I think Republicans only “need” polarization because they decided they needed it. There’s a world out there where Republicans took a more sincere path since the 80’s and didn’t create the “culture wars” and divisive rhetorical approach to politics that people like Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh invented. I don’t believe that they would in fact need to feed on polarization to succeed if they actually chose to address issues by suggesting actual solutions to problems instead of scaring their base on non-issues with hate and fear.
There’s a world out there where Republicans took a more sincere path since the 80’s and didn’t create the “culture wars” and divisive rhetorical approach to politics that people like Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh invented.
Then why didn’t they take it?
I know that’s an easy question to ask and hard to answer, but this was the time when Democrats and the working class were solid. What issues do you think Republicans could have been sincere about in that political climate and gained political power on a less divisive platform? That’s mostly a rhetorical question.
I think Republicans only “need” polarization because they decided they needed it. There’s a world out there where Republicans took a more sincere path since the 80’s and didn’t create the “culture wars” and divisive rhetorical approach to politics that people like Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh invented. I don’t believe that they would in fact need to feed on polarization to succeed if they actually chose to address issues by suggesting actual solutions to problems instead of scaring their base on non-issues with hate and fear.
Their views have proven quite unpopular. To quote David Frum:
“If conservatives become convinced that they cannot win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. They will reject democracy.”
And so they have.
Then why didn’t they take it?
I know that’s an easy question to ask and hard to answer, but this was the time when Democrats and the working class were solid. What issues do you think Republicans could have been sincere about in that political climate and gained political power on a less divisive platform? That’s mostly a rhetorical question.