"Now is the moment for a new establishment to organize, to address the spirit of alienation that gave rise to Trump"
For me , the spirit of Alienation feels like the movie Aliens & the GOP-Trump have inserted/infected me with a foreign body/monster that will soon come bursting out of my chest. The only solution is to purge the GOP & Trump from the my/our system.
For me , the spirit of Alienation feels like the movie Aliens & the GOP-Trump have inserted/infected me with a foreign body/monster that will soon come bursting out of my chest. The only solution is to purge the GOP & Trump from the my/our system.
5
• The campaign of 2016 was an education in the deep problems facing the country. Angry voters made a few things abundantly clear: that modern democratic capitalism is not working for them; that basic institutions like the family and communities are falling apart; that we have a college educated elite that has found ingenious ways to make everybody else feel invisible, that has managed to transfer wealth upward to itself, that crashes the hammer of political correctness down on anybody who does not have faculty lounge views.
And it took the absurdity of Donald Trump for 'Amerika' to realize this?
“The only sin in the world is ignorance.” ~ HENRY DAVID THOREAU
And it took the absurdity of Donald Trump for 'Amerika' to realize this?
“The only sin in the world is ignorance.” ~ HENRY DAVID THOREAU
4
Um, you forgot something. Every time you wrote the word "elite", you actually needed to be writing "Republican elite." At least with respect to economic pain and alienation, it is the Republican elite that is doing the inflicting, with policies that move money from lower down to higher up, and best, to way high up, as we see in the AHCA and the Republican budget and as we see in the Republican wish to implement "one dollar, one vote" or "one white, three votes". And yes, I guess being racist in a liberalizing, changing country is also a kind of "suffering", right?
35
Americans should have a gander at those folks/groups who make the pages of RightWingWatch; these malignant kooks now make up many millions in the US, they're the ones who elected the first ever ignoramus to the US presidency and are so far gone they aren't coming back, ...you cannot find similar ignorant malignancy on the left. America has a bigger problem than it realizes...you are teetering on the precipice of fascism and oligarchy and headed for a very big fall.
51
I'm a proud member of the Coastal Elite - life-long Southern Californian, college graduate, retired 30 year government worker with six figure income, no addictions or criminal records in my extended family, just numerous professionals, young and old, with advanced degrees, all thriving, prospering here in the People's Republic. I came from a family with no money, didn't inherent a cent. Know what the magic trick is, people? Get up in the morning and go to school. Then get up and go to work. Then get up and take your kids to school. I'm coming around to the conclusion that a sizable percentage of Americans rate all the scorn we "elite" can heap on them.
65
Mark from Ohio wanted to ask sociologists, "Does an alienated mind contain a conscience?" Robert from Sarasota is no sociologist but answers yes, they do. These voters take a look around and percieve disorder and corruption and the decline of their country and become disgusted, forlorn, fearful and alienated.
Since they keep on voting against their own self interests, a more salient question is "Can the alienated mind think clearly?".
That was a smart aleck knock on about a third of my fellow citizens but I guess I am feeling safe here among my fellow NYT readers. Really I am feeling pretty bad for all of us. We are truly in this mess together.
Since they keep on voting against their own self interests, a more salient question is "Can the alienated mind think clearly?".
That was a smart aleck knock on about a third of my fellow citizens but I guess I am feeling safe here among my fellow NYT readers. Really I am feeling pretty bad for all of us. We are truly in this mess together.
24
@david_brooks,
you left out the part where RT and russia intelligence sowed the seeds of discord and put their hand on the scales of democracy by hacking our election, providing material support to one side by hacking info and releasing it in a timely manner, and by flooding facebook, twitter and other SNS with bots and trolls to manipulate the public discourse.
Also absent is the major meddling of giant corporations over the last 40 years to confuse economic and environmental debates and turn Americans against one another to protect their power and profits. And using those profits to fuel the republican party's dismemberment of American institutions like public education and the voting booth.
This ivory tower myth is one way of saying that even moderate conservatives like you have absolutely no idea what is actually driving the crisis of state in America.
100 dollars say if you fixed these 2 problems -- corporate meddling in politics and russian hacking in our election -- and you could solve all the problems you mention.
Give it a rest.
you left out the part where RT and russia intelligence sowed the seeds of discord and put their hand on the scales of democracy by hacking our election, providing material support to one side by hacking info and releasing it in a timely manner, and by flooding facebook, twitter and other SNS with bots and trolls to manipulate the public discourse.
Also absent is the major meddling of giant corporations over the last 40 years to confuse economic and environmental debates and turn Americans against one another to protect their power and profits. And using those profits to fuel the republican party's dismemberment of American institutions like public education and the voting booth.
This ivory tower myth is one way of saying that even moderate conservatives like you have absolutely no idea what is actually driving the crisis of state in America.
100 dollars say if you fixed these 2 problems -- corporate meddling in politics and russian hacking in our election -- and you could solve all the problems you mention.
Give it a rest.
25
It's becoming easier to envision more parties emerging in the near future. Trump breaks with the gop, forms a cult of personality called the MAGA party, while Bernie Sanders creates its polar opposite. The term "bipartisan" becomes archaic and the US has a quasi-parliament.
5
Ah yes, the "alienated" trump supporter...how shall we wax poetic about their plight yet again?
About half of all voting-age Americans either didn't vote, or weren't even registered to vote. Of the other half who did bother to vote, about half voted for trump. So we're looking at approximately one in four Americans voted for trump. I think it's safe to say that trump supporters were generally not among the non-voters, given their rabid "enthusiasm" for their candidate.
This is the part I don't get...
How is their pain more important than mine? I too am struggling financially, and in a very big way. I too live month to month and my family are all deceased. I have Obamacare that has made all the difference for me, given that I had a stroke in 2015. So I lost my job, most of my hearing, and about 20% of control over one side of my body. trump supporters want Obamacare taken away. They support a "president" and VP who want old people like me to lose Medicaid, housing, Meals on Wheels, and maybe even Social Security. How does this satisfy the trump supporter? And how am I supposed to respond to that?
So no, I don't have compassion for these people and their sorry "alienation" any more. Why should I? These stories about trying to see things from their perspective are really ringing hollow the further trump and pence travel down the road of destroying our country. I for one am utterly sick of coddling my ignorant, selfish "fellow citizens." Enough!!
About half of all voting-age Americans either didn't vote, or weren't even registered to vote. Of the other half who did bother to vote, about half voted for trump. So we're looking at approximately one in four Americans voted for trump. I think it's safe to say that trump supporters were generally not among the non-voters, given their rabid "enthusiasm" for their candidate.
This is the part I don't get...
How is their pain more important than mine? I too am struggling financially, and in a very big way. I too live month to month and my family are all deceased. I have Obamacare that has made all the difference for me, given that I had a stroke in 2015. So I lost my job, most of my hearing, and about 20% of control over one side of my body. trump supporters want Obamacare taken away. They support a "president" and VP who want old people like me to lose Medicaid, housing, Meals on Wheels, and maybe even Social Security. How does this satisfy the trump supporter? And how am I supposed to respond to that?
So no, I don't have compassion for these people and their sorry "alienation" any more. Why should I? These stories about trying to see things from their perspective are really ringing hollow the further trump and pence travel down the road of destroying our country. I for one am utterly sick of coddling my ignorant, selfish "fellow citizens." Enough!!
82
Mr. Brooks usually writes concisely, but this column was all over the place. His scattershot observations require much clarification.
I'm college-educated, professional, moderately liberal, civic-minded, financially comfortable. But nobody has ever mistaken me for an "elite". Who exactly are these elites that have so mistreated the voters? Lawyers? Entertainers? Capitalists? Academics? Politicians? Liberals? Millionaires? Columnists?
Has Mr. Brooks spent much time with the angry voters who inflicted this malevolent administration on all of us? Does he really understand the culture of the white underclass? Their self-destructiveness, their willful ignorance, their substance abuse, their consistently irrational choices, their familial and community dysfunction? Did the elites do that to them? Did I?
Was the entire system of democratic capitalism the culprit? Or was it just an unusually severe recession brought on by reckless mortgage lending?
How did the "elites" make everybody else feel invisible? Was it not the elites who glorified the white underclass with trash/reality TV?
Should social justice and respect for others not be pursued because it "crashes the hammer of political correctness down ..."?
I'm college-educated, professional, moderately liberal, civic-minded, financially comfortable. But nobody has ever mistaken me for an "elite". Who exactly are these elites that have so mistreated the voters? Lawyers? Entertainers? Capitalists? Academics? Politicians? Liberals? Millionaires? Columnists?
Has Mr. Brooks spent much time with the angry voters who inflicted this malevolent administration on all of us? Does he really understand the culture of the white underclass? Their self-destructiveness, their willful ignorance, their substance abuse, their consistently irrational choices, their familial and community dysfunction? Did the elites do that to them? Did I?
Was the entire system of democratic capitalism the culprit? Or was it just an unusually severe recession brought on by reckless mortgage lending?
How did the "elites" make everybody else feel invisible? Was it not the elites who glorified the white underclass with trash/reality TV?
Should social justice and respect for others not be pursued because it "crashes the hammer of political correctness down ..."?
50
"It’s that movements fueled by alienation are bound to fail." It's good to hear Brooks admit that his Republican party is bound to fail.
13
What welfare state are you referring to, with your snidely inserted call to "devolve" it? By that token, you should be in full favor of the Trump budget?
And, I'm not buying the premise of this Op-Ed: Trump supporters have long chosen to identify themselves with candidates who spoke the language of their outrage, much of it misdirected and a consequence of their refusal to work with the Democratic majority (both the voters and their candidates), who offered plenty that would have been of great help in uplifting people and weaning them off of government support, paltry as that support is: a living wage (obstructed), worker training programs dead on arrival thanks to Republican opposition, reduction in the cost of higher ed, once again stonewalled, affordable healthcare, obstructed tooth and nail for 8 years and counting...a whole constellation of great ideas of education, tax, welfare, and infrastructure planning with taxes aimed at the wealthiest, all of it shot down because white Red Staters don't want to work with anyone outside their tribes.
And, I'm not buying the premise of this Op-Ed: Trump supporters have long chosen to identify themselves with candidates who spoke the language of their outrage, much of it misdirected and a consequence of their refusal to work with the Democratic majority (both the voters and their candidates), who offered plenty that would have been of great help in uplifting people and weaning them off of government support, paltry as that support is: a living wage (obstructed), worker training programs dead on arrival thanks to Republican opposition, reduction in the cost of higher ed, once again stonewalled, affordable healthcare, obstructed tooth and nail for 8 years and counting...a whole constellation of great ideas of education, tax, welfare, and infrastructure planning with taxes aimed at the wealthiest, all of it shot down because white Red Staters don't want to work with anyone outside their tribes.
44
Mr. Brooks’ argument about alienation is honest but also not original. Still, after stating obvious truths he seemed on his way, for once, to making it through an entire column with intellectual honesty and without lapsing into knee-jerk moral relativism. Then came: "...on the right alienation can foster a desire for purity — to exclude the foreign — and on the left it can foster a desire for conformity — to squelch differing speakers and faiths." Yes, let's obliterate the difference between preferring hatred and hate speech (pick your target: women, Muslims, gays, blacks) and protesting hate speech and the emergence of modern American fascism. No, Mr. Brooks, urging a crowd to kill protesters is not the same as protesting the speaker who urged the crowd. No, Mr. Brooks, the left as a rule doesn't squelch speakers or faiths (the latter charge is both laughable and reprehensible considering the hatred of Muslims and Jews dragged by the American right into the mainstream). As two Republican intellectuals have written (do you dare read Ornstein and Mann, Mr. Brooks? can you listen to those on the right who see the Republican Party as a fascist insurgency?) the left and the right in this country are NOT the same. With intellectual force they elucidate the right's campaign to delegitimize the very idea of an opposition. The left has done nothing like that.
With false equivalence, Mr. Brooks ignores American fascists intent on destroying the republic. Shame on him.
With false equivalence, Mr. Brooks ignores American fascists intent on destroying the republic. Shame on him.
32
I, among many, deeply resent this "college educated elite that has found ingenious ways to make everybody else feel invisible" tag that doesn't seem to go away.
I was raised in the Midwest. Michigan City, Indiana. Our city went through many economic changes, especially in the 1980s, but the town has survived, mostly on gamblling revenue. OK. Not a sin.
But, I worked for my education. I went to law school in my 40's. I paid for my undergraduate degree in cash.
Stop with the pity party; the manufacturing jobs left 35 years ago. The mills switched to natural gas 30 years ago; they are not going back to coal.
David: stop catering to this group of people. They have chosen to be who they are -- 35 years David. Give it up.
I was raised in the Midwest. Michigan City, Indiana. Our city went through many economic changes, especially in the 1980s, but the town has survived, mostly on gamblling revenue. OK. Not a sin.
But, I worked for my education. I went to law school in my 40's. I paid for my undergraduate degree in cash.
Stop with the pity party; the manufacturing jobs left 35 years ago. The mills switched to natural gas 30 years ago; they are not going back to coal.
David: stop catering to this group of people. They have chosen to be who they are -- 35 years David. Give it up.
35
I agree that the votes of trump supporters were an anguished act and many of these individuals feel betrayed and forgotten. I feel compassion for them. But spare me the attemp to draw moral equivalence to them and the faults of the left. Those of us who disdain trump do so far flaws ranging from incessant lying to blatant sexism and bigotry. And turning a blind eye to these characteristics is itself immoral. I thought conservatives are all about taking self responsibility? Well, now's your chance--stop supporting this guy.
35
im starting to wonder if this infamous wall is to keep the serfs in...
8
It's interesting that we are literally at the lowest levels of initial jobless claims since 1973 (over 40 years), with unemployment at a very low 4.4%. Yet, there are significant problems with wages and the share of wealth.
CEOs earned 30 times as much as their average worker's compensation in 1978. In 2013, they earned 296 times as much (it's even higher now). During that same time period CEO compensation (adjusted for inflation) increased 937%! while average worker's compensation grew only 10%. So, yes - that is a major problem.
But, follow the money - the policy agenda of the right wing (Koch, et al) is driving these efforts (Citizens United being a prime example among legions of others). Read "Dark Money" by Jane Mayer, and all will be (tragically) revealed.
Meanwhile Mr. Brooks' columns constantly miss the obvious points of what today's Republicans are supporting. There's always a spirited attempt at some profound, mystical solution to a complex problem. But, in reality they have the same productive value as a dog actually catching his tail.
Imagine Mr. Brooks in a garden this summer, habitually spraying it with Raid to kill the weeds that aren't needed, while struggling all summer to find miraculous ways to get his plants to grow - more sun! more fertilizer! more shade! classical music! attract more bees! rotate the plants! prune more effectively! It's a spirited exploration of many solutions. But man, you're missing the obvious - it's the weed killer.
CEOs earned 30 times as much as their average worker's compensation in 1978. In 2013, they earned 296 times as much (it's even higher now). During that same time period CEO compensation (adjusted for inflation) increased 937%! while average worker's compensation grew only 10%. So, yes - that is a major problem.
But, follow the money - the policy agenda of the right wing (Koch, et al) is driving these efforts (Citizens United being a prime example among legions of others). Read "Dark Money" by Jane Mayer, and all will be (tragically) revealed.
Meanwhile Mr. Brooks' columns constantly miss the obvious points of what today's Republicans are supporting. There's always a spirited attempt at some profound, mystical solution to a complex problem. But, in reality they have the same productive value as a dog actually catching his tail.
Imagine Mr. Brooks in a garden this summer, habitually spraying it with Raid to kill the weeds that aren't needed, while struggling all summer to find miraculous ways to get his plants to grow - more sun! more fertilizer! more shade! classical music! attract more bees! rotate the plants! prune more effectively! It's a spirited exploration of many solutions. But man, you're missing the obvious - it's the weed killer.
16
Is there anything more elite than looking down upon a section of american citizens and terming them the "alienated"? In describing their tribal behaviors and inability to govern, like a rabble of unruly children? Is this really any different from Mrs. Clinton's "deplorables" who suffer from all sorts of "isms" like racism and sexism?
8
Since Ronald Reagan, the white middle class has been totally conned by the Republicans and their overlords, the corporate elite. This evil partnership has decimated the middle class, and with the help of propaganda from Fox News and their ilk, the white middle class has been duped into becoming human lemmings. Trump is the bottom of that steady descent. When Donald Trump and his evil crew finish wrecking our democracy and our country, there'll be little left, but the fumes.
22
Please explain what being a conservative means and your case for why it could pull us out of this vortex.
8
Brooks's recipe for "conducting onself in office" is a pretty good description of what Obama did his best to do.
17
Typical Brooksian nonsense that sounds perfectly reasonable. What we have is a party, (which i was once a supporter of) that stands for nothing but the most cynical possible agenda: Power for itself. The GOP has no governing agenda and they serve their corporate sponsors and the wealthy individuals that own them.
Obama bent over backwards to try and work with the republicans but they refused out of the pure cynical political calculus that if Obama was running as an agent of change, he must not be allowed to succeed or he'd become a huge figure akin to Kennedy or FDR. Policies that help people? Ha ha ha.
Obama bent over backwards to try and work with the republicans but they refused out of the pure cynical political calculus that if Obama was running as an agent of change, he must not be allowed to succeed or he'd become a huge figure akin to Kennedy or FDR. Policies that help people? Ha ha ha.
46
Where is the attention on the many upper-middle-class and wealthy Republicans who voted for Trump, without whom he could not have won? What's their excuse? Why do Brooks and other apologists always leave them conveniently out of the equation?
33
Elites aren't feeling the pain of all those left behind. Of course the winners refuse to help pay for aid to the losers. Apparently not American to help the middle and working class if winners see their taxes increase. Sweden , Norway , Germany and others have figured out how to strengthen their social safety nets . If we don't want Trumps or worse we'd better see how these social democracies did it.
14
Trump wasn't elected to "address" or solve problems. Hillary Clinton didn't get elected because there was no faith she could solve problems. So Trump was elected by the "un-cool" kids just to show the "cool" kids that they are not automatically entitled to run student government for themselves. There is no credible force of school administration, so to speak, which controls us now, as the authority structures of political parties once were. If authority can't deliver, then it isn't owed anything. No, alienation is not a principle which can govern. But it can thwart. Notice that few of those who voted for Trump are unhappy.
6
And to this end, Mr. Brooks, we desperately need education. Education which teaches people 'how' to think, not 'what' to think. Education which allows one to question the status quo, the courage to welcome change, the ability to create new horizons and the willingness to examine old beliefs.
Unfortunately, I see none of these qualities in out politicians.
Unfortunately, I see none of these qualities in out politicians.
9
"We need a better establishment, attuned to Trump voters, those who alienation grows out of genuine suffering." Yet we know that Trump voters are more likely to hold xenophobic or racist views and are less likely to be poor than Clinton voters. Mr. Brooks makes several excellent points, as usual, but he also leads us to the false conclusion that the alienation expressed by Trump voters is somehow justified by 'genuine suffering'. No doubt some of them have genuinely suffered, but the majority are part of one of the most privileged groups in history: male, white, middle or upper-class Americans.
23
Yes, we are a society of "alienated minds" listening to talking heads. The answer to alienation is social involvement at the deepest levels of human need, not marching in the streets with placards celebrating alienation.
1
Ah, yes. Alienation, caused by those elites on the right and the left. Of course, it was the elites on the left who have made efforts to get more health care to more Americans, fought by the GOP every step. And its the elites on the right who are determined take it away from millions of Americans to give more money to those who need it least. I guess not all elites are quite the same. When one's own party has become something too horrible to contemplate, however, a little false equivalency may be in order.
25
Thank you, Mr Brooks, for a very insightful essay. You have further defined the income gap and the culture gap between the haves and the have-nots. Fortunately, for my family, though we are well educated, we are among the have-nots. But wait! We are not ultra-conservatives who exclude others in order to be themselves. We are the struggling liberals who bend over backward to include everyone in our discourses, our businesses, and our homes. You'd think that the ultra-wealthy would have more resources to be liberal and all-inclusive of everyone, if we ordinary, low-middle income people are able to rise to liberalism/socialism, as it were.
Why are the wealthy so jealous of what they have that sharing is anathema to them?
Why are the wealthy so jealous of what they have that sharing is anathema to them?
8
Wait a minute. Remember the electoral college voted him in, not the majority.
7
Who cares about governing? This was and is about precisely two things: Tax cuts, and overturning Roe v. Wade. With Gorsuch seated on the Supreme Court and likely one or two more appointments at least as conservative as he is, my relatives (most of them anyway) are incredibly happen about Trump's victory. Even if he's impeached, even if the economy crashes (Obama's fault!), even if 20 million people lose health insurance (and 30k-40k die each year as a result of lack of health insurance resulting in lack of health care), they see within their grasp that which they've most wanted for over 40 years. Nothing else matters. Nothing. (I can't stand speaking to them these last few months.)
15
France just elected a middle of the road unknown to address the anger that seethes in most of Western societies facing globalization. It was lucky to find a charismatic leader preaching a positive approach. Macron told the French; globalization seems unfair to you, you're right but don't retreat into a small France. Embrace the world as is and trust that your institutions have given you plenty of resources to fight back, and embrace a mission to spread French values.
That's what could have happened here when a young idealistic president was elected eight years. Obama too was a centrist leader trying to unite a divided and angry nation and give it a new inspiration. Alas, he was met by a political party fighting an unprecedented campaign of distortions, lies, exaggerations and total obstruction. And yet an alienated minority of the electorate rewarded that party through flaws in the system; the filibuster, gerrymandering and the electoral college. The party in question also used another institution, the highest court in the land to institutionalize inequality by allowing the wealthy to buy as much government as they want or to fund promoters of hate and division. Happily for the French, their electorate rejected divisive appeals from the political parties to elect a young unifier. Macron just chose a government of center left and right. Macron and France may still lose the war against division, but it has one advantage; no hate radio, no gerrymandering.
That's what could have happened here when a young idealistic president was elected eight years. Obama too was a centrist leader trying to unite a divided and angry nation and give it a new inspiration. Alas, he was met by a political party fighting an unprecedented campaign of distortions, lies, exaggerations and total obstruction. And yet an alienated minority of the electorate rewarded that party through flaws in the system; the filibuster, gerrymandering and the electoral college. The party in question also used another institution, the highest court in the land to institutionalize inequality by allowing the wealthy to buy as much government as they want or to fund promoters of hate and division. Happily for the French, their electorate rejected divisive appeals from the political parties to elect a young unifier. Macron just chose a government of center left and right. Macron and France may still lose the war against division, but it has one advantage; no hate radio, no gerrymandering.
16
Thanks David. I appreciate your thoughtful perspectives.
Trump voters were not just people without employment, means, education or an economic way forward. These were also wealthy, well-heeled, educated people who admired the truth not necessarily espoused but definitely embodied in a man who cares little for others, lacks a governing principle involving organized compassion, and looks only to enrich himself. It's important to remember that a significant segment of the Republic party is unabashedly supportive of the Ayn Rand principle that it's every man for himself: the forfeiture of democracy in favor of moneyocracy; a direct and legally enshrined correlation between money and power.
16
“Alienation can sometimes make for a powerful organizing principle for an electoral coalition. … But it does not make for a natural organizing principle for a governing coalition.”
Exhibit A, Hugo Chavez and his running down of Venezuela into the deepest of abyss between 1998 and 2013. He won every election he ran for... but it is not just that he would not, but that he could not govern in an effective manner, because the "pouvoir" refused to cooperate meaningfully... Call it the revenge of the elites... who have now seen the roof fall upon their heads as well.
Exhibit A, Hugo Chavez and his running down of Venezuela into the deepest of abyss between 1998 and 2013. He won every election he ran for... but it is not just that he would not, but that he could not govern in an effective manner, because the "pouvoir" refused to cooperate meaningfully... Call it the revenge of the elites... who have now seen the roof fall upon their heads as well.
2
Brooks, without any justification, turns any holder of a college degree into an oppressor instead of recognizing it is the plutocracy/oligarchy/megacorporations that have been the authors of the disaffection of voters. The middle and those with lesser incomes have finally realized they have been exploited for decades and have reacted, as Brooks describes, with blind, self-defeating and impotent rage. A consistent proponent of that exploitation has been Brooks, undoubtedly one of the college degreed, but also a prime apologist and advocate for the 1% who have engineered the transfer of wealth from the middle class to their own coffers.
11
Since the founding fathers wanted a republic, it might be time to push the reset button and tilt a little more towards state's rights. Keep the money closer to home. Let states break away from a federal government that is dominated by Republicans, Democrats, and Citizens United. Trump has proven that as a nation we can barely govern ourselves. We're an ungovernable lot. One big positive is this. We can let Kansas be Kansas -- conservative and regressive. Others states can be as liberal as their voters want.
1
Most of us were aware of these issues during the election.
3
Please define "elites". I'm a little tired of hearing this bandied about and not understanding what it even means. If you have a college degree are you an elite? How about an AA at a junior college? Elite? If you live near the coastal waters? Elite? If you care about health care for all and think that it's OK for government to give a helping hand? Elite? Just what are you talking about? Is it a money thing? Who are the elite? Can Republicans be "elite" too and spew out their "faculty lounge views". This sounds like nonsense, which isn't unusual considering who it's coming from.
52
Sure, easy, by this op ed def., an elite is an educated lounge lizard, dodging bullets on an open carry college campus.
........and the "alienated mind" voter is an alien-voter from another fake news reality, or more likely, a conservative hater-under cover of privilege.
........and the "alienated mind" voter is an alien-voter from another fake news reality, or more likely, a conservative hater-under cover of privilege.
5
Actually it's "the establishment." The people who are in charge, bending the system to their advantage. And their posse.
2
The Elites are the uppity bogeymen and bogeywomen created by right wing propagandists so that their target audience could have a common enemy to dislike, resent, and unite against.
The name-callers were certainly inspired by Lord Agnew, who proclaimed "A spirit of national masochism prevails, encouraged by an effete core of impudent snobs who characterize themselves as intellectuals.”
In contrast, members of the target audience portray themselves as "authentic" Americans and therefore inwardly superior to the fakey-snowflaky elites.
The name-callers were certainly inspired by Lord Agnew, who proclaimed "A spirit of national masochism prevails, encouraged by an effete core of impudent snobs who characterize themselves as intellectuals.”
In contrast, members of the target audience portray themselves as "authentic" Americans and therefore inwardly superior to the fakey-snowflaky elites.
5
David was some what reasonable so far. But it appears that NY Times corrupted him as well. He still doubts Trump's presidency. If he opens his eyes and see how so many foreign leaders behaved in his presence when they were in America or Trump's current foreign trip, they think that America has a president finally after 8 years. This cannot be because he is bad or failed, but because they see in him something special, they hear from him something others refuse to say. This is the reason why Americans elected him even with his occasional bad behavior.
You mean Americans and Russians?
2
They play him as the ordinary von man he is. If he wasn't the president of the US, elected by gullible ppl like you, they wouldn't even waste time laughing about him.
Be careful of using the term "special" to refer to Mr Trump. To many of us "special" doesn't mean what you think it means
We need a lot less government. We need a lot less NSA, CIA, DoD, FI, NHS, DoE, and on and on and on. We need a lot less FannieMae, a lot less EPA, a lot less of just about every single thing than the Federal (and most states, and a great many counties and municipalities) purport to "provide" for all the dollars they tax, spend, bond, conjure and largely waste. If the worthless crew that Mr. Brooks is so fond of (not that he really likes them... he just loathes the average American) were keen on keeping an un-stretched neck, they would pay more attention. Unfortunately, only one style of education will do for them, and it carries the ultimate price in tuition.
One of these days, hemp fever and lead poisoning are going to be a leading cause of discomfort among the "elites" who feel so empowered to govern in ways so irresponsible and careless. Partisan affiliation will not matter when the epidemic hits, Trump is proof of that.
One of these days, hemp fever and lead poisoning are going to be a leading cause of discomfort among the "elites" who feel so empowered to govern in ways so irresponsible and careless. Partisan affiliation will not matter when the epidemic hits, Trump is proof of that.
3
Oh, come ON, David! Donald Trump is a symptom of the underlying problem, a problem that has been brewing primarily in YOUR party since Newt Gingrich began his back-bench bomb-throwing in the early 90's, It began even earlier when Jesse Helms used every senatorial parliamentary trick to block appointments that didn't meet HIS narrow far-right-wing definition of "best" people. Which meant they had to pass his personal reactionary acid test.
And you, David, have long been an apologist for that movement that exploded when America had the temerity to elect a Black Democrat with a "funny" name as President. From 1989 on the Republicans opposed EVERYTHING just because Obama proposed it, even things they originally endorsed. It was a deliberate sabotage solely to achieve power, regardless of the damage done to the nation, or the falsehoods repeated thousands of times as "truth".
Is it any wonder that this Republican Party veering from its traditions, fueled by the propagandists at Fox News, created such fantastically fertile ground for a Donald Trump, a typical "strongman type" would rise to the top of the septic tank?
And you, David, have long been an apologist for that movement that exploded when America had the temerity to elect a Black Democrat with a "funny" name as President. From 1989 on the Republicans opposed EVERYTHING just because Obama proposed it, even things they originally endorsed. It was a deliberate sabotage solely to achieve power, regardless of the damage done to the nation, or the falsehoods repeated thousands of times as "truth".
Is it any wonder that this Republican Party veering from its traditions, fueled by the propagandists at Fox News, created such fantastically fertile ground for a Donald Trump, a typical "strongman type" would rise to the top of the septic tank?
35
For the record, Brooks identified himself as a libertarian. He likes to label himself.
1
I can solve 75% of these mostly real problems right now but it wont get done b/c of the special interests and public laziness.
1. Tax reform. ALL income is hereby taxed at the same rate whether W-2 wages or "earnings" of the lazy class (right now is 15% vs up to 39%).
2. Alternative Minimum Tax for Corporations. 100% of all corporations will pay a minimum of 5% of their gross sales or revenues in federal income tax. Period. The list of billion dollar companies who have paid zilch, zero, nada in taxes the last few years would exceed my 1500 word limit.
3. Carried Interest for Wall St crooks. 100% of carried interest will be taxed at the ~40% that everyone elses bonus get taxed at. Fair. Just fair.
4. Repeal Citizens United. No money is not speech anymore than any words coming out of any politicians mouth is worth a plug nickel. Campaigns will be 100% publicly financed by a 3% "fairness" tax on all billionaires, divvyed up between -top 3- in open primaries (no more partisan primaries). Campaign season is limited to 120 days with a 72hr news blackout before the vote which will be done on a nat'l holiday weekend with as much advance voting as possible.
5. Universal Health Care -like everyone else has. The broken health care system where we get less for more fueled by crooked and greedy (ex drug companies) would itself put 1.5% of GDP for infinity. but first we have to rid ourselves of the diseased greedy first eliminating the disease or the carriers. either is fine with me.
1. Tax reform. ALL income is hereby taxed at the same rate whether W-2 wages or "earnings" of the lazy class (right now is 15% vs up to 39%).
2. Alternative Minimum Tax for Corporations. 100% of all corporations will pay a minimum of 5% of their gross sales or revenues in federal income tax. Period. The list of billion dollar companies who have paid zilch, zero, nada in taxes the last few years would exceed my 1500 word limit.
3. Carried Interest for Wall St crooks. 100% of carried interest will be taxed at the ~40% that everyone elses bonus get taxed at. Fair. Just fair.
4. Repeal Citizens United. No money is not speech anymore than any words coming out of any politicians mouth is worth a plug nickel. Campaigns will be 100% publicly financed by a 3% "fairness" tax on all billionaires, divvyed up between -top 3- in open primaries (no more partisan primaries). Campaign season is limited to 120 days with a 72hr news blackout before the vote which will be done on a nat'l holiday weekend with as much advance voting as possible.
5. Universal Health Care -like everyone else has. The broken health care system where we get less for more fueled by crooked and greedy (ex drug companies) would itself put 1.5% of GDP for infinity. but first we have to rid ourselves of the diseased greedy first eliminating the disease or the carriers. either is fine with me.
29
Solid comment.
I'm just hoping you're not talking about a flat tax in 1.
Otherwise 100% agreed.
Won't happen.
I'm just hoping you're not talking about a flat tax in 1.
Otherwise 100% agreed.
Won't happen.
4
Add in day care and I'll vote for you!
3
Elites are not the problem, Republicans are the problem. The vast majority of our issues - from the dysfunction of the House and Senate, huge deficits, expanding inequality, a healthcare system that provides the world’s best example of what not to follow, and more - all have Republican strategies behind them. Yet it’s a great plan because the worse things get the further the country leans Republican. Until the Democrats can counter the Republican’s public relations juggernaut and stay in control long enough to fix our issues, the country will continue in a downward spiral.
31
"...we do need a political establishment in this country, or maybe a few competing establishments. We need people who have been educated to actually know something about public policy problems. We need people who have had gradual, upward careers in government and understand the craft of wielding power. We need people who know how to live up to certain standards of integrity and public service."
And yet, how often does the Republican party attack government, attack the people serving in government ("faceless bureaucrats") and anyone who supports the government and its programs?
Until the Republican party can change one of its most instinctual urges -- gaining power via the denigration of government and its programs -- Mr. Brooks' call for an educated professional careerist establishment will be drowned out by the relentless attacks of his conservative colleagues.
And yet, how often does the Republican party attack government, attack the people serving in government ("faceless bureaucrats") and anyone who supports the government and its programs?
Until the Republican party can change one of its most instinctual urges -- gaining power via the denigration of government and its programs -- Mr. Brooks' call for an educated professional careerist establishment will be drowned out by the relentless attacks of his conservative colleagues.
19
"The events of the past four months illustrate that we do need a political establishment in this country, or maybe a few competing establishments. We need people who have been educated to actually know something about public policy problems. We need people who have had gradual, upward careers in government and understand the craft of wielding power. We need people who know how to live up to certain standards of integrity and public service."
I could not agree more. But the problem here isn't just Trump's lack of governing experience. Look at Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell, whose entire lives have been shaped by a gradual, upward trajectory in government. If one starts the journey on the wrong road and with a faulty map, all the travelling experience in the world doesn't matter: one will still reach the wrong destination. The Republican Party since 1968 has consistently followed the wrong path, and its history is bookended by two crooks, Nixon and Trump. Experience is not the issue; rather it is the moral fibre of the politician that must be weighed.
I could not agree more. But the problem here isn't just Trump's lack of governing experience. Look at Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell, whose entire lives have been shaped by a gradual, upward trajectory in government. If one starts the journey on the wrong road and with a faulty map, all the travelling experience in the world doesn't matter: one will still reach the wrong destination. The Republican Party since 1968 has consistently followed the wrong path, and its history is bookended by two crooks, Nixon and Trump. Experience is not the issue; rather it is the moral fibre of the politician that must be weighed.
18
I believe that we need to embrace true diversity, not just of race and gender, but of religion and social status, educated and ignorant, young and old, and dare we say North and South? What constitutes the elite? Elite is wealth? Is education? It is so many things. Rather than focus on disparities and difference we need to embrace the opportunity found in the US in the USA. That means joining the rest of the civilized world in understanding how a civil society depends on Universal health care. How public education levels the playing field. How our institutions depend on believing in the good inherent in people, not the wrong and the bad and the ugly. If we can salvage the United states of America, it will depend on seeing the sameness in our humanity, not promoting the differences, and disparities in our society.
11
I went to college. I'm not an elite. I am basically a modern-day mechanic who works in an office as a programmer. That does not give me the power or a reason to look down on anybody about anything. I don't know where people get such ideas about the college educated. Most of us are just trying to survive like everybody else who works.
Our "Me Generation" has wandered off the path of "Country First" and our former dedication to contributing to the greater prosperity of our unique democracy.
We've lost the element of our society that acknowledges that we all have to contribute to the ongoing success of our wonderful America.
I can abide disagreement and work constructively with those who may not share my views: demonizing those who don't agree is so very destructive as we now are witness to...
We've lost the element of our society that acknowledges that we all have to contribute to the ongoing success of our wonderful America.
I can abide disagreement and work constructively with those who may not share my views: demonizing those who don't agree is so very destructive as we now are witness to...
5
But where are the nationalist neo-fascists who have flocked to Trump in this analysis: Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, Sebastian Gorka, Richard Spencer - the first three are in the administration and Mr. Spencer has been front and center with his support. Certainly many (most) white's have felt abandoned by the status quo but many, as well, support Trump because they hate liberals, minorities and people who aren't Christian and Trump promises to legitimize that hatred.
6
I don't disagree with Mr. Brooks, ever. I do so at my peril. College educated people aren't the problem. To be concise, THE major problem in america is that unemployed poor people will not move to where the jobs are. Think Irishmen and Italians in 1850. Think African Americans in 1920. Now, in 2017, unemployed grandchildren of coal miners won't move to Cincinnati, or Memphis or, well, anywhere.
12
Great observation from the increasingly philosophical David Brooks. Are we not all becoming alienated in the American Society, the poor, the elite, the middle class, white, black and even the very rich are living gated lives in search of meaning beyond wealth. Let me suggest that capitalism has over shot the mark and become the end that destroys all means. It was a system that was designed to server people, but now it enslaves all of us. All good ideas contain the seeds of their own destruction and so it is Capitalism. It has has an impressive run, but in it's late stages, it needs to come to a end or take the fork that lies ahead and diverge into something completely different before it take us all down with it's hunger and inhumane demands.
1
David Brooks does what the elites have been doing for a while, rewriting events to fit their narrative. The whole premise of the article is that Trump is a bad president and he is failing the country and his constituents. So let me tell you what the unwashed see. Trump has stemmed the tide of immigrants and is deporting criminals. Trump is rebuilding our relationships around the world, certainly with our friends but even with our adversaries like Russia and China. Although legislation is taken longer than expected we will get a repeal of ACA, tax reform and a budget (Obama signed a budget in only 4 of his eight years). He is restoring law and order and respects the police. He is taking on the liberal lying press. He is appointing good judges, reshaping the EPA, reaffirming America's desire for school choice and enabling energy independence. We have not been alienated by elites, we have been alienated by failure. That's changing. Don't be surprised if Trump wins again in 2020.
1
Energy could be 100% local and give local jobs if provided by solar and wind. We have the technology today, and to do this with less tax break money than we give to big oil. We have places with lots of jobs but no skilled workers. Immigrants commit far fewer crimes per capita than native born. In New England and other areas, drug use has disadvantaged native born workers. My favorite story was the people who showed up gorgeous in cannibas industry but we're told all workers had to be sober. So, I think you look through the wrong lens. Encourage workers to travel to where there is work, provide proper training.
3
Mr. Robbins, we were deporting as many criminals under Obama as we are under Trump. The AHCA would throw 24 million off health care and probably worsen the market while shutting down needed hospitals in underserved rural areas. There is no increase in law and order or measurable decrease in crime and the prospects for tax reform is uncertain but, if passed, will enlarge the debt. Very little of what you say is factual. Polls taken in countries that are our allies show we are less respected. These are the facts.
