© by Mark Dempsey
For me, today’s “aha!” moment came when I finally understood that Americans vote for the guy (or gal) they like, not their policies. This explains a lot. It even explains why I’m frequently angry at public policy decisions (and I tend to focus on facts) while most people I meet are angry at other people (damn Trumpers! Stupid Democrats!). Tribal identity trumps facts all over the board.
One recent example: Kamala Harris is (at this point) pretty much a blank slate, yet the media’s boundless enthusiasm for her remains persistent, echoing a stage-managed convention that neglected to mention she couldn’t even win her own state when she was a presidential candidate in the previous election. The attention is on likeability, not actual policies, in most of the marketing campaigns the major parties now emit.
Donald Trump was likeable because he wasn't liked like conventional politicians. He was (pro wrestling term) a "heel," not a "face." That became likeable when people decided Washington D.C. was so corrupt throwing a disruptor like Trump into it was constructive. Sure, it's a tantrum, but understandable if it's not reasonable.
The problem with this dynamic is that public policy is important. It is the only way to solve systemic problems. And likeability, not facts, does not make for sensible policy. It makes for delusional thinking, especially if it’s successful.
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