The progressive motion received mugged by actuality, and the bruises are displaying.
Even had Trump not received a contemporary landslide America would nonetheless be shifting away from the Democratic institution that ran far left of its constituents. For Democrats baffled by the recognition of Donald Trump, a quick historical past lesson is so as.
Bear in mind 2020? A slate of far-left Democrats battled for his or her celebration’s presidential nomination, every attempting to outdo the opposite with radical proposals as socialist Bernie Sanders threatened to win. They selected Joe Biden, the elder everyman, to steer them away from electoral catastrophe. But he too shortly bowed to the progressive wing, embracing positions that might’ve been unthinkable simply years earlier.
Then one thing exceptional occurred: These weren’t simply concepts anymore. They grew to become public coverage.
The Nice Progressive Experiment
San Francisco grew to become floor zero, emptying jails and tolerating open drug use. Portland defunded its police. Chicago ditched ShotSpotter know-how that helped cops reply to gunfire. New York and Chicago declared themselves sanctuary cities. Faculties pushed gender ideology past parental consent.
The outcomes had been an unmitigated catastrophe. Crime skyrocketed in main cities. Homeless encampments unfold like wildfire. Inflation hit 40-year highs. The progressive experiment crashed into actuality.
Democrats spent the final months sprinting from their earlier positions, from Kamala Harris to different candidates throughout the nation. The left now needs to construct Trump’s wall. “Fund the Police” has turn into the brand new mantra. Kamala owns a Glock! Even California is undoing its latest legal justice “reforms”.
The shift wasn’t politicians discovering new truths – it was pushed by the general public who’d had sufficient. Black and Hispanic Democrats at the moment are extra probably than white Democrats to favor elevated police funding. Even in deep-blue cities, voters rejected progressive approaches to crime and public security.
Immigration? The general public had sufficient. The foreign-born inhabitants has hit report ranges, and Democratic mayors who as soon as welcomed migrants at the moment are begging for federal assist.
When Trump kicked off his 2016 marketing campaign and went exhausting towards unlawful immigration, he was a pariah. He was attacked by Democrats, Republicans and his perennial opponent, the media. Now, his place is mainstream.
On the cultural entrance, Democrats are enjoying protection. Within the fashionable period, few political adverts moved the needle greater than Trump’s assault on Kamala Harris for transgender extremism. Its tagline – “Kamala is for they/them; President Trump is for you” – is likely to be thought of hate speech by progressives, but it surely resonated with voters.
Company America received the message too. Main corporations are strolling again aggressive social justice commitments. Universities are dropping range assertion necessities. Progressive rallying cries like Medicare-for-All have largely vanished from the discourse.
The Sure, However…
Right here’s the twist that ought to give conservatives pause: Amongst 18-25 yr olds, progressive positions nonetheless dominate. Younger PhDs overwhelmingly assist firing lecturers with controversial views. Millennials and zoomers who will quickly management establishments stay dedicated to progressive ideologies.
Will these younger true believers ultimately get mugged by actuality too? Or is that this only a momentary setback in an extended march?
The progressive motion isn’t useless – it’s simply been despatched to its room to consider what it did. The query is whether or not it’s discovered something.
Ken LaCorte writes about censorship, media malfeasance, uncomfortable questions, and sincere perception for folks curious how the world actually works. Follow Ken on Substack
