Contrary to what left-wing optimists had hoped, Democratic nonvoters in 2024 appear to have been less progressive than Democrats who voted. For instance, Democratic nonvoters were 14 points less likely to support banning assault rifles, 20 points less likely to support sending aid to Gaza, 17 points less likely to report believing that slavery and discrimination make it hard for Black Americans, 17 points more likely to support building a border wall with Mexico, 20 points more likely to support the expansion of fossil fuel production, and, sadly for economic populists, 16 points less likely to support corporate tax hikes (though this group still favored corporate tax hikes by a three to one margin). Overall, nonvoting Democrats were 18 points less likely to self-identify as “liberal” or “very liberal.” Here is a point for the centrists.
After spending months blaming actual leftists, it turns out it was just regular Democrats that were okay with giving Trump the presidency.
I’m starting to think fear and anger is just the biggest factor in US politics. When your party is in charge, you get complacent and tune out. However, the other party’s media ecosystem whips up fear and anger which drives turn out. And, vice versa when the other party is in charge. It’s why the US swings back and forth constantly. It’s just volatility built into the system and when certain norms breakdown, the volatility becomes more pronounced. We are very much at risk of going off the rails. People need to turn out even when they aren’t outraged at the current administration. They need to turn out even when their side did just okay.
That implies that each party has its own media ecosystem, and they’re equally effective. But there is almost no center-left or leftist media in the US with any reach at all.
It’s true, not just for the U.S. either. And the biggest topics are always economy and immigration. At the end of the day, people will vote for what’s perceived as safety and security, a return to “the old times when things were better.” They will sacrifice freedoms for it. That trade is of course, a lie. And that’s how fascists get voted in, by preying on that fear.