7
The notion of an oppressive, liberal, college-educated elite is getting more tiresome the more I hear it. Ask any of us lumped into that pile how powerful we feel, before or after Nov. 8.
Here's a different analysis: That a particular demographic faced the prospect of a two-term African American president to be followed by a woman president, was creeped out by marriage equality and bathroom bills, and was facing a shrinking role in broader society. Identity politics won the day, all right -- on the Right.
Here's a different analysis: That a particular demographic faced the prospect of a two-term African American president to be followed by a woman president, was creeped out by marriage equality and bathroom bills, and was facing a shrinking role in broader society. Identity politics won the day, all right -- on the Right.
42
Well, I don't think this group (liberal college-educated elite) reached out to those left behind. They offered little, other than the education they peddle. And, I'm all for education, but how does a non-traditional man with two children at home, and a full-time job find the time and resources to get a degree or retrain. He hasn't enough savings to replace the water heater if it goes out - many times unable to even afford the commute to the nearest college. I think many had their heads in the sand.
3
And what may I ask should we, as individuals, offer? Who exactly is this "we" of which you speak? I am told that I - the product of parents and grandparents none of whom ever received a college degree - am now am "elite" by dint of having worked hard to receive a BA and MA and to build a professional career. This is what my parents urged me to achieve and wanted for me. I now pay my own way, have a comfortable life, and yes - I have had the opportunity along the way to meet people from other countries, races and faiths and to know that scapegoating them is not going to solve any of the world's problems.
I highly resent the resentment heaped at people like me. I give back in the ways that I can but I refuse to make excuses or feel sorry for people who would rather cling to fear and hate than common human decency. That said, unlike Republicans this Democrat will not vote for people who would make their misery even worse, however deplorable - yes, I said it - I may find them to be.
I highly resent the resentment heaped at people like me. I give back in the ways that I can but I refuse to make excuses or feel sorry for people who would rather cling to fear and hate than common human decency. That said, unlike Republicans this Democrat will not vote for people who would make their misery even worse, however deplorable - yes, I said it - I may find them to be.
7
The talk of Trumpites being rebels against the elite is nonsense. There is not one elite in America. The talking heads of Fox news, the conservative radio hosts, the leaders of the conservative Christian colleges and white evangelical churches, the owners of the coal mines, and oil extraction companies, the big ranchers and corporate factory farms of the Midwest, the conservative think tanks, and the real estate development people like Trump and the venture capitalists are all elites. The college professors and college educated are not an elite. Few professors are highly paid. Most college grads are non-PC workaday stiffs. Despite the Wall Street bankers and their lawyers, most college grads are not super highly paid.
The Trump revolution is populated by those who think their elite should be able to control the rest of the nation. Their religion must be honored as the law of the land and enforced by the police powers of the state. Their prejudices must be enshrined in law.
The Trump revolution is populated by those who think their elite should be able to control the rest of the nation. Their religion must be honored as the law of the land and enforced by the police powers of the state. Their prejudices must be enshrined in law.
If f members of the Trump campaign worked with the Russians, impeachment is null and void. This would have not been an election, but a terrorist plot, and there is only one answer. The Supreme Court must declare the election null and void. An emergency election must be called.
15
I want to be sympathetic to the pain of those alienated people. But when I was on the street the other day I overheard the same refrain again: "You've got it made in this country if you're rich or poor. If you're in the middle, you're screwed!"
The idea that if you're poor in America you're making out like a bandit isn't just untrue--it's positively mean. The idea that our social safety net is "too generous" is out-and-out preposterous.
Our problem isn't just how our "elites" relate to ordinary people. Its a consequence of a quintessentially American ideology that there are no complex, systemic problems that a little elbow grease and initiative or "innovation" can't solve. It's the idea that there are no genuinely needy in America, just welfare cheats and temporarily embarrassed millionaires. These aren't "elite" ideas. They are junk truisms, abetted by thirty years of right wing demagoguery. It's a consequence of too much Alex Jones, not too much Rachel Maddow. Many people are angry and alienated not because they have to be, but because they *want* to be.
We need a new elite, all right. We need one that stands up for the role of government in this society--not tear it down to score cheap debate points. An elite that promotes and rewards education and expertise--not vilify teachers and make it harder to finance an education than a bedroom set.
Maybe all that makes me the type that hangs around "faculty lounges".
The idea that if you're poor in America you're making out like a bandit isn't just untrue--it's positively mean. The idea that our social safety net is "too generous" is out-and-out preposterous.
Our problem isn't just how our "elites" relate to ordinary people. Its a consequence of a quintessentially American ideology that there are no complex, systemic problems that a little elbow grease and initiative or "innovation" can't solve. It's the idea that there are no genuinely needy in America, just welfare cheats and temporarily embarrassed millionaires. These aren't "elite" ideas. They are junk truisms, abetted by thirty years of right wing demagoguery. It's a consequence of too much Alex Jones, not too much Rachel Maddow. Many people are angry and alienated not because they have to be, but because they *want* to be.
We need a new elite, all right. We need one that stands up for the role of government in this society--not tear it down to score cheap debate points. An elite that promotes and rewards education and expertise--not vilify teachers and make it harder to finance an education than a bedroom set.
Maybe all that makes me the type that hangs around "faculty lounges".
31
You Libs are living in dreamland .. there isn't going to be any impeachment .. there isn't going to be anything but smoke. That said, Brooks makes a good point that if we want to bridge our increasing divisions, what we may well need is re-institution of the draft and national service. No deferments, no deferrals .. everyone participates as a requirement to receive any government benefits. Elites, urban youth, rural youth .. you all get thrown into the mix.
Defense will hate it, but if they want the big budget $, they need to provide additional social value
Defense will hate it, but if they want the big budget $, they need to provide additional social value
3
We should all attend public schools as well. Shared experiences are powerful forces to bring people together.
11
...And a PS... The GOP could also decide to stop glamorizing willful ignorance and bigotry, and the never ending pursuit of someone to blame and hate.
27
Once more, Trump is somebody's fault other than the people who nominated and voted for him, other than the people, like Brooks who were happy Republicans for years while the party was building to Trumpism.
I'm tired of it, David. Your guys - Gingrich, Limbaugh, Hannity, and they are your guys - have done more damage, created more division, sowed more hatred, than the entire "college-educated elite" that you criticize. Get a mirror.
I'm tired of it, David. Your guys - Gingrich, Limbaugh, Hannity, and they are your guys - have done more damage, created more division, sowed more hatred, than the entire "college-educated elite" that you criticize. Get a mirror.
42
What we need is a better educated ELECTORATE that asks blithering idiots like Trump, who promise to solve all their country's problems, "How, exactly, are you going to do that?" and things like "If you're so successful, how did you end up in bankruptcy? Isn't that pretty much the definition of failure?" We need an electorate that stops voting for people who "sound just like me" and returns to wanting to vote for people who they have reason to believe are smarter than them.
David when did you stop debating or arguing for your positions and instead just decided you knew the answers?
Are you so tired that you can't explain why moral realism, why ALL elites are bad, why it is the poor on well fair, and not the solider on government military well fair, that is the problem.
Do you see how you are the problem too? You have stopped debating and are now just dumping your "right" ( haha pun itended) ideas down the internet pipes.
Kind of a diatribe and a sloppy one. What about the regular class of new age "serfs", people working service jobs that cannot move out of their state, ( read kingdom) and have no way to afford retraining.
Are you too an out of touch else that think boomers and millenials are spending too much on avocado toast and vacations to Budapest? Maybe it is instead that vast disparity of wealth and who spends it that is bending the data about spending and not showing true averages.
Maybe you too should should question wealth distribution. As that is not "woke" just aware of oligarchy and kleptocracy.
Are you so tired that you can't explain why moral realism, why ALL elites are bad, why it is the poor on well fair, and not the solider on government military well fair, that is the problem.
Do you see how you are the problem too? You have stopped debating and are now just dumping your "right" ( haha pun itended) ideas down the internet pipes.
Kind of a diatribe and a sloppy one. What about the regular class of new age "serfs", people working service jobs that cannot move out of their state, ( read kingdom) and have no way to afford retraining.
Are you too an out of touch else that think boomers and millenials are spending too much on avocado toast and vacations to Budapest? Maybe it is instead that vast disparity of wealth and who spends it that is bending the data about spending and not showing true averages.
Maybe you too should should question wealth distribution. As that is not "woke" just aware of oligarchy and kleptocracy.
8
David Brooks is a ver, very nice man. Stop.
The New York Times is our best. Stop.
David features the thought of others. Read each. They are plugged. David is lost. And he knows it. He's lost everywhere in his life. Those he lives to love know this.
Hillary and Bill, criminal. Simple. Bill was smart. Liars cannot lead. See Trump. See Hillary. So cunning. So angry.
Obama? He wanted to put it right. Cannot blame him. He put it wrong. And was an addict. Once and always?
Bush 1 and 2. One structured, so decent, so lacking. His son an idiot, worse. A drunk cleaned is never solvent.
Addiction afflicts America. David's featured savants ignore this. Addiction is fatal.
Some ask, are we all addicted. Not all. Some. There's addiction and addiction. Tobacco is deadly. A Tisch testified in congress. Said tobacco is not addictive. James Tisch spoke for the father that asked me to take $50,000 and get his son Danny off tobacco.
The nation's habits are sick. The Fed is sick. We won WWII. We have lost the war on terror.
We are lying to ourselves. Our kids know this.
David, where do you go when you're lost?
Home? No.
Stay the course. Scotty Reston and Bill Safire paved the way. Frank Rich was terrific.
So are you, most of the time.
The New York Times is our best. Stop.
David features the thought of others. Read each. They are plugged. David is lost. And he knows it. He's lost everywhere in his life. Those he lives to love know this.
Hillary and Bill, criminal. Simple. Bill was smart. Liars cannot lead. See Trump. See Hillary. So cunning. So angry.
Obama? He wanted to put it right. Cannot blame him. He put it wrong. And was an addict. Once and always?
Bush 1 and 2. One structured, so decent, so lacking. His son an idiot, worse. A drunk cleaned is never solvent.
Addiction afflicts America. David's featured savants ignore this. Addiction is fatal.
Some ask, are we all addicted. Not all. Some. There's addiction and addiction. Tobacco is deadly. A Tisch testified in congress. Said tobacco is not addictive. James Tisch spoke for the father that asked me to take $50,000 and get his son Danny off tobacco.
The nation's habits are sick. The Fed is sick. We won WWII. We have lost the war on terror.
We are lying to ourselves. Our kids know this.
David, where do you go when you're lost?
Home? No.
Stay the course. Scotty Reston and Bill Safire paved the way. Frank Rich was terrific.
So are you, most of the time.
I'm not sure it's about elitism. Plenty of urban working-class people voted for the democratic ticket. This is a cultural divide that seems to be more about a diminishing white middle-class, and their anxiety about being left behind. Trump knew how to capitalize on people's fear. Fear of being displaced (or replaced) by women, by minorities, by the new economy. Meanwhile his despicable governance will make the lives of people who voted for him lives all the more difficult. I don't see how the alienation will diminish. They need someone to blame. My guess, when his popularity slips even more, Trump will start a war.
14
"As Robert W. Merry put it recently in The American Conservative, “When a man as uncouth and reckless as Trump becomes president by running against the nation’s elites, it’s a strong signal that the elites are the problem.”
That's an interesting interpretation, and quite flawed. Consider for one moment how much the conservative media and the religious right influenced the election. Fox News, which is the #1 news network in the United States endorsed Donald Trump, while every other major media source both nationally and internationally endorsed Hillary Clinton specifically because of Mr. Trump's well documented uncouth and reckless behavior. Evangelical Christians were some of Mr. Trump's strongest supporters, choosing Mr. Trump because of his stance on abortion.
Please don't blame the results of this election on anyone except the people who voted for Mr. Trump. They didn't choose him because they were alienated, they chose him because they were told to.
That's an interesting interpretation, and quite flawed. Consider for one moment how much the conservative media and the religious right influenced the election. Fox News, which is the #1 news network in the United States endorsed Donald Trump, while every other major media source both nationally and internationally endorsed Hillary Clinton specifically because of Mr. Trump's well documented uncouth and reckless behavior. Evangelical Christians were some of Mr. Trump's strongest supporters, choosing Mr. Trump because of his stance on abortion.
Please don't blame the results of this election on anyone except the people who voted for Mr. Trump. They didn't choose him because they were alienated, they chose him because they were told to.
18
Democracy does not function well in a country of low educational standards. A poorly educated electorate is easily hijacked by a demagogue such as Trump and I believe that this is what happened in the last election.
25
I wish someone would give me a definition of the "elites" that apparently are the cause of all our problems. I think that it is a straw man that has been set up to be knocked down.
21
Well before Trump, the right wing has successfully preyed upon a relatively large group of dissaffected white people. They have used racism, religion and economics as tools, basic demagoguery 101. They're no more alienated than I am, which isn't saying much.
11
No, Brooks is wrong, and practicing water-cooler philosophy (again!).
That's because even those horrible georgia rednecks as illustrated possess willpower, desires to have their own way, and strategies for achieving their ends. After all, as it's rumored, they're probably human, too. In other words, even I would not stoop so low as to employ psychobabble against my political enemies.
That being affirmed, what Brooks needs to understand is that the 51% of Americans who vote Democrat share neither his vision, nor Trump's, nor those who nominally vote Republican. Yet it must again be emphasized that Democratic visions of social justice are no more or less real in our minds than those of our opposition in theirs.
In short, what Brooks avoids is the plain fact that the only real 'alienation' here is that of Republicans in general from factual reality: shall we start with Global Warming? Moreover, it's plain stupidity and naivete that accounts for poor working people believing that any Republican will offer them a better healthcare plan than Obamacare.
Lastly, of course, it's important to mention that what Brooks describes as the symptoms of 'alienation' are caused by the crushing of communities by the impersonal market forces that he and other Republicans support. But then again, water-kooler folosohy abjures materialism as imams to alcohol.
That's because even those horrible georgia rednecks as illustrated possess willpower, desires to have their own way, and strategies for achieving their ends. After all, as it's rumored, they're probably human, too. In other words, even I would not stoop so low as to employ psychobabble against my political enemies.
That being affirmed, what Brooks needs to understand is that the 51% of Americans who vote Democrat share neither his vision, nor Trump's, nor those who nominally vote Republican. Yet it must again be emphasized that Democratic visions of social justice are no more or less real in our minds than those of our opposition in theirs.
In short, what Brooks avoids is the plain fact that the only real 'alienation' here is that of Republicans in general from factual reality: shall we start with Global Warming? Moreover, it's plain stupidity and naivete that accounts for poor working people believing that any Republican will offer them a better healthcare plan than Obamacare.
Lastly, of course, it's important to mention that what Brooks describes as the symptoms of 'alienation' are caused by the crushing of communities by the impersonal market forces that he and other Republicans support. But then again, water-kooler folosohy abjures materialism as imams to alcohol.
11
when winning is all you are unfit to lead!
3
Let's be real here. It's not "college educated" elite who are transferring wealth upward, but rather the uncompromising ideologues who have taken over the GOP and who have indoctrinated those who have not chosen the college path with a fabricated scapegoat- the "college educated." Believe me, if it were just as lucrative to avoid college as it were to go to college, many more would decide not to. College has become the only way for middle class Americans to eke out a living in the new economy and should not be confused with the kind of elitist pairing that occurs in a small handful of privileged schools to avoid the dreaded "regression to the mean."
And don't get me started on the phony term "politically correct." It's not politically correct to call it a Brazil nut instead of nigger toe, just a reflection of our evolving sensitivity to the diversity of people in this country. One of the phoniest expressions ever contrived.
And don't get me started on the phony term "politically correct." It's not politically correct to call it a Brazil nut instead of nigger toe, just a reflection of our evolving sensitivity to the diversity of people in this country. One of the phoniest expressions ever contrived.
19
You have to ask why something exists, not question it's validity.
I went to college, I know all the games the professors play. They sell it to you like you'll get in on the game, but the reality is that the game won't last that long. It's self-destructing before our eyes, and the NYTimes is too corrupt, co-opted, and chickenshit to tell the Truth.
They would rather dance around it. Yeah, like you're going to publish this, I dare you!
I went to college, I know all the games the professors play. They sell it to you like you'll get in on the game, but the reality is that the game won't last that long. It's self-destructing before our eyes, and the NYTimes is too corrupt, co-opted, and chickenshit to tell the Truth.
They would rather dance around it. Yeah, like you're going to publish this, I dare you!
2
Dare taken, apparently.
3
I see David Brooks's stunt double is writing his column again.
3
All working-class Americans who are "alienated" see things as they are. They SHOULD be alienated, and equally so, from the neoliberal Democratic Wall St. elites, who threw the workers under the bus with NAFTA and globalization in order to explode the wealth of the investor class, as well as from the Republican fat cats who've screwed them over for fun and profit every bit as much as the neoliberal Dems. I'm much MORE progressive than mere centrist (not even "center-left") Dem neoliberals on race, gender, and sexual choice. That said, identity politics was the center of the Clintonian shell game of both Hill and Bill, because race, gender, and sexual choice allowed neoliberals to pretend to be righteous, because they were "liberal on 'social issues'" while equally proudly being "fiscally conservative." In other words, the neoliberals were all for social programs that cost them little or nothing, as fig leaves for their "liberal" vanity, while they totally screwed the lower classes of all races, genders, and sexual choices in order to make themselves as rich as possible. Only Bernie got this right in 2016, and only Bernie STILL has it right. Only Bernie wants to make inequality the central issue of our politics, refusing to let the neoliberals push inequality and poverty (and the need to hugely raise taxes on the rich to pay for social programs for the lower classes) into the shade by focusing on blacks, women, and gays ALONE, NOT economic justice for all.
4
A wealth differential, commonly called "inequality" on the coasts, is a natural byproduct of free markets. The fact is we aren't all equally intelligent, talented, motivated, physically fit, industrious, honest nor attractive. Nature or fate or the hand of God did that. Take your pick. Therefore, we can't all expect the same opportunities, outcomes, experiences, health, education, life expectancy, happiness nor treatment in life. Sometimes it's just necessary for someone to lose because someone else must win. Take Apple, for example. In order to sell their products as mass market prices AND to amass $300 billion in cash, some 1,200,000 people somewhere must build those phones while being paid just $12 a day. Raising their pay would cut profits or cause prices to rise. Raising prices will drive away customers. Cutting profits would damage their share price. In the end, the market sets all three at their natural equilibrium.
1
Only Bernie captured a bunch of slogans and unrealistic promises that enchanted a bunch of children who had no knowledge of history, civics, or government, and convinced them they were being self righteous in withholding their Hillary votes, especially in WI, MI and PA.. Sanders gave this race to Trump. What does he care? He has all he will ever need. It is easy to point out problems. Not so easy to figure out what to do that doesn't involve a magic wand and turning around the vast majority of congress by using the bully pulpit. Bernie is a cancer on the politics of this country, and needs to go away. He deluded a huge portion of the youth of this country. And we will live with his tactics against Clinton for a generation.
2
Ross Perot said, "Any jackass can kick down the barn. It's more difficult to build one."
7
Ross Perot was the true hope to make the changes necessary, and the press ruined him. He wasn't all slogans and empty promises. He had the experience and brains to accomplish. And that is what frightened the establishment. And they took him down. He was someone who had "enough," and wanted to help everyone else. But he wasn't power hungry, and he didn't have to put up with all that was thrown at him.
2
Alienation is a feeling shared by many who voted for Trump and many who didn't. I feel that in the past several years, neither Republicans nor Democrats have governed in a way that addresses basic needs of individuals. The result can be seen in the ever widening gulf between the very rich and the rest of us.
Where are the ideas from Democrats, not about what the Republicans are doing wrong but, instead, about what they would do right? What steps would they take to reform the ACA, to make education affordable, to combat climate change, to provide a stable safety net that does not produce dependency? How would they address the opioid epidemic? How would they fund infrastructure spending? How would they reform taxes so the wealth gap narrows instead of continuing to grow?
I've pretty much concluded that Congressmen are plenty happy, whether their party is in power or not, to let special interests thrive. They stay silent or ineffectually address our real problems where change would be inconvenient for those who can make the big campaign contributions. Until we get money out of politics, the only chance we have is to stop electing people who don't make positive changes. And let us not forget that the Supreme Court indicated the Congress could act to increase transparency re: campaign contributions. Why hasn't that happened??
Where are the ideas from Democrats, not about what the Republicans are doing wrong but, instead, about what they would do right? What steps would they take to reform the ACA, to make education affordable, to combat climate change, to provide a stable safety net that does not produce dependency? How would they address the opioid epidemic? How would they fund infrastructure spending? How would they reform taxes so the wealth gap narrows instead of continuing to grow?
I've pretty much concluded that Congressmen are plenty happy, whether their party is in power or not, to let special interests thrive. They stay silent or ineffectually address our real problems where change would be inconvenient for those who can make the big campaign contributions. Until we get money out of politics, the only chance we have is to stop electing people who don't make positive changes. And let us not forget that the Supreme Court indicated the Congress could act to increase transparency re: campaign contributions. Why hasn't that happened??
9
I'm tired of this argument that Trump supporters are somehow uniquely suffering. For one, In many cases they are CAUSING suffering. And more to the point, many people, on the left and the right, feel alienated—economically, socially, etc. The truly unique thing about many Trump supporters is that, in their alienation, they choose to alienate everyone else.
19
White working class voters may have been convinced that the 'elite' that subjugated them were in faculty lounges, but that's clearly not true. The only elite that matter in this country are those 'captains of industry' and beneficiaries of inherited wealth and power that sponsor the Republican party.
The voters, in supporting both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, were clear in saying that they've had enough of that class and the abuse it's inflicted on the rest of us. But Donald Trump is a Trojan Horse--running against a Republican party for which he's become an asset.
Trump co-opted the class struggle that was emerging. But I don't think it's going to go away. The 'elites'/patricians have been given too much power (particularly under Citizens United) but a lot of us believe that our government needs to start working for us rather than for them.
The voters, in supporting both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, were clear in saying that they've had enough of that class and the abuse it's inflicted on the rest of us. But Donald Trump is a Trojan Horse--running against a Republican party for which he's become an asset.
Trump co-opted the class struggle that was emerging. But I don't think it's going to go away. The 'elites'/patricians have been given too much power (particularly under Citizens United) but a lot of us believe that our government needs to start working for us rather than for them.
11
In the "elite", you nailed it. It is and has always been the "bosses" v the workers. We made progress for a while but that went south under Reagan and has been downhill since then.
5
We're all alienated to some extent.That's why we have biblical episodes that explain why were separated from G-d. The question is not really how to be all accepting and engaged and not alienated but what to do with our complete human nature in the public realm. The election of 2016, more than anything else, demonstrated the pure power of hatred. Was it because the trump voter felt alienated? Yes, it was. Hatred is a powerful emption and it feels powerful to hate. It's contagious and opens the door to the possibility of full throated tragedy. Why did we go for it? What's wrong with us? The standard of living is still favorable here, many people wish for something as minimal as a green card. Perhaps trump, in his stupidity, can help to shine some light.Or maybe not.Anyway I wouldn't ascribe too much currency to an alienated person who felt attracted to trump. When they were just watching him on television we didn't see articles that marveled at their instincts. It's kind of a sad occurrence.
I am not sure what we have a "college educated elite" has to do with anything. I have a Ph.D. and lost everything when the economy collapsed and never fully recovered. I only make a middle-class living at a nonprofit, which translates to a working class living in NYC. My assistant is a Fullbright Fellow and is an intern. Most people I know that are part of the elite are born into wealth and privilege, they did not work especially hard to get there. The issue has more to do with the fact that an education has become increasingly irrelevant, as are all the old ways that people used to gain access to a better existence. Trump voters were "left behind", then they were reacting to political correctness run amuck, now they are alienated. They are probably none of these things. People like Trump have always appealed to people and the anti-intellectualism that the Republican party has cultivated over the years is more to blame than being educated - which gets you almost nothing these days, other than whatever satisfaction one gets from learning something new.
18
It's hard for a political active person graduating from college with a huge debt to go into politics where the money on the lower branches is none to minimal. Until we start paying people a living wage will this anger subsides. It's also hard to know where trump stops and bannon starts. We do need a 3rd party one that is set for the 21st century a revolution to get the slow talking and slow acting Congress and the Senate out of there. To take power from hedge funds, the oil industry, and the auto industry and plows that money back into solar and climate change business, electric cars and trains that unite cities faster than airlines, and inner cities. This is exactly what the trump voters get a DC going thru one crisis after another and nothing gets done.
4
Yes there are alienation and apathy problems in the US. It happens on both sides of the aisle, however I feel it is reasonably objective to say they are being used as weapons political gain far more on the right than the left.
I am sick of the term Elite. I am sick of the term Death Tax. I am sick of the term Pro-Abortion, I am sick of the term Patriot – honestly I am sick of pretty much every term the GOP, and their talking heads come up with.
The GOP and its adherents are masters of names, labels, stigmatizing, and Propaganda, but they really stink at governing. They are just horrible at it. IT goes against the very core of the monstrous beast the GOP has devolved in to.
1.6 billion for a wall that will do nothing more than stem part of the tide for a period of time, and 800 billion in cuts to Medicare so absurdly wealthy people can become even more absurdly wealthy and not pay the fair share they paid when Ike was POTUS. Not to mention the gutting and destruction of health care for the masses.
Trump, Pence, McConnell, Ryan. Selfish power mongering people one and all.
Shame, Shame, Shame on the GOP.
I am sick of the term Elite. I am sick of the term Death Tax. I am sick of the term Pro-Abortion, I am sick of the term Patriot – honestly I am sick of pretty much every term the GOP, and their talking heads come up with.
The GOP and its adherents are masters of names, labels, stigmatizing, and Propaganda, but they really stink at governing. They are just horrible at it. IT goes against the very core of the monstrous beast the GOP has devolved in to.
1.6 billion for a wall that will do nothing more than stem part of the tide for a period of time, and 800 billion in cuts to Medicare so absurdly wealthy people can become even more absurdly wealthy and not pay the fair share they paid when Ike was POTUS. Not to mention the gutting and destruction of health care for the masses.
Trump, Pence, McConnell, Ryan. Selfish power mongering people one and all.
Shame, Shame, Shame on the GOP.
13
"Alienation breeds a hysterical public conversation."
Yep, that is the nature of 140 character discourse!
But this reaction was years in the making and it had less to do with policy than perceived arrogance. Both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama seemed to prioritize getting rich from their elected office, and as they did they seemed to listen less to eveeyday, not-so-special, not-so-rich Americans. Hillary was qualified but she had guilt by association to this elitism, it's a bummer for her she was caught in a storm.
Trump was elected not from a weighted assessment of platforms, but as a gut, emotional protest. I'm not saying the reaction was right, but the reaction was clearly human.
Yep, that is the nature of 140 character discourse!
But this reaction was years in the making and it had less to do with policy than perceived arrogance. Both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama seemed to prioritize getting rich from their elected office, and as they did they seemed to listen less to eveeyday, not-so-special, not-so-rich Americans. Hillary was qualified but she had guilt by association to this elitism, it's a bummer for her she was caught in a storm.
Trump was elected not from a weighted assessment of platforms, but as a gut, emotional protest. I'm not saying the reaction was right, but the reaction was clearly human.
1
Many Trump votes were petulant rage against authority of all kinds--'elites', educated, better adapted, progressive--ultimately- the wish was to smash the existing system.
This is not sound governance- it is a tantrum, a snarling teen, an Oedipal problem.
Trump was a smug huckster. The real question is how 80,000 votes turned the electoral college, how charmless HRC became, how the polls depressed turn out as much as the FSB smearfest.
The only elite that selfishly grew wealthy was the investment banker class. Colleges & universities were decimated by the crash of 2008---public institutions lost 25% of their revenue in many states- including wealthy California. Professors, nurses, engineers,teachers and most MDs struggled to stay in the same place.
What universe are you in David ?
This is not sound governance- it is a tantrum, a snarling teen, an Oedipal problem.
Trump was a smug huckster. The real question is how 80,000 votes turned the electoral college, how charmless HRC became, how the polls depressed turn out as much as the FSB smearfest.
The only elite that selfishly grew wealthy was the investment banker class. Colleges & universities were decimated by the crash of 2008---public institutions lost 25% of their revenue in many states- including wealthy California. Professors, nurses, engineers,teachers and most MDs struggled to stay in the same place.
What universe are you in David ?
6
Well written.
Einstein said:"
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."
=================================================
Trump makes things too simple and Democratic elites make things too hard.
Trump won the election with his cellphone Tweets and Hillary lost it spending one billion dollars on ads, defending her emails.
And the NY Times prints thousands of words trying to challenge the Trump presidency and they leave us more confused than ever.
How about contests to come up with the best ways to put Trump in is place?
=========================================================
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."
=================================================
Trump makes things too simple and Democratic elites make things too hard.
Trump won the election with his cellphone Tweets and Hillary lost it spending one billion dollars on ads, defending her emails.
And the NY Times prints thousands of words trying to challenge the Trump presidency and they leave us more confused than ever.
How about contests to come up with the best ways to put Trump in is place?
=========================================================
1
Name-dropper. Quoter. No original thoughts.
3
too bad corporate media, corporate news organization like the NYT ignored Bernie and then when they couldn't anymore the pundits here and elsewhere denounced Bernie. You reap what you sow.
Bernie was the only one that could of beat Trump, NYT anointed candidate Clinton was never in a position to do so.
Populist movement can work you just cannot expect a snake oil salesmen to do the job.
Bernie was the only one that could of beat Trump, NYT anointed candidate Clinton was never in a position to do so.
Populist movement can work you just cannot expect a snake oil salesmen to do the job.
3
I'm educated, had a variety of good government jobs with respectable salaries, until I retired. My GOP relatives and neighbors accuse me of "feeding at the trough" when I am one of those people who spent a professional lifetime providing knowledge of how our system works and how best to use it. Politicians and Republicans hate people like me, and have done their best to destroy what I and others like myself built for the betterment of our communities. The college educated elite doesn't make people feel invisible, politicians are doing that all by themselves. My educated friends work tirelessly to make the world a better place, but we haven't inherited lots of money, or gained fortunes through questionable means. Politicians choose who they will listen to, and it isn't people like me. Am I alienated? I don't think I am, but the people who look down their noses at me certainly are. They won't read, think independently, or do anything that requires a little effort - and now they're holding political offices.
26
Yes, it turns out that politics and government service are professions after all; that getting things done requires knowledge and expertise, tenacity and even creativity. That's it's not enough to just come from a business background and expect immediately transferable skills and aptitudes. Change is hard because problems are complex and the desires and vision of the stakeholders in a nation are infinitely more varied than they are in a private enterprise. None of this occurred to Mr. Trump and his followers in his campaign, and it hasn't really sunk in now. He just blames it all on the "swamp" that he himself is up to his nose in. Thanks for your service, Barbara.
6
Government is supposed to mitigate people's natural drive for selfishness and greed. When instead it institutionalizes those qualities, that government's longevity is high doubtful. For the simple reason that wealth is a zero sum game and when one team buys the rule book, no matter how subtly, the other team eventually figures out why they can't win and becomes more than a little peeved. If America doesn't find a way to privatize selfishness and greed again and create as level a societal playing field as possible, there will eventually be revolution. It is nearly axiomatic that if wealth continues to migrate from the middle to the very upper classes as it has done for 30 years we will eventually end up with a thin veneer of wealth and a huge substructure of poor supporting it. And when the vast majority of Americans lose any realistic hope of bettering bad life conditions, or at least seeing their kids better off then themselves, and have realized the the institutions of state are indifferent to their plight and do not and will not in the least represent their interests, those people will decide that the only way to even things up is to take it by whatever means necessary.
This is the path America is on. To get off it will take better qualities than the current version of man possesses. We will tear ourselves apart long before we evolve to a state of consciousness capable of reversing the course.
I give us 5 , maybe 6, generations.
This is the path America is on. To get off it will take better qualities than the current version of man possesses. We will tear ourselves apart long before we evolve to a state of consciousness capable of reversing the course.
I give us 5 , maybe 6, generations.
3
Mr. Brooks,
Your armchair social diagnoses are becoming laborious and disingenuous. Alienation has been around in America for decades. Nonetheless, you have always affiliated yourself with the "Rising Tides Lifts All Boats" crowd, the "Pull Yourself Up By Your Own Bootstraps" crew, and the "Self Responsibility" folks. Now that all of those ridiculous slogans against the truly downtrodden have been empirically proven to be mean-spirited nonsense, you now point the finger at the political process.
In the 1970s and 1980s when Industrialization began to wan in this nation, first against minorities, you and your party stood on the broken backs of those poor people to launch your crusade against the Welfare State, the War on Drugs, and Liberalism. Rich young White Republicans, such as yourself back then, used those hard hit minority communities to hurl your natural prejudices against people of color and self congratulate yourselves that closing factories didn't affect your Ivory Tower group.
Now that those same factors are hitting the White non-college educated masses, you declare that the system is broken. Even though Black folks were screaming for 40 years that de-industrialization without a path out was a killer, you only mocked them.
Mr. Brooks, you are responsible for the world that we live in today. Please look into the mirror, and figure out how to change that person that you see looking back.
Your armchair social diagnoses are becoming laborious and disingenuous. Alienation has been around in America for decades. Nonetheless, you have always affiliated yourself with the "Rising Tides Lifts All Boats" crowd, the "Pull Yourself Up By Your Own Bootstraps" crew, and the "Self Responsibility" folks. Now that all of those ridiculous slogans against the truly downtrodden have been empirically proven to be mean-spirited nonsense, you now point the finger at the political process.
In the 1970s and 1980s when Industrialization began to wan in this nation, first against minorities, you and your party stood on the broken backs of those poor people to launch your crusade against the Welfare State, the War on Drugs, and Liberalism. Rich young White Republicans, such as yourself back then, used those hard hit minority communities to hurl your natural prejudices against people of color and self congratulate yourselves that closing factories didn't affect your Ivory Tower group.
Now that those same factors are hitting the White non-college educated masses, you declare that the system is broken. Even though Black folks were screaming for 40 years that de-industrialization without a path out was a killer, you only mocked them.
Mr. Brooks, you are responsible for the world that we live in today. Please look into the mirror, and figure out how to change that person that you see looking back.
10
Seconded.
2
Perhaps Mr. Brooks could usher in this chastened and reconstituted elite by departing his post at the Gray Lady.
I keep my subscription to the New York Times because of its (usually) diligent reporting, its innovative and usable digital offerings, and, importantly, its well-moderated comments feature.
But Lordy, this paper's editorial stable is long in the tooth and short on great ideas.
I keep my subscription to the New York Times because of its (usually) diligent reporting, its innovative and usable digital offerings, and, importantly, its well-moderated comments feature.
But Lordy, this paper's editorial stable is long in the tooth and short on great ideas.
6
An amazing essay of incoherent drivel. The platform of the democratic party and its obsession with identity politics is a much better fit for the alleged "coalition of the disenfranchised" theory than the Trump victory. The "Alienated Mind" begs the question of "alienated from what". Alienated from this type of condescending intellectual bigotry masquerading as enlightenment? It presupposes that Mr. Brook's world view is righteous and all the rest of us are ignorant, "alienated", blah blah blah. What happened to the glory of democracy? And the comment on President Trump being "uncouth" wins the day. Of how I long for the days of smooth skin, smoothe manipulating slick talking Obama, who never had a real job, had no real accomplishments, but was a poster child for the left, who ran interference for him for 8 years.
1
Wow. It's the fault of those with education that those without it feel somehow less.
Breathtaking anti-intellectualism.
But so symptomatic.
Read: 1930's, Germany.
Breathtaking anti-intellectualism.
But so symptomatic.
Read: 1930's, Germany.
11
"Alienation" sounds just like Fox News. Thanks, David.
7
Brooks will never get it.
Russian meddling, a complicit greedy press, alternate reality "news" outlets, alt-right hype and the bizarre Comey announcement were what handed this election to a venal charlatan.
Brooks was completely complicit, but doesn't have the moral strength to admit it.
And of course he won't read the comments section, because just like the person in the White House, he can't bear criticism.
Russian meddling, a complicit greedy press, alternate reality "news" outlets, alt-right hype and the bizarre Comey announcement were what handed this election to a venal charlatan.
Brooks was completely complicit, but doesn't have the moral strength to admit it.
And of course he won't read the comments section, because just like the person in the White House, he can't bear criticism.
8
So we need something between elite and dumb ... how about educated?
9
The good news is all these Trump supporters that voted against their best interests will lose their health insurance, their social safety net and be forced to take the jobs Americans don't want to do.
6
Never in my life thought someone as uncouth, corrupt, greedy and uneducated of history and other matters will be elected as American President.
All my fears are coming true. We are having sleepless nights worrying how to sustain four years of Donald Trump whose rhetoric is full of hatred and demeaning others.
Just as Mark Shields said last Friday on NPR anyone decides to be in his cabinet are reducing themselves . General McMaster is a perfect example of that.
Impeachment on the other hand is a bad idea then we get Mike Pence who is scary and worse than Donald Trump.
All my fears are coming true. We are having sleepless nights worrying how to sustain four years of Donald Trump whose rhetoric is full of hatred and demeaning others.
Just as Mark Shields said last Friday on NPR anyone decides to be in his cabinet are reducing themselves . General McMaster is a perfect example of that.
Impeachment on the other hand is a bad idea then we get Mike Pence who is scary and worse than Donald Trump.
13
Your analysis of the schisms in American society are correct but to describe Trump's electoral success to alienation is wrong. Trump appealed to the worst in people rather than acknowledging their problems and providing concrete plans to alleviate them. He provided scapegoats: minorities and women whose progress was allegedly at the cost of white males and immigrants and foreigners. His campaign's rhetoric was racist, sexist, xenophobic, homophobic, anti-Semitic, anti-intellectual, and so much more. People truly alienated from the system would not vote. What Trump did was give people permission not only to voice, but unfortunately also to act upon all forms of hateful opinions. "Make America Great Again" was code for taking it back to the 1950s where women, minorities, and immigrants knew their place and gays remained in the closet. It is not a coincidence that there has been a spike in racist, anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic threats and acts along with his election. Rather than bringing people together, he has deepened the divides in American society. That was not a salve for alienation.
9
We need to never underestimate the role played by greed, hate, and ignorance in our politics. As long as politicians exploit hate, greed, and ignorance to get into and stay in office we will continue to have problems. We need leaders in both parties, but especially in the GOP, that do not tolerate these factors.
