(Thread)
I can see @RadioFreeTom is trying to understand Democrats.
You see, Tom, big tents get messy.
Diverse coalitions are not efficient.
People in the big messy tent don't fall in line behind the message that the leaders think will win.
It's the nature of the beast.
I can see @RadioFreeTom is trying to understand Democrats.
You see, Tom, big tents get messy.
Diverse coalitions are not efficient.
People in the big messy tent don't fall in line behind the message that the leaders think will win.
It's the nature of the beast.
@RadioFreeTom 1/ NYU psychologist Jon Haidt has a wonderful lecture about the differences between liberals and conservatives. They have different ways of thinking.
The GOP, however, has morphed into a reactionist, right wing authoritarian party.
See Stenner and Haidt's essay in ⤵️
The GOP, however, has morphed into a reactionist, right wing authoritarian party.
See Stenner and Haidt's essay in ⤵️
@RadioFreeTom 2/ Haidt’s conclusion: Liberals and conservatives can form a balance. Give and take between the two is healthy.
The problem is that the Republican Party, ever the past few decades, has morphed into a reactionary (or right wing authoritarian) party.
The problem is that the Republican Party, ever the past few decades, has morphed into a reactionary (or right wing authoritarian) party.
@RadioFreeTom 3/ Here's Haidt's lecture on liberals and conservatives: …
Because the GOP has morphed into a reactionary party, we have two issues:
🔹Conservatives are now aligning themselves with liberals
🔹They're accustomed to dealing with reactionaries.
Because the GOP has morphed into a reactionary party, we have two issues:
🔹Conservatives are now aligning themselves with liberals
🔹They're accustomed to dealing with reactionaries.
@RadioFreeTom 4/ Let's talk about right-wing authoritarians (RWAs)
One reason people are so mad at conservative leaders is because they allowed authoritarians into their party in order to achieve electoral majorities.
RWAs then did what RWAs do: They took over the GOP.
One reason people are so mad at conservative leaders is because they allowed authoritarians into their party in order to achieve electoral majorities.
RWAs then did what RWAs do: They took over the GOP.
@RadioFreeTom 5/ Those with an authoritarian disposition have a “bias against different others (racial and ethnic outgroups, immigrants)
A normative threat is something that threatens “sameness and order.” (From Haidt and Stenner's essay ⤵️)
A normative threat is something that threatens “sameness and order.” (From Haidt and Stenner's essay ⤵️)
@RadioFreeTom 6/ When those with an authoritarian disposition face a normative thread (not a real threat, but a perceived threat, like "Mexicans are coming to take your jobs") we have what Stenner and Haidt call an authoritarian dynamic.
@RadioFreeTom 7/ When confronted with a normative threat, authoritarians have a strong reaction. They become fearful and angry. They can be violent & tolerate violence in others. Fear of immigrants is discomfort with people who are different.
The thing about RWAs is that they fall in line.
The thing about RWAs is that they fall in line.
@RadioFreeTom 8/ That's because they dislike diversity. It actually scares them.
OK, so now let's talk about the Democratic Party.
The Democratic Party is a big diverse heterogenous group.
I just did a thread on this so I will only repeat the key points:
OK, so now let's talk about the Democratic Party.
The Democratic Party is a big diverse heterogenous group.
I just did a thread on this so I will only repeat the key points:
@RadioFreeTom 9/ Everyone can see that the GOP demographics are aging and shrinking. Basically the GOP now consists of white Christian reactionaries.
Democrats include urban intellectuals and minority communities.
Democrats include urban intellectuals and minority communities.
@RadioFreeTom 10/ When you think about the nature of those minority communities, and how urban intellectuals as a rule do not fall in line, you'll see that we're dealing with a big, messy, heterogeneous tent filled with people who don't by nature fall in line.
@RadioFreeTom 11/ So the Conservative Leaders who are now aligned with Liberals against Authoritarians are feeling a little frustrated with the way liberals like to do things.
I understand that.
Welcome to the tent.
Herding Democrats into line would be a lot like trying to herd cats.
I understand that.
Welcome to the tent.
Herding Democrats into line would be a lot like trying to herd cats.
@RadioFreeTom 12/ The two parties are no longer left v right.
The parties are rule of law v. authoritarianism.
People who embrace rule of law include former Republican conservatives.
Getting used to a big messy tent will not be easy.
And one more thing . . .
The parties are rule of law v. authoritarianism.
People who embrace rule of law include former Republican conservatives.
Getting used to a big messy tent will not be easy.
And one more thing . . .
@RadioFreeTom 13/ Democrats will (and should) resist the call to "fight like Republicans."
That's what former GOP conservative leaders are accustomed to.
So they're likely to get frustrated with the Nancy Pelosis and Adam Schiffs of the world, who understand the dangers in that.
That's what former GOP conservative leaders are accustomed to.
So they're likely to get frustrated with the Nancy Pelosis and Adam Schiffs of the world, who understand the dangers in that.
@RadioFreeTom 14/ Please read this thread on why Democrats should not fight like Republicans ⤵️
End/
End/
@RadioFreeTom Sorry for the earlier repetition. I messed up the thread, but kept marching forward.
@RadioFreeTom Once upon a time (probably before a lot of you were born) the GOP was a conservative party.
The problem is that there aren't enough traditional conservatives to win national elections so they tried to be conservative while embracing reactionaries.
The problem is that there aren't enough traditional conservatives to win national elections so they tried to be conservative while embracing reactionaries.
