Only Political Dividing Line Left Roots Based Politics

2017.09.08

Because of the rise of Globalism in the late 20th century the U.S. and Western Europe have recently seen stirrings of nationalist awakenings. Terrorism, turmoil in the Middle East and waves of Muslim refugees have fueled the trend.

Wikipedia says this about Nationalism; “a nation should govern itself, free from unwanted outside interference, and is linked to the concept of self-determination. Nationalism is further oriented towards developing and maintaining a national identity based on shared characteristics such as culture, language, race, religion, political goals or a belief in a common ancestry. Nationalism therefore seeks to preserve the nation’s culture. It often also involves a sense of pride in the nation’s achievements, and is closely linked to the concept of patriotism.”

Donald Trump, running on a populist/nationalist platform, convinced 61 million Americans – 53% of white women, 63% of white male college graduates, 47% of white Americans between the ages of 18 and 29, almost 1 of 3 Hispanics and 48% of white college graduates – to vote for him to be the next U.S. President.

Among college-educated whites, only 39 percent of men and 51 percent of women voted for Clinton.

Overall Trump got 42% of the female vote, 53% of the male vote.

A majority of people over 40 voted for Trump.

Trump received 8% of the black vote, 29% of the Hispanic/Latino vote.

Trump captured more votes from people living in the suburbs than Clinton did.

Of the people making less than $30k a year 41% voted for Trump, of those who make over $250k a year 48% voted for Trump. 

The average Trump voter is well educated, working and not living in a rural area, many are middle-class well off suburban whites – rural voters only make up 17% of the electorate.

It appears the racist, radical right wingers weren’t alone in their beliefs because almost all members, of all the right wing parties, the conservatives, the Christian democrats, classical liberals and nationalists all overwhelmingly voted Trump.

Fact – a lot of Trump voters are not racist, having voted for Obama at least once, quite a few of them twice – of the 700 counties that twice voted for Obama, 1/3 flipped to Trump.

Trump got 10% of the Liberal vote – a lot of Bernie Saunders supporters did not vote Hillary, instead choosing Trump – 41% of the moderate vote and 81% of the Conservative vote.

The vast majority of Trumps base supporters are much more moderate than CNN’s constant barrage of talking heads and relentless video of Nazi’s, skinheads and klukkers suggests.

Why did so many moderates vote for Trump? Perhaps the simplest explanation is the best one.

Liberal Democracy

“Arguing that being part of the European Union is not in the British interest, that NATO has outlived its usefulness, that protectionist policies or anti-immigration policies are desirable is not fascist. These ideas have no connection to fascism whatsoever. They are far more closely linked to traditional liberal democracy. They represent the reassertion of the foundation of liberal democracy, which is the self-governing nation-state. It is the foundation of the United Nations, whose members are nation-states, and where the right to national self-determination is fundamental.

Liberal democracy does not dictate whether a nation should be a member in a multinational organization, adopt free trade policies or protectionism, or welcome or exclude immigrants. These are decisions to be made by the people – or more precisely, by the representatives they select…

What we are seeing is the rise of the nation-state against the will of multinational organizations and agreements. There are serious questions about membership in the EU, NATO and trade agreements, and equally about the right to control borders…

We are seeing a return to nationalism in Europe and the United States because it is not clear to many that internationalism, as followed since World War II, benefits them any longer.” George Friedman, Nationalism is rising not Fascism 

Trumps election has shown there is a lot of people in the U.S. who feel disaffected and marginalized.  Brexit has shown the same feelings are rampant in the U.K. Conservatives in both countries have adopted nationalism as their defining cause. Austria, France and Italy also have strong right of center Nationalist Parties.

“For 350 years, Western peoples have lived in a world in which national independence and self-determination were seen as foundational principles. Indeed, these things were held to be among the most precious human possessions, and the basis of all of our freedoms. Since World War II, however, these intuitions have been gradually attenuated and finally even discredited, especially among academics and intellectuals, media opinion-makers, and business and political elites. Today, many in the West have come to regard an intense personal loyalty to the national state and its right to chart an independent course as something not only unnecessary but morally suspect. They no longer see national loyalties and traditions as necessarily providing a sound basis for determining the laws we live by, for regulating the economy or making decisions about defense and security, for establishing public norms concerning religion or education, or for deciding who gets to live in what part of the world.

But those who have made this transition in fundamental political orientation have done so without making sure that everyone else was on board. Millions of people, especially outside the centers of elite opinion, still hold fast to the old understanding that the independence and self-determination of one’s nation hold the key to a life of honor and freedom. These are people who believe that no one ever consulted them about giving up on the freedom of their nation to protect its people, their interests, and their traditions.”  Yoram Hazony, Nationalism and the Future of Western Freedom

In a nut shell, globalists – the academics and intellectuals, media opinion-makers, and business and political elites have been taking away our national independence and self-determination. The very things many hold to be among the most precious human possessions, and the basis of all of our freedoms, have been slowly eroded away.

It is that power of individual national accountability that Americans – along with millions of Europeans – increasingly want to keep.

It wasn’t if, it was when an electoral backlash would happen.

Same same

“On the big issues—the ones that determine the fate of a country—the Democrats and Republicans match almost exactly. This is because they are sponsored by corporations and billionaires with similar agendas and cravings for globalization, hedging their bets between the sponsored candidate in blue or the sponsored candidate in red. Every US Presidential election has had sponsored candidates on both sides, meaning that to those with real power, it barely matters who wins.

It’s very possible to put a conservative and liberal in the room but have them completely agree on multiculturalism, immigration, democracy, and transgenderism, though disagree on more hot-button topics like abortion and gun rights. They can agree at least half of the time because they both share a primarily globalist belief system, even when they may see each other as enemies. On the other hand, if you get a globalist and nationalist in the same room, they will disagree on more than 80% of issues, even including the basics such as the proper system of government.” Roosh, You’re Either A Globalist Or A Nationalist

A man who has almost totally avoided orthodox conservative policy is now President of the United States. A poll done for Chatham House says 55% of European respondents agree that “all further migration from mainly Muslim countries” should be stopped while 48% of Americans, in February 2017, supported Trump’s executive order barring travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries. The primary motivator and a major unifier, of GOP voters, conservative voters in Great Britain, and a large percentage of voters in Europe is now cultural conservatism.

Donald Trump is not a Republican. He hijacked the GOP, and it’s right of center base, for his Nationalist agenda. Trump’s success has come from judging correctly, firstly the changing sentiments within the U.S., and secondly correctly anticipating the speed at which change can come in America.

Trump’s election highlights the axis of division now existing in the U.S. as Nationalists versus Globalists instead of Democrats versus Republicans.

“Several decades of greater economic and cultural openness in the West have not benefited all our citizens. Among those who have been left behind, a populist politics of culture and identity has successfully challenged the traditional politics of Left and Right, creating a new division: between the mobile ‘achieved’ identity of the people from Anywhere, and the marginalised, roots-based identity of the people from Somewhere. This schism accounts for the Brexit vote, the election of Donald Trump, the decline of the centre-left, and the rise of populism across Europe.” David Goodhart, The Road to Somewhere

Conclusion

According to Goodhart the dominant minority of people from Anywhere achieve ‘portable’ identities based on educational and professional success. The majority of people are from Somewhere. They have identities rooted in a place. Members value their culture, their family, authority and nationality.

The only true dividing line left – in not only U.S. politics but most of Europe’s as well – is Globalism (the people from Anywhere) versus Nationalism (the people from Somewhere).

Richard (Rick) Mills

aheadoftheherd.com

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