6
Brooks is absolutely correct that in order to heal our divisions and address the concerns voiced by the Trump electorate we must move beyond alienation as a political strategy. However, we also have to craft new policy solutions that move beyond the current left/right divide. The right offers those in abandoned factory towns a prescription of sink or swim, while the left provides an equally soul destroying recipe of bread and circuses. Automation and globalization will continue, and we must create a vision of what the future will hold for those who are not equipped or motivated to be engineers and website designers. We see glimpses of that future. The wealth created by globalization and automation creates demand for farm to table cuisine vs factory farm output, and labor intensive craft beers versus robot produced generic products. These newly created industries provide jobs and the pride of well crafted accomplishments, not handouts. Tragically, we have stripped our public school systems of the vocational training programs that might prepare kids to take advantage of these opportunities, and as a society we devalue people who work with their hands instead of a computer. Merely excoriating Trump (much as he may deserve it) will not solve these pressing societal problems.
3
This is the advocacy for the ethical mind and the collaboration of those who reason in that way...thank you for the call.
Oh please! Do you really think those people who "transfer wealth upward to itself" are the ones "crashing the hammer of political correctness"? This is not an analysis, it's a grab bag of prejudices.
5
So... all those who toil in conservative think tanks and "conservative" politicians savaging our country's already inadequate safety nets to transfer wealth upwards aren't effete college educated elites?
Nope, they're just precocious bumpkins who think that the Ivy League is some rural farm team baseball organization, right?
Nope, they're just precocious bumpkins who think that the Ivy League is some rural farm team baseball organization, right?
4
In my Samuel L. Jackson voice ... "Say white working class one more time!!"
4
In case you haven't noticed it those college educated bleeding heart liberals who are advocating for the very people who are working class and feeling marginalized thought their activism and politically progressive policies of inclusion and economic and social justice. Those elites actually want a more equitable and just world. I can't say the same about those working class marginalized, religious conservative folks because they seem to just want to scapegoat and hate.
I'll take the elites over the conservatives any day!!!!!
I'll take the elites over the conservatives any day!!!!!
9
Well it took Me Brooks the election of a buffoon to finally see trough the fog of the so called republican conservatism, what can we expect from the masses who have little or not political gravitas,,, don't hold your breath, something is really wrong with this country.
2
Dave, is this honeymoon Dave speaking? Or are you not offering any excuse at all for this ridiculous waste of words. GOP Capitalism is what's not working. My college educated kids haven't managed to make anyone feel invisible. Spouse and I seem to leave everyone we treat feeling visible and whole. Are you on something? Red dye from the MAGA hat having a toxic effect on your gray matter? Most college grads are not the .01% stealing the wealth of this nation and shipping jobs overseas. Koch bros. are the paradigm, along with their Club for Growth cronies (talking to you JC) and their oligarch counter-parts in Russia. First you malign toddlers by suggesting Trump is like them, then you malign liberals (we know you didn't include GOP college grads in 'elites').
10
As a Democrat reading what you state is the proper (and only) course forward if we are to save our future, I cannot help but think that those of us on the left brought this on the nation. Over the past thirty years we have abdicated our liberal responsibility to keep the money changers -- those big money donors that flourished during Bill Clinton and once given a foothold never left -- at bay. The Democratic party has instead served them both in principle and practice while giving lip service to the middle class it abandoned.
The GOP is a pro-business party. It believes in what it still fights for. And while I share few of their guiding principles, I cannot fault them like I fault my own Democrats. The Republicans have swerved and swayed as the Tea Party has fought for their steering wheel, but they have, at least on the economic front, stayed relatively true to their beliefs. The Democrats, however, have not. And until we liberal voters come to terms with the fact that our party has abandoned us, and once aware of that then map a course forward forward for ourselves, our party, and our nation, our country its people will continue to suffer.
The GOP is a pro-business party. It believes in what it still fights for. And while I share few of their guiding principles, I cannot fault them like I fault my own Democrats. The Republicans have swerved and swayed as the Tea Party has fought for their steering wheel, but they have, at least on the economic front, stayed relatively true to their beliefs. The Democrats, however, have not. And until we liberal voters come to terms with the fact that our party has abandoned us, and once aware of that then map a course forward forward for ourselves, our party, and our nation, our country its people will continue to suffer.
2
Very elegantly written, as usual, from David Brooks. However, as many conservatives do, he evades to address a key issue affecting angry and alienated voters: income inequality, and a political system perverted to preserve and expand it. Should we assume that Brooks' moral realism includes the understanding the reality of economic unfairness and finding ways (no, not tax cuts for the rich and hope money trickles down, please!) to lift the alienated?
Bernie Sanders understands that. I am not so sure Mr. Brooks and most conservatives do.
Bernie Sanders understands that. I am not so sure Mr. Brooks and most conservatives do.
3
Sanders understands how to exploit the feelings. But he lacks the ideas and means to address them. He is almost as clueless as Trump. Lost without his slogans.
3
It is up to the "elites" to advance candidates capable of understanding the alienation and serving the alienated.
How many believe--as I do--that Bernie Sanders spoke to many of the same people Donald Trump spoke to?
How many believe--as I do--that Mr. Sanders would have defeated Donald Trump if the DNC had not cast its lot so firmly with Hillary Clinton?
How many believe--as I do--that Mr. Sanders would have made a fine president, even if our taxes went up and some of his ideas were dead on arrival?
We may be at a unique place in history, given that Mr. Trump has more power, and perhaps more opportunity to cause harm, than previous unqualified presidents might have had. And it may be that many of the electorate have an alienated mind. But that does not mean we are a country bereft leaders capable of leading, or that we are a country incapable of following those leaders. What it does mean is that false prophets must be dealt with head on, and that what is plainly true must be talked about and dealt with.
Preferably by leaders who know what they believe, believe what they say, and do what the say they believe.
How many believe--as I do--that Bernie Sanders spoke to many of the same people Donald Trump spoke to?
How many believe--as I do--that Mr. Sanders would have defeated Donald Trump if the DNC had not cast its lot so firmly with Hillary Clinton?
How many believe--as I do--that Mr. Sanders would have made a fine president, even if our taxes went up and some of his ideas were dead on arrival?
We may be at a unique place in history, given that Mr. Trump has more power, and perhaps more opportunity to cause harm, than previous unqualified presidents might have had. And it may be that many of the electorate have an alienated mind. But that does not mean we are a country bereft leaders capable of leading, or that we are a country incapable of following those leaders. What it does mean is that false prophets must be dealt with head on, and that what is plainly true must be talked about and dealt with.
Preferably by leaders who know what they believe, believe what they say, and do what the say they believe.
4
Working class people are isolated because academia and other liberal institutions haven't down a good job of making them feel very included.
More to blame though, than well-meaning professors, popular culture and media capitalized on the polarization with new technologies, twisting a message to suit trends. Fox news and cable tv began to scraped the bottom of the barrel for ratings. It is surprising that the baby-boomer generation amounted to this, considering the solidarity of the 60's and 70's.
More to blame though, than well-meaning professors, popular culture and media capitalized on the polarization with new technologies, twisting a message to suit trends. Fox news and cable tv began to scraped the bottom of the barrel for ratings. It is surprising that the baby-boomer generation amounted to this, considering the solidarity of the 60's and 70's.
1
The alienation that Mr. Brooks speaks to may well be cultural phenomenon. Hearkening to Professor Jonathan Haidt's ideas of human tribalism, the historical context points to few institutions that eliminate class tribal distinctions.
Religion historically provided classless tribal commonality due to classless membership in a religion. However, the tribal bond strength varied historically and geographically. In the same vein, World War II initiated an entire generation into a common, classless tribe, united in universal suffering. A bullet cared not at all if you were the progeny of the wealthy or indigent. On the home front loved ones and quality of life were sacrificed on the altar of country.
In subsequent generations, alienation has re-appeared because there is no continuing initiation ritual to unite the country across classes. Subsequent wars were far from universal experiences of common suffering. The attacks of 9/11 may have united those in New York and Washington D.C. on that fateful day in a common classless bond, but the experience was far from universal across the country.
Secular culture is ill-equipped to administer universal classless initiation rituals without founding a universal, secular religion. Unfortunately, current efforts towards secular religion have largely resulted in division. Thus, the festering wound of alienation persists until the occurrence of a new inter-class tribal initiation trauma.
Religion historically provided classless tribal commonality due to classless membership in a religion. However, the tribal bond strength varied historically and geographically. In the same vein, World War II initiated an entire generation into a common, classless tribe, united in universal suffering. A bullet cared not at all if you were the progeny of the wealthy or indigent. On the home front loved ones and quality of life were sacrificed on the altar of country.
In subsequent generations, alienation has re-appeared because there is no continuing initiation ritual to unite the country across classes. Subsequent wars were far from universal experiences of common suffering. The attacks of 9/11 may have united those in New York and Washington D.C. on that fateful day in a common classless bond, but the experience was far from universal across the country.
Secular culture is ill-equipped to administer universal classless initiation rituals without founding a universal, secular religion. Unfortunately, current efforts towards secular religion have largely resulted in division. Thus, the festering wound of alienation persists until the occurrence of a new inter-class tribal initiation trauma.
2
It is hard to take anything said about the last election too seriously for two reasons: Clinton's loss was based on 71,000 voters in just the right 3 states, and it is completely unclear why exactly they voted for Trump. It could be that Hillary was merely not very likable, it could be cultural reasons or it could be alienation as proposed in this article. The fact that his rallies are full of white males of a certain age but a wide range of incomes suggest to me that the cultural reasons (the last gasp of religious white voters theory) might actually dominate. In which case this is just a pretty theory that reads nicely because it is (as usual) eloquently written but mostly, still intellectual fluff and not based on sound logic.
1
Elite seems to have become synonymous with merit. How strange and concerning. Also the leader you say we need sounds a lot like Barack Obama. My husband and I are both professionals who worked like heck to climb out of the lower middle class. No apologies. We are also both strong supporters of the social safety net. I encounter the working rural poor every day. I've seen this coming for decades. People need affordable healthcare and a secure old age now more than ever. 401ks have been a complete debacle for most people. If employers are no longer going to provide these benefits, the government must. I'm terrified by the cynicism and incompetence of this Republican Party.
11
Brooks on his pet theory once again. The logic is laughable.
Much of the American public can't discern between big issues and tiny ones. We don't have the abilities to do it ourselves, our leaders don't do it, and our press is no longer bent on pursuing truth, because it doesn't pay off.
Western society has increasingly been one where an objective reality exists, and facts and data can sway the minds of rational humans. We have moved backwards from this as of late. I'm hopeful though, because young people seem to grasp this entirely.
Much of the American public can't discern between big issues and tiny ones. We don't have the abilities to do it ourselves, our leaders don't do it, and our press is no longer bent on pursuing truth, because it doesn't pay off.
Western society has increasingly been one where an objective reality exists, and facts and data can sway the minds of rational humans. We have moved backwards from this as of late. I'm hopeful though, because young people seem to grasp this entirely.
1
I do not think a college education or expecting fair treatment for oneself or others is the problem. I don't think you really believe that either, David Brooks. The fact that many people are locked out of a good education and job trajectory has a lot more to do with an economy controlled by a very small and not very caring tier that has produced Donald Trump in its own image. Good try at shifting blame to the middle class. Getting a degree is not evil, in fact, more people should be able to do it. Jobs in the future will depend even more on having an education, so listen up Betsy DeVos, and make sure public education in the US is stellar and available to everyone.
3
"Please, describe one of the "made up" constitutional rights."
Abortion. It's not mentioned in the Constitution. The court said was a special case of "Privacy rights", also not in the Constitution. Then they said it was a "due process under the 14th amendment" whatever that means. It's obvious to me that they had a goal (removing abortion from democratic control) and then came up with a legal rationale. They could use the same logic to justify all sort of dangerous nonsense, like "the right to own guns".
I used "highly religious country" to mean that more Americans practice religion than their counterparts in Europe or Japan. True? And having just read "The Quartet" (about Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison, and Jay's role in writing the Constitution) I know perfectly well that they were trying to separate church and state.
Abortion. It's not mentioned in the Constitution. The court said was a special case of "Privacy rights", also not in the Constitution. Then they said it was a "due process under the 14th amendment" whatever that means. It's obvious to me that they had a goal (removing abortion from democratic control) and then came up with a legal rationale. They could use the same logic to justify all sort of dangerous nonsense, like "the right to own guns".
I used "highly religious country" to mean that more Americans practice religion than their counterparts in Europe or Japan. True? And having just read "The Quartet" (about Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison, and Jay's role in writing the Constitution) I know perfectly well that they were trying to separate church and state.
2
.
One antidote to alienation is civic engagement and volunteering.
In my town we have a bicycle, tool and maintenance co-operative. It is a win-win-win: folks who need the tools, parts and know-how to fix their bikes benefit; volunteers exercise and expand their skills and talk shop with other enthusiasts; the co-op is a 501c(3), so donators benefit.
Folks, get involved!
If you don’t have something like this in your community, set one up. Cycling is part of the solution.
One antidote to alienation is civic engagement and volunteering.
In my town we have a bicycle, tool and maintenance co-operative. It is a win-win-win: folks who need the tools, parts and know-how to fix their bikes benefit; volunteers exercise and expand their skills and talk shop with other enthusiasts; the co-op is a 501c(3), so donators benefit.
Folks, get involved!
If you don’t have something like this in your community, set one up. Cycling is part of the solution.
2
The country is ripe for a moral re-centering, based on courage, optimism, and hope.
Trump has provided an outlet for the free-floating anxiety of a country adrift in the form of a target (the Other) to fear. The current system and means of achieving the "middle-class" and "eliteness" in America are withering economically (Main Street) and morally (Wall Street).
The moral re-centering starts by putting the Other at the center of our collective culture and our personal and institutional morally - not on the other side of a Wall. We won't find this truthful reshaping movement coming from our politicians or politics.
More likely it will emerge from our artists, religious figures, academics, or most likely from a place which will surprise us - ourselves.
Trump has provided an outlet for the free-floating anxiety of a country adrift in the form of a target (the Other) to fear. The current system and means of achieving the "middle-class" and "eliteness" in America are withering economically (Main Street) and morally (Wall Street).
The moral re-centering starts by putting the Other at the center of our collective culture and our personal and institutional morally - not on the other side of a Wall. We won't find this truthful reshaping movement coming from our politicians or politics.
More likely it will emerge from our artists, religious figures, academics, or most likely from a place which will surprise us - ourselves.
Let me rephrase one of Mr Brooks' observations: we need a better elite, one attuned to those of Trump's supporters whose alienation grows from genuine suffering.
--because the alienation of some of them grows from no suffering at all.
--because the alienation of some of them grows from no suffering at all.
3
It is not merely the Trump Presidency which has caused great damage to our political process.
Remember the following Republican actions during the Obama years:
1. The "K Street Project" of Newt Gingrich (lobbyists had to be Republican to gain access to Congressional Republicans).
2. Several Government shut-downs based on the incredibly irresponsible threat of defaulting on the national debt.
3. The openly admitted determination to make Obama a failed one term President.
4. The "you lie" shout-out during a State of the Union Address by a Republican Congressman from South Carolina.
5. The theft of a Supreme Court seat.
Clearly we need to move beyond these deplorable actions. However, do Democrats have to get revenge first (i order to teach the Republicans never to pull such stunts ever again?
Presently the score is 1-0 in their favour, and they show no sign of repentance for these actions.
Perhaps a good place to start would be for Democrats to abstain rather than support any increase in the national debt ceiling.
Remember the following Republican actions during the Obama years:
1. The "K Street Project" of Newt Gingrich (lobbyists had to be Republican to gain access to Congressional Republicans).
2. Several Government shut-downs based on the incredibly irresponsible threat of defaulting on the national debt.
3. The openly admitted determination to make Obama a failed one term President.
4. The "you lie" shout-out during a State of the Union Address by a Republican Congressman from South Carolina.
5. The theft of a Supreme Court seat.
Clearly we need to move beyond these deplorable actions. However, do Democrats have to get revenge first (i order to teach the Republicans never to pull such stunts ever again?
Presently the score is 1-0 in their favour, and they show no sign of repentance for these actions.
Perhaps a good place to start would be for Democrats to abstain rather than support any increase in the national debt ceiling.
5
David, you would need to define what you mean by alienation. I do think that this conservative "alienated" folk is mostly manufactured problem. It consists of many disgruntled groups of people, from single issue voters, like pro-gun and anti-abortion fanatics, includes anti-government libertarians, cultural warriors with white supremacists, etc. One element that unites them all is the overt contempt for liberals and progressives, which they view as over-educated tree-hugers who just keep messing the free markets with no clue what the real tough life is. For them liberals are the actual elites who are telling everyone else how to live. These liberals bring up science to support their solutions which for the alienated folk is very annoing makes science itself very suspect. They eagerly have adopted the right wing propaganda with its alternative reality and alternative facts in part to show the contempt for liberalism. This "alienated folk" is a Tribe with well-defined cultural identity and it exists in a manufactured bubble.
2
"It’ll be necessary to revive a living elite patriotism. That means conducting oneself in office as if nation is more important than party; not using executive orders, filibusters and the nuclear option to grab what you can while you happen to be in the majority. " So, in other words, Republicans have to stop acting like Republicans. Good luck with that, Mr. Brooks!
2
With David Brooks, it was (still is?) liberals vs conservatives, now it's elites vs populists, as if everyone were a pure version of one or the other. Anyway, according to a recent NYT article, the total wealth of Trump's cabinet totals hundreds of billions of dollars and several have degrees from ivy league schools. How does this not define elite? The corporate world is full of rich executives who certainly benefit from elite lifestyles often at the expense of their workers, not to mention factory owners who are often at odds with their workers, especially unions. Or are the real elites university faculty members who snort at the uneducated? What about those at land grant colleges whose mission and work involves supporting rural communities?
1
There's a lot of good in this column, even though I still differ on many of Brooks' definitions. Democratic capitalism? Since when? It's been sliding-toward-laissez-faire capitalism at least since Saint Reagan, who returned to the enduring GOP value of Only Rich People Matter. As for *elites* and *populism*, please. Every college-educated person is not a Goldman-Sachs greedhead, nor does the Goldman Sachs attitude necessarily prevail in faculty lounges. Ask any adjunct or grad student (if you see one in there). The Ignorant Buffoon is no doubt a populist, in the sense that Mussolini was one, but couldn't we have a column without those freighted words skewing the discussion away from the real problems? We are moving much closer to corporate feudalism, faster than even in the days of Saint Reagan, and while your "elites", i.e. the obscenely rich, like their position, the rest of us don't really enjoy the prospect of serfdom, which is pretty darn close, if not here, for many of us.
3
Masters prepared nurse, first in my family to attend college
Work with the underserved, teach at university
Socially and fiscally liberal
Educated my kids
Own a home
Elitist
Ha!
Work with the underserved, teach at university
Socially and fiscally liberal
Educated my kids
Own a home
Elitist
Ha!
1
I would like to live in a real democracy, David. The electoral college prevents this.
Isn't this just another column by one of the "elites" quoting other "elites" trying to "elitesplain" the "alienated" little guy they've never met?
Or is it a column by a conservative, quoting other conservatives trying desperately to put the blame on these eternally unnamed and elusive "elites" instead of where it squarely belongs: on the shoulders of conservative politicians who fob off their constituents with shiny baubles in the vain hope of satisfying their millionaire and billionaire friends who pay for their campaigns? Are those the "elites" you're talking about?
Or is it a column by a conservative, quoting other conservatives trying desperately to put the blame on these eternally unnamed and elusive "elites" instead of where it squarely belongs: on the shoulders of conservative politicians who fob off their constituents with shiny baubles in the vain hope of satisfying their millionaire and billionaire friends who pay for their campaigns? Are those the "elites" you're talking about?
2
I am so sick of this "Trump won because of elites and political correctness." He won college educated white men and white suburban women. Are the Murdoch's, Mercer's and the DeVos's of the world not elites? Trump and a powerful group of people I would consider elites successfully played to both the greed of some people and the resentment of others to eek out a victory.
10
These are people who are choosing to alienate themselves. They are so afraid of being exposed in their ignorance that they cannot engage in civilized debate. They only want to hear opinions that confirm their own. They only know how to interact with people just like them. The broader society is doing nothing to promote this alienation other than allowing diverse ideas, people and viewpoints to be heard. And that threatens them somehow.
I recently was in the elevator with two older white gentleman who were vociferously declaring how they don't read the newspaper anymore, they don't watch anything but Fox, because they just could "stand" to hear people criticize Trump.
You could see the fear in their faces and hear it in their voices. And it made me sad. We need them. They looked to be successful and decent people. We need people like them to engage with society, and to stay engaged rather than retreat into fear. I just wanted to shake them. Don't give up on the country just because it's changing! Don't join forces with those who seek to burn everything down. Don't support ignorance and evil! All of us want the same things even if we look different from you! We need you!
I recently was in the elevator with two older white gentleman who were vociferously declaring how they don't read the newspaper anymore, they don't watch anything but Fox, because they just could "stand" to hear people criticize Trump.
You could see the fear in their faces and hear it in their voices. And it made me sad. We need them. They looked to be successful and decent people. We need people like them to engage with society, and to stay engaged rather than retreat into fear. I just wanted to shake them. Don't give up on the country just because it's changing! Don't join forces with those who seek to burn everything down. Don't support ignorance and evil! All of us want the same things even if we look different from you! We need you!
3
When did college educated become "elite?" It used to be associated with the middle class. Of course, I know there is an industry of opinion shaping media which comes up this this spin, but this is absurd. The true elites live in estates, fly in private jets, and have more money than they could spend in 20 lifetimes. In fact they have so much money they can buy TV and radio stations to shape opinion to win elections and garner more money. Of course, you know all that Mr. Brooks.
2
A hopeful opinion, yet implausible. See Citizens United.
2
As usual, there are so many false premises and hypocritical contradictions in Brooks' "logic" that I hardly know where to begin....
- Why does an "alienated" unemployed white coal miner in a rural Rust Belt state outweigh an "alienated" underpaid black custodian who works for the Boston public schools?
- Exactly how did the "college educated elite" nefariously "manage to transfer wealth upwards to itself?" We didn't create the economy that gives decent-paying jobs only to technologically-trained labor! We didn't create the selfish capitalism that decided that CEOs of companies should earn 350x the amount of the actual workers! Turning us into the whipping-boy is wrong.
- You state that the alienated "have no positive agenda" and "have no actual plan or any means to deliver it." Um, I think that those things apply to the RepubliCants, who have been cynically hawking those empty promises to alienated low-info voters for the past 9 years.
- "Alienation breeds a distrust that corrodes any collective effort." And who's been cultivating that distrust for many years? RepubliCants and the Conservative alternative facts factories.
- "We need people who know how to live up to certain standards of integrity and public service. That means conducting oneself in office as if nation is more important than party... to fight alienation with moral realism, with a mature mind-set."
We had all that in President Obama; but you and the RepubliCants undermined him every step of the way.
- Why does an "alienated" unemployed white coal miner in a rural Rust Belt state outweigh an "alienated" underpaid black custodian who works for the Boston public schools?
- Exactly how did the "college educated elite" nefariously "manage to transfer wealth upwards to itself?" We didn't create the economy that gives decent-paying jobs only to technologically-trained labor! We didn't create the selfish capitalism that decided that CEOs of companies should earn 350x the amount of the actual workers! Turning us into the whipping-boy is wrong.
- You state that the alienated "have no positive agenda" and "have no actual plan or any means to deliver it." Um, I think that those things apply to the RepubliCants, who have been cynically hawking those empty promises to alienated low-info voters for the past 9 years.
- "Alienation breeds a distrust that corrodes any collective effort." And who's been cultivating that distrust for many years? RepubliCants and the Conservative alternative facts factories.
- "We need people who know how to live up to certain standards of integrity and public service. That means conducting oneself in office as if nation is more important than party... to fight alienation with moral realism, with a mature mind-set."
We had all that in President Obama; but you and the RepubliCants undermined him every step of the way.
1
This is just musings in fantasy. We will have Trump for the next 4 years at least. We should help make Trump a better President.
1
Make him a better President? Impossible. This would imply that he isn't already perfect, which (of course) would come as news to the man himself, as well as a good chunk of those who support him. Who would then immediately make reference to their long list of alternate facts and conspiracy theories to explain away any appearance of imperfection.
It seems like Trump found his voice not in any silent majority, but in a very vocal minority of loud, white men (and the women who love them) who have always thought they should be heard just because they were talking. I have been surrounded by these guys all my life (growing up in NY, Trump is among them). They dominate by force and don't wait for answer or comment. If you get out by means of education or intellect, you become the enemy. There is no "elite" only other. Thinking is not allowed, just cruel and blunt force. That is Trump's appeal pure and simple. Make America White Again...what part of backlash to Obama don't you understand?
Just talk and more talk from David - one more time.
The only way to get rid of Tump is to defeat the Republicans at the mid term elections in 2018. No other solution. Republicans will continue to defend and support Tump no matter what and even if he is found guilty of collusion with the Russians and guilty of obstruction of justice the Republicans are not going to impeach Tump. The rest is hot air.
The only way to get rid of Tump is to defeat the Republicans at the mid term elections in 2018. No other solution. Republicans will continue to defend and support Tump no matter what and even if he is found guilty of collusion with the Russians and guilty of obstruction of justice the Republicans are not going to impeach Tump. The rest is hot air.
1
Don't blame alienation or elites. Blame the GOP. Their trickle-down, greed-is-good, government-is-bad philosophy is what caused this mess. Don't overthink this.
2
Mr. Brooks, Donald Trump won because the same people who voted for Ronald Reagan, GH Bush, and GW Bush, voted for him. They came out in greater numbers because a lot of hoopla has been made over the fact that 'whites' are losing their majority. Add to that the fear of 'muslims' and the hit that white middle class men have taken & the results are obvious. Your party is racist. It's not 'conservative', it's not 'christian'. It is made up of people who wish to preserve their wealth or people who wish to preserve their status .. nothing else.
4
I feel like this column could have been written by Barack Obama -- I mean that in a good way.
Expected to find fault with the article but came away agreeing. "we need a better establishment, one attuned to Trump voters, those whose alienation grows out of genuine suffering." If this is possible I'm all for it. For all Trump's faults at least he brought some issues into the public that others would not address. Someone more balanced could go about solving them.
Genuine suffering? How about spoiled and entitled? By the standards of pretty much any other racial or ethnic group anywhere in the world, these "alienated" Trump voters still receive a free pass onto the gravy train. And the only reason they might have for alienation is that the quality of the gravy nowadays doesn't quite meet the standard of their past expectations.
In any case, they shouldn't expect a whole lot of sympathy from all those other people -- starting with Americans of color -- who have never been permitted to board that particular train. Particularly when the prospect that those other folk might actually be let on board motivates them to throw the sort of toddler tantrum it takes to rationalize voting for Trump.
In any case, they shouldn't expect a whole lot of sympathy from all those other people -- starting with Americans of color -- who have never been permitted to board that particular train. Particularly when the prospect that those other folk might actually be let on board motivates them to throw the sort of toddler tantrum it takes to rationalize voting for Trump.
"As Robert W. Merry put it recently in The American Conservative, 'When a man as uncouth and reckless as Trump becomes president by running against the nation’s elites, it’s a strong signal that the elites are the problem.'"
No, not at all. Trump is the epitome of an elite. Born rich, sent to a tony local prep school, he was expelled despite his father being on the board of trustees. He was shipped off to a private military school upstate, went first to Fordham, then transferred to Penn's Wharton, perhaps due to daddy's contributions.
He was invited to become President of his father's real estate company by age 26. His father staked him with a "small" million dollar loan.
When somebody with that background can sell himself as a populist, it is indicative that there IS something wrong with the elites: they can willfully sell the populace a bill of goods, based on habitual lies, and win election.
When he says: "Nobody knows the system better than I do, and I alone can fix it," he gives confirmation of both Barnum (there's a sucker born every minute) and Mencken (nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people).
The guy who said that ON DAY ONE, he would have a much better replacement for Obamacare, a plan to defeat ISIS, and a wall that Mexico would pay for. His failure to even have a plan for any reveals him as an elitist mountebank.
No, not at all. Trump is the epitome of an elite. Born rich, sent to a tony local prep school, he was expelled despite his father being on the board of trustees. He was shipped off to a private military school upstate, went first to Fordham, then transferred to Penn's Wharton, perhaps due to daddy's contributions.
He was invited to become President of his father's real estate company by age 26. His father staked him with a "small" million dollar loan.
When somebody with that background can sell himself as a populist, it is indicative that there IS something wrong with the elites: they can willfully sell the populace a bill of goods, based on habitual lies, and win election.
When he says: "Nobody knows the system better than I do, and I alone can fix it," he gives confirmation of both Barnum (there's a sucker born every minute) and Mencken (nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people).
The guy who said that ON DAY ONE, he would have a much better replacement for Obamacare, a plan to defeat ISIS, and a wall that Mexico would pay for. His failure to even have a plan for any reveals him as an elitist mountebank.
18
This is a very lazy analysis, with a giant lump of elites that needs to be parsed and differentiated.
The "faculty lounge" elites with politically correct tendencies (read: ethics, civility, inclusiveness) may be doing okay financially, notwithstanding the 'adjunctification' of faculties. But they are not the financial elites who are truly wealthy, who made their gains on the backs of others, who privatize profit and socialize risk, who ship jobs overseas to help their bottom line.
It is the latter to whom Trumpists - and the Tea Party before them - should be directing their ire, but Fox News, hate radio, and a general dumbing down of the culture have seen to that.
The "faculty lounge" elites with politically correct tendencies (read: ethics, civility, inclusiveness) may be doing okay financially, notwithstanding the 'adjunctification' of faculties. But they are not the financial elites who are truly wealthy, who made their gains on the backs of others, who privatize profit and socialize risk, who ship jobs overseas to help their bottom line.
It is the latter to whom Trumpists - and the Tea Party before them - should be directing their ire, but Fox News, hate radio, and a general dumbing down of the culture have seen to that.
21
A disturbing trend is to define "elites" as those with college educations. This trend is related to the assault on the press and is not a grass roots phenomena. One political party, you guess which one, has generated a lot of noise about these information "elites", I'd call it propaganda. Now Mr. Brooks repeats their lies. If there is any elite that is responsible for the economic malaise it is the economic elites who have been grabbing almost all the economic gains over the last ten years.
People that offer real information are being made scapegoats. College professors didn't drive the Trump supporters into poverty and addiction. And people like Mr. Brooks that point fingers at them are the real enablers of Trump and the Republican elites.
People that offer real information are being made scapegoats. College professors didn't drive the Trump supporters into poverty and addiction. And people like Mr. Brooks that point fingers at them are the real enablers of Trump and the Republican elites.
21
Having lived and worked internationally for more than 12 years; done business in 26 countries on 6 continents; I have come to appreciate what a wise sage said to me in NE Asia some 25 years ago - "culturally it's not right or wrong - just different."
Time and time again, I have seen other nations with policies put the USA to shame. Why we think we have all the right answers boggles the mind!
Today, I worry about the USA surviving amid the possibility or armed anarchy.
Time and time again, I have seen other nations with policies put the USA to shame. Why we think we have all the right answers boggles the mind!
Today, I worry about the USA surviving amid the possibility or armed anarchy.
4
As Yuval Levin argues in a brilliant essay in Modern Age, “Alienation can sometimes make for a powerful organizing principle for an electoral coalition. … But it does not make for a natural organizing principle for a governing coalition.”
Worse, alienation breeds a distrust that corrodes any collective effort. To be “woke” in the alienated culture is to embrace the most cynical interpretation of every situation, to assume bad intent in every actor, to imagine the conspiratorial malevolence of your foes.
Alienation breeds a hysterical public conversation. Its public intellectuals are addicted to overstatement, sloppiness, pessimism, and despair. They are self-indulgent and self-lionizing prophets of doom who use formulations like “the Flight 93 election” — who speak of every problem as if it were the apocalypse.
I submit that this view articulated by David aptly describes the GOP since the time Newt G.
Worse, alienation breeds a distrust that corrodes any collective effort. To be “woke” in the alienated culture is to embrace the most cynical interpretation of every situation, to assume bad intent in every actor, to imagine the conspiratorial malevolence of your foes.
Alienation breeds a hysterical public conversation. Its public intellectuals are addicted to overstatement, sloppiness, pessimism, and despair. They are self-indulgent and self-lionizing prophets of doom who use formulations like “the Flight 93 election” — who speak of every problem as if it were the apocalypse.
I submit that this view articulated by David aptly describes the GOP since the time Newt G.
Would someone define an elite?
3
Per what I'm reading and hearing, a Librul that's not ashamed to have read a book or two and has a decent job.
2
Is Mitch Landrieu's eloquent justification for removing the Confederate statues in New Orleans an example of the "faculty lounge" political correctness that you deplore? If so, count me in the faculty.
10
The word populism has been abused too much.
I do not consider fascists like Le Pen, or quasi fascists like Trump, populists.
Does any one remember history. The State of Wisconsin gave us the leader of the populist movement, a man whose last name was, I think, Follette. He was eminently progressive. He advocated on behalf of the working people and the poor. Populism was seen as an efffort, by and for poorer and working class people, to wrest control of government and society from commercial and financial elites. I will concede that Trumpism, in its campaign, had populist strains, notably when it expressed concern for the downsized blue collar workers. However, this populist strain was the only part of Trump's campaign that was attractive.
In attacking populism, are you really attacking Trump or are you instead attacking political efforts to fight the affliction of the working class.
Also, I disagree with the author's contention that alienation cannot lead to healty political change. The people who elected FDR were alienated from a system of dog eat dog capitalism, and FDR arguably improved America. The people of Western Europe who were impovershed in the beginnning of the 20th century were alienated from the ruling economic order, and their alienation resulted in the fruition of Social Democratic parties and the welfare state.
I do not consider fascists like Le Pen, or quasi fascists like Trump, populists.
Does any one remember history. The State of Wisconsin gave us the leader of the populist movement, a man whose last name was, I think, Follette. He was eminently progressive. He advocated on behalf of the working people and the poor. Populism was seen as an efffort, by and for poorer and working class people, to wrest control of government and society from commercial and financial elites. I will concede that Trumpism, in its campaign, had populist strains, notably when it expressed concern for the downsized blue collar workers. However, this populist strain was the only part of Trump's campaign that was attractive.
In attacking populism, are you really attacking Trump or are you instead attacking political efforts to fight the affliction of the working class.
Also, I disagree with the author's contention that alienation cannot lead to healty political change. The people who elected FDR were alienated from a system of dog eat dog capitalism, and FDR arguably improved America. The people of Western Europe who were impovershed in the beginnning of the 20th century were alienated from the ruling economic order, and their alienation resulted in the fruition of Social Democratic parties and the welfare state.
3
People sense that something is wrong but they don't always realize that the problem is not immigrants, gays, women, blacks, latinos or muslims. The problem is the growing gap between the top 1% and everyone else.
6
"...Would we really throw our own candidate out of office for this?" Yes. I am tired of conservatives screaming that the other side will put up with anything as long as it's their team doing it. There is plenty of hypocrisy in both parties; however, I'm not the only person I know who did not vote for Clinton the 2nd time. I believed that he was smart as a whip; a moderate (which I appreciated); a canny politician... and an all too human guy whose weakness wasn't 'an affair' but rather, a long pattern of compulsive sexual behavior. He needed to go because he displayed incredibly poor judgement; was a possible blackmail risk, and owed it to his family to get help. So yes, if Trump were a Democrat (which he was...) I'd feel exactly the same way. Impeach him or lock him up!
3
To believe that he was "smart as a whip" took a suspension of reality, and a wilful ignorance of facts, as well as a sanctioning of dangerous and violent bigotry. You do not get a free pass for your irresponsible thoughtless choice.
All the facts were there. You choose to ignore them. It is hard-working immigrants, women of color, the elderly, the disadvantaged, children, and middle-class Americans who suffer the consequences of your thoughtless, cowardly action.
All the facts were there. You choose to ignore them. It is hard-working immigrants, women of color, the elderly, the disadvantaged, children, and middle-class Americans who suffer the consequences of your thoughtless, cowardly action.
Fighting alienation begins at the local level. Were there training programs set up by states for those coal miners, rust belt workers and others left behind? As for the racists, misogynists and white men that felt they had come down a notch, my comments won't be kind so I won't go there.
4
It's not that difficult. We just want leaders, whether politicians or corporations or wall street, to 1. be honest and have some integrity 2. recognize their fellow human beings as people with, at minimum, equal worth to the all mighty dollar. Quit privatizing so many organizations, i.e. prisons, schools, health care. In all these instances, people are being exploited, lied to and taking advantage of so that others can get rich.
3
Ahhh but you just named another Symptom, Privatization has pushed folks wages down-stagnate, yet profits are up??
And somehow Librul Elites are to blame:):):)
And somehow Librul Elites are to blame:):):)
"Alienation can sometimes make for a powerful organizing principle for an electoral coalition. … But it does not make for a natural organizing principle for a governing coalition.”
This one spectacularly misses the organizing principle of Trump and his minions. The reason whyTrump has repeatedly praised Vlad the Impaler Putin is that no head of state has been so singularly successful at monetizing that position. Though he doesn't flaunt it, I have heard finance world experts on Bloomberg put forth the proposition that, in fact, Putin is the richest man in the world, with a net worth possibly $200 Billion, which would be as much as the next three richest on aggregate.
What Levin sees as a design flaw, a paucity of governing functionaries, is actually a FEATURE. The absence of honest workers in government means that there are fewer eyes watching self-dealing profiteering from the governent, and fewer voices to raise ethical objectios. Exhibit A is the newly installed management of the General Services Administration waving off all conflict of interest claims about the Trump Old Post Office Hotel, which looked like a losing proposition until election night, and now is yugely profitable with foreign governments booking rooms and functions to curry favor with the incoming administration.
This one spectacularly misses the organizing principle of Trump and his minions. The reason whyTrump has repeatedly praised Vlad the Impaler Putin is that no head of state has been so singularly successful at monetizing that position. Though he doesn't flaunt it, I have heard finance world experts on Bloomberg put forth the proposition that, in fact, Putin is the richest man in the world, with a net worth possibly $200 Billion, which would be as much as the next three richest on aggregate.
What Levin sees as a design flaw, a paucity of governing functionaries, is actually a FEATURE. The absence of honest workers in government means that there are fewer eyes watching self-dealing profiteering from the governent, and fewer voices to raise ethical objectios. Exhibit A is the newly installed management of the General Services Administration waving off all conflict of interest claims about the Trump Old Post Office Hotel, which looked like a losing proposition until election night, and now is yugely profitable with foreign governments booking rooms and functions to curry favor with the incoming administration.
