that... but we need the majority, and we're moving further from that.

[trebb]

And the rest of us must redouble our efforts to ensure Trump gets a second term...I started monthly donations to him 2 months ago...

[A_perfect_lady]

Corporations may choose to simply expand their in-house training and education systems to develop the precise type of employees they need. Trade schools, also online, may expand. Many failing science and engineering schools may try to “monetize” and attempt to incubate their ideas and developments into profitable businesses. A more pragmatic and isolated student population may become aligned with majors that lead to good jobs. Liberal arts almost certainly will suffer in higher education settings. The ultra-liberal, socialist education engine may finally hit a wall.

Oh, please, please, please... let it be so.

[betty boop]

I disagree; America is center-left and turning bluer.

Just a minor quibble, ScottinVA. I draw a distinction between "America" and "American government."

Certainly it's true that the present government is 'way left-of-center, increasingly "blue"; and it has been for years. But I do not believe that "America," if by which you mean We the People, is center-left and turning blue. I believe that culturally, the vast majority of the American people are center right, and (regardless of party registration), tend to a generically "conservative" cultural, constitutional and economic point of view, for the simple reason that they have not lost their common sense, their sense of moderation, prudence, personal restraint and responsibility in social affairs.

It does seem true that they have lost traction in political effectiveness over the past few decades. This has been a slow but steady trend promoted by the Progressive Left; but for there to have been any "progress" along these lines, it is due to the fact that the Progressive Left systematically, deliberately lies, cheats, steals, and foments chaos as the methods of their political advancement.

But the "silver lining" of the coronavirus panic (hoax???) is that increasingly, the character and tactics of the Progressive Left (not to mention their ineptness and fecklessness) are surfacing, becoming visible to the American people. The results of their ideological commitments can readily be seen in the scandalous mismanagement and bankruptcy of the Democrat-governed "Blue states." Just check out what asses like Andrew Cuomo, and the governors Pritziker, Newsom, and that idiot in Michigan what's-her-name to name a few, have managed to achieve with their style of "governance": blight, bankruptcy, class warfare, social dislocation, and fear.

I live in the bluest of blue states, Massachusetts. The state has been Left Progressive (and Puritan) for decades now, and corrupt from top to bottom. Even when we elect Republican governors, they govern like Left Progressives — c.f. Romney and Baker. The state seems to be run by a gaggle of weak-minded females. All they care about is "women's 'issues'," hatred of Trump, and Me-tooism (except when it's inconvenient). Everything here culturally is shaped by Left Progressivism and its subbranch, Feminism.

But somehow, I survived the brain-washing. And — miracle of miracles!!! — more and more people I talk to here are seeing what a fraud Massachusetts is perpetrating on her people. Even long-time Democrats and "minorities." (They aren't "minor"!) How much contempt for the Constitution — federal and state — the Massachusetts political class has, although each and every elected or appointed official has sworn an Oath of Office to support and defend same in order to take and hold office.

The people are culpable for not holding their elected "leaders" accountable, and not punishing them for misdeeds by removing them from office or some other suitable means. But, unlike the Progressive Left, who spend all their time organizing and proselytizing to the under-educated, the people have lives to live, families to care for, and work to do. They haven't got the leisure to make a full-time career out of politics, social reconstruction, and "the transvaluation of values."

Yet as things crumble all around them due to the coronavirus panic, increasingly they will be asking who is to blame. The Progressive Left will do everything in their power to lay the blame at Trump's feet.

But as Lincoln said, "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time; but you can't fool all of the people all of the time."

In the end, I trust in the common sense of the American people, and their genuine love for their country.

If indeed the people's common sense should fail, I believe We the People would be doomed.

And then you would be right, ScottinVA!

Thank you so much for writing!

[one guy in new jersey]

“I’ve always said that Donald Trump’s true opponent in this election is the coronavirus.”

Don’t mean to be a stickler, NB, but since exactly when have you always said this?