David Brooks' Realignment Won't Happen by David Atkins - Washington Monthly
Summary:
David Brooks correctly asserts that there is a comfortable "upper crust" benefiting from globalization and increases in asset prices, while a large set of middle and working castes experience a decline in wealth. Atkins explains that Brooks expects the "great faction of millennials and workers of all races" to join Republicans while Democrats secure the support of Silicon Valley and Wall Street. However, Atkins points to the social and neurological factors that lead to the general liberal or conservative tendencies and how these feelings are stronger than any immediate response to economic anxiety. As such, there will be no major party realignment. In fact, Atkins expects the Republicans to create a happier version of the race conscious economic protectionism that clings to a reactionary belief in the good old days. The Democrats will have to deal with an intra-party struggle between the progressives and the "establishmentarians." If Atkins is correct, the Republicans will become a "regional minority party" because the demographic shifts do not favor their base, while it remains to be seen whether Wall Street or Main Street will prevail amongst the Democrats.
Questions:
Do you think that how our brains respond to certain stimuli can predict our political identity?
How much of a factor is race in this situation?
What is the most or least compelling part of Atkins' argument?
What will happen in the future to the parties?
In the future, parties will still exist, but the two party system might dissolve. Americans are becoming increasingly diverse in their political ideologies and concerns which are hard to contain within the Democratic and Republican parties. For example, in the cartoon, there are divisions among the Democratic party, such as Clinton and Bernie supporters, which is causing a split in the vote and parties.
ReplyDeleteDavid, creative thoughts. Keep in mind the system is based on single member districts as opposed to proportional representation in Europe. This leads to two parties dominating and limiting smaller party representation.
DeleteI agree that there will still be parties in the future, but I do think that the two party system will continue. Although the diversity of beliefs in politics right now is high and continuing to diversify, I do not believe that this reason alone will dissolve the two party system. Rather, I believe the Republican and Democratic parties will adapt to new ideas as they gain more importance among voters. If the party systems have lasted through the trouble past of American politics I have no doubt it will live on in the future.
DeleteDavid C, I disagree with your assertion. I do not think that there is a future where the two party system will dissolve. True, there are some divisions within the Democratic Party- Hilary and Bernie... But I do not think these divisions are powerful enough to tear the party apart. Both divisions of Democrat are still liberal- tied together by progressive values. There will always be a division between progressive/liberal and conservative, and the Democrats and Republicans represent this dichotomy.
DeleteI disagree with David C when he claims that the two party system will dissolve in the future. Although there are indifferences among Sanders and Clinton supporters, they are not strong enough to dissolve the unity of the party. Furthermore, most of Bernie's supporters have come to their senses and united under Hillary, because they understand it is necessary to do so in order to defeat Trump. Lastly, most Democrats tend to favor Liberal issues, such as the government involvement in taking a more active role in people's lives. Examples of some of these Liberal issues include: helping those in need, protecting our civil liberties, and protecting our individual and human rights.
DeleteThe most compelling part of Atkins' argument is that the supporters of Clinton and Bernie are so focused on their own candidate and their individual issues instead of their party as a whole that when one candidate is chosen for the Democratic party, the supporters can't work together to support their candidate, leading to the victory of the Republican candidate.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Claire that this is the most compelling part of his argument. Atkins says that "Millennials are broadly multi-racial and feel strongly that they’ve been taken advantage of not by members of other tribes within their cohort, but by systemic injustices beyond their immediate control. There is no way that they will join forces with older conservative reactionaries, even though they may both be suffering from similar economic harm." I agree that millennials and minority groups will not join forces with Trump, but the Democrats are definitely having trouble uniting. The supporters of Bernie were so liberal that they feel as if Hillary is too moderate and won't support her. However, if they don't, Democratic votes will be lost. So the question is, how is Hillary going to get their support in the next month and a half? Somehow she has to appeal to Democrats and Republicans so one would think that being moderate was the right decision. However, if Hillary can't get the votes of millennial and minority groups, there is a chance the Democratic vote won't be strong enough and Trump could win..
DeleteI do believe that our instinctual thoughts can reflect our political identity, but these reactions are based off of feelings learned, not feelings that we are born with. From a young age, we experience socialization by learning the way our parents and peers react to certain situations and scenarios. We associate one political belief with "good" and perhaps another with "bad"-- thus, these neural connections are formed and refined depending on our surroundings.
ReplyDeleteRace is a factor in election opinions. However, geographic location seems to be responsible for the effect of race on the election. The South tends to lean right; race also influences religion, as many African Americans and Hispanic people have religious values. Religious values correlate to conservative values, which align with the Republican Party. In conclusion, race is one of many factors that affect voting.