4
It seems to identify an "elite" one has to create an "other" than self, and identify self as somehow less than. I don't agree. Prior to the displacement of jobs by automation and the export of jobs overseas, there was a middle class blue collar workforce. They are no longer. Those who are still young and managed to re-train into anything resembling their lost wages are doing OK. But, the vast majority didn't land on their feet and will slog through their remaining working years with less wages and less life style. For them, who lack the education, or means to achieve, looking into the mirror must be painful. Denying responsibility is to project it onto others as being the reason or cause for their demise. Thus the alienated. I look around me when I think we ought to have universal health and I see people who simply don't take their health seriously. I then wonder about those dispossessed by automation, export of jobs, and wonder about their motivation? Are there even enough jobs for them? Will they always be alienated? Trump surely was not the answer, but his supporters are still behind him 95%. What/who is their alternative?
The problem is not the elites, David. It's the voters. They keep getting the politicians they want. And deserve.
5
The article feels like the calm center of a storm....with the back side of the storm yet to come...
Obama was not a bad president. His good ideas, Democratic Party Ideas, were opposed overwhelmingly by these same "alienated" type people in Congress.
3
Good thoughts but I doubt that it is the "wards of the state" that are feeling left out. From what I see. It is the middle class that feels disenfranchised politically, financially and, most of all, culturally. This can not be solved by throwing money at them. It is the efficiency of our brave new world which is making people feeling insignificant and impotent. It will take some serious changes to counter this trend which has only just started. As more jobs are taken by robots, larger segments of our population will undergo this same frustration. I expect that drugs can soften this frustration but eventually, later generations will learn to accept their worthlessness and find other ways to feel useful and significant..
3
Yeah, they can run out of money, and choose between SPAM and the cable bill, as far as I am concerned.
I don't know if it is possible to be the alienated's answer, prayer, therapist. These individuals seem, from reading you, to be 'wrecked'. I believe I can only honestly say who I am and be what I stand for.
"Modern democratic capitalism"? "A living elite patriotism"? It's got a certain rhythm, I guess, but those phrases mean nothing much very specific. The main problem lies within the gap between those who have, and those who ain't got. The financial system that the wealthy depend on is exactly the one that creates poverty and despair from the middle class on down. Tax breaks for the rich create chasms into which the rest of us plunge... Republicans have gloried in shifting the blame for the system into animus for the other party--and THAT is what needs to change.
4
The roots of our current malaise certainly go back to the culture wars of the 1960s and Vietnam, followed by Watergate, the gas-crisis, the Iran hostage crisis, the Clinton debacle, the 'stolen election' of George Bush, the lies about Iraq, the financial crisis of 2008, the election of a black President and the coring out of the American manufacturing economy. Coupled with a mainstream culture that disgusts, baffles or infuriates so-called mainstream America who can only find solace with the nattering nabobs of negativity in the right-wing media --- its no wonder the elites don't get any cred.
If we want to right the ship we need to set a high educational and moral bar for government service; we need some kind of universal government service for young people so those from different parts of the country can get to know one another; we need much more public people-to-people fora and debate (the elites should not dominate the conversation); and we should all working from facts not misplaced emotions. If the people who supported Trump knew what impact his policies would have on them we would be living in a different world. The problem is that their fears and emotions have trumped reason. That's a slippery slope we may never recover from.
If we want to right the ship we need to set a high educational and moral bar for government service; we need some kind of universal government service for young people so those from different parts of the country can get to know one another; we need much more public people-to-people fora and debate (the elites should not dominate the conversation); and we should all working from facts not misplaced emotions. If the people who supported Trump knew what impact his policies would have on them we would be living in a different world. The problem is that their fears and emotions have trumped reason. That's a slippery slope we may never recover from.
1
I just checked "recommended" on a dozen or so comments below critiquing the notion of "elites." It is a terrible, useless term and a codeword for the right. There is a distinction between the educated, moneyed, decision-making controlling class and uneducated/undereducated powerless, non-political groups. What is needed is more knowledge and education in social and political history and, yes, theory - what was once called civics. Listening to the media and and its low level, advertising interrupted discussions are part of the problem. We can't talk to each other because NYT readers read and have a system of reference that is far from removed from what those who consume "news" have. Trump's horde of climate deniers, money-makers, self-made non-political Cabinet appointees (Vos, Carter) add ot the problema nd will deeped it.
3
"But going forward we need a better establishment, one attuned to Trump voters, those whose alienation grows out of genuine suffering." Why are we, once again, being asked to make allowances for them? Many of the people who voted for him (in those hollowed-out rural areas across the country) have been voting against their own self-interest for decades.
9
David Brooks writes: "As Robert W. Merry put it recently in The American Conservative, 'When a man as uncouth and reckless as Trump becomes president by running against the nation’s elites, it’s a strong signal that the elites are the problem.'"
Contrary to what Mr. Brooks writes, the elites are not the problem, the antiquated Electoral College with its partial foundation based on slavery is. In any other democracy Sec. Clinton would have been elected president.
Regardless, Clinton beat Trump by almost 3 million votes. Many of these voters were just ordinary people, who were not taken in by Trump's facile solutions to their problems. They were also repulsed by his actions and words since he actively entered the political stage in 2011 by claiming President Obama was not born in the United States.
The ones who voted for Trump (and for 3rd Party candidates), may be alienated, but more importantly they lacked the ability to cut through media coverage that was more entertainment than knowledge. Democracy requires a populace educated in the need for critical thinking about and participation in civic matters.
Until we really tackle poverty, provide 21 Century educational opportunities to all our people, emphasize policy over fluff, facts over fiction, and get rid of the Electoral College we are at risk of electing future Trump-like presidents. No amount of trying to eliminate "alienation" will change this.
Contrary to what Mr. Brooks writes, the elites are not the problem, the antiquated Electoral College with its partial foundation based on slavery is. In any other democracy Sec. Clinton would have been elected president.
Regardless, Clinton beat Trump by almost 3 million votes. Many of these voters were just ordinary people, who were not taken in by Trump's facile solutions to their problems. They were also repulsed by his actions and words since he actively entered the political stage in 2011 by claiming President Obama was not born in the United States.
The ones who voted for Trump (and for 3rd Party candidates), may be alienated, but more importantly they lacked the ability to cut through media coverage that was more entertainment than knowledge. Democracy requires a populace educated in the need for critical thinking about and participation in civic matters.
Until we really tackle poverty, provide 21 Century educational opportunities to all our people, emphasize policy over fluff, facts over fiction, and get rid of the Electoral College we are at risk of electing future Trump-like presidents. No amount of trying to eliminate "alienation" will change this.
13
There was something appealing about anarchism as it was embraced by the hippie subculture of my youth. Back then the left and a revolutionary lifestyle highly tinged with hedonism was supposed to be tolerant of the eccentric and non conformists. All of the left was united around protesting against the Viet Nam War.
Nixon lied about his secret plans, & he had been double dealing with the leaders of Communist Viet Nam.
Last big hope was Jimmy Carter, and Reagan did the same thing with the Iranians. Worst of Machiavellian deceits in order to win.
Something happened in 1978 that made it obvious to me that the US could not be reformed. I began my modeling of another nation.
The working man's experience was made to count for nothing as one was even required to present a resume` to work at MacDonalds.
Institutions became bigger and more authoritarian.
Anarchy? Anarchy, well for the leaders of that all turned to isolation & despair. Abbe Hoffman blew his brains out.
Those who had tried to elevate the nation as Carter's idealism was eroded for the corporatism that has grown & grown ended up saying to aspirants "Don't even try."
The Generation Gap was cast in stone.
The line is out of order. Still it appeared at the end, but it is likely that is where it started.
Nixon lied about his secret plans, & he had been double dealing with the leaders of Communist Viet Nam.
Last big hope was Jimmy Carter, and Reagan did the same thing with the Iranians. Worst of Machiavellian deceits in order to win.
Something happened in 1978 that made it obvious to me that the US could not be reformed. I began my modeling of another nation.
The working man's experience was made to count for nothing as one was even required to present a resume` to work at MacDonalds.
Institutions became bigger and more authoritarian.
Anarchy? Anarchy, well for the leaders of that all turned to isolation & despair. Abbe Hoffman blew his brains out.
Those who had tried to elevate the nation as Carter's idealism was eroded for the corporatism that has grown & grown ended up saying to aspirants "Don't even try."
The Generation Gap was cast in stone.
The line is out of order. Still it appeared at the end, but it is likely that is where it started.
2
This economy wasn't created by "college educated elites." It was created by Ronald Reagan conservatives. That college educated elites are the ones who benefited ...that that the mostly high school educated working class was crushed was a side effect that was inevitable having gone down this path. When you take away millions of blue collar jobs... what's left? How are 30 years of basically flat middle class incomes some kind of transfer wealth upward to itself? The wealth was transferred to the very top through Republican tax cuts on things like capital gains, estates, etc.
The alienated mind or the deprived man?
The alienation is not between elites and "those with an alienated state of mind". The alienation is between the few beneficiaries of enormous, unjustifiable wealth transfers paid for by the systematic and deliberate deprivation of the breaks needed to move ahead. Those are in health-care, child-care and education. (Case in point: Leonhard's: It's time to worry about Health Care in the Senate.)
A functioning elite provides quality solutions. Substitute "the alienated" with "the deprived", associate "elite" with "quality", and acknowledge colossal social injustice, unparalleled in any other Western industrialized country, to benefit a few, and David, you would have an argument. And please, don't coat over grave material flaws with "a style of conversation". That is something for the establishment to indulge in.
The alienation is not between elites and "those with an alienated state of mind". The alienation is between the few beneficiaries of enormous, unjustifiable wealth transfers paid for by the systematic and deliberate deprivation of the breaks needed to move ahead. Those are in health-care, child-care and education. (Case in point: Leonhard's: It's time to worry about Health Care in the Senate.)
A functioning elite provides quality solutions. Substitute "the alienated" with "the deprived", associate "elite" with "quality", and acknowledge colossal social injustice, unparalleled in any other Western industrialized country, to benefit a few, and David, you would have an argument. And please, don't coat over grave material flaws with "a style of conversation". That is something for the establishment to indulge in.
2
As usual, Brooks is thought provoking. Here's the ray of hope I see in Georgia. I am south of the 5th District (represented by John Lewis) but I have seen civic engagement blossom in the 6th District race. People (especially women) are highly civically engaged. It goes beyond campaigning for Jon Ossoff. There is active communication and learning going on, across partisan lines, like I've never seen in my 65 years. This is how it should be and gives me hope for the future.
5
The questions are: Who are the alienated? Who are the rich? When I lived in Northern Arkansas, I felt very alienated. I wasn't Baptist and my politics were liberal. I can tell you I learned to keep my mouth very shut. Now I am retired in Oregon and I live on my teacher's pension. I worry about how long my money will last. Meanwhile it seems to me that the very rich voted for Trump because they want to lower taxes, get rid of welfare, and be allowed to rape the environment at will. How am I the cocky PC overlord that you describe?
10
One more Brooks column that tries to make the Republican party and its president seem a normal occurrence in US History. A recent column asks us to regard Trump as a child and thus diminishes the deadliness of the purposeful acts by a man who has lived 70+ years. Today we are given paragraphs of weighty thoughts about the complications of "alienation" to wash away the individual voter responsibility for men like Chris Collins, Iowa's King, Florida's Yoho--- and Trump.
We who voted for the sane, qualified candidates are asked by David Brooks: "Would we ...throw our own candidate out...for this (treason, conflict of interest, attempt to influence federal officials against people disliked by Trump) ? And the answer to his question can be found in imagining any modern Democratic candidate for President saying or doing what Trump said and did during his campaign, much less the first four months in office without being dropped as a candidate or removed as president.
The failure to act to end the Trump/Pence administration is a Republican failure. "Reviving a living elite patriotism" which is part of "addressing the spirit of alienation" will be required for the "new establishment". David Brooks has already chosen the words for the newsletters and speeches to come which will absolve Republicans of responsibility for Trump and his actions while president. "Filled with cheerful confidence" doesn't begin to describe what he envisions a post-Trump future to be. Yada, yada,
We who voted for the sane, qualified candidates are asked by David Brooks: "Would we ...throw our own candidate out...for this (treason, conflict of interest, attempt to influence federal officials against people disliked by Trump) ? And the answer to his question can be found in imagining any modern Democratic candidate for President saying or doing what Trump said and did during his campaign, much less the first four months in office without being dropped as a candidate or removed as president.
The failure to act to end the Trump/Pence administration is a Republican failure. "Reviving a living elite patriotism" which is part of "addressing the spirit of alienation" will be required for the "new establishment". David Brooks has already chosen the words for the newsletters and speeches to come which will absolve Republicans of responsibility for Trump and his actions while president. "Filled with cheerful confidence" doesn't begin to describe what he envisions a post-Trump future to be. Yada, yada,
5
Mr. Brooks, i wonder how you reconcile the thoughts expressed in this column with your continued defense Republicans who today put forth a budget (Ryan not Trump) steeped in Libertarinist myth that supposes that government is only useful for defense.
Donals Trump iand the Military State that we are becoming are the predicable result of the political obstructionism, Ayn Rand philosophy and the morally bankrupt political establishment that doesn't do much to earn the respect of the poorly informed, easily manipulated populace that continue empower them.
Donals Trump iand the Military State that we are becoming are the predicable result of the political obstructionism, Ayn Rand philosophy and the morally bankrupt political establishment that doesn't do much to earn the respect of the poorly informed, easily manipulated populace that continue empower them.
2
We have Trump, we have the Republicans, we have the Democrats and we have the Tea Party.
You can choose which of these are worst, but you can't choose any that are any good - because none of them are.
We used to have a government that worked for the citizens and for itself. Now we have a government that works for itself. How do we break through this?
David ends with this: "Now is the moment for a new establishment to organize, to address the spirit of alienation that gave rise to Trump, but which transcends him." How does any of this begin? And with whom at the helm? Outside of Elizabeth Warren, I don't see anybody who can take this mess on with any credibility, and she is a Massachusetts liberal who might be rejected by the rest of the country for that reason alone. She will be the next Ted Kennedy, the next Mike Dukakis, the next John Kerry.
Trump managed to twist many of the disaffected away from the Democrats, and Bernie Sanders twisted them away from Hillary. We need a united coalition, we can't have another Bernie vs. Hillary and have Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio trying to do Trump II on the other side.
Personally I think Trump is trying to line up Ivanka to take the job, but that's another SAD story.
You can choose which of these are worst, but you can't choose any that are any good - because none of them are.
We used to have a government that worked for the citizens and for itself. Now we have a government that works for itself. How do we break through this?
David ends with this: "Now is the moment for a new establishment to organize, to address the spirit of alienation that gave rise to Trump, but which transcends him." How does any of this begin? And with whom at the helm? Outside of Elizabeth Warren, I don't see anybody who can take this mess on with any credibility, and she is a Massachusetts liberal who might be rejected by the rest of the country for that reason alone. She will be the next Ted Kennedy, the next Mike Dukakis, the next John Kerry.
Trump managed to twist many of the disaffected away from the Democrats, and Bernie Sanders twisted them away from Hillary. We need a united coalition, we can't have another Bernie vs. Hillary and have Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio trying to do Trump II on the other side.
Personally I think Trump is trying to line up Ivanka to take the job, but that's another SAD story.
2
"Their alienation" does not grow out of genuine suffering. It grows out of the manure spread by Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity, Beck and Trump, et al. These same people deny the despair of people just like them who are of a different faith or different color or different nationality. They cheer the wholesale carnage visited upon "the others" because they are told it is good. They accept that because it is also their admission to the elite club of 'the maligned", where reality isn't important, just that they "feel better" about themselves for a few hours.
5
"Democratic Capitalism" is a contradiction. Capitalism cannot be "democratic" - "society" doesn't get to majority vote on what people should produce, or sell, or purchase, or what price to charge, or how much to pay.
A society that tries to do that is not called "Capitalist". It's called Socialist, or Progressive, or Communist. Because the three are all the same from the perspective of individual freedoms and individual rights: They are all tyrannies of the mob.
A society that tries to do that is not called "Capitalist". It's called Socialist, or Progressive, or Communist. Because the three are all the same from the perspective of individual freedoms and individual rights: They are all tyrannies of the mob.
1
What made me stop and think about this column was imagining what I might be saying or thinking if all the Russian allegations were being made about a president I'd voted for. Would I be making excuses for him, trying to make a case that it looks worse than it really is? Would I be contradicting those who were convinced of his guilt and saying they were just whining because their candidate lost? I think I would have to answer yes to all of the above. However, as disappointed and chagrined as I might be to learn that it was all true, maybe even heartbroken, I would want that president to be convicted and removed from office along with any who were accomplices or accessories before or after the fact. No matter how much I might support someone to become president, or how much I believed what he/she promised to do to make my life better, I couldn't continue to advocate for him/her if the truth revealed that he/she had been a traitor to this country. That's why, for me, it's so important to wait and see where the facts lead. But thank you for the challenge to put ourselves in another's shoes. Particularly when those who wear them may be struggling with the kind of alienation you describe and are trying to hold onto any means that offers a way out. I hope whatever comes will offer that way.
7
No crisis, just a lot of easily identified lousy policies:
The Republicans' and Dubya's unfunded, dishonest, and wildly inaccurately aimed wars.
Nixon's and Reagan's successful stifling of LBJ's attempts to bring America into the now past twentieth century.
Senator McConnell's stifling of President Obama's only partially successful repair of the economy.
This talk of a phoney crisis, like the election of flamboyant Republican barker Donald Trump, is simply a loud attempt to divert attention from the massive success of conservative policies.
The Republicans' and Dubya's unfunded, dishonest, and wildly inaccurately aimed wars.
Nixon's and Reagan's successful stifling of LBJ's attempts to bring America into the now past twentieth century.
Senator McConnell's stifling of President Obama's only partially successful repair of the economy.
This talk of a phoney crisis, like the election of flamboyant Republican barker Donald Trump, is simply a loud attempt to divert attention from the massive success of conservative policies.
5
David you've identified a large part of the problem, and while you mention bits and pieces of a long term solution, before we can get to that point, we need to overcome the deep-seated distrust - even hatred - of each side for the other, and to agree on a way to reconcile. And as you pointed out, the alienated really don't have any solutions looking forward beyond "smash the status quo", so it falls on those who see the value in society to bridge this gap.
Short of forming brand new parties - which might have to happen before this over, including possibly changing our system to a more parliamentary one to allow for more parties - the Democrats, as the party nearly excised from power, will have to begin to craft ways to reach out to include these "aliens". Ironically, many once belonged to the the Dems, before the the DNC abandoned tham several decades ago. This outreach doesn't mean a sell out of principles, or an acceptance of beliefs like racism, bigotry, xenophobia, and other fear-driven beliefs. But it does have to have an answer for these fears, and others, like unemployment, poverty, lack of health care, and insecurities driven by terrorism.
Fortunately, the Dems have mush of this platform available to them if they would adopt the ideas put forth by Sanders. This is only a start, but a good one, and will point them in the right direction. But as long as the Dems hold to their elitist philosophy of the past few decades, they, and America, will remain alienated.
Short of forming brand new parties - which might have to happen before this over, including possibly changing our system to a more parliamentary one to allow for more parties - the Democrats, as the party nearly excised from power, will have to begin to craft ways to reach out to include these "aliens". Ironically, many once belonged to the the Dems, before the the DNC abandoned tham several decades ago. This outreach doesn't mean a sell out of principles, or an acceptance of beliefs like racism, bigotry, xenophobia, and other fear-driven beliefs. But it does have to have an answer for these fears, and others, like unemployment, poverty, lack of health care, and insecurities driven by terrorism.
Fortunately, the Dems have mush of this platform available to them if they would adopt the ideas put forth by Sanders. This is only a start, but a good one, and will point them in the right direction. But as long as the Dems hold to their elitist philosophy of the past few decades, they, and America, will remain alienated.
3
David, David ... "that we have a college educated elite that has found ingenious ways to make everybody else feel invisible, that has managed to transfer wealth upward to itself..."
The wikipedia says about you: "Brooks was born in Toronto, Ontario—his father was working on his PhD in Canada at the time—and spent his early years in the middle-income Stuyvesant Town housing development in Lower Manhattan. His father taught English literature at New York University, while his mother studied nineteenth-century British history at Columbia. Although his family was Jewish, Brooks himself is not religiously observant.[6][7][8][9] As a young child, Brooks attended the Grace Church School, an independent Episcopal primary school in Greenwich Village. When he was 12, his family moved to the Philadelphia Main Line, the affluent suburbs of Philadelphia. He graduated from Radnor High School in 1979. In 1983, Brooks graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in history."
You are certainly among the intellectual-elite bred and borne, have you "transferred wealth upward to (your)self?" I suspect you do pretty well?
I am not throwing stones here -- I'm a PhD scientist, sired by a PhD scientist. As a university academic near retirement i have no reason to complain about my income, but my neighbor two doors over is a skilled finish-carpenter who makes more. I sure do not feel that I have "transferred wealth upward," nor particularly made anyone else "feel invisible."
The wikipedia says about you: "Brooks was born in Toronto, Ontario—his father was working on his PhD in Canada at the time—and spent his early years in the middle-income Stuyvesant Town housing development in Lower Manhattan. His father taught English literature at New York University, while his mother studied nineteenth-century British history at Columbia. Although his family was Jewish, Brooks himself is not religiously observant.[6][7][8][9] As a young child, Brooks attended the Grace Church School, an independent Episcopal primary school in Greenwich Village. When he was 12, his family moved to the Philadelphia Main Line, the affluent suburbs of Philadelphia. He graduated from Radnor High School in 1979. In 1983, Brooks graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in history."
You are certainly among the intellectual-elite bred and borne, have you "transferred wealth upward to (your)self?" I suspect you do pretty well?
I am not throwing stones here -- I'm a PhD scientist, sired by a PhD scientist. As a university academic near retirement i have no reason to complain about my income, but my neighbor two doors over is a skilled finish-carpenter who makes more. I sure do not feel that I have "transferred wealth upward," nor particularly made anyone else "feel invisible."
11
You should be livid that your neighbor is making such wages in spite of the fact that at best carpenters have the equivalent of an Associate Degree.
1
The problem with this well-intentioned column is that Brooks treats alienation as if it were a purely subjective phenomenon. But alienation is perfectly objective and real.
I won't try to define alienation but when the institutions of social life within which people live become unintelligible to them, people become alienated. People become alienated from institutions (government, economic system, etc.) when the institutions are alien--i.e. not their own productions, not meant to advance their well-being. Gerrymandered districts, Electoral College, and the influence of big money in elections and policy-making reduce Americans to passive "constituents", no longer citizens. Turning to economics, the rise of neoliberal capitalism over the last generation is so clearly designed to strengthen the position of the very wealthy and weaken that of the poor and working class that this fact has gradually begun to penetrate even the more soundproof ideological echo chambers.
Solutions: more participation and citizenship in some form (as Brooks suggests) and egalitarian economic policy designed to strengthen the hand of the working class. Snobbery and PC, while annoying, are red herrings--the real issue is structural.
Lastly, do we really need new and better elites, to which the mass of non-elites would be more willing to respectfully look up? Perhaps if we could take a few daring strides in the direction of autonomy and self governance this would be less of an issue.
I won't try to define alienation but when the institutions of social life within which people live become unintelligible to them, people become alienated. People become alienated from institutions (government, economic system, etc.) when the institutions are alien--i.e. not their own productions, not meant to advance their well-being. Gerrymandered districts, Electoral College, and the influence of big money in elections and policy-making reduce Americans to passive "constituents", no longer citizens. Turning to economics, the rise of neoliberal capitalism over the last generation is so clearly designed to strengthen the position of the very wealthy and weaken that of the poor and working class that this fact has gradually begun to penetrate even the more soundproof ideological echo chambers.
Solutions: more participation and citizenship in some form (as Brooks suggests) and egalitarian economic policy designed to strengthen the hand of the working class. Snobbery and PC, while annoying, are red herrings--the real issue is structural.
Lastly, do we really need new and better elites, to which the mass of non-elites would be more willing to respectfully look up? Perhaps if we could take a few daring strides in the direction of autonomy and self governance this would be less of an issue.
The thing that kills me is that Donald Trump IS an elitist and these "forgotten men and women" still voted for him. Just look at the budget he's trying to pass. It would strip his base of things they need the most. He doesn't give a holler about others. He said the things he did to get elected. If they stick with him after he takes away Medicaid and assistance for the poor, I cannot feel much compassion for them. (It's hard enough to do so as it is.)
Those of us who worked hard to get into college, graduated from college, earned a degree, worked hard to establish a career, and find reading for pleasure and to further our knowledge, should not have to feel ashamed or apologetic to these supposedly forgotten masses. Many of these people are likely angry that we had a black President for eight years. Seeing a Harvard-educated black man in the White House is what made them feel forgotten. Trump does not care about them and is unlikely to help them in the long term. People need to learn to help themselves instead of relying on some elitist (claiming to be their mouth piece) to do it for them.
Those of us who worked hard to get into college, graduated from college, earned a degree, worked hard to establish a career, and find reading for pleasure and to further our knowledge, should not have to feel ashamed or apologetic to these supposedly forgotten masses. Many of these people are likely angry that we had a black President for eight years. Seeing a Harvard-educated black man in the White House is what made them feel forgotten. Trump does not care about them and is unlikely to help them in the long term. People need to learn to help themselves instead of relying on some elitist (claiming to be their mouth piece) to do it for them.
10
It's not just that Trump won't help them -- he is using them to advance the goals of the rich, to their serious detriment. The obvious question, the "what's the matter with Kansas" question, is why do Trump's people continue to support him?
Several motives are commonly advanced:
1. LBJ 's "he'll empty his pockets for you:" racism.
2. "smash the system:" nihilism
3. Palin's "splodey heads splode:" kafabe sadism.
4. Vicarious identification: they too would like to be rich even though evidently ignorant, act out, be rude, grope women and get away with it, cheat people and be forced to only give them back 60 cents on the dollar.
Got any others? I find it very hard to understand why women voted for this man.
Several motives are commonly advanced:
1. LBJ 's "he'll empty his pockets for you:" racism.
2. "smash the system:" nihilism
3. Palin's "splodey heads splode:" kafabe sadism.
4. Vicarious identification: they too would like to be rich even though evidently ignorant, act out, be rude, grope women and get away with it, cheat people and be forced to only give them back 60 cents on the dollar.
Got any others? I find it very hard to understand why women voted for this man.
2
I agree 100%. I don't understand it myself (re: women who voted for hi ) and definitely feel he is using his voters to advance his selfish agenda.
1
As long as consumption drives our economy it will be hard to create a society in which the lower tier doesn't feel left behind. Money (prosperity) is the new God. The old gems that "money won't buy you happiness or love," is threadbare. When the poor or struggling see the opulence being enjoyed by those above them - omnipotent in the digital age - it takes uncommon wisdom to resist the impulse to resent it.
I don't think the root cause is political; it's social, cultural, maybe even spiritual, requiring a conviction (void of resentment) to need less to be content. The days of being (or having) anything you set your mind to be (or have) are long gone. Capitalism, in its present form, is a cruel racetrack, favoring the most well-bred and best trained runners. Everyone else gets left behind.
I don't think the root cause is political; it's social, cultural, maybe even spiritual, requiring a conviction (void of resentment) to need less to be content. The days of being (or having) anything you set your mind to be (or have) are long gone. Capitalism, in its present form, is a cruel racetrack, favoring the most well-bred and best trained runners. Everyone else gets left behind.
2
In some respects destroying the middle class is good for the planet because the manufacturing, use and disposal of material goods is destructive. If Bill Gates has all the money he will still only be using one house, one car, one refrigerator and one toilet.
2
"Over the longer term, it will be necessary to fight alienation" by adults practicing what they preach when they tell their children to share. The increasing divide between rich and poor will destroy us.
1
"College educated elites" might be better identified as elites with college educations or just elites. There are many college educated individuals who are also alienated and feel invisible as they struggle to find jobs that allow them to use the skills acquired at the university level.
4
It's hard to escape the gut feeling that Republicans think that the future of humanity on this planet will be better if only more poor people die or are incarcerated. Trumpcare and Jeff Sessions' push for the longest sentences possible will without a doubt cause more poor people to die or end up in jail. So will the budget announced today.
Red state ranchers call this culling the herd.
Red state ranchers call this culling the herd.
3
David Brooks frequently over-generalizes to make his point. One can read the first two paragraphs of his column as a statement that all college graduates are elites that conspire to ignore the working class. We need to be careful what message we send to our children. Do we want them to believe that they should not finish college because they will then become an undesirable "elite?" Brooks' "elite" is actually the very, very wealthy, who are a small percentage of college graduates. The "One Percent", if you will. Many, probably most, college graduates have worked and studied their way into the "upper-middle-class" and neither despise nor forget about the working class. While Brooks makes an important point about alienation, his framing feeds the tribal polarization that need not characterize our country as a whole.
4
The opening paragraphs of this piece promulgate exactly the fake language and false logic, and right-wing whininess, that gave rise to this president. "Elites," in its current definition, was coined by the right, even though its the right that squarely inhabit its original definition. So David Brooks builds yet another logical eddy that's impossible to escape: validate and amplify the exact lexicon and logic that got us into this mess, while rallying against the man it birthed, as if the two were separate efforts. What I would like to see is Mr. Brooks say that it's the right that has bamboozled our country, and that columnists like himself have helped them along by embracing the absurdly false logic that educated people are "elites," even those underpaid adjuncts who've spend their lives trying to add to the corpus of human knowledge. Faculty lounge people have very little practical effect on every day language. It's only when whiny right-wingers amplify what they perceive to be injustices (i.e., knowledge and freedom) that academics are suddenly seen as grand offenders of national unity.
So while I don't disagree with the broad outlines of this piece, I'm angered by its use of "elites"--both directly and in quoted context--as an accepted term, not as one of the very seeds that gave rise to this swampy mess.
So while I don't disagree with the broad outlines of this piece, I'm angered by its use of "elites"--both directly and in quoted context--as an accepted term, not as one of the very seeds that gave rise to this swampy mess.
2
Alienation in modern America 2017?
Taking care of the problem of alienation in America--clear identification and solution--is critical for, among other reasons, serious discussions among scientists about whether we should try by technology to contact alien species or to respond to them if receiving a signal from outer space. The reason is rather obvious: If our society is an incompetent mess, with alienated people, a sad human platform, all talk of aliens can easily lead to people wondering if we have already not been invaded by some sort of virus or other form of the alien, because of course society is divided into bitter face after bitter face, and people do not trust each other--we in fact appear as if body snatched aliens to each other even if we have made no contact at all with alien species.
In short our society must be set right, our hearts must be set right, we must have leadership of intelligence and integrity and a working and satisfied and developing population to be clearly prepared for alien contact, to in fact know whether we have made contact which is benign or malignant. As things stand now, with all talk of religious extremism, right wing corruption, left wing media control, foreigners, etc. in America we are starkly vulnerable to a hostile alien invasion--in fact hostile aliens could just sit back and watch us destroy ourselves and have a good laugh about some humans thinking an alien invasion has occurred when rather it has been a bad President...
Taking care of the problem of alienation in America--clear identification and solution--is critical for, among other reasons, serious discussions among scientists about whether we should try by technology to contact alien species or to respond to them if receiving a signal from outer space. The reason is rather obvious: If our society is an incompetent mess, with alienated people, a sad human platform, all talk of aliens can easily lead to people wondering if we have already not been invaded by some sort of virus or other form of the alien, because of course society is divided into bitter face after bitter face, and people do not trust each other--we in fact appear as if body snatched aliens to each other even if we have made no contact at all with alien species.
In short our society must be set right, our hearts must be set right, we must have leadership of intelligence and integrity and a working and satisfied and developing population to be clearly prepared for alien contact, to in fact know whether we have made contact which is benign or malignant. As things stand now, with all talk of religious extremism, right wing corruption, left wing media control, foreigners, etc. in America we are starkly vulnerable to a hostile alien invasion--in fact hostile aliens could just sit back and watch us destroy ourselves and have a good laugh about some humans thinking an alien invasion has occurred when rather it has been a bad President...
1
Rising stock market, increased manufacturing and the disappearance of economic strangulation by fiat. I will take it. Political elites, you are dismissed.
Very good points that I will keep in mind. I highly agree that we need to be aware of this entire dynamic, and the extreme chasm right now. I am working on doing my part by talking seriously to those with different viewpoints from me and working to understand their views. I have talked to others who are working to do this. It is this that gives me hope.
Oh, come on, David! While there may indeed be a "college educated elite" those within that "elite" that "have found ingenious ways to make everybody else feel invisible" and that "has managed to transfer wealth upward to itself" are clearly NOT the same group that "crashes the hammer of political correctness down on anybody who does not have faculty lounge views."
Or is Brooks equating those in the 1% who take full advantage of obscene tax laws that allow those who are already vastly wealthy to accumulate even MORE wealth at the expense of all with those who justifiably speak out against any forms of racism, sexism, and yes, classism---the vile animosity that too many people have against anyone who is destitute?
I think Mr. Brooks might need to "fine tune" his socio-economic stereotypes, just a bit.
Or is Brooks equating those in the 1% who take full advantage of obscene tax laws that allow those who are already vastly wealthy to accumulate even MORE wealth at the expense of all with those who justifiably speak out against any forms of racism, sexism, and yes, classism---the vile animosity that too many people have against anyone who is destitute?
I think Mr. Brooks might need to "fine tune" his socio-economic stereotypes, just a bit.
2
Mr. Brooks: As a die-hard, center-left democrat I ask: When will you run for office? You have my vote.
“When a man as uncouth and reckless as Trump becomes president by running against the nation’s elites, it’s a strong signal that the elites are the problem.”
I cannot think of a more perfect example of our "elites" than David Brooks himself.
I cannot think of a more perfect example of our "elites" than David Brooks himself.
3
Trump sold his "brand" to people who had nothing to lose. As long as Trump's core supporters are enamored with his "brand," nothing he says or does which even negatively effects them will matter. First, the emperor needs to be shown he has no clothes. Tarnish Trump's "brand" and he will fall. But the question remains, how can discredited political elites change the minds of core Trump supporters? Is there a voice in the wilderness to which they will listen?
Unfortunately, we don't have an Al Smith type of politician; one who came from the alienated population to push government to work to resolve the issues that most concern his people. Every politician, including Trump, is a member of the elite classes, and worse, every corporation has an unlimited ability to finance all of the politicians' careers. Our politicians are all of their own people, therefore they govern of their own people, by their own people and for their own people.
It's not just alienation that elected Trump. Many Trump voters didn't care a lick for Trump, didn't want him; but they harbored a strong dislike for HRC. Further, many people felt that HRC had her 8 years in the White House, and this country often disfavors dynasties in so elevated a position.
Brooks has consistently been a Never-Trumper, and to date has trumpeted his message accordingly. He admits that 4 months in, Trump is a failure, but he believed Trump was a failure before the inauguration.
He's right that our institutions (establishment) are greater than one man, and yes The Donald is but one man.
Brooks has consistently been a Never-Trumper, and to date has trumpeted his message accordingly. He admits that 4 months in, Trump is a failure, but he believed Trump was a failure before the inauguration.
He's right that our institutions (establishment) are greater than one man, and yes The Donald is but one man.
Pessimistic hopefulness? Good grief. That's as useless as Creative Destruction.
1
To equate the educated with those who siphon wealth to the top is truly demonic.
The financial class is NOT particularly well-educated, or they would have human values rather than transactional lives.
Those who send the wealth further north to the 99.9% are like Trump. Not like Obama, who actually had reflective capacity, and compassion. Not to mention a sense of the spirit of the Wholly Other Who stands with the widow and the orphan.
The financial class is NOT particularly well-educated, or they would have human values rather than transactional lives.
Those who send the wealth further north to the 99.9% are like Trump. Not like Obama, who actually had reflective capacity, and compassion. Not to mention a sense of the spirit of the Wholly Other Who stands with the widow and the orphan.
2
This is a faux high minded piece that, to a great degree, blames the victims. It implies that they having lost their jobs, their homes, their self-respect, their way of life and their hopes for their and their children’s hope for the future, considered their limited options in the circumstance of globalization, opted for alienation and were seduced by Trump’s brand of Populism. Those poorly educated “dummies”, the designated detritus of globalization desperate for relief, were scammed by a major league grifter.
Brooks states: “Angry voters made a few things abundantly clear……found ingenious ways to make everybody else invisible.” Their anger was righteous. “They yearn for something that will smash the system”
And then Brooks’ condemnation: “They offer-up no governing class competent enough to get things done.”
And Brooks “solution”. “It will be necessary to fight alienation with moral realism ..filled with cheerful optimism….” What gibberish.
David Brooks is right about this: “We need people who know how to live up to standards of integrity and public service.” It is our responsibility, those of us who have benefited from the current economics, to demand and elect such individuals
Brooks states: “Angry voters made a few things abundantly clear……found ingenious ways to make everybody else invisible.” Their anger was righteous. “They yearn for something that will smash the system”
And then Brooks’ condemnation: “They offer-up no governing class competent enough to get things done.”
And Brooks “solution”. “It will be necessary to fight alienation with moral realism ..filled with cheerful optimism….” What gibberish.
David Brooks is right about this: “We need people who know how to live up to standards of integrity and public service.” It is our responsibility, those of us who have benefited from the current economics, to demand and elect such individuals
3
This notion that it's "faculty lounge" folks who are the "at fault" elites is nonsense.
The root of the problem is simple: vast wealth controlled by a few people who have created multiple fake news networks, fake think tanks, and stunningly effective messaging that taps into the anger of the very people they are selling down the river.
It wasn't folks in the faculty lounge who voted for Trump. It wasn't an educated elite who gerrymandered districts, and flaunted racism from the '60s onward.
Brooks just won't face it: the party he supports created Trump and cultivated Trump voters.
Trump is a feature of the GOP, not a bug.
The root of the problem is simple: vast wealth controlled by a few people who have created multiple fake news networks, fake think tanks, and stunningly effective messaging that taps into the anger of the very people they are selling down the river.
It wasn't folks in the faculty lounge who voted for Trump. It wasn't an educated elite who gerrymandered districts, and flaunted racism from the '60s onward.
Brooks just won't face it: the party he supports created Trump and cultivated Trump voters.
Trump is a feature of the GOP, not a bug.
4
That description of the villainous elite sounds very much like the way that Jews made the majority hate them time and again, by having their own ways, by finding different and more profitable approaches to things (often out of necessity, many Jews were forbidden from owning land, and wouldn't you rather own diamonds and violins if the odds were good you'd have to flee in the middle of the night). Not saying the Trump supporters don't have their grievances, but so did voters in 1930s Germany, actually much worse grievances. Wait till self-driving trucks come along. They'll burn Carnegie Mellon.
