The chorus of accusations, doubts, blame, accusations and indictments was deafening. The results of the 2024 elections are visible and understandable to all of us. To our collective credit, this time we were spared the spectacle of a tantrum-throwing loser refusing to accept the verdict of the electorate. Things might have been different if Donald Trump had lost again.
When looking for the reasons for his victory, these seem to be among the most prominent:
1. The Impact of Inflation on American Households.
2. The Democrats' failure to connect their working-class history and program with the majority of working-class voters.
3. The specter of hordes of immigrants invading our country and changing its face.
4. The elitism associated with Democrats is reflected in the stark divide between college-educated voters and other voters who view themselves as victims.
5. Gender and racial bias that helped defeat a woman of color.
6. The unpopularity of the incumbent.
7. The vice president's unusually short campaign calendar.
8. Appeals to gender-based fears.
9. Exploiting resentment and anger over joy and inclusion.
These are presented, among other things and in no particular order, to justify the election of a twice-indicted, convicted felon who faced conviction for his crimes, a large civil penalty for sexual assault, and charges in two criminal cases, one for theft of government documents and the other for encouraging, if not inciting, insurrection against our government.
This litany does not even reflect the beliefs of Trump's colleagues and former Cabinet members. To just stop and think about the scale and depth of the immorality and corruption associated with this life story suggests that something deeply disturbing has happened in this country.
Although the current economic climate was crucial in the eyes of many, I am reminded of Thomas Frank's observations in his 2004 book “What's the Matter With Kansas?”
Frank attempted to explain the puzzling discrepancy between the working class vote for a candidate whose party platform advocated economic policies at odds with working class interests, even though the other party's program was more aligned with working class interests. In the context of today's politics, why does a working-class voter believe that a party led by a billionaire like Elon Musk and committed to tax cuts for the wealthiest and corporations would have compassion for their circumstances? Such an orientation is more than counterintuitive; it is irrational.
The response to this seemingly misguided alliance will be crucial for Democrats. On the face of it, it is completely understandable that the effects of inflation would encourage many voters to oppose the ruling party. For better or worse, the Biden administration was perceived as the culprit (and blamed by the Republican Party). A vote for change and against the status quo could improve the financial situation of ordinary Americans. That much makes sense.
However, beneath this superficial analysis lies the reality that the change sought is not the change supported by the Republican Party. Expanding tax credits for the wealthy, cutting corporate taxes, and imposing inflationary tariffs are, in theory, all that working-class voters would reject. So what's there? Were such voters sold something through effective messaging? Were they unaware or unaware of Musk's influence on Trump's global economic agenda? Or did they disregard the importance of economic policy for their lives?
There is no denying that the right-wing media has been extremely successful in linking the apparent cause of inflation to the Democrats' programs while ignoring the economic agenda of a Trump administration. It is equally undeniable that the Harris campaign has been unable to counter this narrative and expose their opponent's true economic agenda. The result was that many working-class voters ignored the Republican Party's underlying economic philosophy and voted instinctively on kitchen table realities.
In the context of this vacuum, the party could stoke the anger and resentment caused by immigration policy, confusion over gender, racial issues, public education and women's health issues.
Democrats have failed to engage sufficiently with working-class voters to win their support for policies more aligned with their interests than the Republican platform. That much is clear. To do this, they must take responsibility and take action to reverse this irrationality, rather than simply assuming that people will look beyond the barrage of misinformation.
Democrats are blamed for the chaos, and it is better to disrupt the resulting order than to maintain it. As the next few years reveal the truth about this new administration's agenda, let's hope our imperfect union can prevail.
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