2 ms·

Young people in general have not been a reliable demographic. Also a quick google search showed that 75% of the Tea Party were 45 or older (back in 2012). My

Young people in general have not been a reliable demographic. Also a quick google search showed that 75% of the Tea Party were 45 or older (back in 2012). My take is that there’s a desperation behind the last 20 years or so. Haven’t you wondered what would cause an entire segment of the population to take a deep dive with thinly-disguised racists and Russian trolls?

Aerroon 6y ago
If you really think about it, then it feels like "the right" has been losing over the last 20 years. Topics such as religion, abortion, gay marriage, healthcare, marijuana legalization, and police reform have all been going in the favor of "the left". I can't really think of any big issue that "the right" has championed, that they've actually won. They've won political appointments, but not ideological positions. Even having a balanced budget hasn't worked out for "the right". When they've been in power, the budget deficit hasn't really decreased. Perhaps this has made "the right" more desperate? Maybe they need to rethink their principles instead? (I use quotation marks for the sides, because these really aren't issues that fit on a one dimensional scale. A libertarian could fall on the right, but still support "the left" on most of the above issues. Also, this is mostly US specific.)
- runawaybottle 6y ago
  It has to play a part. Imagine using all your political capital championing those non-issues and not really getting anything tangible back in return. What a waste, it makes the Republicans look similar to the college racket, they sure took the votes (the same way college sure takes the money). The Democratic establishment is in danger of this fate in the long term as well. They are sure taking the easy money from the progressive talk, but if they don’t deliver, it’s going to backfire in 2-3 elections from within.

Aerroon 6y ago

If you really think about it, then it feels like "the right" has been losing over the last 20 years. Topics such as religion, abortion, gay marriage, healthcare, marijuana legalization, and police reform have all been going in the favor of "the left". I can't really think of any big issue that "the right" has championed, that they've actually won. They've won political appointments, but not ideological positions. Even having a balanced budget hasn't worked out for "the right". When they've been in power, the budget deficit hasn't really decreased. Perhaps this has made "the right" more desperate? Maybe they need to rethink their principles instead? (I use quotation marks for the sides, because these really aren't issues that fit on a one dimensional scale. A libertarian could fall on the right, but still support "the left" on most of the above issues. Also, this is mostly US specific.)

runawaybottle 6y ago
It has to play a part. Imagine using all your political capital championing those non-issues and not really getting anything tangible back in return. What a waste, it makes the Republicans look similar to the college racket, they sure took the votes (the same way college sure takes the money). The Democratic establishment is in danger of this fate in the long term as well. They are sure taking the easy money from the progressive talk, but if they don’t deliver, it’s going to backfire in 2-3 elections from within.