3
I see the issue as one of unrealistic expectations. The "alienated" have been sold a life based upon unrealistic expectations and materialistic view of what a successful good life is. The wealthy class are likewise convinced that the good life can only be obtained by acquiring more wealth while throwing a pittance to the less wealthy. The information age disseminates all the glitter and materialism to everyone, the alienated and wealthy, immediately. Priorities are obviously out of balance and until both the alienated lower their materialistic goals and emphasize what is really important and the wealthy determine that the extra ski house in Aspen or that Harley motorcycle is not necessary to have a meaningful life, we will edge towards a downward and perhaps violent spiral. Our President has decided to characterize terrorists as "losers" from now on in his dichotomous world of "winners" and "losers", but unless we can figure out why they are "losers" the end will result will not go away nor have a pretty ending. This may be the result of unrealistic expectations of what is really important in life. As Jack Palance replied in "City Slickers" to the question of Billy Crystal as to what the raising of one finger meant to the question of what was the secret of life, Jack finally said "That is what you have figure out." We as country have to figure it out.
While I agree with the premise that we need to organize a "new establishment" to "address the spirit of alienation that gave rise to Trump, but which transcends him" -- the author weakens his argument by referring continually to "impeachment investigation" and "impeachment".
The American experiment in democracy is over when we see "impeachment
as a remedy for an electoral decision we don't agree with rather than the result of criminal action on the part of the President.
So far, I think we've found the President guilty of narcissism, ego-mania, a nasty temper, and are moving toward find him guilty of incompetence -- but none of those (historically) have been grounds for impeachment.
The last may, however, become a reason to invoke the 25th Amendment?
The American experiment in democracy is over when we see "impeachment
as a remedy for an electoral decision we don't agree with rather than the result of criminal action on the part of the President.
So far, I think we've found the President guilty of narcissism, ego-mania, a nasty temper, and are moving toward find him guilty of incompetence -- but none of those (historically) have been grounds for impeachment.
The last may, however, become a reason to invoke the 25th Amendment?
Part of the problem is that it is easier to be divisive than to come together. Running on people's fear has always been a winning strategy for the GOP. Trump had no track record so he could lie and make bold statements and people believed him and had nothing to criticize him about.
Rather than use the term elitism I would use education. The people who are highly educated read and make informed decisions. Trump ran on fear, emotions and lies and although he has elite schools on his resume, he does not speak as a highly educated person (elite) person so the "working man" related to him.
You could say that Trump has filled his cabinet with elites if you use wealth as the defining factor of elitism. But I think it is obvious that from Trump's election and his actions, wealth is not the defining factor, education is. Trump does not make informed decisions, he shoots from the hip and acts on emotion and what will get him the most claps.
I think the issue is that education is not respected the way it used to be. Steven Jobs is an example, he made gizillions out of his garage. Mark Zuckerberg went to an elite college but he is known for Facebook which took him out of the elite sphere and put him into the money sphere.
Since reading and analyzing and critical thinking have no respect, these fake news sites and channels have sprung up because a large group of people do not question what they hear.
Trump's world is full of money elites. Respect for education is gone.
Rather than use the term elitism I would use education. The people who are highly educated read and make informed decisions. Trump ran on fear, emotions and lies and although he has elite schools on his resume, he does not speak as a highly educated person (elite) person so the "working man" related to him.
You could say that Trump has filled his cabinet with elites if you use wealth as the defining factor of elitism. But I think it is obvious that from Trump's election and his actions, wealth is not the defining factor, education is. Trump does not make informed decisions, he shoots from the hip and acts on emotion and what will get him the most claps.
I think the issue is that education is not respected the way it used to be. Steven Jobs is an example, he made gizillions out of his garage. Mark Zuckerberg went to an elite college but he is known for Facebook which took him out of the elite sphere and put him into the money sphere.
Since reading and analyzing and critical thinking have no respect, these fake news sites and channels have sprung up because a large group of people do not question what they hear.
Trump's world is full of money elites. Respect for education is gone.
As in the 20s, we are setting ourselves up for really huge big stock market crash. All the millions made for the rich by Trump will vanish. Then, the tables will turn and we will welcome back the "great society." This is the way our pendulum seems to swing back and forth. Where will the alienated voters be at the end of all this if they survive it? What nation will be on top, as we struggle to keep from falling to the bottom. My guess is China, but who knows it could be Germany?
David Brooks as with most pundits leaning right or firmly planted on the fringe can never be honest with themselves. Yes there is a sizable portions of the base that voted for the orange one have been through some genuine suffering and have been left behind but there is also the large portion who are relatively well off. What they don't want to talk about is the racism, bigotry and misogyny that truly unites and bounds them brought about by the Fox News, Alex Jones, Rush Limbaugh Ann Coulter cabal that distributes the Kool Ade that engenders hatred of the "others" and disables the cognitive functions of those that drink it.
1
Wrong. What's new again is the rise of a predatory wealthy 1% straight out of the Gilded Age. These are people without patriotism that are incapable of sacrifice. They are comfortable manipulating huge groups of people to get what they want. In the times of World Wars and Cold War, those captains of commerce were worried about their own security so they supported the families whose sons might be called on to save them from Germans or Russians, or Japanese. The world has changed and like Trump they feel invulnerable. They don't need us. Our needs are just annoying.
2
(Nice try, David, you called for a breakout party last summer and got nowhere. People are still divided between those who believe our country is one of tight knit communities with selective attachments, and those who believe we are part of a diverse 330,000,000 person community. When the Constitution was written, there was little travel or communication beyond a 5 mile radius and when people had far lower quality of life expectations. Personal ties were to close extended family, compatible neighbors, and local churches, libraries, and schools.
That is all gone and now people must rely on strangers represented by a government beyond their reach. Trump voters are still living in the long gone past of their imaginations.)
That is all gone and now people must rely on strangers represented by a government beyond their reach. Trump voters are still living in the long gone past of their imaginations.)
We had that guy his name is Bernie Sanders. I believe he would have addressed the ills facing us politically and economically. At the same time he had a unifying presence much needed in this country. But alas the powers that be.....
Mr. Brooks, Your analysis is accurate to a point. But as long as the Koch brothers, ALEC, and lobbying mega-bucks are stacking the deck nothing will improve. The effort to "educate" society to your finer points will never be as influential as the sway of intentional misinformation and fear manufactured by the powers that be. We have the best government money can buy.
Blaming people who are educated for making uneducated people "feel bad" is the stupidest idea of all. People who are educated are just people, too, and have no intention of bothering anyone because of being or not being educated. I'm not going to go around here apologizing to fellows who feel they used to be the bosses of every black person and woman, and are mad because now they aren't. And not all Trump's fans are uneducated. Most around here are perfectly comfortable with their lives, and many have educations, many are even in professional lives that prosper. Mostly they don't like people unlike themselves, and I don't mean an "elite". I mean they don't like black people, Latinos, gays, Muslims, or the poor, and they don't want any help for any of those people. Quite the contrary. They like it that Trump is cruel and rude. That's what they like. That's why they are with him. So stop pretending, David, that your or my having gone to college is a sin that we should somehow make up for. It's an idiocy on your part and extremely unhelpful in giving a false impression of our adversaries and of why they must be opposed.
3
Alienation is a two way street. The establishment in America decided that they were the "elites", the "ruling class", that "knew better". That decided that that poor white America was lazy and needed to be held account for its "privilege" while the rich white men in Congress and Wall Street were just given more and more with less accountability and more libertarian views that they deserved it and owed society nothing more became more and more prevalent.
They created race warfare in place of class warfare, that many looking for a scapegoat were more than happy to accept the call of that whistle. They accepted it because it let them off the hook. Like the Saudi's used anti-western Salafism to protect their "ruling class".
The establishment is the problem and until there is reform where they rejoin the country they are elected to lead instead of trying to be above it, then they will have a chance. Until then, like people trying to punish the winners in an unfair game regardless of their own personal benefit. The populous will continue to make it worse for everyone in an attempt at basic fairness.
They created race warfare in place of class warfare, that many looking for a scapegoat were more than happy to accept the call of that whistle. They accepted it because it let them off the hook. Like the Saudi's used anti-western Salafism to protect their "ruling class".
The establishment is the problem and until there is reform where they rejoin the country they are elected to lead instead of trying to be above it, then they will have a chance. Until then, like people trying to punish the winners in an unfair game regardless of their own personal benefit. The populous will continue to make it worse for everyone in an attempt at basic fairness.
I actually supported Clinton during the campaign for both the primary and the general election. I'm neither poor or wealthy. I think that our government works pretty well for most people - at least before Trump. I certainly don't see the need for a revolution from either the right or the left. I do see a need to preserve a livable earth, the only home we'll ever know (except in the dreamland of populating Mars).
I guess I'm not alienated and I don't understand those who are. But I'm willing to listen.
I guess I'm not alienated and I don't understand those who are. But I'm willing to listen.
1
Mr. Brooks, the chasm between the elite and everyone else cannot be bridged solely by a better elite reaching out to understand, an approach that will breed condescension ("oh you poor things, you're not equipped to reach out to me so I'll reach out to you"). What about the duty we all have to be active participants in our own governance, which includes comprehending it?
As conservative pundits (possibly including yourself) have been arguing for a while, the concept of civic duty has languished. Instilling the knowledge and the will to be good citizens can't be addressed solely by a reformed elite.
As conservative pundits (possibly including yourself) have been arguing for a while, the concept of civic duty has languished. Instilling the knowledge and the will to be good citizens can't be addressed solely by a reformed elite.
I tried to pick out the most significant parts of this exceedingly excellent, wonderful essay. They were all important. But for purpose of this reply I'll select "...live up to certain standards of integrity and public service."
I challenge Mr. Brooks to be that person. To write his next equally challenging essay to the Republican Congress to confront their dishonesty in legislation:1) "A rising tide raises all boats," the shibboleth of trickle down economics has been disproven by a myriad of tax cuts. Where is the infrastructure bill? 2) Cheap, inadequate health insurance is not health insurance for all. 3) If you have a pre-existing condition having health insurance available at 5 times the usual price is usually not health insurance at all. 4) Tax cutting, by itself is not tax reform. What was promised was tax reform, not just cuts. The reform must be part and parcel of the initial change, not something to be kicked down the road.
Enjoyably followed David Brooks for years, bought and read his books and rarely miss his Friday PBS appearances. When push has come to shove he often fails to confront the policies which have marginalized citizens & contribute to alienation. It is easy for a Republican pundit to confront a man such as Donald Trump. Let's see he if he can be as forthcoming with Ryan, Mitchell and the freedom caucus about the current legislative proposals.
I repeat, I challenge him to become part of the solution he espouses, not a contributor to the problem.
I challenge Mr. Brooks to be that person. To write his next equally challenging essay to the Republican Congress to confront their dishonesty in legislation:1) "A rising tide raises all boats," the shibboleth of trickle down economics has been disproven by a myriad of tax cuts. Where is the infrastructure bill? 2) Cheap, inadequate health insurance is not health insurance for all. 3) If you have a pre-existing condition having health insurance available at 5 times the usual price is usually not health insurance at all. 4) Tax cutting, by itself is not tax reform. What was promised was tax reform, not just cuts. The reform must be part and parcel of the initial change, not something to be kicked down the road.
Enjoyably followed David Brooks for years, bought and read his books and rarely miss his Friday PBS appearances. When push has come to shove he often fails to confront the policies which have marginalized citizens & contribute to alienation. It is easy for a Republican pundit to confront a man such as Donald Trump. Let's see he if he can be as forthcoming with Ryan, Mitchell and the freedom caucus about the current legislative proposals.
I repeat, I challenge him to become part of the solution he espouses, not a contributor to the problem.
It's not alienation that's at work here in "the rise of Trump," only selfishness and thoughtlessness.
The people who feel alienated and voted for Trump were motivated by emotions not by rational deliberations. Trump never offered any solutions in a reasonable manner that would enable anyone to evaluate the feasibility of his assurances, it was all promises that he would fix it without any details of how or a statement of assurance, "Believe me". One cannot really oppose people's assertions of how they feel or that they are angry and frustrated. One can feel strongly about things despite knowing very little about them, and that is mostly what Trump's supporters consciously appreciated about economics, world affairs, the rights guaranteed to us all under our legal system, not a whole lot. So they elected an incompetent man with an undisciplined mind to be President. They chose him and the problems he is creating is on their heads. I cannot dispute that they felt alienated but that did not justify the nihilistic act of electing a fool.
Alienation may be a cause but the effect is isolation, loss of hope but also a mindset that doesn't allow facts to penetrate or questions about motives to rise. There is only blind hope and a blindness to reality.
So, if you supported Trump at the exclusion of good sense and reliable facts then you will see your dreams die again. Now that he consumed you for his election you no longer matter.
The elites have gotten a bad rap. It is true there is a wide divide between the have's and have nots but many elites fund and support lifting people up, changing things for the good in their communities and donating for things that will help them.
If you do not have a voice in your representation, speak for yourself in any way you can but don't throw away your vote on a huckster and con artist who made you hate more for all the wrong reasons. That doesn't lift you, it defines you and leaves you where you are.
So, if you supported Trump at the exclusion of good sense and reliable facts then you will see your dreams die again. Now that he consumed you for his election you no longer matter.
The elites have gotten a bad rap. It is true there is a wide divide between the have's and have nots but many elites fund and support lifting people up, changing things for the good in their communities and donating for things that will help them.
If you do not have a voice in your representation, speak for yourself in any way you can but don't throw away your vote on a huckster and con artist who made you hate more for all the wrong reasons. That doesn't lift you, it defines you and leaves you where you are.
I usually look forward to reading David Brooke's column.This is the most REVOLTING column I have read in NYT opinion.
We do not need yet another "elite" of educated-to-govern. Mr. Brookes is old enough to recall a time when government was respected and talented people took time to serve their government. With pride. The problem is that government is treated as inept at best, a problem to rid of at worst. This began with Reagan, but has intensified to the degree that brought up Trump. This must change.
I see no reason the Trump voters problems in particular must be addressed. Many, many people who are living marginally or under great stress did not turn to hate & anti-immigration. They voted for Mrs. Clinton. The "welfare class" is barely scraping by; they don't need an *attitude adjustment*!
The people who desperately need an attitude adjustment are the very wealthy & privileged elite, who lead & finance this corrosive "conservatism." Do they think that the interstate highway system or bridges got there by magic? Were built by private corporations? Especially the second generation wealthy who do nothing for their inherited dollars. Donald Trump would be bankrupt without his father's bail-outs. I went to an "elite" graduate business school. The sense of entitlement is extraordinary.That is what needs adjustment.
We do not need yet another "elite" of educated-to-govern. Mr. Brookes is old enough to recall a time when government was respected and talented people took time to serve their government. With pride. The problem is that government is treated as inept at best, a problem to rid of at worst. This began with Reagan, but has intensified to the degree that brought up Trump. This must change.
I see no reason the Trump voters problems in particular must be addressed. Many, many people who are living marginally or under great stress did not turn to hate & anti-immigration. They voted for Mrs. Clinton. The "welfare class" is barely scraping by; they don't need an *attitude adjustment*!
The people who desperately need an attitude adjustment are the very wealthy & privileged elite, who lead & finance this corrosive "conservatism." Do they think that the interstate highway system or bridges got there by magic? Were built by private corporations? Especially the second generation wealthy who do nothing for their inherited dollars. Donald Trump would be bankrupt without his father's bail-outs. I went to an "elite" graduate business school. The sense of entitlement is extraordinary.That is what needs adjustment.
7
@B. Gallagher, well said!
1
Well done!
1
Continuous failure in leadership by Democratic party has brought us this. After the Manchester bombing I'm reminded of Obama’s remark where he said, correct me if you want, more people die house hold accidents than terrorist acts. Implying terrorism wasnt much of a problem. Statistically correct but does it make sense to say it out loud some of us think it is.
Now we have a president that wants to build a wall but deports less than his predecessor threatening to cut 800 billion from medicare. Who's winning? Bernie Sanders supporters think they are as with all the Democratic loses in the last election the answer to them is to move further left.
Now we have a president that wants to build a wall but deports less than his predecessor threatening to cut 800 billion from medicare. Who's winning? Bernie Sanders supporters think they are as with all the Democratic loses in the last election the answer to them is to move further left.
Americans have been seeking change since 2008 when they elected President Obama. They thought they were voting for someone who would shake up the system tame Wall Street and save the middle class. What they got was a middle of the road DLC President who was liberal on social issues and slightly right of center on fiscal and economic issues. A deficit hawk who wouldn't prosecute the Wall Street crowd that destroyed so many lives. A conservative who agreed to bail out the to-big-to fail financial institutions without demanding reform. He didn't bother to work on actual reform until he supported Dodd-Frank: a typical modern DLC piece of legislation that attempts to "regulate" capitalism through a maze of organizational reforms and thousands of pages of rules and regulations that generally speaking, work poorly and are easily re-written and weakened by large financial interests who eat such regulations for lunch. He would do nothing to unseat the powerful and protect the weak.
In the end, he merely patched the existing system and made it clear that he was for the "future" (students who were badly in debt) but didn't care much about the "past" (remember the "chained CPI" proposal in a world without defined benefit pensions). He was just America's technocratic CEO, more concerned with the "big numbers" like GDP than he was with the welfare and happiness of the American people.
Hilary Clinton only promised to do what President Obama did only better. So why not vote for Trump?
In the end, he merely patched the existing system and made it clear that he was for the "future" (students who were badly in debt) but didn't care much about the "past" (remember the "chained CPI" proposal in a world without defined benefit pensions). He was just America's technocratic CEO, more concerned with the "big numbers" like GDP than he was with the welfare and happiness of the American people.
Hilary Clinton only promised to do what President Obama did only better. So why not vote for Trump?
"why not vote for trump?" How about this: because he is a coarse windbag, a barely successful businessman who knows nothing about government. Because the items on his agenda are silly or destructive or both-- wrecking the EPA, privatizing public schools, building a wall between us and our very good neighbor to the south, but not the same to the north? Because normal people do not like adults who call people names, who threaten adversaries, and who support racism. ETC. That's why a patriot would never have voted for this man.
1
Are the people who stayed in school and worked hard, took loans they knew they would be paying almost forever to attend college, worked jobs on the side to help support themselves, avoided the alcohol and drug socials, the elite?
The ones who, in spite of obstacles stuck it out, and who now have decent jobs and who, even if they don't have the latest and greatest, still are satisfied they have done the best they can do, are they the elites?
I don't know anyone who is very, very rich. But I know a vast number of people who have risen from having little growing up to having more than enough as adults. Not because they were special, but because they struggled and worked to earn it.
Too often those who feel alienated did not choose that route and now blame others.
The ones who, in spite of obstacles stuck it out, and who now have decent jobs and who, even if they don't have the latest and greatest, still are satisfied they have done the best they can do, are they the elites?
I don't know anyone who is very, very rich. But I know a vast number of people who have risen from having little growing up to having more than enough as adults. Not because they were special, but because they struggled and worked to earn it.
Too often those who feel alienated did not choose that route and now blame others.
3
I don't get this "elites" vs people who voted for the "uncouth and reckless" Trump. Millions of people of all stripes voted for Clinton. To pawn this off as "elites are the problem" is not to understand the problem. Those who voted for Trump cannot see what is before them; it's not because they are not elite but because we (society) has failed them in someway. A large part of this failure can be laid at the feet of so called religions who have pitted one group against each other in inhumane ways. Whatever happened to the blameless throwing the first stone? Or the greedy 1%; let's heap some of the blame on them? Or the entertainment industry? Or rich pharmaceuticals. We need to stop looking for easy answers and look at the whole pictures. We won't be able to change this overnight but we can begin to change. Those who are alienated need to be encouraged back into the whole human fold. In the meantime, stop with the easy reflex answers and start looking up from the navel.
2
We Progressives bear a lot of responsibility for this fiasco. Had the white working class not lost so much ground since 1970, and had skilled labor some status among us, we'd not be in this trainwreck. As Joan Williams, the author of "White Working Class," put it so well in a radio interview I heard, we make fun of plumber's butt instead of upholding the dignity of skilled trades like plumbing, electric, and roofing. Try living without any of them!
There was a time when the Democratic Party represented well the interested of the working class. Now we too often scorn it and its values and favor of the values of the infotech and academic elites. We are, folks, a tiny percentage of the US populace and live in segregated bubbles where we eat, play, and socialize differently. We don't even drive the same cars any longer.
In short, there is something to the Conservative narrative that the Left in America got mired in victimology, identity politics, and white guilt. What Trump represents will not go away with him (which I hope is soon). We have to re-engage with respect the angry white voter, and do so as peers, not overlords or wonks. Al Gore lost this same vote in 2000, and look what happened...
There was a time when the Democratic Party represented well the interested of the working class. Now we too often scorn it and its values and favor of the values of the infotech and academic elites. We are, folks, a tiny percentage of the US populace and live in segregated bubbles where we eat, play, and socialize differently. We don't even drive the same cars any longer.
In short, there is something to the Conservative narrative that the Left in America got mired in victimology, identity politics, and white guilt. What Trump represents will not go away with him (which I hope is soon). We have to re-engage with respect the angry white voter, and do so as peers, not overlords or wonks. Al Gore lost this same vote in 2000, and look what happened...
Nope. The Trump sorts were always here; they didn't hate black people because they were disadvantaged white men. They hated them because they hate people not like themselves. They like to bully and bluster, and Trump has given them that. Most of them down here are not industrial workers who lost their jobs. They are comfortably retired, or middle management, or self-employed, or doctors and their wives. These people are doing what they want to do, what they have wanted to do for a long time, to get rid of political "correctness", to call a, well, spade a spade, if you'll forgive the expression. To be the bosses they used to be, and not because they are so oppressed. Geez, if people who really were oppressed acted like this, it would not be whites or males for the most part doing so. Get a clue, please, and stop putting the blame where it isn't. Trump's voters are doing what they want to, and they are responsible for it. You don't even respect them enough to see that. I do, I live among them, and they need to be opposed, not pitied. Believe me, they don't need your pity.
1
Fine words, Mr. Brooks, and a fairly accurate assessment of the country's state of being. I would remind you, however, that in assigning blame you continue to flog the media mantra of false equivalency. The Democratic party and the present day Republicans are not the same. The legislative programs Democratic/progressives promoted have tried to and done more for the common man than your conservative Republicans. The reason the "angry voters" don't recognize this is because of alt-right propagandizing by Fox News, Breitbart and "hate radio", the Koch brothers political machinations, Grover Norquist and Citizen's United allowance of corporate money to flood into electioneering. If you are set on assigning culpability look no further than the mirror...and leave the so-called "elites" alone. I'm tired of false branding.
3
I also struggle with Brook's equivocating. For the life of me---literally---I do not see any room for ambivalence and I am a deeply ambivalent man. Donald is dangerous for the environment, poor women and children, and at least one major religious minority. I grew up in the shadow of the Second World War and the Holocaust. History has some real lessons about those who intentionally damage democracies. This man is putting in positions of power people who will hurt not just our civic structure but the culture of mutual care we have worked so hard to develop from the day of Franklin Roosevelt's swearing in. Push this authoritarian autocrat out now.
Out now.
Out now.
This dislike of the 'educated elite' is a pretty natural thing if you are one down, and then you hear people making fun of you as hicks or white trash. Some people had more reason than others to want the change that Trump was promising -- no matter the cost.
However, the dynamic that concerns me is the whole 'I am a victim' that is so seductive and was adopted by more than the stereotypical Trump voter. Lots of people voted for Trump who were doing just fine, thank you. Yet -- they liked being aggrieved. On paper they are PART of the educated elite. So what gives, why do they want to be so alienated? Because they have a choice (that is almost the definition of being elite, the choice and opportunity you have) and yet they chose Trump.
I don't have the answer. Maybe they just didn't know how important are temperament and abilities to being a good president. Or maybe it was the equivalent of a 'voter riot'. They just got caught up in a destructive fever. Maybe a third of the people are always ready to jump off a cliff and we just didn't know it.
However, the dynamic that concerns me is the whole 'I am a victim' that is so seductive and was adopted by more than the stereotypical Trump voter. Lots of people voted for Trump who were doing just fine, thank you. Yet -- they liked being aggrieved. On paper they are PART of the educated elite. So what gives, why do they want to be so alienated? Because they have a choice (that is almost the definition of being elite, the choice and opportunity you have) and yet they chose Trump.
I don't have the answer. Maybe they just didn't know how important are temperament and abilities to being a good president. Or maybe it was the equivalent of a 'voter riot'. They just got caught up in a destructive fever. Maybe a third of the people are always ready to jump off a cliff and we just didn't know it.
2
"modern democratic capitalism is not working for them;"
Of course its not, and it never was the intention. Capitalism is about maximizing profits. That means keeping costs at a minimum, including labor. No elites required. Elites didn't get together and decide it was more profitable to move a factory to Mexico or China, managers and boards did that. Elites aren't the ones who are pushing automation, if it cuts costs it will be done.
If you want to call it an elite, the Republican party is the "who cares" party when it comes to the well being of the working class.
Of course its not, and it never was the intention. Capitalism is about maximizing profits. That means keeping costs at a minimum, including labor. No elites required. Elites didn't get together and decide it was more profitable to move a factory to Mexico or China, managers and boards did that. Elites aren't the ones who are pushing automation, if it cuts costs it will be done.
If you want to call it an elite, the Republican party is the "who cares" party when it comes to the well being of the working class.
2
Most of my friends and family voted for Hilary but a few voted for Trump. We are all similar in education and economic status, meaning we are all college educated and have obtained financial security, The friends who voted for Trump did so because they are convinced that American "values" have deteriorated and they want to resurrect an idealized past. There is no arguing with them. If Trump is pushed out of power they will simply find another messiah who will make American "great again". I hate that slogan but I understand these friends who are sadly nostalgic for a time that never was. Why they are so caught up in making American great again is beyond me. I would settle for just making America a level playing field.
"Angry voters made a few things abundantly clear"
The two parties are determined not to acknowledge those few things made so abundantly clear.
The Republicans are pushing hard to force Trump to be a traditional Republican, empty of all that he seemed to suggest made him different from them.
The Democrats defeated the same ideas in their primary, and now seem to have defeated it again in the leadership election in California. They seem determined to stay the course for donor money, no matter what the voters have made clear.
We had an upset election result, and voters did not get the upset for which they voted. They've gotten more of the same, and an opposition which also defeated change and offers more of the same.
What do voters have to do? Wasn't this election enough to get everyone's attention? Who do they have to elect next before they'll be heard?
They are likely to go more radical, not less. This is an outrage, and voters are outraged, and not just at Trump.
The two parties are determined not to acknowledge those few things made so abundantly clear.
The Republicans are pushing hard to force Trump to be a traditional Republican, empty of all that he seemed to suggest made him different from them.
The Democrats defeated the same ideas in their primary, and now seem to have defeated it again in the leadership election in California. They seem determined to stay the course for donor money, no matter what the voters have made clear.
We had an upset election result, and voters did not get the upset for which they voted. They've gotten more of the same, and an opposition which also defeated change and offers more of the same.
What do voters have to do? Wasn't this election enough to get everyone's attention? Who do they have to elect next before they'll be heard?
They are likely to go more radical, not less. This is an outrage, and voters are outraged, and not just at Trump.
2
The first thing to understand is that there is no reasoning with Trump supporters. I know, I have tried. Presenting a program that addresses their problems will not convert them into Democratic voters, as they "know" it is all window dressing and less genuine than Trump. Only actions that have a direct impact on their lives will make a difference. Politicians must pursue policies that provide a more robust safety net and helps people who are struggling find better jobs. Care should be taken not to increase their alienation by dismissing their concerns and labeling them as racists and xenophobes. Racist and xenophobic behavior should be condemned but that can be done without dismissing people exhibiting such tendencies as not worth listening to.
2
Speaking of safety net, the smart people in California have figured out a single payer plan for their state. All they have to do is triple the state budget! Who knew it would be so easy?
The loss of jobs in manufacturing is the result of businesses failing to succeed or choosing to automate or moving to low labor/low constraints/low taxed countries for competitive advantages. Our government does not tell businesses what to do, so any sudden change in the business environment are not caused by government's direct involvement. Taxes and regulations can have both a supportive and constraining effect upon businesses. Where a few huge companies dominate an industry and severely limit the choices of consumers in both what they produce and how much they charge, anti-trust laws enable smaller competitors to force big companies to compete for the consumers' business, so actually improves the business environment. Taxes that are too low to sustain government services needed by all will force government to compete with private enterprises for capital, increasing the cost of investments, and slowing economic growth. Yet, the only message that most people hear through the media is that cutting taxes and removing regulations produces economic growth and since most of them rarely do their own research accept these explanations and believe that voting for supply side economic policies will produce economic growth that is widely enjoyed rather than tends to make the rich both richer and in greater control of the country's wealth. So the alienated think that a billionaire who has no sense of shame and brags that he can fix everything can fix everything.
4
Perhaps there would be fewer alienated voters if voters had more control over the curriculum and policies of their neighborhood schools or the policing of their neighborhoods. Right wing voters in particular would be less alienated if they could feel that their views might be able to prevail in their own small communities (most certainly not whole states). Part of the reason for the social problems described in "Bowling Alone" is that neighborhoods no longer function as social units as they once did in small town America. Neighbors are no longer friends perforce from their proximity.
"Right wing voters in particular would be less alienated if they could feel that their views might be able to prevail in their own small communities..."
What views would that be? The views that white Christian men are the only ones who built this country? That they deserve first dibs on everything? The views that put the blame for their alienation and misfortune on people of color, gays, and non-Christians? That the Civil War was fought over states rights? That slaves were well-treated and loved their lot in life? I could go on...
What views would that be? The views that white Christian men are the only ones who built this country? That they deserve first dibs on everything? The views that put the blame for their alienation and misfortune on people of color, gays, and non-Christians? That the Civil War was fought over states rights? That slaves were well-treated and loved their lot in life? I could go on...
Voters, at least in my community, have control. We vote in local school board elections, school bond issues, mayor's race etc. I would be surprised if Texas did not have something similar. Of course, the turnout in these local elections can generate little interest and as a result, have low voter turnout. But that is the fault of the individual, not the community. Community unity requires that the people who live in the area, participate. This means voting, buying local, and supporting public services that benefit everyone in the community. And this costs money. I understand many are struggling economically. As a widow, I understand economic struggle. But I also know that communities cannot survive on nothing. Schools, police, firefighters, libraries, and maintenance all cost money. Businesses do not prosper unless the infrastructure around them is good. And because property taxes fund schools, home values can make or break a school district. Alienated minds needs to turn off the television, cell phone, and computer; and participate.
Sure .. because Republican control of the state legislatures and governor offices, and Capital Hill and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue just doesn't give these knuckleheads enough control .. .. ..
Or maybe, just maybe, the Republican Control, itself, is that which they don't like ... but are too stupid to figure out.
Or maybe, just maybe, the Republican Control, itself, is that which they don't like ... but are too stupid to figure out.
"But going forward we need a better establishment, one attuned to Trump voters, those whose alienation grows out of genuine suffering," says Brooks.
Inside every bumbling inchoate conservative, there's a socialist, smothered, struggling to get out.
Inside every bumbling inchoate conservative, there's a socialist, smothered, struggling to get out.
1
It is not just the "craft of wielding power". It is the judicious use of power that matters. And I have not seen any one in power use it judiciously. They use it as a weapon. Until the Congress and the Senate can be brought to heel,, there is no hope of any positive change in this country. Trump is being used by all of his appointees, staff and the RNC. He just hasn't realized it.
When he wakes up to that he will be on the road to either impeachment or worse. I have no sympathy for this man as he deserves what he gets..
I am just hoping that the Senate and Congress get what they deserve in the next election. A complete roust.
When he wakes up to that he will be on the road to either impeachment or worse. I have no sympathy for this man as he deserves what he gets..
I am just hoping that the Senate and Congress get what they deserve in the next election. A complete roust.
2
"...movements fueled by alienation are bound to fail."
Yes, the women who wanted to vote, the blacks who face segregation - they should have known their hopes would never come to fruition, based as they were, on alienation.
Yes, the women who wanted to vote, the blacks who face segregation - they should have known their hopes would never come to fruition, based as they were, on alienation.
5
Pew research recently had a study where it was shown trump voters aren't all economically depressed. They "feel" culturally depressed (in a country where they're the majority) about other cultures (a.k.a immigrants). They're not all stupid so they probably knew his incompetency but they voted for him anyway coz they were feeling the color of this country is changing.
8
The alienation isn't restricted to conservative or uneducated voters. And to say the alienated lack a plan or experienced people is just inaccurate. The problem is qualified people don't get these jobs. Everyone who is alienated with actual qualifications is aware the people who get these jobs know or blow the right people. Trump's hiring strategy and even Clinton's show a qualifications-poor parade of pretty people with connections. So what "plan" will get around such realities?
3
I beg to differ. There is a "Yuuuge" difference between the those who make up the Trump administration and those who made up Clinton's. Think not?
For starters, Google: Mike Flynn. Paul Manafort. Steve Bannon. Jeff Sessions. Steve Mnuchin. Jared Kushner etc.
And just for fun, James Comey who didn't pledge "loyalty" fast enough.
Another thing. Clinton never sold out to the Russians.
So, if Donald Trump and his band of traitors isn't "poor quality", I don't know what is.
For starters, Google: Mike Flynn. Paul Manafort. Steve Bannon. Jeff Sessions. Steve Mnuchin. Jared Kushner etc.
And just for fun, James Comey who didn't pledge "loyalty" fast enough.
Another thing. Clinton never sold out to the Russians.
So, if Donald Trump and his band of traitors isn't "poor quality", I don't know what is.
1
The horror of Trump's election is not so much about elites and non-elites not sharing the same vision of the country and of reality. It's about both parties actually sharing in the moral bankruptcy of the country as a whole, without either having a clear view of that fact. Don't blame Trump for being Trump. He is only a symptom of the illness, not the illness itself. The illness is called decadence, which is about systematically and increasingly compulsively doing more and more of what makes a society weak and less and less of what makes it strong. Trump's idea of strengthening the military while weakening the heart of the country illustrates that a nation's weakness is given away by its preoccupation with the strength of its military.
2
Thank you, Mr. Brooks, for your thoughtful and intelligent essays. I do not agree with your stand on some issues but I agree with you for the need to put common good and understanding Americans of all social classes ahead of party or power.
1
I don't believe David Brooks is correct in his thesis that it was so much alienated voters who gave Donald Trump the election as opposed to voters who simply did not want Hillary to be elected President. They choose Trump because he made promises (that were essentially lies) to them, including that we would make our country great (with no viable plan to do any of it), asserted he would close borders (an approach many voters approved), and then benefited from James Comey's initial harsh criticism of Hillary even though he stated that no reasonable prosecutor would pursue such a case, his subsequently reopening the "investigation," making it look like she was some sort of criminal who must be "locked up," as well as the constant drumbeat of Bengazi, all coupled with the Clinton team's failure to sufficiently target Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Ohio. It was an election she should have won if it was played out fairly...which of course was naïve to think it would have been.
4
Agree 100%! (and I don't often say that).
So, Mr. Brooks seems to think that although he admits that disgust with elites led to the Trump election, the solution is more and better elites. Go ahead, double down, coastal folks, the rest of the country will weigh in again once this self-serving proposal is in place.
2
Why is it that the coasts are doing so much better than the South and Midwest? Why is it that the coasts recovered from the crash faster than the rest of the country? It isn't because of some evil conspiracy by the elites to keep "real Americans" down. The coasts and large urban areas are the destination for the educated, the creative, the ones who want to live in a less constrained environment. The depressed areas of the country continue to cling to the notion that everything will be right with the world as soon as those well-paying manufacturing jobs come back to them. So, they sit, doing nothing, waiting for jobs that will never come back.
18
Careful of putting down we coastal people, and best you feel grateful for the federal dollars we deposit into the federal coffers. Doubt you wold be surviving without CA-- the 5th largest GDP in the world-- propping you Ohioans up. The fact is, one day we the disenfranchised will say enough already and find a way to turn off the faucet.
2
David,
This is a wonderful piece, thoughtful, insightful. My question to you, and to myself, is how to communicate with people the kind of information you proscribe who get their information from Fox News, not the NYT. Have you watched Fox News recently? Trevor Noah had a fabulous segment last week which contrasted the way Fox handled the "Trump asked Comey to close down the Flynn investigation" story with the way the rest of the media did. It was two different universes. Not sure how we can begin to heal when there is this constant drum beat that feeds alienation and hostility to the "other."
This is a wonderful piece, thoughtful, insightful. My question to you, and to myself, is how to communicate with people the kind of information you proscribe who get their information from Fox News, not the NYT. Have you watched Fox News recently? Trevor Noah had a fabulous segment last week which contrasted the way Fox handled the "Trump asked Comey to close down the Flynn investigation" story with the way the rest of the media did. It was two different universes. Not sure how we can begin to heal when there is this constant drum beat that feeds alienation and hostility to the "other."
7
A few thoughts on how to start remedying the alienation that drives many, if not most, Trump voters:
1. The republican leadership needs to disavow, and apologize for, the blatant partisan obstructionism that characterized their approach to the Obama presidency.
2. McConnell and Ryan need to reach out to the Democrats in a spirit of bipartisanship to repair the damage they have done.
3. The fairness doctrine needs to be restored and strengthened as a way of balancing the single perspective narrative of too many media outlets, especially those of the far right, but the far left too.
1. The republican leadership needs to disavow, and apologize for, the blatant partisan obstructionism that characterized their approach to the Obama presidency.
2. McConnell and Ryan need to reach out to the Democrats in a spirit of bipartisanship to repair the damage they have done.
3. The fairness doctrine needs to be restored and strengthened as a way of balancing the single perspective narrative of too many media outlets, especially those of the far right, but the far left too.
I won't hold my breath that any of those points will be realized. When I heard McConnell, in an interview a few weeks ago, say that they were in Congress to win, it's clear that Republicans do not have the best interests of the country in mind.
2
I really admire and respect David Brooks. This is a rare compliment from a diehard leftie to a somewhat right of center columnist who maintains common sense and perspective at all times. So far, at any rate! Thank you.
Mr Brooks writes that : "we need educated people who know something about public policy, people who know how to live up to certain standards of integrity and public service...."
The problem Mr Brooks is that these people would need MONEY, a lot of it to get elected, and there lies the problem.
The problem Mr Brooks is that these people would need MONEY, a lot of it to get elected, and there lies the problem.
3
What they need is a change in election laws. Make all donations, large & small, illegal. Make spending your own money illegal. Make taking out loans illegal. Donations in kind (printing, 'renting' vehicles) illegal. The only legal way should be a small amount from the government. If at the end of the election someone doesn't garner at least 25% of the vote, the money given them by the government would be immediately repayable to the government. It might bankrupt them, but, it would keep people who just want the government money out of politics.
