Politics of Humiliation

By some reckonings, the election of 2016 was by and large theater acting out that darkest and most dangerous human impulse i.e. revenge. And, as implied by our focus article ( Who Can Win America's Politics of Humiliation?), failure to truly appreciate that underlying dynamic may set the stage for the next play. The essence of Friedman's column is encapsulated in his paragraph four which reads in its entirety, "It has been obvious ever since Trump first ran for president that many of his core supporters actually hate the people who hate Trump, more than they care about Trump or any particular action he takes, no matter how awful." 

Assuming for these purposes that most major decisions are emotionally made and then (perhaps) intellectually justified, we will discuss possible sources of this cross-cultural resentment, even rage. 

One element might be that of intellectual condescension. While it's true that socioeconomic factors and varying levels of ability may lead to varying outcomes when it comes to scholastic achievement, it's also true such differences do not necessarily correlate with wisdom, decency, or intrinsic moral worth. Even within this "knowledge economy," we find non-degree workers contributing mightily to the actual workings of society. By the same token, we can also find so many educated idiots that the term itself is almost a cliche'. Then, of course, is the vast wealth/income disparity we've addressed any number of times. 

The overriding point is that the whole meaning of meritocracy in America might be widened to reflect or at least acknowledge the lottery of life in terms of one's genes, time and place of birth, upbringing, connections, etc. Nothing therein suggests begrudging those holding a winning ticket. The issue, however, arises when any sense of gratitude is replaced by disdain towards those not so fortunate. Contempt comes in so many forms -- expressed and implied -- and perfectly encapsulated by that word hatched as a political rallying cry in 2016, "Deplorables."

The substantive issues presented in the 2020 election e.g. the appropriate role of the state, are too important to allow for a disconnected electorate, for whatever reason, lest: "Turning and turning in the widening gyre (spiral) the falcon cannot hear the falconer" such that, "things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; mere anarchy is loosed upon the world," as, continuing the words of The Second Coming by William Butler Yeats, "The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity."