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I can walk you through this if you’d like.
Let’s start in the ‘60s. We could start earlier but that’s a useful starting point. https://twitter.com/eiggam5955/status/1337568643492814848
Let’s start in the ‘60s. We could start earlier but that’s a useful starting point. https://twitter.com/eiggam5955/status/1337568643492814848
The Civil Rights era is a time of realignment in US politics, particularly the birth of the Southern Strategy, when the GOP weaponised racialised dog whistling and the hardcore Dixiecrats jumped ship.
Just look up Lee Atwater's remarks if you need reminding.
Just look up Lee Atwater's remarks if you need reminding.
Skip to the '80s. The era of Reagan and Thatcher. A large part of this story is economic (tax cuts, privatisation, union busting etc.).
But Reagan in particular was also prone to "woo", which Krugman notes in this thread. https://twitter.com/paulkrugman/status/1337407110901063680?s=20
But Reagan in particular was also prone to "woo", which Krugman notes in this thread. https://twitter.com/paulkrugman/status/1337407110901063680?s=20
But, note this well. At the same time, two left-of-centre governments in the southern hemisphere adopted strongly market-based policies, including significant industry deregulation.
This is important.
This is important.
Because by the time Clinton, and then Blair, come along in the '90s, middle-ground market-friendly centre-leftism is well established and shown to be successful electorally.
And by then the Berlin Wall has fallen.
Again, important.
And by then the Berlin Wall has fallen.
Again, important.
Because this takes away conservatism's keenest advantage: the external threat of communism.
Now, the GOP has to redefine and reposition itself. Does it meet centrist liberalism somewhere in the middle?
Ho ho ho, does it fuck.
Now, the GOP has to redefine and reposition itself. Does it meet centrist liberalism somewhere in the middle?
Ho ho ho, does it fuck.
This is conservatism's moment to double down and then double down again.
You can see in the US data on congressional voting how "bipartisanship" breaks down and tribalism ramps up. (The Gingrich era, basically.)
You can see in the US data on congressional voting how "bipartisanship" breaks down and tribalism ramps up. (The Gingrich era, basically.)
Bush's election brings in the "woo" again, in the form of the cultural battle between (their words) the "reality-based community" and the "faith-based community."
The rest follows. A Black president, so the Tea Party rises and goes nuts, and we end with Trump.
The rest follows. A Black president, so the Tea Party rises and goes nuts, and we end with Trump.
Note that this is led from the US but you can spot similar patterns in the US and UK.
Conservative governments (esp in Murdoch-press countries) are now what I call dog-chasing-car governments. No coherent policy agenda, but absolute determination to gain and hold power.
Conservative governments (esp in Murdoch-press countries) are now what I call dog-chasing-car governments. No coherent policy agenda, but absolute determination to gain and hold power.
My routine conclusion to these threads is to link to what I wrote in 2018 on this (and the precursors written in 2016 and '17). https://meanjin.com.au/blog/an-escalating-commitment-to-a-failing-course-of-action/
Coda: I jumped over the Southern Hemisphere governments very quickly, but look up Hawke/Keating government in Australia and Lange/Douglas government in New Zealand to find out more.
Set the scene for Clinton then Blair. Judge that as you see fit.
Set the scene for Clinton then Blair. Judge that as you see fit.