It would also suggest people start locally in politics, so they learn it. Say dog catcher, feral cat catcher, councilperson, then Mayor, state legislator, congressperson, then maybe President. President Obama didn't have enough education in politics behind him. *45 has less than none. We are going the wrong way. Full terms in all jobs, not just till the next election.
For all of you salivating over the '18 election to get rid of the repugs, not all seats come up for reelection the same year. Only a certain percentage. So, if you don't care about those who will die, just remember voting in '18 won't change much, even if every seat up for election goes Demipoot. I care about those being thrown under the bus. I will work hard to oust, by trial the most untrustworthy hacks in the Fed Gov. By force if necessary, as the Founding Fathers told us to do.
It would also suggest people start locally in politics, so they learn it. Say dog catcher, feral cat catcher, councilperson, then Mayor, state legislator, congressperson, then maybe President. President Obama didn't have enough education in politics behind him. *45 has less than none. We are going the wrong way. Full terms in all jobs, not just till the next election.
For all of you salivating over the '18 election to get rid of the repugs, not all seats come up for reelection the same year. Only a certain percentage. So, if you don't care about those who will die, just remember voting in '18 won't change much, even if every seat up for election goes Demipoot. I care about those being thrown under the bus. I will work hard to oust, by trial the most untrustworthy hacks in the Fed Gov. By force if necessary, as the Founding Fathers told us to do.
What's worrying is that the "alienated" seem to be in denial (or at least ignorance) over the reasons for their alienation. Any objective analysis of the economics behind middle class decline shows that the primary cause is not illegal aliens and open borders. It is not bad trade deals and overseas sweatshops. Nor is it a "war" on coal and other fossil fuels, or overburdening government regulations. It is -- in a word -- automation. Put another way -- the traditional middle class is in decline because there is very little left for the traditional middle class to actually do.
Thus far, I have yet to hear or read anything from the Trump camp (or anywhere else for that matter) on how that issue -- which (with the possible exception of climate change) is the only one that really matters -- is going to be addressed. Which leads me to believe that things are going to become a whole lot worse before they get any better.
Thus far, I have yet to hear or read anything from the Trump camp (or anywhere else for that matter) on how that issue -- which (with the possible exception of climate change) is the only one that really matters -- is going to be addressed. Which leads me to believe that things are going to become a whole lot worse before they get any better.
2
Those who are on the losing side of automation tied their futures to the wrong type of industry.
The new middle class are those with service type jobs. Like resident super at a large (& they are getting bigger every day) apartment or condo complex. If you like people, are willing to learn, work hard, & have to work long hours particularly at first, it is a good job. Good companies pay good wages (hubby has had a raise every year for the past 43 years), have good bennies, & you get your apartment, & if lucky gas, electric, free. With perks that all tenants have like central a/c. Pool, tennis courts, often too. Not good if you are going to have kids, mind getting called out to let in a lock out at 3 in the morning, & shovel tons of snow until they declare you too 'old' to shovel (bye bye good overtime), when really they hate paying the time & a half for you to shovel. Now, you most probably will have a 401k from the end of your trial period, often with matching donations up to some amount. So, for you retirement won't even be out of the question. But, if the only thing you must have to have the American Dream is a house, this job is not for you. There are lots of other 'service' type jobs. You just have to think outside the box, be loyal, work hard, & keep your eyes open for something better (think first on what would be better: same salary, no free apt, utilities, is not better).
The new middle class are those with service type jobs. Like resident super at a large (& they are getting bigger every day) apartment or condo complex. If you like people, are willing to learn, work hard, & have to work long hours particularly at first, it is a good job. Good companies pay good wages (hubby has had a raise every year for the past 43 years), have good bennies, & you get your apartment, & if lucky gas, electric, free. With perks that all tenants have like central a/c. Pool, tennis courts, often too. Not good if you are going to have kids, mind getting called out to let in a lock out at 3 in the morning, & shovel tons of snow until they declare you too 'old' to shovel (bye bye good overtime), when really they hate paying the time & a half for you to shovel. Now, you most probably will have a 401k from the end of your trial period, often with matching donations up to some amount. So, for you retirement won't even be out of the question. But, if the only thing you must have to have the American Dream is a house, this job is not for you. There are lots of other 'service' type jobs. You just have to think outside the box, be loyal, work hard, & keep your eyes open for something better (think first on what would be better: same salary, no free apt, utilities, is not better).
"The Modern Conservative is engaged in one of Man's oldest exercises in Moral Philosophy; that is the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." - John Kenneth Galbraith
5
The alienated and invisible have been constants.
Since the first landing of American settlers, like Australian colonizers, elites have by political design ignored the basic humanity of indigenous people. The so called 'lesser people'.
Throughout history where the appropriation of money, power and resources was at another's expense, the more dehumanising the narrative of justification tended to become. It continues to this day in many guises.
In contrast, the political imagination called on to share, to redistribute money, power and resources has given rise to noble ideas and narratives around unity and equality.
No more. What ailes America politically is the Machiavellian manipulation of these narratives and the accompanying expectations they perpetuate.
The poor and uneducated fall for false nationalism and the ideal of belonging to a greater community. They are being robbed and conned, much like the indigenous of centuries past. Tricked for their vote. Sold short for their rights. Their needs ignored. Their dignity denied.
Meanwhile our elites, who could correct this wrong, are seduced by the individualistic ideological license to instead focus inwards or upwards. Fewer are inspired to look out for the community. Most now just look over the community.
So I agree. Now is an opportune time for a new political force to emerge. Let's see a genuine policy platform that not only rewrites the narrative, but extends dignity and equality to all in our communities.
Since the first landing of American settlers, like Australian colonizers, elites have by political design ignored the basic humanity of indigenous people. The so called 'lesser people'.
Throughout history where the appropriation of money, power and resources was at another's expense, the more dehumanising the narrative of justification tended to become. It continues to this day in many guises.
In contrast, the political imagination called on to share, to redistribute money, power and resources has given rise to noble ideas and narratives around unity and equality.
No more. What ailes America politically is the Machiavellian manipulation of these narratives and the accompanying expectations they perpetuate.
The poor and uneducated fall for false nationalism and the ideal of belonging to a greater community. They are being robbed and conned, much like the indigenous of centuries past. Tricked for their vote. Sold short for their rights. Their needs ignored. Their dignity denied.
Meanwhile our elites, who could correct this wrong, are seduced by the individualistic ideological license to instead focus inwards or upwards. Fewer are inspired to look out for the community. Most now just look over the community.
So I agree. Now is an opportune time for a new political force to emerge. Let's see a genuine policy platform that not only rewrites the narrative, but extends dignity and equality to all in our communities.
1
A basic misunderstanding of the role of Alienation. "right alienation can foster a desire for purity" read Crane Brinton "The Anatomy of Revolution" and his discussion of the French Revolutions "Reign of Terror and Virtue". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Anatomy_of_Revolutionn
Or "the left it can foster a desire for conformity " See theThermidorian reaction and the establishment of an Authoritarian response as a counter to alienation of the Left. Brinton's analysis was essentially a conservative one.
The problem is that Alienation is part and parcel of all societal change, Left or Right. For social change of any brand to occur such as from the Feudal Structures to Market Economies or Early Capitalism America to the Socialist policies that grew out of the depression, the general populace must withdraw the habitual and unthought allegiance to existing social structures and examine them in an objective light. That objectivity is a result of alienation. Whether the withdrawal of allegiance that is the result of alienation is good or bad is a value judgement, as this article so aptly demonstrates. Is it a failure of a selfish populace who put themselves above established institutions, or is it the acknowledgement that the social structure no longer serves the society's needs and must be revamped. The outcome of this recoil from unquestioned allegiance is a matter of what analysis and alternatives are available which address the underlying issues of alienation.
Or "the left it can foster a desire for conformity " See theThermidorian reaction and the establishment of an Authoritarian response as a counter to alienation of the Left. Brinton's analysis was essentially a conservative one.
The problem is that Alienation is part and parcel of all societal change, Left or Right. For social change of any brand to occur such as from the Feudal Structures to Market Economies or Early Capitalism America to the Socialist policies that grew out of the depression, the general populace must withdraw the habitual and unthought allegiance to existing social structures and examine them in an objective light. That objectivity is a result of alienation. Whether the withdrawal of allegiance that is the result of alienation is good or bad is a value judgement, as this article so aptly demonstrates. Is it a failure of a selfish populace who put themselves above established institutions, or is it the acknowledgement that the social structure no longer serves the society's needs and must be revamped. The outcome of this recoil from unquestioned allegiance is a matter of what analysis and alternatives are available which address the underlying issues of alienation.
When it is said that his actions are insufficient for impeachment, as they are not as bad as Nixon, consider that Clinton was impeached on 'lying' about an affair with an intern. If Hillary had done these things, her impeachment would be in its final phases by now. While some tell us to be 'nice' to the Trump supporters, as they their needs and feelings are important too - I say they have sold our country down the river and if they don't get it now, they never will.
4
"Would we really throw our own candidate out of office for this?"
For giving cover to the Russians by firing the FBI director, and then all but admitting that he did it to at least disrupt of not derail the investigation into an enemy's digital act of war - indubitably.
For giving cover to the Russians by firing the FBI director, and then all but admitting that he did it to at least disrupt of not derail the investigation into an enemy's digital act of war - indubitably.
To me, alienation's source is the shift of risk - healthcare, retirement, career - from corporations to individuals. At one time, corporations serviced four constituencies - customers, shareholders, the communities they were in, and employees. Now, they service shareholders on a priority basis.
To a large degree, the partisan argument we're divided by has to do with whether or not the government should pick up this risk. If corporations would care for their constituencies - in particular employees and their communities - in the way they should, then this argument wouldn't be taking place.
But, awareness of this shift of risk (which has been taking place since the 70's and accelerated during the 80's) seems minimal. It's not part of any public discussion - which speaks to the power of the story spread by the rich owners of corporations and the ruling oligarchy.
To a large degree, the partisan argument we're divided by has to do with whether or not the government should pick up this risk. If corporations would care for their constituencies - in particular employees and their communities - in the way they should, then this argument wouldn't be taking place.
But, awareness of this shift of risk (which has been taking place since the 70's and accelerated during the 80's) seems minimal. It's not part of any public discussion - which speaks to the power of the story spread by the rich owners of corporations and the ruling oligarchy.
1
It's rich to read a University of Chicago-educated intellectual - from a family that made its living from the academy - lumping everyone with a college education together as the oppressors of the proletariat to which he pretends (for the moment) to belong. The vicious tyranny of the faculty lounge! That's what's wrong with this country! What opportunistic utter crapola.
Ooops, my fault for reading Brooks, whom I usually carefully avoid.
Ooops, my fault for reading Brooks, whom I usually carefully avoid.
5
"...that we have a college educated elite that has found ingenious ways to make everybody else feel invisible, that has managed to transfer wealth upward to itself, that crashes the hammer of political correctness down on anybody who does not have faculty lounge views."
Really? REALLY!?! Pardon me, Sir, but I happen to be college educated; I happen to be liberal; and I am, quite frankly, incensed at this disgustingly self-serving claim. Trust me...you're lucky you didn't make it in my presence, nor in the presence of other hard-working progressives who have done their best to work against the real "elites"' like yourself!
Really? REALLY!?! Pardon me, Sir, but I happen to be college educated; I happen to be liberal; and I am, quite frankly, incensed at this disgustingly self-serving claim. Trust me...you're lucky you didn't make it in my presence, nor in the presence of other hard-working progressives who have done their best to work against the real "elites"' like yourself!
4
This group is a spoiled group with little clue as to struggles of those around them, including, in many instances, the nannies they employ at starving wages to watch their children. Many of the women, often at-home mothers and grandmothers will retire in poverty, when in actuality they held up the world when the people became sel-absorbed. Trump may be offering lip service to these people, but Hillary completely ignored them.
Hear hear and thank you. I am like you a college educated, elite I guess, liberal. I have not spent one moment trying to transfer wealth upward to myself. I volunteered in my son's elementary public school, which was populated by at least 50% under-served. I did my darndest to mentor those kids who lacked role models at home, and my "village" succeeded in many cases. I served for 6 years on the local education foundation, with the goal of great schools for every kid-- not just mine. I once fought a bad community plan for hobo type low income housing, in favor of low income housing for low income FAMILIES (not fancy town-homes for the wealthy for instance) -- and we won. I have never voted NO on a parcel tax, school bond or sales tax hike. I have never evaded my taxes. I do not know anyone like Brooks is describing.
1
I'm not sure I can take an op-ed author seriously who still clings to the economic populist/shake-up-the-elitist-establishment justification for the vote without acknowledging that racial animus was the most consistent corollary and primary driver of the vote. Can't trust someone if they're going to start the conversation on such a dishonest or disconnected note. Do better, sir.
6
For decades David Brooks made it his business to support the conservative movement, justifying all the malignant elements of business lobby lawmaking, faux populism with its blinkered religiosity and cynically conceived "culture war," the whole toxic, "government is the enemy" antidemocratic monstrosity that is the modern Republican party. But now that it has reached its grotesque apotheosis of Trump being president, he exhorts us to adopt "moral realism." Where was his moral realism when he was carrying water for Newt Gingrich during the unjustified impeachment of Clinton? Where was the moral realism for the past 4 decades as every last remnant of public-spiritedness disappeared from the thoroughly amoral, win-at-all-costs Republican party? But now he has the gall to lecture us about evaluating the evidence against Trump, who was impeachable the day he took office, and now is impeachable 5 times over. He wants us to be patient and mild as the American constitutional system hangs by a thread. What a fatuous ass.
7
What makes the David Brooks column article so hypocritical is his support for his elitist, neo-fascist pal Paul Ryan and Ryan's greedy cohorts in their passionate war on the poor and on the democratic rights of would-be minority voters ( e.g., "keep black and brown people from registering and voting" and also "take-medical-aid-away-from-needy-people-and-give-the-tax-money-to-the-rich"). The problem is not intellectual alienation: it's blatant, cruel, money-driven Republican fascism masked by PR.
5
What is it about alienation that determined how Trump's supporters have responded to the news about the Russian influence on the election (proven) and collusion between the Russians and Trump (hypothesized)?
We haven't seen this kind of domestic support for a known adversary (think cyber-war) since Lindberg and the other America Firsters spoke fondly of Hitler.
Their response predictably follows several lines. The lying media is making Russia up. The elites and the deep state are using Russia to undermine Trump. We love (White, Christian) Russia. What's wrong with getting along with Russia for a change? Clinton's enemy is our friend. Unlike Obama, Putin is a strong leader.
This is all completely predictable. It is full of the usual Breitbart and Fox conspiracies. The main point is anger bordering on violence. There is the usual whiff of racism. And there is no connection whatsoever to the facts on the ground:
Russia influenced our democratic election, and it is looking more likely now that the Trump team wittingly or unwittingly colluded with the Russians in order to win the election.
We haven't seen this kind of domestic support for a known adversary (think cyber-war) since Lindberg and the other America Firsters spoke fondly of Hitler.
Their response predictably follows several lines. The lying media is making Russia up. The elites and the deep state are using Russia to undermine Trump. We love (White, Christian) Russia. What's wrong with getting along with Russia for a change? Clinton's enemy is our friend. Unlike Obama, Putin is a strong leader.
This is all completely predictable. It is full of the usual Breitbart and Fox conspiracies. The main point is anger bordering on violence. There is the usual whiff of racism. And there is no connection whatsoever to the facts on the ground:
Russia influenced our democratic election, and it is looking more likely now that the Trump team wittingly or unwittingly colluded with the Russians in order to win the election.
4
That millions of struggling people vote for those who have destroyed their unions, taken away their healthcare, ruined their public schools, while filling the pockets of the wealthy through massive tax cuts is a testament to Big Lie propaganda.
Hate-radio, Fox News, Breitbart and similar ultra-right wing media outlets have convinced the poor and under-educated whites that the snooty "educated elite libs" and immigrants are responsible for their poverty. This is no different than the same techniques used by the Nazis and other despotic governments.
The Republican Party uses the Big Lie to convert our democracy into a corporate fascist state. Trump is merely a symbol of their success to date.
Hate-radio, Fox News, Breitbart and similar ultra-right wing media outlets have convinced the poor and under-educated whites that the snooty "educated elite libs" and immigrants are responsible for their poverty. This is no different than the same techniques used by the Nazis and other despotic governments.
The Republican Party uses the Big Lie to convert our democracy into a corporate fascist state. Trump is merely a symbol of their success to date.
7
Did you hear $9 an hour was better than $15 from an educated woman in a $30k jacket?
Never felt the term "elites" best describes the causation. Since conservatives in my observation seldom include themselves in the equation I assume it refers to us liberals with our high minded out of touch views. Perhaps Mr Brooks meant someone else, I certainly hope so. In any case I view Mr. Trump as the elite, as well as many power brokers like him. Yes, I am referring to the Republican Party in general and the current congress in particular who appears determined by any means necessary to follow is own distorted agenda rather than what's best for our country .
3
What a juvenile fantasy David Brooks paints, as he often does! There is no need to run from the truth, have the courage to say it. The present-day Republicans, exemplified by the likes of Mitch McConnell, have gone crazy because they can not win an argument with logic or reasoning, because their points of view are not based on faith and prejudice. Since they cannot convince people with reasoning, they are left with tools such as scaring people, fanning bigotry and burning down the house. That's where we are now as a nation. Will our society overcome the present-day "Republicanism" peacefully? Or, are we headed for a violent revolution to restore the rule of reasoning? I don't know, time will tell.
4
Quick question: What is the elite?
Because if you ask a Trump voter, it shifts wildly from a rich banker to a college professor to a protesting activist in a ratty sweatshirt to a Hollywood actor to a feminist twitterer to a college freshman to a transgender person wanting to use the bathroom.
"The Elite" is liberals. Period. The end. That's it. It's a clever way to frame political disagreement as top-down oppression and alienatation. It's a rhetorical parlor trick.
And Brooks writes column after column after column wringing his hands about it.
Because if you ask a Trump voter, it shifts wildly from a rich banker to a college professor to a protesting activist in a ratty sweatshirt to a Hollywood actor to a feminist twitterer to a college freshman to a transgender person wanting to use the bathroom.
"The Elite" is liberals. Period. The end. That's it. It's a clever way to frame political disagreement as top-down oppression and alienatation. It's a rhetorical parlor trick.
And Brooks writes column after column after column wringing his hands about it.
5
I greatly enjoy David Brooks' take on many things. I am a retired white liberal with a graduate degree in Accounting and have worked at a high level in accounting and finance for a number of high net worth families so I have a perspective that is not of the "faculty lounge". I would like to comment that all of the books and authors cited to opine on the state of affairs are all so-called "elites". David Brooks, who I respect and admire, is an elite by most folks standards.
We have a population that is influenced by a world of media and communication devices that appeal most strongly to emotion. So often, I see the "populists" being manipulated by their own emotions to vote against their own self interest.
We have a population that is influenced by a world of media and communication devices that appeal most strongly to emotion. So often, I see the "populists" being manipulated by their own emotions to vote against their own self interest.
12
Thank you, David. With the histrionics that today dominate our political discourse, it's always so refreshing - and heartening - to hear an adult perspective "The sky is falling" hysterics won't solve our problems. A reasoned and thoughtful approach might.
We can't afford to leave anyone behind and too many of our government actions end up leaving lots of people out, mostly people who are not IN the stock market. So I encourage a pust to develop, adopt and implement a new assessment when considering any bill, policy, program, etc.,. this test might be called something such as "Engage Americans NOW" or "No American Left Behind." Such a process would require that before any bill, policy, program, etc., is put in place/voted on, it must be evaluated by an independent agency (OMB?) whose job will be to look at all aspects of the society and its geographical, environmental, economic (including direct effects on specific industries/jobs), social, poliitical regions and identify the consequences of the implementation of this proposed action. This report should be formally presented and explained to Americans via non-partisan media and made available to the American public 60 to 90 days before any vote/adoption is taken. I, for one,, am tired of our politicians enacting laws, bills, budgets, etc., that play to a small proportion of Americans and/or benefit their base but hurt everyone else.
The problem with a word like "elite" is that it can refer to several different types of people. Some "elites" are those who attained extraordinary mastery of some skill set through hard work, such as professional athletes or neurosurgeons. Others are elite merely through circumstance, by being born into wealthy and powerful families; whether they work hard or develop any skills at all is irrelevant as it is unnecessary to maintain their high position in society. Others are some combination of the two, such as a successful lawyer or banker who got into an Ivy League school partly due to parents' legacy status and financial ability to afford the best schools and enrichment experiences, but who still had to earn the degree and work for their (relatively high) salary. All of these people might be considered elite depending on what criteria are used to define "elite." Resentment of some is more understandable than resentment of others. I wish we would stop using the lazy shorthand of "elites" and be more specific about who is resented and why. That in turn would enable us to move closer to consensus about if, and how, to redress some of the grievances.
"..on the left it can foster a desire for conformity — to squelch differing speakers and faiths." David, you sound like an idea you stole from Fox. Liberals can accept different views, but not views whose only intent is hate and fear or dangerous for everyone. When the message from people like Coulter (blind hate) or even Pence (take away women's rights, destroy the environment, and more), the left is justified in their opposition. The "conservative" speech is often worse than yelling fire in a crowded room.
2
Only 7 years and 8 months or so to go. By the way, Brooks, you got exactly zero right during the primary and campaign, calling it wrong at every turn. What makes anyone think you're smart now?
2
I think that progress on this front must involve (at least) two educational components that seem to be supported by this interesting column. First, I'm not sure that we fully understand the connection between national government and our daily lives. We hear a lot of commentary to the effect that "angry voters... [believe] that modern democratic capitalism is not working for them." But what does it mean to say that it IS working? Is it rational to try to totally upend the status quo with the installation of incompetent, bull-in-the-pottery-shop leadership in reaction to certain dissatisfactions in our lives?
Second, we should distinguish between educated, knowledgeable and caring public thinkers and accumulative robber barons, all of whom, it seems, are being lumped together as "elites" and, as such, are subject to antipathy. The framers understood that a knowledgeable, experienced cohort of society is needed in order to carry out the duties of government leadership. Candidates for leadership should be rejected when their policies unilaterally favor the accumulative and antisocial segment of society - and when the best they offer are only populist-sounding one-liners and no really substantive policies - but not just because, for example, they wear expensive sweaters or give paid speeches to the moneyed 0.1% in order to raise funds to support campaigns predicated on social and economic fairness.
Second, we should distinguish between educated, knowledgeable and caring public thinkers and accumulative robber barons, all of whom, it seems, are being lumped together as "elites" and, as such, are subject to antipathy. The framers understood that a knowledgeable, experienced cohort of society is needed in order to carry out the duties of government leadership. Candidates for leadership should be rejected when their policies unilaterally favor the accumulative and antisocial segment of society - and when the best they offer are only populist-sounding one-liners and no really substantive policies - but not just because, for example, they wear expensive sweaters or give paid speeches to the moneyed 0.1% in order to raise funds to support campaigns predicated on social and economic fairness.
1
Thank you again Mr Brooks for confirming what an excellent choice I made in paying for a subscription.
Mr. Brooks writes about the alienated mind, but rather oddly claims that it is the elites would are causing this. Elites is not defined, but the current talking heads type definition seems to be "those damned educated, rich people." Having watched our country devolving through Dickie, Ronny, Double-Ewe and his father, as well as Bubba's more Republican ideas, I find that this definition is too broad. Lots of us "elites" on the left have been working for these supposedly "alienated" folks—with, of course, the exception their abortion bans, anti-integration, christian prayer in the schools, and all guns all the time "policies".
In the 1800's, the folks we call psychiatrists and "shrinks" were called alienists. Rather than worrying about his undefined elites, I would suggest that Mr. Brooks encourages all these alienated minds to settle in for the long term counseling with an (non-elite, naturally) alienist. The mind (and the country) they save may be their own.
In the 1800's, the folks we call psychiatrists and "shrinks" were called alienists. Rather than worrying about his undefined elites, I would suggest that Mr. Brooks encourages all these alienated minds to settle in for the long term counseling with an (non-elite, naturally) alienist. The mind (and the country) they save may be their own.
David, you wrote:
" It means setting up weekly encounters to help you respect and understand the fellow Americans who reside across the social chasms."
This is the root issues. We have lost the sense of governing for all. In our own little congressional district, our congressman has made it abundantly and directly clear that he _does not_ represent the people who did not vote for him. It seems to have escaped him that he is OUR voice in congress.
Gone are the days of civility, replaced by the grab-it-while-you-can-get-it-everyone-else-be-damned kinda policy...rather reminiscent of the days of the local noble and his fiefdom.
Somehow, I think the Founding Fathers would be ashamed.
http://wifelyperson.blogspot.com/
" It means setting up weekly encounters to help you respect and understand the fellow Americans who reside across the social chasms."
This is the root issues. We have lost the sense of governing for all. In our own little congressional district, our congressman has made it abundantly and directly clear that he _does not_ represent the people who did not vote for him. It seems to have escaped him that he is OUR voice in congress.
Gone are the days of civility, replaced by the grab-it-while-you-can-get-it-everyone-else-be-damned kinda policy...rather reminiscent of the days of the local noble and his fiefdom.
Somehow, I think the Founding Fathers would be ashamed.
http://wifelyperson.blogspot.com/
1
To all of those who thought that our government should be "run like a business" with a businessperson, in charge, this fact: the government is not a business. It can't be run like one because hundreds, even thousands, of laws have been passed to try to protect the public, and the interests of real businesses, preventing flexibility and development. Government, furthermore, lacks the profit motive, the unifying, overwhelming guide to business operations in the private sector.
Lacking the profit motive, government actually benefits at times from failure. When a program fails, it often gets more money to try again. This seems crazy, but that's the way citizens often demand it. They want the govt. to help them when they need it and leave them alone the rest of the time. These are contradictory desires.
We don't need to tear our hearts out figuring what went wrong. Jobs are fewer, they pay less and corporations have denied an entire generation of pay raises, except for the bosses and stock holders. They wealthy took the pay raises, the money, of the so called working class and left them with high interest debt.
Trump is a false prophet, besides. He was wildly successful in some aspects of business, but wildly unsuccessful in others. He was FIRED! from the only public stock company he ever headed and it lost almost one billion dollars in market value. 1 billion. Does that impress you? Sued over 500 times.
We will learn and get better as a society, rising from this disaster.
Lacking the profit motive, government actually benefits at times from failure. When a program fails, it often gets more money to try again. This seems crazy, but that's the way citizens often demand it. They want the govt. to help them when they need it and leave them alone the rest of the time. These are contradictory desires.
We don't need to tear our hearts out figuring what went wrong. Jobs are fewer, they pay less and corporations have denied an entire generation of pay raises, except for the bosses and stock holders. They wealthy took the pay raises, the money, of the so called working class and left them with high interest debt.
Trump is a false prophet, besides. He was wildly successful in some aspects of business, but wildly unsuccessful in others. He was FIRED! from the only public stock company he ever headed and it lost almost one billion dollars in market value. 1 billion. Does that impress you? Sued over 500 times.
We will learn and get better as a society, rising from this disaster.
3
Once again, a conservative lost me by blaming a 'politically correct elite' for the anger of Trump supporters and the general failings of 'democratic capitalism'.
I believe this is looking in the wrong place for the wrong problem.
Whatever Trump's appeal to the less educated (or less liberal), this is primarily about ECONOMICS--as democratic politics virtually always is.
If jobs that paid well still existed in great numbers for the unskilled and semi-skilled workers, 'politically correctness' would be nothing but a few jokes on late-night TV.
And believe it or not, there is NOT a hyper-correct politics in most community colleges and public universities. I know, because I work part-time in four of them. No, there are just people who trying to learn skills to better themselves. And quite a few of them end up learning about things they never would've imagined, because the job market is CHANGING.
What we need to do is somehow convince the angry that education is better than voting for deregulating banks and burning more fossil fuels--neither of which will bring back the jobs the "angry voters" want.
Conservatives are great at explaining that we all have to adapt to survive. So, why not stop attacking the "educated elite" and inspire the angry voters to adapt instead?
I believe this is looking in the wrong place for the wrong problem.
Whatever Trump's appeal to the less educated (or less liberal), this is primarily about ECONOMICS--as democratic politics virtually always is.
If jobs that paid well still existed in great numbers for the unskilled and semi-skilled workers, 'politically correctness' would be nothing but a few jokes on late-night TV.
And believe it or not, there is NOT a hyper-correct politics in most community colleges and public universities. I know, because I work part-time in four of them. No, there are just people who trying to learn skills to better themselves. And quite a few of them end up learning about things they never would've imagined, because the job market is CHANGING.
What we need to do is somehow convince the angry that education is better than voting for deregulating banks and burning more fossil fuels--neither of which will bring back the jobs the "angry voters" want.
Conservatives are great at explaining that we all have to adapt to survive. So, why not stop attacking the "educated elite" and inspire the angry voters to adapt instead?
12
"...college educated elite that has found ingenious ways to make everybody else feel invisible..." Nah. Ignorant people have always felt ignorant. It's just that the Repubs have weaponized ignorance.
And do you really believe that a college degree is the defining characterization of the elites? Silly stuff.
And do you really believe that a college degree is the defining characterization of the elites? Silly stuff.
3
It's not the college educated that are causing so much economic distress and anxiety---it's the people in the financial industry who are buying they way out of any accountability for their fleecing of Americans.
2
What we need are people in government who are there to dismantle political power, who will return the agency usurped by government to the private sphere. We do not need people adept at using political power to do what is better left to society.
In the interest of clearing up what will undoubtedly (and sadly) be a point of confusion: the political and the social are two separate things. The fact that many see no distinction is exactly our problem.
In the interest of clearing up what will undoubtedly (and sadly) be a point of confusion: the political and the social are two separate things. The fact that many see no distinction is exactly our problem.
Your prescriptionso may be right, Mr Brooks, but we're probably past a point of no-return for the tyranny of ignorance.
Those most educated in our country are the Professors with what you call "faculty lounge views". What exactly are those views? Professors are among the poorest of the "elites" 70% of all faculty members are part-time, contingent workers with no benefits. These educated elites have much more in common economically with the disenfranchised, rural, angry Trump supporters then most people realize. The most significant difference is where they place the blame. Trump voters blame the educated but poor elites and those they see as foreign. And, the educated but poor elites blame the Trump voters. Meanwhile, the true elites that are rich and send their children to the best colleges are serviced by the poor who teach them and the poor that serve them food and clean their rooms. The rich are truly doing just fine, aren't they.
1
We are reaping what rural state R's have been quietly sowing for decades by modifying elementary school education away from civics, history, reading and critical thinking. One can research state legislative histories for changes in class requirements that bolster our intuitive perception of the 'dumbing down' of culture. Politicians cultivate alienation by telling constituents what truth and reality to believe in. They don't need no schooling when they got God, father and the Senator telling them what's true. Who needs books?
2
"As the impeachment investigation proceeds ..." Wait. What? You might want to wait until there is an impeachment investigation before writing that sentence.
“When a man as uncouth and reckless as Trump becomes president by running against the nation’s elites, it’s a strong signal that the elites are the problem.”
Tough to accept the idea that elites are the problem when the majority of last November's votes went to Hillary. The electoral college is the problem.
Tough to accept the idea that elites are the problem when the majority of last November's votes went to Hillary. The electoral college is the problem.
I object to the characterization of a college-educated elite who manage to transfer wealth to themselves. It is the 1% that is on the receiving end of the wealth transfer, and they are indeed the ones who orchestrate it (via political contributions, corporate inversions, outsourcing, automation, etc.). The rest of the college-educated may be doing OK (many are not), but mostly they are trying to hold on to their jobs. They have no security.
They are, however, better off than the non-degree holders who once had opportunities for good manufacturing jobs. These are the people the economy (driven by the 1%) has left behind. It astounds me that they don't blame the 1% for their plight (which is real). Instead, they blame the college-educated "elite"--not the wealthy, just the people who haven't been hurt as they have. In particular they blame anyone whose situation has improved as theirs has declined, even though that improvement comes off a low base: women and minorities. They believe that it is a zero-sum game, and any gains to people who were worse off than they were to begin with has come at their expense. These are the Trump voters.
The GOP has enabled this point of view so as to redirect voters' ire from the real target: the 1%. Now the Trump voters just want to see the destruction of college educated people with jobs so they can suffer, too. That the 1% are about to get a huge tax cut at the expense of the Trump voters themselves is no consequence.
They are, however, better off than the non-degree holders who once had opportunities for good manufacturing jobs. These are the people the economy (driven by the 1%) has left behind. It astounds me that they don't blame the 1% for their plight (which is real). Instead, they blame the college-educated "elite"--not the wealthy, just the people who haven't been hurt as they have. In particular they blame anyone whose situation has improved as theirs has declined, even though that improvement comes off a low base: women and minorities. They believe that it is a zero-sum game, and any gains to people who were worse off than they were to begin with has come at their expense. These are the Trump voters.
The GOP has enabled this point of view so as to redirect voters' ire from the real target: the 1%. Now the Trump voters just want to see the destruction of college educated people with jobs so they can suffer, too. That the 1% are about to get a huge tax cut at the expense of the Trump voters themselves is no consequence.
1
The alienation we see in America today is, in large measure, the result of Republicans selling a political philosophy, for decades, that boils down to four words. "Government Is The Problem". This all encompassing paraphrase of alienation grew out of the Reagan presidency and has swallowed the Republican Party whole.
The great challenge facing America today is rebuilding our sense of faith and belief in who We are. Rebuilding the belief in Americans that "The People Are The Government", that our founding fathers bequeathed us the greatest form of government the world has ever known and that it is all of our responsibility to put our government to good use serving the needs of Americans.
Let's start addressing the needs of Americans as a whole and begin with something simple. Americans should not be paying twice as much for healthcare. Here's another. We Americans have used our government in the past to invest in infrastructure like the great dams and Interstate Freeways. Now is the time to build great infrastructure and employ millions of Americans doing it.
Nothing like this will ever happen by handing the wealthy elites huge tax breaks.
The great challenge facing America today is rebuilding our sense of faith and belief in who We are. Rebuilding the belief in Americans that "The People Are The Government", that our founding fathers bequeathed us the greatest form of government the world has ever known and that it is all of our responsibility to put our government to good use serving the needs of Americans.
Let's start addressing the needs of Americans as a whole and begin with something simple. Americans should not be paying twice as much for healthcare. Here's another. We Americans have used our government in the past to invest in infrastructure like the great dams and Interstate Freeways. Now is the time to build great infrastructure and employ millions of Americans doing it.
Nothing like this will ever happen by handing the wealthy elites huge tax breaks.
2
The word “elite” has been frightfully redefined. I agree with the writer who said, roughly, that if you define “elite’ as someone who did not need a manufacturing job to have a decent level of comfort and security, then yes that group often ignored those who did. I disagree that many people in that middle-class group are, in any meaningful sense, “elite,” they just act like they are.
Millions of voters who live behind desks did not see common cause with millions of others who don’t, whose ways of living were taken from them. Having a luxury car and a condo are neither exceptional, elite or, in any meaningful way, better than those who pay rent and have a truck or no car at all. Believing that reflexive consumerism is, in itself, an achievement and forgetting those with more basic concerns is one reason we have a president Trump.
When many of those who misplaced their hopes with Trump become disillusioned--- and they will— the Democrats had best welcome them enthusiastically and with proposals that speak to all our needs. I don’t see that happening yet. Nothing could make Trump happier.
Millions of voters who live behind desks did not see common cause with millions of others who don’t, whose ways of living were taken from them. Having a luxury car and a condo are neither exceptional, elite or, in any meaningful way, better than those who pay rent and have a truck or no car at all. Believing that reflexive consumerism is, in itself, an achievement and forgetting those with more basic concerns is one reason we have a president Trump.
When many of those who misplaced their hopes with Trump become disillusioned--- and they will— the Democrats had best welcome them enthusiastically and with proposals that speak to all our needs. I don’t see that happening yet. Nothing could make Trump happier.
3
What about the REALLY BIG MONEY on the Organized Reactionary Right fueling class and race hatred, distrust of government, militant nationalism, and misogyny? Admittedly alienation is a nice theory and fun to banter about in the "faculty lounge", but politics runs mostly on cash.
3
I think that new organization that Mr. Brooks calls for, already came and went with the Bernie Sanders campaign for president.
Americans fundamentally regard their financial health as a big factor in assessing their happiness. Yes, you can be made to feel on the fringe if you feel the Federal government used eminent domain to protect wildlife or straighten out a road, and you can be manipulated by Facebook which helps the aggrieved join together and feel that .. but if you are doing pretty well and have a nice two week vacation coming with your family you probably don't care if you read another article about a Black student getting a generous Federal or State scholarship.
So instead of improving the health care system, infrastructure and education, Trump and his Republican cronies intend to remove hundreds of billions of dollars from the economy that the lower 80% depend on in one way or another, and shift it the wealthy and to an industry (military industrial complex) that returns to the citizens the least in way of improving our standard of living... How will this sit with the electorate as they pay the price for the President's priorities? Hard to tell. Americans seem to be more influenced by the pictures than the text. They stop reading midway through the second paragraph.
It's not alienation, it is intellectual laziness; a lack of curiosity strangely mirrored in our president. I am not hopeful... We'll be working harder for less, in every sense of the word.
Americans fundamentally regard their financial health as a big factor in assessing their happiness. Yes, you can be made to feel on the fringe if you feel the Federal government used eminent domain to protect wildlife or straighten out a road, and you can be manipulated by Facebook which helps the aggrieved join together and feel that .. but if you are doing pretty well and have a nice two week vacation coming with your family you probably don't care if you read another article about a Black student getting a generous Federal or State scholarship.
So instead of improving the health care system, infrastructure and education, Trump and his Republican cronies intend to remove hundreds of billions of dollars from the economy that the lower 80% depend on in one way or another, and shift it the wealthy and to an industry (military industrial complex) that returns to the citizens the least in way of improving our standard of living... How will this sit with the electorate as they pay the price for the President's priorities? Hard to tell. Americans seem to be more influenced by the pictures than the text. They stop reading midway through the second paragraph.
It's not alienation, it is intellectual laziness; a lack of curiosity strangely mirrored in our president. I am not hopeful... We'll be working harder for less, in every sense of the word.
16
Amen. but don't expect david to acknowledge that bernie's campaign really did happen. He along with his media colleagues are guilty of ignoring him, making fun of him and his supporters and simply dismissing him as if he were just a fly.
David: You are so given to making lofty pronounciamientos from a lofty perch that mix inconsistent arguments and metaphors so that, at the end of the day, you have expressed concern and disapproval without really saying anything. Of course, if "elites are the problem," get rid of 'em! I expect to be the first to be shot.
People should not forget that Trump won the election because of a quirk in our electoral system, the electoral college. The popular vote went to the " progressive" candidate.
Why do you not mention the oligarchy that controls the republican party? To omit is to deceive and to deceive is to LIE.