ReplyDeleteThis link touches on several factors that influence voters' opinons. https://www.boundless.com/political-science/textbooks/boundless-political-science-textbook/political-participation-and-voting-9/why-people-vote-68/additional-factors-gender-age-religion-race-and-ethnicity-376-4273/
Yes, how our brain responds to stimuli can predict our political identity. Our personality, morals, and subjects we are passionate about play a significant role in influencing our political decisions. The core of each of these of these concepts lies in how we interpolate the world around us. All of who we are as people is decided by a number of genetic and environmental factors. Our genetic layout establishes the process through which our individual brains are constructed to learn and interpolate information. Everyone has a different genetic layout, and therefore a different way of interoperating stimuli in the world around them. As a result, different political and social stances can be found in our diverse human population. By analyzing how certain genetic features can be connected to differences in the interpolating of information, scientists can begin to predict political and social identities of our population.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alex V. I believe that by being able to further study our surrounding and the way in which out brain works, we will better be able to predict our political identity. Our responses to certain political policies are based off of our interpretation of the world around us, and what we believe will allow us to thrive in such an environment. If we can better understand how and why we respond the way we do, we will better be able to associate political identity with the way we respond to certain topics.
DeleteI agree with the notion that the divide within the parties is going to continue to grow. As millennials begin to assert themselves within the parties, more progressive ideals will surface and the parties will begin to split based on generational values.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Maggie's comment. I also believe that the internal conflict within the parties could partially be because of the increasing dominance of millennials in politics. I believe that the millennial generation has been exposed to a greater range of views and ideologies, and schooling has become a lot less rigid in terms of telling students what they can or cannot believe. Thus, students are becoming more educated on different political stances, and are also given the freedom of choosing their own side. Factoring in the differences between the millennials' and the older generations' values, it is easy to see how internal conflicts will arise.
DeleteThe most compelling part of Atkins' argument is how he believes the Democrats will ultimately lose to the Republicans as a result of internal division. While the Democrat Party nominated Hillary Clinton, Bernie still has incredibly loyal and rowdy supporters who insist that the Democrats rigged the primaries, specifically with how delegates voted before Bernie started his campaign. Atkins may be arguing that the Republican Party is more united because they are committed to beating the Clinton family (Crooked Hillary). Trump does appeal to uneducated white men and knows how to rally the troops with inspirational rhetoric. He can say obscure things like we'll terminate Isis, believe me, we will build a wall and Mexico pay for it, believe me, people, believe me. This is actually pretty effective and entertaining!
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see how the swing states play out. Can Trump appeal to Latinos in Florida, Colorado, or Utah? The Latino and Hispanic population continues to soar in the U.S. and this demographic could ultimately decide the election if they have a solid turnout. There has not been this much anticipation for a political debate since Lincoln? Trump v. Hillary will be one for the ages as they have both been surrounded by controversy their whole life. People are sick of the Clintons (like a fever-See Fallon Tonight!) On the other hand, people fear Trump's racism and misogyny.
Could this be a turning point in American history? I do believe the two party system will persist but something I read regarded whether or not the framers did a sufficient job (with the electoral college) to prevent the an unqualified candidate being sworn in like Trump? Could Trump be impeached by the House and Senate? We will see. Odds are Hillary will prevail in the end.
However, no matter who wins, Clinton (or Trump) will (at least Initially) be THE MOST DISLIKED President in American history. What do you think?
I saw a sign in town that read Everybody Sucks 2016..
I believe that how our brain responds to stimuli can predict our political identity. As stated in the article, conservatives are more likely to respond with fear whereas liberals are more likely to respond with hope. This could potentially be do to a long history of oppression. It is more common than not that groups that once were oppressed/are oppressed, such as african americans, women, jews, and the LGBTQ community, tend to be liberal. Because they have experienced oppression and have had hope when fighting for their rights, it makes sense that liberals are associated with hope and change. In contrast, many conservative groups such as the Nazis or rich white males, gain their power by instilling fear in others, making it so they respond to the stimuli with fear.
ReplyDeleteI believe that race is a massive part of a swing of political power. A large shift by minority groups from Democrat to Republican could lead Republicans back into office. I believe that a shift would lead to a similar outcome as California's shift from red to blue, a complete power shift. Before minority voters helped lead California into becoming a democratic state, California voted Republican in all but one election from 1952 through 1988. I believe if Republican's were to gain the minority voters, they would gain a large political advantage nationwide.
ReplyDeleteI believe that our brains' responses to stimuli do predict some of our political identity. As stated in the article, liberals and conservatives respond differently to different stimulus. Conservatives respond to more negative stimuli such as fear because they have either instilled fear in others for power, or feared losing power, whereas liberals tend to respond to more positive stimuli. The basis of these responses is from not directly from the brain, it from how the brain has been developed throughout one's life and what they have been exposed to including the views and responses of those around them.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the two party system will still exist because people always need representation from a party especially with one gaining power towards the future era. Based on our upbringng we are accustomed to a certain political identity and need someone to represent us.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the two party system will still exist because people always need representation from a party especially with one gaining power towards the future era. Based on our upbringng we are accustomed to a certain political identity and need someone to represent us.
ReplyDeleteThe two party system will eventually fade away. The American people are being split up with their ideologies within the Democratic or Republican party. In the cartoon, there is a division between the Clinton and Bernie supporters.
ReplyDeleteThe two party system will not dissolve in the future. Although there are differences among Sanders and Clinton supporters, they are not strong enough to dissolve the unity of the party. Democrats and Republicans will continue to support the same issues. The parties should get back to values after this election. This election was just extremely unique.
ReplyDelete