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1. I finally got a credible explanation for why older Dems are so panicky and fear-driven all the time. It comes down to massive repeat trauma, 1972, 1980, 1984, living through decades of Republican domination. It's always McGovern.
2. Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer were formed in the crucible of Nixon/Reagan. They believe that if Dem do anything at all, they will be crushed and humiliated. The only possibility is to slightly slow the decay. But that's it. They are totally traumatized. So are most older Dems.
3. We're always a hair's breadth away from inflation, always the squee gee men in NYC, always a crime wave, and the Republican Daddies are always in control. The voters want war, pestilence, famine, Ronnie and they hate liberals. You can sneak a few things by 'em, at best.
4. Even when Dems win, like in 2006, 2008, 2018, they don't believe it. Democrats didn't win these elections, because by definition Dems can't win. The country is always narrowly divided if Dems win, but sweepingly Republican if Dems lose (even when they win the popular vote).
5. This trauma leading to constant panic is worsened by the fact older Dems are more financially secure than younger Dems. This is a relative position, but largely true. The Republicans are awful, but awful to the poor, to the weak, to *other* people. It's moral vanity and panic.
6. Younger voters don't share this posture. They are far more cynical about politics and emotionally secure. To them, Democrats aren't inherent losers. Obama was President for eight years. So was Clinton. Reagan/Nixon are not memories. Democrats in charge is not weird. Trump is.
7. And more importantly, politics to younger people is about who has wealth and power, and who doesn't. The bad things aren't happening to *other* people, but to them. They have student debt, they have shitty jobs and bad bosses, they can't buy homes, their dream is denied.
8. Youngs look at Bernie and they see someone who is right, and they want what he's selling. Older Dems look at Bernie and they see someone who is right, so they hate him. You can't do what's right. You'll get crushed the poors will be harmed! Doesn't he know that?!? How dare he!
9. The panic on the part of older Dems reflects their basic lack of moral courage. They are angry and embarrassed anyone in politics would try to do the right thing. Politics is about doing nothing, keeping your home equity and some nutrition programs for the deserving poor.
10. Hillary Clinton's obvious corruption, Barack Obama's ineptitude and weakness, and Biden's bad judgment and creepiness are *selling points* for older Democrats. They hate ethical politicians. Ethical politicians embarrass and humiliate them.
11. The age split is around 40 or so. Younger than that and the problem is climate change, inequality and personal debt. Older than that and the problem is the role of President has gone to the wrong reality TV figure, the villain Trump instead of Woke Dad Obama.
12. Or to put it another way, the writers of The Simpsons were right. 
13. This dynamic is driven by political economy. It is not just emotional trauma or panic. The anger of older Dems is driven by their lack of economic need, and the calmness of younger Dems is driven by the opposite. theatlantic.com/politics/archi…
14. It's not corruption exactly, but older Dem panic comes from believing the locus of legitimacy is in the banking sector or in policing/military, aka Republican Daddy world. Young 'uns by contrast actually believe in democracy. washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/0…