1
Everything you describe is true... and the thing you described is the republican party and all its methods. Odd, Mr. Brooks, that you are so smart clearly, yet cannot see this. Conservatism IS the alienating force.
1
The "hammer of political correctness" that you and so many Republicans like to blame for Trumpism is really nothing more than this--the position that women, African-Americans, Hispanics, gay men and women, transgender people, any member of an ethnic or religious minority, the working classes, the poor--should be treated with the same respect and enjoy the same fundamental right to live their lives in peace and pursue their own happiness as any other Americans, including wealthy, white, straight, Christian men.
That position is not the cause of the problems in our society today or of the results of the last election. The root cause of Trumpism is that so many people who would actually benefit from a progressive, liberal society have been taught to disdain progressive, liberal politicians, because they are unwilling to concede equal rights and equal value to people different from themselves.
The very wealthy Republican elites have cynically played on the fears and prejudices of working-class white Americans, making them believe that "liberal academics" despise them and that men like Donald Trump, Roger Ailes, and Bill O'Reilly are their true champions, when in fact liberal academia has long championed the working class as well as the very poor, and wealthy Republicans have for many years been concerned primarily with getting tax cuts for themselves.
That position is not the cause of the problems in our society today or of the results of the last election. The root cause of Trumpism is that so many people who would actually benefit from a progressive, liberal society have been taught to disdain progressive, liberal politicians, because they are unwilling to concede equal rights and equal value to people different from themselves.
The very wealthy Republican elites have cynically played on the fears and prejudices of working-class white Americans, making them believe that "liberal academics" despise them and that men like Donald Trump, Roger Ailes, and Bill O'Reilly are their true champions, when in fact liberal academia has long championed the working class as well as the very poor, and wealthy Republicans have for many years been concerned primarily with getting tax cuts for themselves.
2
Shades of North Korea! The terminally credulous followers and should-know-better compliant Party leaders continue to support their absolutely incredible Glorious Leader.
"It Can't Happen Here" is now "It Has Happened Here"?
"It Can't Happen Here" is now "It Has Happened Here"?
1
Well, Mr. Republican, we all know help for the so-called 'alienated' is not going to come from you Repubs. And, you know it. Trump is going back out of all his campaign pledges.--all the pledges to help the rust belt, coal country down trodden. True, Democrats don't care either. The problem for the 'alienated' who supported Trump is that there is no way back to the decent paying jobs of their past. They need the kind of help now that FDR's "New Deal" provided. Then they need to gradually transform where they live. Or move. We'll see that Trump's infrastructure spending pledge was a fraud, and that's the kind of program that's needed. In that sense, that one idea was more progressive than anything Dems. have come up with in 40 years. The phrase might be: "We're all Republicans now." That would be other than Bernie Sanders and Obamacare (and what president Obama might have done with congressional support.) After 1980, Democrats decided to become Republicans for some reason. If Hillary had really cared, she'd have gone to those erstwhile Obama supporters who were now being persuaded by the Trump celebrity nonsense show. Then she would have waded into the crowd and just stood there eye to eye with them, listening and talking.
5
Your first paragraph sounds like you are lumping the conservatives (the college educated elite that transfers wealth to itself) and liberals (the elites... that crashes the hammer of political correctness down on anybody who does not have faculty lounge views) together. But, the past 8 years should have taught us how very different the left and right are. Certainly they are different views of the role of government and how much tax should be collected. More important they could, but do not, share common values of honesty, decency, respect for people of other cultures, respect for the other political views, .... The false promises and lies from the republican party serve only to grab power by manipulating the less educated. The GOP has repeatedly shown contempt for President Obama, while expecting everyone to show respect for Trump. Why? Because orange skin is better than brown or black skin to their racist, uneducated base. From here come the white supremacists, who declare themselves superior and deserving to be in power or have a job because of their skin color.
Hillary Clinton was correct, Trumps followers are deplorable.
Hillary Clinton was correct, Trumps followers are deplorable.
1
" on the right alienation can foster a desire for purity — to exclude the foreign — and on the left it can foster a desire for conformity — to squelch differing speakers and faiths"
I am at a loss to understand the distinction you are trying to draw here.
I am at a loss to understand the distinction you are trying to draw here.
I do not see this new establishment coming into save the day. The corruption that exists in capitalist governments has become so entrenched that nothing short of a revolution will change it. The ruling class will of course barricade themselves but in time the entire economic structure will no longer be sustainable and will collapse. Whatever is born from this is anybody's guess. I just don't see anyone or group within the current institutions that exist who have the means, the desire or even the ability to change what is now become status quo. Like anything else it has run it course.
1
Big wait a minute. This equation of "elite" with "well to do" is way off the mark, and it's clouding the thinking of a lot of people, including David Brooks. If by elite you mean educated, liberal and politically progressive, which is what people seem to mean when they are condemning the elite vast majority of so-called elite people I know, including myself, do not fit into the financially well off category at all. Being ignorant, uneducated, and/or socially conservative is not at all restricted to people of the so-called lower classes. This thinking is far too over-simplified and only results in destructive disparaging of education and a dark view of the way to solve our social problems.
1
"College-educated elites"? Give me a break. It wasn't academic institutions that bankrupted an entire financial system. It wasn't college faculty that outsourced jobs overseas and then lined their own pockets with the savings. Titans of industry, unrestrained by any real means of accountability, have been fleecing this country for over forty years, aided whole-heartedly along the way by Democratic and Republican politicians who have done an excellent job making sure that every year more of that wealth gets transferred to the top. Do the people in question have college educations? Sure, but in his wording Mr. Brooks creates a conflation that is not only inaccurate, but that also feeds the anti-intellectual crusade the right has been waging since the 60s.
3
I'm with Mindfull. You, David Brooks are a wealthy conservative who has absolutely no way of even conceiving of the problems of working class Trump voters, much less the poor. I'm really tired of this lumping of all college-educated people in with the greedy, uber rich. You seem to be conflating these two groups. I went to college, my husband is a professor, most of my friends went to college; we are horrified by the Trump family, the Koch Brothers, the Mercers, and all that these selfish, greedy business owners represent. Don't mistakenly ascribe their deplorable behavior to those of us who still believe in the idea of citizenship. I believe in paying my fair share to help this country be a better place. Your group does not. It's your GOP that has since Reagan been spouting "me, me, me." I'm glad that recently you seem to have had a sudden revelation about yourself and who you've supported in the past, but please don't smear all the good, intelligent, college-educated with the selfish motives of the moneyed classes, just to relieve your conscience about your own choices.
6
I switched from Mr. Brooks' column to read Mr. Levin's column. Which I did. Very long, very eloquent--a little short on specifics.
Which is the problem I have with so many conservative writers. Eloquent--yes--but oh! so general. Things are so bad!--families disintegrating, public worship neglected, rampant "individualism"--okay guys, I hear you.
So what do you suggest? Be specific.
Look at the "roaring 20's"--Prohibition in effect (and widely flouted), the rise of the "mob", the "new morality", the "sex novel" . . .lions and tigers and bears oh my!
All this presided over by that dour paragon--Calvin Coolidge. And a veritable slew of Republican administrations. Whose effect on national morality was zilch. Zero. Nada.
Conservatives, they say, are pessimistic about human nature. It never changes. The same old vices recur and recur. Well, hey! I'm not really a conservative and I'M pessimistic about human nature. I believe implicitly that, wherever the rich and powerful can cheat--defraud--oppress the poor and helpless, they will unfailingly do it.
Which is where government comes in. The mighty hand reaching down (and excuse my language) to smite and afflict the greedy, the dishonest, the tyrannical. More power to it! Keep it up, boys!
Better families--better church attendance--greater zeal for the common good? All worthy goals! But I don't see how a government can step in and create those things by divine fiat.
Only we can do that.
Which is the problem I have with so many conservative writers. Eloquent--yes--but oh! so general. Things are so bad!--families disintegrating, public worship neglected, rampant "individualism"--okay guys, I hear you.
So what do you suggest? Be specific.
Look at the "roaring 20's"--Prohibition in effect (and widely flouted), the rise of the "mob", the "new morality", the "sex novel" . . .lions and tigers and bears oh my!
All this presided over by that dour paragon--Calvin Coolidge. And a veritable slew of Republican administrations. Whose effect on national morality was zilch. Zero. Nada.
Conservatives, they say, are pessimistic about human nature. It never changes. The same old vices recur and recur. Well, hey! I'm not really a conservative and I'M pessimistic about human nature. I believe implicitly that, wherever the rich and powerful can cheat--defraud--oppress the poor and helpless, they will unfailingly do it.
Which is where government comes in. The mighty hand reaching down (and excuse my language) to smite and afflict the greedy, the dishonest, the tyrannical. More power to it! Keep it up, boys!
Better families--better church attendance--greater zeal for the common good? All worthy goals! But I don't see how a government can step in and create those things by divine fiat.
Only we can do that.
1
I agree with your analysis 100%, Mr. Brooks. I would add that while we as a nation, absolutely need infusions of new blood and new ideas, the means of getting other political voices heard is difficult. To be fair, it looks like the republicans let their new 'talent' rise with the tides of political fortune, but democrats leave their candidates and talent waiting in line for the old rich people to get out of the way, so someone else can take a turn. It's maddening, and we need a new way to have meaningful political discussions. Maybe new parties.
The "problem", Mr. Brooks, is willful ignorance, not any kind of "educated elite". Willful ignorance is the fare Mr. Trump and his apologists feed on, just as demagogues have done throughout history.
4
Is anybody with a college education an "elite"? I think Brooks is avoiding saying "obscenely wealthy (and immoral)" by denigrating the educated.
6
“When a man as uncouth and reckless as Trump becomes president by running against the nation’s elites, it’s a strong signal that the elites are the problem.”
Are we really sure about that? Or could it be that our *perception* of elites is the problem? I've been a news junkie for the better part of 40 years, which means I've been watching the 'elites' for awhile. Rather than see the elites out of touch, I see a marketing/lobbying campaign -- supported and funded by the nation's wealthiest 'elites' -- trying to convince average Americans that a different 'elite', those who see government as prerequisite for civilization; that tries to do things for the least among us, while trying to invest in a future that keeps America competitive with other nations, is immoral because it costs something that the wealthy elite don't want to pay. But it requires that you and I believe that we're the victims, and not the wealthy seeking to lower their share of taxes.
And this effort would be failing - in spite of this 'vast right-wing' investment in propaganda - were it not for the conscious subversion of fair voting by the GOP (see 2011's "Red Map Strategy", and Tom DeLay's "K Street Project" before that) to structurally remove the opposition party (the Dems) from any debate.
As if the Founders would've looked upon the elimination of debate and the restriction of the voting franchise as somehow within the spirit of the Constitution's "We the People"? The con started long before Trump.
Are we really sure about that? Or could it be that our *perception* of elites is the problem? I've been a news junkie for the better part of 40 years, which means I've been watching the 'elites' for awhile. Rather than see the elites out of touch, I see a marketing/lobbying campaign -- supported and funded by the nation's wealthiest 'elites' -- trying to convince average Americans that a different 'elite', those who see government as prerequisite for civilization; that tries to do things for the least among us, while trying to invest in a future that keeps America competitive with other nations, is immoral because it costs something that the wealthy elite don't want to pay. But it requires that you and I believe that we're the victims, and not the wealthy seeking to lower their share of taxes.
And this effort would be failing - in spite of this 'vast right-wing' investment in propaganda - were it not for the conscious subversion of fair voting by the GOP (see 2011's "Red Map Strategy", and Tom DeLay's "K Street Project" before that) to structurally remove the opposition party (the Dems) from any debate.
As if the Founders would've looked upon the elimination of debate and the restriction of the voting franchise as somehow within the spirit of the Constitution's "We the People"? The con started long before Trump.
Perhaps we could help rather than deprecate him.
At the risk of seeming arrogant, I'd like to add another analysis of why President Trump won: he is a gifted performer who knows how to work a crowd. While it's true that some of his supporters are "deplorables" whose vote was driven by hatred and bigotry, most of them are caring, compassionate people who have been disappointed by "typical politicians" for years. For them, there is little difference between Democrats and Republicans: both parties pay lip service to the middle class during election years but once in office, cater almost exclusively to businesses and the wealthy, to the detriment of the middle class. Those voters worried about President Trump's temperament and rhetoric, but after years of Lucy pulling away the football, they were willing to take a chance on him.
Unfortunately, President Trump's health care reform, tax proposal, and budget proposal demonstrate that he is no different than previous politicians, and is all too willing to pull away the football. That - not possible Russian interference, nor possible obstruction of justice, nor conflicts of interest - will lead to the erosion of his support, and possible defeat in 2020.
Unfortunately, President Trump's health care reform, tax proposal, and budget proposal demonstrate that he is no different than previous politicians, and is all too willing to pull away the football. That - not possible Russian interference, nor possible obstruction of justice, nor conflicts of interest - will lead to the erosion of his support, and possible defeat in 2020.
There is the possibility that the way things have been for a very long time in Washington and not thinking it wrong, gave to us the superficial sense of it being right.
This administration has many things to learn and a few things explain. However, let our democracy run its course.
Which is in part work hard together now-for the greater good, even if this election brought to light a glaring problem in our national psyche.
This administration has many things to learn and a few things explain. However, let our democracy run its course.
Which is in part work hard together now-for the greater good, even if this election brought to light a glaring problem in our national psyche.
But you’re doing it right here: elites who will not cede one inch to populist demands then criticize the limitations of populist governance.
1
Do your best to get along...I think of this advise in a personal way. We all have friends/family who we would like to just smack! They gall us, offend us, defy us...grrr! But, we also know putting them down, shouting at them, smacking them will only escalate the situation, and it sure won't change their mind. So we take a deep breath, and try calm and reason and respect - and then hope you've gotten through. These are trying times, and I'm an old woman, I never thought I'd see the day...sigh.
David, what we need is for some of the Trump voter and some Hillary voters to get involved. Expecting that Donnie was going to change things was just wrong headed from the beginning - he was always going to turn things back (or attempt to). Expecting Clinton to change the status quo is also expecting more than you should. (Also, as shown in Obama's second term nothing would get done due to Congress). That said if folks want change it needs to start closer to home, start with volunteering in the community you live in, if you can and have the desire get involved in local government. get into a campaign for a county or state office as a candidate or worker. This will eventually rise to the national levels discussed here.
"Would we really throw our own candidate out of office for this?"
Trying to ban an entire population of people based on religion? Yes.
Trying to take funding away from the poor to pay for tax breaks to the wealthy? Yes.
Obstructing justice by asking the FBI director to quit an investigation into allegations of wrong-doing by the president and his staff? Yes.
"Over the longer term, it will be necessary to fight alienation with participation, to reform and devolve the welfare state so that recipients are not treated like passive wards of the state, but take an active role in their own self-government."
And, those who work but feel alienated? What of them? The college educated with jobs who voted for Trump -- how do you make them feel less alienated? By "devolving the welfare state" (ie, take funding away from the poor, sick, elderly, disabled and children)? So, you can *only feel like you can take an active role in your own self-government -- *only if you are hungry, sick, poor, disabled or homeless with no way of dealing with those problems? Oh, and, if you have seen that you can use some of those programs, perhaps (say -- like subsidized healthcare through ACA) to get ahead with your own dream of being independent or contributing to society in innovative, new ways? Oh! You are going to feel alienated by that and can't participate in democracy. So, give that up -- and, go work for a corporation where they have no loyalty to you and don't think of your best interests. Got it.
Trying to ban an entire population of people based on religion? Yes.
Trying to take funding away from the poor to pay for tax breaks to the wealthy? Yes.
Obstructing justice by asking the FBI director to quit an investigation into allegations of wrong-doing by the president and his staff? Yes.
"Over the longer term, it will be necessary to fight alienation with participation, to reform and devolve the welfare state so that recipients are not treated like passive wards of the state, but take an active role in their own self-government."
And, those who work but feel alienated? What of them? The college educated with jobs who voted for Trump -- how do you make them feel less alienated? By "devolving the welfare state" (ie, take funding away from the poor, sick, elderly, disabled and children)? So, you can *only feel like you can take an active role in your own self-government -- *only if you are hungry, sick, poor, disabled or homeless with no way of dealing with those problems? Oh, and, if you have seen that you can use some of those programs, perhaps (say -- like subsidized healthcare through ACA) to get ahead with your own dream of being independent or contributing to society in innovative, new ways? Oh! You are going to feel alienated by that and can't participate in democracy. So, give that up -- and, go work for a corporation where they have no loyalty to you and don't think of your best interests. Got it.
1
So the problem is the college educated elite. Not income inequality. Not the lack of investment in new infrastructure and the future. Not the economic insecurity that all of us have to deal with. Not the winner-take-all capitalism that this adminstration (and yes, previous democratic admins as well) represents.
Really?
Really?
5
I wonder if a *thoughtful* alternative to Fox News could be successful for Conservatives. Not elite or stodgy ... but thoughtful and thought-provoking, honest, substantive, positive, and open-minded enough to put the country clearly above ideology. Less demanding of viewers than the PBS NewsHour (an optimal non-partisan approach but demanding in time and attention), and with enough conservatism to convert Fox viewers.
Many Trump voters in my orbit are not alienated. They are angry over cultural issues, but are professionally successful, have few financial worries and more control than most over their lives. They hate hate hate iillegals, liberals, gay marriage, abortion, Obama, transgender bathroom policies, taxes, preferences for minorities and paying for the healthcare and upkeep of others they see as lazy moral degenerates.
So, David Brooks, how do you speak to this group and unite them with the rest of us in sensible governing?
So, David Brooks, how do you speak to this group and unite them with the rest of us in sensible governing?
26
I like your comment. I live in a town surrounded by that voter: lovely patrician types that are wealthy elitists and voted for Trump. Then again, I have a weekend house in a small rural town where workin' guys dream of moving to the north woods and hate the city--may not have ever gone to Chicago. Also voted for Trump. If they swapped lives, what fair share of taxes, programs (library), priorities would they agree on? I suspect in short order thst they would be alientated from each other. And then which group would find commonality (or alienation) from me, a Liberal charity maven and retired bureaucrat? Perhaps to create a just government we need to conduct a massive "life swap."
1
I'm in France right now, which has escaped a populist/racist as president and instead elected a 39 year old progressive centrist. Although it is VERY early to tell, it feels like the kind of coming together, of listening the other is starting to happen with the new president and government. This in a country that a Frenchman describes as heaven where all the inhabitants think they're in hell. So there is hope for us in the USA, maybe...
3
The challenge since the beginning of the industrial revolution has been how to enable private enterprises to flourish without creating a powerful elite of super wealthy who control all the new wealth created and so leaving the rest of mankind in poverty while they have too much to ever use to improve the good that they enjoy in their life times. For a brief moment in time, America achieved a balance where all could improve themselves while leaving the wealthy, wealthy, but conservatives who always hated that arrangement because it contradicted the concept of scarcity which had justified inequities for most of human history used Reagan's revolution to dissemble it as quickly as they could. They have mostly succeeded, now. It did not take much to convince most people that sharing risks and assuring that all had equal opportunities was against their best interests. The chances of restoring the kind of circumstances which existed until the mid-1970's that enabled that great egalitarian experiment to work are slim. The U.S. cannot grow as it had previously, there is no need for it and the economic engine is too small to support it anymore.
3
A very thoughtful and well argued piece. Alienation is an outgrowth of a fundamental loss of trust as described here, But the lack of trust has been building for decades and was accelerated by the destabilizing forces of globalism especially global capitalism. Can a new elite or elites begin to restore trust and continue to serve the needs of global capital? How would we restore social connection and cohesion both at the local level as well as nationally while continuing to allow the forces of technological change and globalization to continue apace the transformation of industrial capitalism? No easy answers here which is why the demagogues succeed in the first place.
1
Perhaps these things can be achieved at least to start by eliminating every bit of tax code that rewards off shoring jobs and stashing cash untaxed. Like, direct and indirect expenses of closing down operations here to off shore. Or deduction 100% of total corporate HQ expenses from domestic revenues when 80% of revenues are stashed off shore untaxed. How do you think GE or Boeing can pay no corporate income taxes year over year? Or, borrowing money to pay increased dividends, stock buybacks to up EPS stats, corporate bonuses, HQ upgrades and deducting all borrowing costs when cash is available offshore to pay it all after taxes.
There are others - but start with these.
There are others - but start with these.
Well said, Mr Brooks. We need to look for dignified, caring, honest human beings- who bring sufficient education and experience to the task (whatever the nature of those are) to run for political office. .People who care about nation more than party. Character is everything. No time for cynicism or despair. Back to simple basics. It's an inside job.
2
Alienation is the core of the reason that people voted for Trump even though they thought he said a lot of things with which they disagreed, he reflected their feelings of being excluded and left behind better than any other candidate. While Bernie Sanders did address the same issues which bothered the alienated supporters of Trump, Sanders supporters were all inclined towards egalitarian preferences while all of Trump's were inclined towards clearly authoritarian preferences. It's in the nature of conservatives to be more authoritarian in their preferences but Trump's supporters rejected conservative candidates because they did blame elites for their plight. It should have occurred to them that Reagan talked as if he was an egalitarian but his policies were strictly power to the elites, elites create everything good in life, elites will solve the problems that most people can't, and though we live in a democratic society, democracy can lead to poverty and stagnation because it prevents the elites from exercising their constructive talents for the benefit of all. So shift the wealth to the wealthiest so that they will use it for the benefit of all by pursuing self ends with superb excellence. The growth will bring so much wealth and prosperity to all that welfare and safety net programs will prove to be weak and ineffectual substitutes for robust, selfishness driven capitalism. So we end up with non-elites who eagerly voted for Reagan and his followers, alienated.
3
Even Friedman would reject the notions you articulated. He was crystal clear in writing that capitalism must operate within the laws of the land and societal norms of ethical behavior. Competition fair and open, free is fraud or deception.
Laws of the land are how societal norms of ethical behavior are defined and enforced to ensure that boundaries and limitations on capitalists greedy self interest are set, clearly described and enforced.
Laws of the land are how societal norms of ethical behavior are defined and enforced to ensure that boundaries and limitations on capitalists greedy self interest are set, clearly described and enforced.
I do not disagree that capitalism must operate with the laws of the land and where the law is robust and enforced does. The majority of business people are honest and decent people who want to live in a civilized and free country. But it is often the case that some business people for reasons from ignorance to pathological kinds of self centeredness to desperation of severe losses ignore fair business practices by lying, cheating, and stealing however that they can to again an advantage. So we have government regulating business behaviors to make sure everyone is playing nice. The argument of people who asserted that markets are self regulating is that government does not mitigate problems, it produces them, and that if left alone the markets will produce the best of all outcomes. Experience has shown that markets are not self regulating because the presumptions about them are wrong, that buyers and sellers have perfect knowledge of what they want and what it is worth to them. Reagan's cutting of taxes and removal of support for regulations helped some make a lot more money but there was not way to assure that that accumulation of wealth would generate a lot more growth because all it assured was that the more money one had the more of the new wealth one might control. It produced the inequities which we see today. Thus Reagan's policies served an elite not everyone.
I find it profoundly depressing that so many of us were willing to throw so many others of us under the bus for a promise of some ideological or material gain, Equally depressing is the thought that when confronted with this dark, cynical, every-man-for-himself vision of America the other side couldn't find any better vision within themselves to offer a hurting country.
2
The Trump voters of 2016 rejected virtually all of the grand principles of conservative political thought and announced a new era devoid of any true ideology. Mr. Brooks attempts to provide a way back to sanity, as he sees it, and I would like to applaud his efforts but I can't.
We can no longer have presidents who have "worked their way up" through the system. Our rancid politics, our ability to demonize anyone with a long record, now prevents it. The future is celebrity status (good looks and wealth help, too) plus modest experience in govt.
We had a popular revolt in 2016, but it was fueled by propaganda and 25 years of Clinton hatred/demonization. America's right wing got too much of what they thought they wanted.
The idea of running govt. "like a business" and putting an outsider in charge has long had appeal, but now that it is being tried it is wilting in the Rose Garden. Minnesota and California tried the outsider, celebrity route for governors and both regretted it deeply. Experience counts, but too much experience now turns into an anchor chain pulling a candidate to the bottom. Unless the pro politicians take back their campaigns, and govt., from the consultants and lobbyists, this will stay.
The elites sold "the little people" out. Things were happy in "moneyland" where 200K per yr. is a good start on an annual salary. Corporations banked profits, denying wage increases to the people who do the work. There's no going back, only forward, doing better for all.
We can no longer have presidents who have "worked their way up" through the system. Our rancid politics, our ability to demonize anyone with a long record, now prevents it. The future is celebrity status (good looks and wealth help, too) plus modest experience in govt.
We had a popular revolt in 2016, but it was fueled by propaganda and 25 years of Clinton hatred/demonization. America's right wing got too much of what they thought they wanted.
The idea of running govt. "like a business" and putting an outsider in charge has long had appeal, but now that it is being tried it is wilting in the Rose Garden. Minnesota and California tried the outsider, celebrity route for governors and both regretted it deeply. Experience counts, but too much experience now turns into an anchor chain pulling a candidate to the bottom. Unless the pro politicians take back their campaigns, and govt., from the consultants and lobbyists, this will stay.
The elites sold "the little people" out. Things were happy in "moneyland" where 200K per yr. is a good start on an annual salary. Corporations banked profits, denying wage increases to the people who do the work. There's no going back, only forward, doing better for all.
3
Trump isn't the only problem. The republicans in congress are trying to take full advantage of Trump's time in the White House to inflict enormous pain on millions of Americans for the benefit of the rich, the only constituency the republican bosses really care about.
7
It's true there is an elite that has figured out how to transfer wealth upward, but throwing in the gratuitous "college educated" is another attempt by Mr. Brooks to throw the blame on 30% of the country with a college education rather than his buddies in the 1%. Face it, it's Wall Street and the CEO's who have figured out that a few campaign donations is a cheap price to pay for massive tax cuts and deregulation. And no, "political correctness" is not a thing.
9
Alienation? Yes. But, the Trump phenomenon is fundamentally about anger and blaming someone else. In other words, "belligerent victimhood". Hmmm...reflected in the "movement's" leader?
Life was supposed to be easier, I was supposed to have a nicer car, I wasn't supposed to get laid off, the press should be nice to me, and, THE necessary ingredient: this is all someone else's fault, or better yet: a conspiracy of others.
In each individual case, who knows what misfortune or slight, real or perceived, befell them before they had self worth and a basis to learn or be taught by example that life would be a mix of luck and what they themselves made from it.
It appears to me that, crudely, in the general population maybe 20-30% of people will do the right thing (i.e, have courage, generous hearts, honesty with themselves and others...), all the time, easy or not; another 20-30% are angry and destructive, part of which means blaming others for everything; and the rest will look around to see where the wind is blowing and go with the flow, with a portion of them willing to do things they know to be wrong.
Maybe what we are seeing is a media/information landscape that facilitates that 20%-30% belligerent victims, collectively, to rally around "the real reason" (found it, "a movement", at last!) that their lives are a disappointment.
Expect their devotion to Trump to die very, very hard.
Life was supposed to be easier, I was supposed to have a nicer car, I wasn't supposed to get laid off, the press should be nice to me, and, THE necessary ingredient: this is all someone else's fault, or better yet: a conspiracy of others.
In each individual case, who knows what misfortune or slight, real or perceived, befell them before they had self worth and a basis to learn or be taught by example that life would be a mix of luck and what they themselves made from it.
It appears to me that, crudely, in the general population maybe 20-30% of people will do the right thing (i.e, have courage, generous hearts, honesty with themselves and others...), all the time, easy or not; another 20-30% are angry and destructive, part of which means blaming others for everything; and the rest will look around to see where the wind is blowing and go with the flow, with a portion of them willing to do things they know to be wrong.
Maybe what we are seeing is a media/information landscape that facilitates that 20%-30% belligerent victims, collectively, to rally around "the real reason" (found it, "a movement", at last!) that their lives are a disappointment.
Expect their devotion to Trump to die very, very hard.
4
No mention of the most elite body in the country. The Supreme Court, until the most recent choice, was drawn from the coastal states (even Judge Thomas' Georgia is a coastal state). In a highly religious country in which the dominant religion is Protestantism, there are no Protestants on the court. Most of the judges were educated in elite Northeastern colleges.
And now imagine an already-alienated citizen learning that this elite tribunal had struck down a law he liked because it violated a "Constitutional right" that they made up.
And now imagine an already-alienated citizen learning that this elite tribunal had struck down a law he liked because it violated a "Constitutional right" that they made up.
Oh please. It sounds like you have more of a problem with one's geography than anything else... Is this a Southern thing??
Just for the record.
This may be a "highly religious country", but it's made up of MANY religions, not just Protestantism.
And not everyone in the Northeast is an "elite".
Just for the record.
This may be a "highly religious country", but it's made up of MANY religions, not just Protestantism.
And not everyone in the Northeast is an "elite".
1
Please, describe one of the "made up" constitutional rights. Bet you can't. And I suggest you look up Gorsuch's educational history. You might be just a little disappointed.
What your comment tells me is that you cannot be bothered to perform even the tiniest bit of research. "Most of the judges were educated in elite Northeastern colleges." I know you think what I am about to say supports your point rather than pointing out that you don't have any idea of what you speak but, for the record, without exception, all of the current justices attended Harvard or Yale for one of their degrees. This took about 2 minutes to confirm.
"In a highly religious country..." Nope. Not only is that not true, it is becoming less so every day, thank god (see what I did there? Aren't I a stinker?) Also, despite whatever made up quotes you may have heard, the founders did not, for the most part, want anything other than a secular form of government.
What your comment tells me is that you cannot be bothered to perform even the tiniest bit of research. "Most of the judges were educated in elite Northeastern colleges." I know you think what I am about to say supports your point rather than pointing out that you don't have any idea of what you speak but, for the record, without exception, all of the current justices attended Harvard or Yale for one of their degrees. This took about 2 minutes to confirm.
"In a highly religious country..." Nope. Not only is that not true, it is becoming less so every day, thank god (see what I did there? Aren't I a stinker?) Also, despite whatever made up quotes you may have heard, the founders did not, for the most part, want anything other than a secular form of government.
1
I don't have a problem. I'm not particularly religious and I did live in the Northeast. But I'm saying that, say, a Baptist in Texas might definitely have a problem with the Supreme Court. Look at how much New Yorkers complain because Wyoming has the same representation in the Senate as New York (and the New Yorkers have a point).
And I said the schools were elite, not the people.
And I said the schools were elite, not the people.
There is a reason DJT, a lifelong registered Democrat, ran for President as a Republican - because the Democrats would not have him.
He ran on a message of hatred and fear, which works on people of faith and plays well on Hannity and Rush-type programs.
Look at the faces in the picture of this article - these people look like reasonably comfortable Americans, but they've been made to feel like their lot in life is bad and getting worse, without any acknowledgement or sympathy for fellow Americans who have it much worse.
If the cause is globalization and automation, why vote for the party of the wealthy elite - the pro-business, anti-regulation to solve THAT problem? Do they honestly think MORE pro-business and anti-regulation will fix it, especially under the "leadership" of an incompetent welfare cheat (as bankruptcy is a form of welfare, and having six of them tells me you incorporate it into your business model) who actually IS one of the elites you're supposedly against...
Nope, it was simple messaging of fear and loathing, even without help from Moscow.
He ran on a message of hatred and fear, which works on people of faith and plays well on Hannity and Rush-type programs.
Look at the faces in the picture of this article - these people look like reasonably comfortable Americans, but they've been made to feel like their lot in life is bad and getting worse, without any acknowledgement or sympathy for fellow Americans who have it much worse.
If the cause is globalization and automation, why vote for the party of the wealthy elite - the pro-business, anti-regulation to solve THAT problem? Do they honestly think MORE pro-business and anti-regulation will fix it, especially under the "leadership" of an incompetent welfare cheat (as bankruptcy is a form of welfare, and having six of them tells me you incorporate it into your business model) who actually IS one of the elites you're supposedly against...
Nope, it was simple messaging of fear and loathing, even without help from Moscow.
5
"...on the right alienation can foster a desire for purity — to exclude the foreign — and on the left it can foster a desire for conformity — to squelch differing speakers and faiths." This premise breeds more divisiveness. When Mr. Brooks begins to dismantle Fox News and Rush Limbaugh for the fomenters of this great divide then I will listen with more interest. The truth is that Fox News shuts down differing opinions much more than college campuses and we can witness their daily abuse of people with differing views. Terry Gross just interviewed Thomas Franks who was blacklisted from being invited back to Fox News, someone at Fox News agreeing to that action. How is this any different from college students doing the same to people they don't agree with? I am not suggesting this is good - it's not, but the college student response is relatively new while Fox News has been at this for decades now. They have made their enemy Progressives, not policy, which is why they now seem to do flip flops where they once went after progressives with a vengeance accusing then of abuse of power or overreach or bad policy, but now, when it's their group, all of their actions seem to be defensible, even justifiable.
The lack of equality of justice in this country divides us too. One set of laws for us regular folk and a whole other set for people of power and incredible financial means. if there are no fear of consequences for people to abuse their power they will continue to abuse it.
The lack of equality of justice in this country divides us too. One set of laws for us regular folk and a whole other set for people of power and incredible financial means. if there are no fear of consequences for people to abuse their power they will continue to abuse it.
3
Mr. Brooks appears to take an elitist view and condemn with broad stokes the "alienated". I suggest that an honest assessment of the voting results show a majority of voters preferred NOT smashing the system and this group he is writing about may actually be more of a minority than is suggested. Is this also a common theme, feeling in not just America but many countries? The Unloved, the dispossessed?
Cheers,
SSG
Cheers,
SSG
Why the attack on education and intellectuals? Some professor give you a bad grade, Mr. Brooks, or is it just self-hatred? Or have you, despite your intellect and education, unthinkingly fallen into the latest fashion: attacking education, the educated, and intelligence itself?
The anti-intellectual strain in American thought has always been there, but seldom has it been celebrated as it is today. It leads to distrust of science (after all, scientists are well-educated &, heaven forfend, think!), so, while the rest of the world is concerned with climate change, the oil & gas industry can convince Americans that it's a "Chinese hoax." It leads to distrust of logical, critical thinking, so insurance companies and health providers can persuade Americans for-profit medicine must be cheaper and better than anything the state can provide in spite of the fact they they must make a profit out of what the state can provide at cost (&, in Medicare, does so pretty well). It denigrates research and leads to the enthusiastic acceptance of "alternate facts."
Mr. Brooks, if you truly want to unite the country, stop trying to drive a wedge between those who have been taught to think critically and those who have not. We, the educated and the non-educated, need each other, and we need to understand and respect each other. If we work to understand, rather than demonize, each other, we may even come to trust each other's motives and begin to be able to work together.
The anti-intellectual strain in American thought has always been there, but seldom has it been celebrated as it is today. It leads to distrust of science (after all, scientists are well-educated &, heaven forfend, think!), so, while the rest of the world is concerned with climate change, the oil & gas industry can convince Americans that it's a "Chinese hoax." It leads to distrust of logical, critical thinking, so insurance companies and health providers can persuade Americans for-profit medicine must be cheaper and better than anything the state can provide in spite of the fact they they must make a profit out of what the state can provide at cost (&, in Medicare, does so pretty well). It denigrates research and leads to the enthusiastic acceptance of "alternate facts."
Mr. Brooks, if you truly want to unite the country, stop trying to drive a wedge between those who have been taught to think critically and those who have not. We, the educated and the non-educated, need each other, and we need to understand and respect each other. If we work to understand, rather than demonize, each other, we may even come to trust each other's motives and begin to be able to work together.
2
Not another article expressing sympathy for the "alienated" white angry voters profiled in Hillbilly Elegy. Please, no more.
I am an "elite" (a medical professional and an attorney), but I have not-terribly-distant family members who are big supporters of the President. I know the sources of their "alienation" because they talk about them openly and without apology. While they have made conscious choices through out their lives that have left them where they are now (eschewing higher education as being only for snobs, drug and alcohol abuse, multiple partners and unplanned pregnancies, etc.) they choose to blame "others" for their current difficulties. If only blacks didn't get preferential treatment in hiring, if only women stopped complaining about sexual harassment and their "rights", if only they didn't have to pay taxes to support welfare queens, if only illegals weren't filling up the hospital ER's getting free health care and Food Stamps, if only churches were better attended and abortion wasn't legal, if only students still pledged allegiance to the flag and prayed in school, if only there was a White History Month in public school... my alienated relatives say they would be able to be successful and feel like they were an important part of American society.
I am an "elite" (a medical professional and an attorney), but I have not-terribly-distant family members who are big supporters of the President. I know the sources of their "alienation" because they talk about them openly and without apology. While they have made conscious choices through out their lives that have left them where they are now (eschewing higher education as being only for snobs, drug and alcohol abuse, multiple partners and unplanned pregnancies, etc.) they choose to blame "others" for their current difficulties. If only blacks didn't get preferential treatment in hiring, if only women stopped complaining about sexual harassment and their "rights", if only they didn't have to pay taxes to support welfare queens, if only illegals weren't filling up the hospital ER's getting free health care and Food Stamps, if only churches were better attended and abortion wasn't legal, if only students still pledged allegiance to the flag and prayed in school, if only there was a White History Month in public school... my alienated relatives say they would be able to be successful and feel like they were an important part of American society.
5
The second quarter of the 18th century saw a struggle in England between the corrupt and absolutist government of Walpole and the more progressive party spoken for by such men as Bolingbroke, who wrote that the danger lies in the difficulty “to bring men, from strong habits of corruption, to prefer honor to profit, and liberty to luxury.”
“The ultimate end of all governments is the good of the people, for whose sake they were made, and without whose consent they could not have been made… governors are, therefore, appointed to this end… Now, the greatest good of a people is their liberty…. Liberty is to the collective body, what health is to every individual body.”
Speaking of the Patriot King (read: "president"), Bolingbroke says, “He will make one, and but one, distinction between his rights, and those of his people: he will look on his to be a trust, and theirs a property. He will discern, that he can have a right to no more than is trusted to him by the constitution… “
“The ultimate end of all governments is the good of the people, for whose sake they were made, and without whose consent they could not have been made… governors are, therefore, appointed to this end… Now, the greatest good of a people is their liberty…. Liberty is to the collective body, what health is to every individual body.”
Speaking of the Patriot King (read: "president"), Bolingbroke says, “He will make one, and but one, distinction between his rights, and those of his people: he will look on his to be a trust, and theirs a property. He will discern, that he can have a right to no more than is trusted to him by the constitution… “
David you write that "....and on the left it (alienation) can foster a desire for conformity — to squelch differing speakers and faiths." I'll differ with you on this. The left is done with hateful speakers, not differing speakers. And the left as far as I can see has no problem with anyone's faith, as long as it remains separate from affairs of state, as in the separation of church and state. There is no war on Christianity in this country. But there sure is a war on the poor, gays, blacks, immigrants both legal and not, women's health, voters, science believers, environmentalists, and affordable health care. And that war is being waged from the wealthy right. Don't give me any more of your false equivalency nonsense. I don't wonder that people feel alienated
4
Mr. Brooks,
I think you're a member of the elite and I think you helped to get Trump elected.
I think you're a member of the elite and I think you helped to get Trump elected.
6
The alienated who are at the core of the GOP base have been there since the Goldwater days - opposed to civil rights then, opposed to immigrants now, etc. The cliches have changed from silent majority, to law and order, to morning in America, to make America great again, but it's all the same appeal. They now have the "real deal" man in the White House, and we have seen the disasterous consequences in just a few short months.
9
You are correct. I am exhausted. Sometimes, lately, I have felt more agitated about baseball considering tie scores in the 12th inning to be the end of the game, than what I read on the opinion pages.
2
Now you are seeing the ultimate, malign flower of what you've been flacking for, David. You have some responsibility for it, as you've been the "higher-toned" proponent of GOP sleaze.
15
The right has made patriotism ugly. When that happens in other countries, we call it "nationalism" and condemn it. The real patriots are now being told to "sit down and shut up" because WE won and YOU lost so stop whining, blah, blah, etc. This is a sick time in American history.
David, are you for real?
Ronald "Government is the problem" Reagan was your hero for decades, and now your solution is to build good governance?
And on top of that, blame "the elites", so that the idiots that ruined themselves voting Republican can interpret "Democrats"?
And yes: idiots. If they don't want political correctness, neither do I. Let's call things by their real name.
Ronald "Government is the problem" Reagan was your hero for decades, and now your solution is to build good governance?
And on top of that, blame "the elites", so that the idiots that ruined themselves voting Republican can interpret "Democrats"?
And yes: idiots. If they don't want political correctness, neither do I. Let's call things by their real name.
I read the article, and the flight 93 link, and I come away with the feeling that conservatism is like the emperor with no cloths. It tell us how wonder full it looks in its fine suit of platitudes, low taxes, forced child birth, school choice (no special ed kids allowed), I could go on and on but the hypocrisy sticks in my craw. Their fine as long as they have their foot on your throat telling you what scum you are. No health care, no food stamps, plenty of bombs and by the way any jobs you see belong to Obama and his 8 years after the republican Bush economic fiasco.
11
David you have been a Republican all your adult life, right? For all of us that read your columns every week, would you write one that lets us know what it means for you to be a Conservative republican.
3
David Brooks is alienated
2
David Brooks is THOUGHTFUL.
These are laudable sentiments but, sadly, analogous to "belling the cat". How does one go about getting politicians to change the way they have operated for the past 30 years or so? Republican success over that period was largely due to divisive politics and alienation of the "other" rather than superior economic or social policies. Democrats have been wanting to wage their battles with Republicans on those grounds for some time. I don't believe that current Republican orthodoxy will accede to that proposal.
2
I think that one of the truths that gets left out of these discussions is how even 'the elites' can struggle with having a strong sense of self. There is fierce competition at the highest levels and many people who you would think would be able to rise above pettiness can be quite insecure and measure themselves to some extent by how much better they are doing than rivals. (Or at least as well as those rivals.) The elites may have learned to hide it better, but there is a basic insecurity that haunts many if not all of us and I think it is the rare human is really is beyond that. (And there are some amazing beings on earth too.)
1
This all sounds good, but Brooks tips his hand when he disdains "political correctness." In other terms, it is simply being polite and treating other people with kindness. Being able to use derogatory terms isn't something to be proud of. Nor does it help to bring the country together anymore than so-called "political correctness." In fact, it drives people further apart.
5
Mr. Brooks correctly concludes that Donald Trump "is not going to solve the problem he was elected to address". Not only that, he will make it much, much worse.
I still fail to see how smart conservatives can accurately state some of the things that have alienated so many people (e.g., "a college educated elite . . . that has managed to transfer wealth upward to itself") and yet strongly support policies that will do more of the same (tax cuts for rich people and corporations, repeal of Obamacare, cuts to social programs, etc.). If concentration of wealth upward is a problem Mr. Brooks, then come up with solutions. Democrats are not perfect, and neither are their solutions, but they are the only ones trying.
I still fail to see how smart conservatives can accurately state some of the things that have alienated so many people (e.g., "a college educated elite . . . that has managed to transfer wealth upward to itself") and yet strongly support policies that will do more of the same (tax cuts for rich people and corporations, repeal of Obamacare, cuts to social programs, etc.). If concentration of wealth upward is a problem Mr. Brooks, then come up with solutions. Democrats are not perfect, and neither are their solutions, but they are the only ones trying.
5
I want to pick up on the thread of taking responsibility. Brooks (and many others) makes a compelling argument for investing (emotionally and economically) in the people and the places far away from the coasts. Yes, we need to bridge that gap. But I fear those efforts will fall short without a critical examination of the culture and the beliefs in "Trump country" that have played a significant role in their falling behind as the economy, society and world changed around them. David, you wax poetic on the role of the elites and highlight the unpleasant expressions of those who feel alienated, but what about the motivation to recognize the world around you and invest in a different future, rather than doing the same thing your parents did? What about the well-documented gender power inequality in too many relationships that keep women from realizing a better future? What about this inane definition of masculinity that propels an individual from passive to aggressive at the suggestion of a personal slight? The ability to thrive in today's economy requires people to constantly strive for self-betterment; those who are left behind are those who do not live their life with that spirit. As a Canadian living in the States, I can think of a no more American quality than the energy to strive for self-betterment. We should empower people to do this, and if they confront higher barriers to education and employment, we need to break those barriers down, including cultural barriers.
5
Well said, NeilH. Those efforts would be useful on the coasts, too.
1
It seems clear that Trump never intended to deliver on his promises to his alienated followers. He used them and threw them under the bus, just like he did to his contractors and lenders. Surprise, surprise.
"The alienated long for something that will smash the system or change their situation, but they have no actual plan or any means to deliver it." The alienated generally do not have the plans or means to get very much done. They expect their elected officials to do it. The cynical leaders who exploit them might or might not have the competence, but they do not have the intention of fixing the problems that they were elected to fix.
"The events of the past four months illustrate that we do need a political establishment in this country, or maybe a few competing establishments. "
Robert Reich calls this 'countervailing force'. The right wing has been systematically dismantling the countervailing forces since Reagan.
"That means conducting oneself in office as if nation is more important than party..."
Leadership is the defining problem of civilization.
"The alienated long for something that will smash the system or change their situation, but they have no actual plan or any means to deliver it." The alienated generally do not have the plans or means to get very much done. They expect their elected officials to do it. The cynical leaders who exploit them might or might not have the competence, but they do not have the intention of fixing the problems that they were elected to fix.
"The events of the past four months illustrate that we do need a political establishment in this country, or maybe a few competing establishments. "
Robert Reich calls this 'countervailing force'. The right wing has been systematically dismantling the countervailing forces since Reagan.
"That means conducting oneself in office as if nation is more important than party..."
Leadership is the defining problem of civilization.
4
I don't think you can overestimate the negative social effect of the ever increase disparity in wealth distribution. It is large structural problems like this that drive all the others, including alienation. Because of the stack disparity of income, there is no longer a common culture. Wealth is generated and distributed in urban areas, rural people are uncomfortable moving to urban areas for work and suffer. This is the natural and indeed more or less stated aim of conservatism. Re-distribute money upward. It has been a 37 year process starting with Ronald Reagan. And while you are alarmed about the results now, Mr. Brooks, you have been complicit in promoting this ideology. If you narrow the distribution of income you will see large scale alienation go away.
6
Two recent developments that come to mind and have been most detrimental are: elimination of earmarks and the Citizens United decision.
With earmarks, much power was wielded by the party leadership. That power created discipline and focus and with chairmanships in the hands of seasoned reasonable congressmen, cooperation and compromise across the aisle was possible with the party caucus in tow.
Citizens United took money, and its power away from party leaders straight into the hands of big donors, whose perhaps main and only interest is to wreak havoc and disunion. The ability of party leadership to create focus and discipline and bring caucus members inline, by allocating money for campaigns, has now been eroded if not outright destroyed.
With earmarks, much power was wielded by the party leadership. That power created discipline and focus and with chairmanships in the hands of seasoned reasonable congressmen, cooperation and compromise across the aisle was possible with the party caucus in tow.
Citizens United took money, and its power away from party leaders straight into the hands of big donors, whose perhaps main and only interest is to wreak havoc and disunion. The ability of party leadership to create focus and discipline and bring caucus members inline, by allocating money for campaigns, has now been eroded if not outright destroyed.
3
David,
If the evidence of obstruction of justice were as obvious for Clinton as it is for Trump, I absolutely would have wanted him out of office. Unfortunately for the GOP, that evidence just wasn't there. Trump, though, has taken public actions that scream obstruction--threatening Comey for example. If Trump is willing to publicly obstruct, what is he doing under the radar?
If the evidence of obstruction of justice were as obvious for Clinton as it is for Trump, I absolutely would have wanted him out of office. Unfortunately for the GOP, that evidence just wasn't there. Trump, though, has taken public actions that scream obstruction--threatening Comey for example. If Trump is willing to publicly obstruct, what is he doing under the radar?
2
Mr. Brooks I am going to use the "M" word here. Some in Red states would not ever vote for a woman for president, just as some reviled the black man being elected to that position. You left that out of the equation. Further, evangelicals embraced an amoral man to push their agenda against a woman's right to choose. In recent days we have seen graduates at Christian colleges call out their schools for the hypocrisy shown in choice of a commencement speaker for having aligned himself with a man they see as having no morals. Misogyny was certainly not the only reason Clinton lost the election, but it was a factor that cannot be ignored.
Somehow Mr. Brooks you are imagining that Trump's supporters were the downtrodden forgotten man who had lost hope. Look around you, and I would like to bet that you know some very well educated "elites" who voted for Trump to further their own best interests. I certainly know some very well educated people, scientists and astute businessmen in my own family who voted for Trump, as did their friends. They were looking for a more libertarian president to drown government in a bathtub.
Trump is part of the "elite" crowd. Why on earth would anyone think he would turn on his social group. He hasn't and he will not, as witnessed by his budget proposal and alternative to the ACA. In fact the "elites" will have more sway in government than ever before, fueled by Trump's supporters who have become convinced that the federal government is the enemy.
Somehow Mr. Brooks you are imagining that Trump's supporters were the downtrodden forgotten man who had lost hope. Look around you, and I would like to bet that you know some very well educated "elites" who voted for Trump to further their own best interests. I certainly know some very well educated people, scientists and astute businessmen in my own family who voted for Trump, as did their friends. They were looking for a more libertarian president to drown government in a bathtub.
Trump is part of the "elite" crowd. Why on earth would anyone think he would turn on his social group. He hasn't and he will not, as witnessed by his budget proposal and alternative to the ACA. In fact the "elites" will have more sway in government than ever before, fueled by Trump's supporters who have become convinced that the federal government is the enemy.
"As Robert W. Merry put it recently in The American Conservative, 'When a man as uncouth and reckless as Trump becomes president by running against the nation’s elites, it’s a strong signal that the elites are the problem.'”
The elites, in their faculty lounges, believe in their foolish way that 2+2=4. The conservatives are pretty sure that 2+2=5. So we can conclude that the elites have a problem because in a democracy everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. It reminds me of Lucy's dispute with Linus about how far away the moon is. Charlie Brown suggested that they settle the issue by taking a vote.
The elites, in their faculty lounges, believe in their foolish way that 2+2=4. The conservatives are pretty sure that 2+2=5. So we can conclude that the elites have a problem because in a democracy everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. It reminds me of Lucy's dispute with Linus about how far away the moon is. Charlie Brown suggested that they settle the issue by taking a vote.
4
It isn't really the "elite" versus the rest. There are really three groups, the super wealthy (most of whom inherited their wealth), the educated elites and the rest. While a small component of the super wealthy acts to develop the economy, most are mere rent takers having inherited property, rich and dumb. This passive ownership of such a huge fraction of the economy is devastating the US. Economy recovery will require putting that money back in play, perhaps best achieved by a big increase in the inheritance tax. For all of Trump's faults as a businessman, you can not say he has not built many things (many of which failed), and this has provided jobs (at least for a while). Unfortunately, the congress wants to act in exactly the other direction.
2
All this alienation is fertilized by the forces of inequality. When you struggle to pay your rent, feed your family, and pay a few bills, you start to see things in terms of scarcity. And the giant well-oiled propaganda machine screams day and night "It's the Mexicans, or Blacks, or Muslims or liberals that are pulling the rug out from you."
Common sense tells us to follow the money. Corporate execs, Wall Street traders, venture capitalists, real estate moguls, corrupt politicians and lobbyists, even overpaid entertainers and sports figures get an outsized piece of the nation's incredible wealth. Meanwhile automation and technology profoundly changes the nature of work and makes more and more of our skills obsolete.
Try investing in education for the young, re-skilling for the middle aged, single-payer healthcare for everyone, affordable housing, and campaign finance reform and I think we'll see alienation subside, and the appeal of Trumps neo-authoritarian populism disappear.
At least I hope.
Common sense tells us to follow the money. Corporate execs, Wall Street traders, venture capitalists, real estate moguls, corrupt politicians and lobbyists, even overpaid entertainers and sports figures get an outsized piece of the nation's incredible wealth. Meanwhile automation and technology profoundly changes the nature of work and makes more and more of our skills obsolete.
Try investing in education for the young, re-skilling for the middle aged, single-payer healthcare for everyone, affordable housing, and campaign finance reform and I think we'll see alienation subside, and the appeal of Trumps neo-authoritarian populism disappear.
At least I hope.
5
"We need people who have had gradual, upward careers in government and understand the craft of wielding power."
No we don't. That is what we had, and that is what and who I voted against when voting for ...ug...Trump
No we don't. That is what we had, and that is what and who I voted against when voting for ...ug...Trump
2
I assume that you have this same point of view at your workplace - better to hire an outsider with no experience than to promote - you.
I'm still puzzled about this fake elitism. The current president is a Manhattan billionaire, who has never lived outside expensive areas of the Northeast, and he's the savior of the working class in the Midwest and coal country? Trump also used government mechanizations -- namely bankruptcy rules -- to keep his lavish lifestyle intact. He used this five or six times. How is that anti-government, draining any kind of swamp, and being similar to the common man? Let's just be honest about this: The election was won on hate and racism. If Trump was the exact same person, but a minority, he loses in a landslide.
11
YOUR party built this. Help dismantle it, or be silent. Enough of the blame game and excuse mongering. Seriously.
6
It is difficult to portray and analyze what happens here and now with Trump as you do David. Each field of study of human behavior, whether individual or group, has its own labels, but usually converge in approximations to reality. Social hysteria against abuse and abuse grows every day. It is not insurrection but the "word of the dumb" as a literate calls them. Those who do not have a voice to be heard. Considered; We come to places where we believe we exist as active entities of society.Twiter, New York Times, etc., allow us that fiction, this fantasy. In my case for example, and since he was a candidate for Trump as a Histrionic Histrrico.Luego I saw that their ties to reality are so fragile and lax, that I convinced myself that it is a basic Psychopath on which other pathologies have been installed in The time. Come, as now, to consider him a bad man. I believe that there is, apart from everything that is scientifically accepted as a diagnosis of an individual, good people and bad people. And this bation is structurally and functionally an educative place for good people for good people. But I think the majority of people in the country agree that Trump to leave right now. In 3 months his anima toxic has done damage without presuring and unheard of. And that the application of Amendment 25 is the one that best typifies it.
1
By your definition of alienation Mr Brooks, the entire Republican congress and senate have been alienated from the United States for the last eight years.
In 1936 FDR warned: ‘The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than the democratic state itself. That in its essence is fascism: ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or any controlling private power.” People are alienated because thanks to election tampering America has awakened to government in private hands. Wecome to Trumpism, America’s version of fascism. There should only be two kinds of Americans, fascists and anti-fascists. There are plenty of pro-fascists and it is time for the anti-fascists to take their country back. Iy is a simple as that.
4
I don't think one of DB's articles have ever made me this angry. He is blaming college educated "elites" for Trump!
However you are defining elite, you don't become that merely by becoming educated. You are also cautioning that political parties should not do the things that the GOP has spent the last 8 years doing. Obstructing, filibustering and of course, don't invoke the nuclear option. You say that now because you know that when (not if) the Dems come back to power, that might be precisely what they do. Just like your party did in order to steal a Supreme Court seat. How dare you lecture us on how not to behave while you sat silently by while your party did everything you're saying shouldn't be done. With such hypocrisy, you certainly belong in the GOP.
However you are defining elite, you don't become that merely by becoming educated. You are also cautioning that political parties should not do the things that the GOP has spent the last 8 years doing. Obstructing, filibustering and of course, don't invoke the nuclear option. You say that now because you know that when (not if) the Dems come back to power, that might be precisely what they do. Just like your party did in order to steal a Supreme Court seat. How dare you lecture us on how not to behave while you sat silently by while your party did everything you're saying shouldn't be done. With such hypocrisy, you certainly belong in the GOP.
8
There is not an ounce of truth of wisdom in an analysis of reality based on presumption void of knowledge. Any honest individual will acknowledge the anger is concentrated in our country from the people pointing the finger. Once fear of God is forsaken, reality cannot be grapsed without deception. Anger, confusion, and conspiracies are the result - combined with the lack of honesty and humility to acknowledge them in ourselves. What a tragic irony - grasp of truth and spiritual authority have departed from the left. They are now fully committed to the agendas of darkness, fear and ignorance.
1
The mystery to me is, if "elites" are so resented, why 60 million people voted for one of them. Isn't being a (self-proclaimed) billionaire by definition an "elite"?
Or does being willing to climb into the ring in your shiny suit and too-long tie at a WWE event and rough it up with Vince McMahon inoculate you against the label?
Or does being willing to climb into the ring in your shiny suit and too-long tie at a WWE event and rough it up with Vince McMahon inoculate you against the label?
4
David Brooks, I believe that you are STILL a Republican. Would you mind explaining your reasoning to your readers? The Republican family and friends to whom I still speak, can only say that they did not vote (the never Trump Republicans). They are the educatied elite Republicans who helped Trump win the election. They are hardly alienated.
2
Mr. Brooks, you are right to say that Trump voters are alienated, but it's not because "modern democratic capitalism doesn't work for them", but rather because the democratic system has been marginalized during the last decades by a center-left consensus.
No matter what the election results are, both parties do not dare to challenge a number of established paradigms. Business is a sin, to be tolerated only if heavily regulated and taxed; any innovations that might jumpstart the economy (genetically modified plants, fracking) are to be banished; "identity politics" shall rule; immigration is a "general human right", so citizens should not really get the right to set the rules on immigration and its enforcement).
No doubt there are also a lot of absurd illusions in the mind of Trump supporters, such as the idea that jobs for uneducated workers will somehow come back.
We should realize that a lot of Trump's supporters are incensed by the deficit of democracy that tolerates these endless leftist paradigms, without being necessarily fans of Trump personally. More than that, a lot of the people who voted for Clinton (such as myself) are by no means leftist true believers but just acted out of common sense, to avoid the greater evil.
No matter what the election results are, both parties do not dare to challenge a number of established paradigms. Business is a sin, to be tolerated only if heavily regulated and taxed; any innovations that might jumpstart the economy (genetically modified plants, fracking) are to be banished; "identity politics" shall rule; immigration is a "general human right", so citizens should not really get the right to set the rules on immigration and its enforcement).
No doubt there are also a lot of absurd illusions in the mind of Trump supporters, such as the idea that jobs for uneducated workers will somehow come back.
We should realize that a lot of Trump's supporters are incensed by the deficit of democracy that tolerates these endless leftist paradigms, without being necessarily fans of Trump personally. More than that, a lot of the people who voted for Clinton (such as myself) are by no means leftist true believers but just acted out of common sense, to avoid the greater evil.
I was "alienated" by our society when I was 16 years old - that was 52 years ago. I was alienated by the Viet Nam War, capitalism and consumerism, entertainment media immorality, environmental degradation, inequality, greed, bigotry, etc. etc.
I intentionally withdrew from the mainstream and tried to build a life based on sound values: caring for the earth, eschewing materialism, building local community, educating myself and my family, creating art, and working politically to further those values.
My life has not been easy financially or physically, but it has been deeply rewarding. The "alienated" have many other options than hatred, ignorance, war, and greed.
I intentionally withdrew from the mainstream and tried to build a life based on sound values: caring for the earth, eschewing materialism, building local community, educating myself and my family, creating art, and working politically to further those values.
My life has not been easy financially or physically, but it has been deeply rewarding. The "alienated" have many other options than hatred, ignorance, war, and greed.
5
David-
I think you hit the nail on the head with your first comment that basic institutions like the family are falling apart, and democratic capitalism is not working for them.
The common thread that existed in generations past, perhaps even the humility that seemed to be present is no longer something to aspire to, but to distance one self from.
It will require an openness to new ways of thinking, of larger societal values and more personal values and ways of living.
I think you hit the nail on the head with your first comment that basic institutions like the family are falling apart, and democratic capitalism is not working for them.
The common thread that existed in generations past, perhaps even the humility that seemed to be present is no longer something to aspire to, but to distance one self from.
It will require an openness to new ways of thinking, of larger societal values and more personal values and ways of living.
The lack of any hope of moderation and compromise will mean that "using executive orders, filibusters and the nuclear option to grab what you can while you happen to be in the majority" will be what governing looks like in the future. It will be the only way to claw back what is perceived as gains by the opposition.
1
Certainly cultural alientation played a role in Trump's electoral victory. But are we so sure that the real or perceived disdain elites show towards everyday people is the most imporant root cause of this alienation? No doubt it plays a role. But Brooks fails to mention the role economic factors play in breeding cultural and political alientation.
For almost 40 years now America has heeded to the principles of supply-side economics, the belief that low taxes on the wealthiest Americans leads to prosperity for all. This is simply not borne out by the facts. And these ill-conceived policies have resulted in an unequal society: the rich get richer while the middle and working classes work longer hours to scrape by. College and healthcare get more expensive. Retirement seems out of reach. Surely this cycle plays a role in fostering alientation just as much as snooty elites.
Indeed, Mr. Trump's election should wake us up. That roughly half of voters believed he was their best hope to shake up our unreceptive politics should make us realize that people are upset with the status quo. But if a new establishment takes over, will the alienation really end if Washington simply changes its tune? Or will it take meaningful reform that puts the interests of middle and working class Americans over those of the donor and billionaire class?
A new establishment is welcome but can only do so much. More important is an economic model that works for Americans in every zip code.
For almost 40 years now America has heeded to the principles of supply-side economics, the belief that low taxes on the wealthiest Americans leads to prosperity for all. This is simply not borne out by the facts. And these ill-conceived policies have resulted in an unequal society: the rich get richer while the middle and working classes work longer hours to scrape by. College and healthcare get more expensive. Retirement seems out of reach. Surely this cycle plays a role in fostering alientation just as much as snooty elites.
Indeed, Mr. Trump's election should wake us up. That roughly half of voters believed he was their best hope to shake up our unreceptive politics should make us realize that people are upset with the status quo. But if a new establishment takes over, will the alienation really end if Washington simply changes its tune? Or will it take meaningful reform that puts the interests of middle and working class Americans over those of the donor and billionaire class?
A new establishment is welcome but can only do so much. More important is an economic model that works for Americans in every zip code.
3
As usual, no economic analysis. Brooks and others bemoan the shredding of institutions like the family and loss of community (patriotism being an aspect of community) but also extoll individualism and the "creative destruction" of our brand of capitalism without ever seeming to notice how one value effects the other. Could the decline of the family have something to do with economics?But any effort to address this would distort the market, or inhibit so called "job creators" and we wouldn't want to do that. So if you embrace our economic system and continually praise that paragon of individualism, the entrepreneur, you are likely going to see what we have been experiencing--deep alienation and popularism in which the rational voter ends up saying something like "I am not so sure about Trump, but we need to shake up the system."
1
Said alienation has been fostered and promoted by an irresponsible segment of the press. It has been fed by talk radio shows that feed like vampires an the anger of their listeners, doing everything that they can to make their listeners feel more aggrieved, including outright lies. There are real problems that are faced by a substantial part of the country, and they need to be faced and addressed.
The irresponsible behavior of the right wing press has been abetted by a Republican party whose sole aim is to take power. They have no real solutions. So they rely on lies and baiting to distract the populace and get elected.
The irresponsible behavior of the right wing press has been abetted by a Republican party whose sole aim is to take power. They have no real solutions. So they rely on lies and baiting to distract the populace and get elected.
4
A long winded essay without the courage to look squarely at the social and economic consequences of the American capitalist economy and to indict it for failing and protecting the American working class. Alienation among the Trump's voters rises along with the de-manufacturing and globalization of the American economy. The political class, under the influence of money, colluded with big business interests and corporations to fatten the later profit and subverted the tax codes and legislative process for the benefits of the moneyed elites. There is seemingly no cure to the system; the cancer is built in. The alienation like a business cycle can be patched over with jobs and increased incomes until the next downturn and the return of alienation. The challenge hence is to appease the less than educated working class with ever generous social benefits.
1
Please don't underestimate that there is another "reality" besides suffering that influences the alienated... ignorance of the complex truths that have always governed our lives and that must be considered if we are to prosper as a nation.
1
Let's stop demonizing education and elevating ignorance to our highest office, GOP. Those whose goal is the destruction of government shouldn't be in government. Instead of branding an "elite" patriotism call for patriotism that isn't co-opted by one party, as is so often done by flag-lapel wearing Republicans touting 'freedom' and 'liberty' in toxic, damaging policies offering neither. Look at the despair offered by today's GOP via their 'healthcare' bill, cuts to the EPA, education, social services and tell me what earthly good they do for anyone other than their privatizing, off-shoring cronies? They lie. We've never had a more malicious, immoral bunch of Republican hypocrites in the White House or Congress.
4
Alienation is as old as history itself. What's new is alienation in the age of social media, which allows and encourages masses of previously marginalized individuals to join forces for the greater bad. All they needed was Trump to lead the way.
2
"We need people who know how to live up to certain standards of integrity and
Public service." If you are talking about Mike Pence and his unwillingness to help fund Planned Parenthood or drink a glass of wine with anyone other than his wife because his standards are "certain" I do not want anything to do with him. On the other hand, if you are talking about a set of values that bring about greater equity because there is engaged participation I get what you are driving toward.
In my 68 years the legislative side of our government has failed so miserably
And so often to provide structures and policies that help with race relations, the environment and economic issues (remember raids on pension funds?) that it is hard not to feel alienated. Agreed that political correctness is as irritating as Donald Trump's attitude toward women. At the same time it would be really nice to see either side of the political aisle marry words to deeds. Republicans spent all of those years offering to change the ACA and put something wonderful in its place. What is being offered by them is no where in the same universe with wonderful.
This struggle with Donald is a fight. He is a thug, a bully and if allowed to take any more power he will start locking away people he does not like. Journalists are top on his list followed closely by Muslims, then environmentalists.
Yes we need a caste of Platonic "Gold men" to lead us out of the cave. In the current culture they have all gone to Goldman Sachs.
Public service." If you are talking about Mike Pence and his unwillingness to help fund Planned Parenthood or drink a glass of wine with anyone other than his wife because his standards are "certain" I do not want anything to do with him. On the other hand, if you are talking about a set of values that bring about greater equity because there is engaged participation I get what you are driving toward.
In my 68 years the legislative side of our government has failed so miserably
And so often to provide structures and policies that help with race relations, the environment and economic issues (remember raids on pension funds?) that it is hard not to feel alienated. Agreed that political correctness is as irritating as Donald Trump's attitude toward women. At the same time it would be really nice to see either side of the political aisle marry words to deeds. Republicans spent all of those years offering to change the ACA and put something wonderful in its place. What is being offered by them is no where in the same universe with wonderful.
This struggle with Donald is a fight. He is a thug, a bully and if allowed to take any more power he will start locking away people he does not like. Journalists are top on his list followed closely by Muslims, then environmentalists.
Yes we need a caste of Platonic "Gold men" to lead us out of the cave. In the current culture they have all gone to Goldman Sachs.
3
Alienation as presented here seems similar to mimetic desire and the ideas of Rousseau. I like Brook's sentiments, but I doubt the solution will come from lofty ideas based on everyone all of a sudden getting a better character. Yes we need science and experts, people who are adept in their specializations. But the more fundamental need is for economic equality. With more equality there will be less needless acquisition of privilege and material status symbols (like the rich people have) and less impulse to reject them with the resenting anger of being left behind. This is a world wide problem exacerbated by instant communication and the amour propre thus more intensely generated. The alienated white man in a decayed rural American town is having the same feelings as the ISIS recruit watching the world ignore him as it passes by.
1
The alienation is partly due to the alienated persons themselves. The Republicans very cleverly won voters on social issues and prejudices and then passed legislation that actually harmed their constituency. The Republican party - a wolf dressed in pages from the Bible.
5
I consider myself to be an Elite but it's not because my bank account is full or all my credentials were achieved at a University. Quite to the contrary. As an artist friend used to say "I may have no money but I'm far, far from poor".
Americans mistakenly equate the word 'elite' with affluence. Trump and his vulgar wealth should not be the gold standard to envy or strive for because he and his kind are as far from elite as elegance is from a pig sty.
I've dined in the dirt in Mexico eating tortillas and chilies roasted over an open fire and found it to be a far more 'elite' experience than any to be found at Trump Tower.
Back in the day, my English Professor mother, used to regale me with tales of our Boston Brahmin families who would shutter at the notion of wearing their wealth on their sleeves. How would these American Elite be rated today in our affluenza obsessed society? Probably pretty low on the Totem Pole.
All satisfaction in life is not predicated on great wealth but too many in our Nation have come to believe it's true. That false notion is in part where the seeds of our Alienation and misery begins.
Americans mistakenly equate the word 'elite' with affluence. Trump and his vulgar wealth should not be the gold standard to envy or strive for because he and his kind are as far from elite as elegance is from a pig sty.
I've dined in the dirt in Mexico eating tortillas and chilies roasted over an open fire and found it to be a far more 'elite' experience than any to be found at Trump Tower.
Back in the day, my English Professor mother, used to regale me with tales of our Boston Brahmin families who would shutter at the notion of wearing their wealth on their sleeves. How would these American Elite be rated today in our affluenza obsessed society? Probably pretty low on the Totem Pole.
All satisfaction in life is not predicated on great wealth but too many in our Nation have come to believe it's true. That false notion is in part where the seeds of our Alienation and misery begins.
3
what evidence shows the number of Trump voters who are feeling marginalized and ' invisible'? it is tempting to jump on the current media talking points as if they are facts, but before fixing a problem the cause has to be well understood. we have gone from economic pain, which describes a much smaller percentage of the Trump vote tan originally pointed to, to bigotry, to the now fashionable marginalization.
How many concessions to modern life we're made to blacksmiths, as technology changed under their feet?
How many young women need to be denied meaningful work to make the alienated feel self with again.
why is the Trump voter overwhelmingly white Christian.
what is the difference between the well off Trump voter and the ' marginalized' voter.
how much of modern attitudes need to be changed to "make America great again"
How many concessions to modern life we're made to blacksmiths, as technology changed under their feet?
How many young women need to be denied meaningful work to make the alienated feel self with again.
why is the Trump voter overwhelmingly white Christian.
what is the difference between the well off Trump voter and the ' marginalized' voter.
how much of modern attitudes need to be changed to "make America great again"
2
I'm getting tired of hearing about how bad the "elites" are. It's just lazy, especially when the solutions all appear to be aimed at regular Joes. Just look at Brooks' solutions: Participate in things. Be patriotic. Be empathetic toward people with different views. What does any of that have to do with the elite?
Maybe the voters are the problem. Maybe it's the people who say they hate Congress and then keep electing the same people over and over again. Maybe it's the people who say they hate partisanship and then gleefully tune in to hear Hannity and Jones preach their insane messages. Maybe it's the people who make no effort to understand things like climate science or the effects of immigration on joblessness or the insanity of locking millions of Americans in prisons or the immorality of allowing the free flow of guns in a country where 30,000-plus people die each year from gun shots. Maybe it's the people who prefer content-free stories about patriotism and the evil of unnamed elites instead of grappling with complexity.
No, it's all about the unnamed elites... If you were serious about elitism per se, you'd go for something radical like abolishing education, or forcing people to hide talent. Basically, you'd want to create a dystopian teen novel.
Or is elite-bashing the spoonful of sugar we need to swallow the medicine of acknowledging that we, the people, are the problem?
Maybe the voters are the problem. Maybe it's the people who say they hate Congress and then keep electing the same people over and over again. Maybe it's the people who say they hate partisanship and then gleefully tune in to hear Hannity and Jones preach their insane messages. Maybe it's the people who make no effort to understand things like climate science or the effects of immigration on joblessness or the insanity of locking millions of Americans in prisons or the immorality of allowing the free flow of guns in a country where 30,000-plus people die each year from gun shots. Maybe it's the people who prefer content-free stories about patriotism and the evil of unnamed elites instead of grappling with complexity.
No, it's all about the unnamed elites... If you were serious about elitism per se, you'd go for something radical like abolishing education, or forcing people to hide talent. Basically, you'd want to create a dystopian teen novel.
Or is elite-bashing the spoonful of sugar we need to swallow the medicine of acknowledging that we, the people, are the problem?
4
> Angry voters made a few things abundantly clear: that modern democratic capitalism is not working for them;
And that that's so bad that almost half of voters voted in an obviously incompetent, unstable and insincere Donald Trump.
And that that's so bad that almost half of voters voted in an obviously incompetent, unstable and insincere Donald Trump.
This column will be read by the typical NYT reader as being wholly anti-Trump. The NYT readers, editorialists, columnists, and reporters really need to look in the mirror. They have all been alienated for years. Very critical of this country. Always critical of Republicans. The 1%. Trump just drives them way over the edge. I really think that there are a lot more alienated people on the left than on the right.
Mr. Brooks,
Do you think Mitch McConnell or Paul Ryan are listening to you?
Doubtful.
Do you think Mitch McConnell or Paul Ryan are listening to you?
Doubtful.
3
As long as Fox News and other right wing publications play to the fears and suspicions of their white listeners we will have Republicans winning elections.
I have often wondered why the Southern Soldiers were so willing to give their lives fighting for their Plantation masters that really had no economic benefit for them. At best they were overseers on the plantation or share croppers for the elite. In my opinion they were subject to brainwashing that they would lose their status if black folks were released from slavery.
This is the same strategy as what the Republicans employ today. They use fear and resentment of the "others" to stir up their constituents to go to the polls and vote against their won interests. Emotions are far more driving than logic.
I have often wondered why the Southern Soldiers were so willing to give their lives fighting for their Plantation masters that really had no economic benefit for them. At best they were overseers on the plantation or share croppers for the elite. In my opinion they were subject to brainwashing that they would lose their status if black folks were released from slavery.
This is the same strategy as what the Republicans employ today. They use fear and resentment of the "others" to stir up their constituents to go to the polls and vote against their won interests. Emotions are far more driving than logic.
3
David, your use of the phrase "modern democratic capitalism"
is naive. Laws like Citizens United removed any sense of
"democratic." The US is currently an oligarchy with a toadie
Congress. The Trump folks you talk about do not seem to
understand what Trump and Koch and McConnell a re all about, anything but democracy, a word I take to mean
"of, by, and for the people"....the common good. The new
GOP budget, just out, hammers Trump voters,the poor, and the rest of the middle class and they don't get it. They are
looked upon as natural born losers by the 1-2%.
is naive. Laws like Citizens United removed any sense of
"democratic." The US is currently an oligarchy with a toadie
Congress. The Trump folks you talk about do not seem to
understand what Trump and Koch and McConnell a re all about, anything but democracy, a word I take to mean
"of, by, and for the people"....the common good. The new
GOP budget, just out, hammers Trump voters,the poor, and the rest of the middle class and they don't get it. They are
looked upon as natural born losers by the 1-2%.
2
And it will be the greatest impeachment in history.
2
Yadda yadda yadda. When will we discuss the white elephant in the room? White Christians overwhelmingly voted for Trump, even as they have overwhelmingly voted for Republicans for, at least, decades. Without the white Christian vote, the GOP's power would be so diminished that nothing like what has happened would have occurred. Without white Christians America might have universal healthcare, might educate it's youth without sending them into deep debt, might not incarcerate more of its people than any other nation, might actually spend a little less on the military and more on its people and its infrastructure. Long before and long after Donald Trump we have the problem of white Christians - their hypocrisy, their prejudicial bigotry, their war-mongering, mean-spirited, blasphemy of God almighty.
Right, the elites may be the problem.... or, uh, Rush Limbaugh may have spent the past three decades stoking an underdog narrative that conservatives are oppressed by whatever it is liberals are in favor of. You know, whichever seems more plausible to you.
4
I think that when the president of the US calls terrorists from ISIS "losers" it is time for someone to give him help with the English language. I just don't think " losers" is exactly who these people are. This man is the most ignorant, befuddled, bombastic pile of less-than-nothing I have ever seen. Isn't there anyone in his administration to make him aware of the horror and profound sadness of the killing of innocent, beautiful children? Isn't the English language full of words that truly describe these cowardly murderers? "Losers" are people you don't want to meet on a dating site.
Trump is so lacking in iintelligence. He makes me cringe. I turn on the mute. I look away from the TV. I am so ashamed that this country put this incompetent "loser" in the White House.
Trump is so lacking in iintelligence. He makes me cringe. I turn on the mute. I look away from the TV. I am so ashamed that this country put this incompetent "loser" in the White House.
3
Here, Mr. Brooks, is an example of Senator Warren's populism, not the lie Trump ran on (from Lenny Magazine):
Elizabeth Warren believes our national policies from 1980 to today have resulted in a hollowing-out of the American middle class. She focuses, in particular, on the cost of a college education. When Senator Warren went to community college as a single mom decades ago, she paid $50 a semester. Now, student loans make up a whopping 10.6% of all household debt, compared with just 3.3% in 2003.
Trump, along with his billionaire secretary of education Betsy DeVos, is allegedly planning to end student-loan forgiveness for public servants, eliminate $700 million in Perkins loans for disadvantaged students, and cut a $15 million program that gives child care to low-income parents in college. These are policies made by people with vast inherited wealth, who can blithely forget that there are millions of real Americans whose lives and choices will be curtailed by their cutting of the safety net.
Stop peddling Trump's lies, Mr. Brooks. Trump is not a populist and we have the last 122 days of actual actions on his part to prove he isn't a populist.
Populism hasn't failed. Trump has failed, and you are enabling him, once again.
Elizabeth Warren believes our national policies from 1980 to today have resulted in a hollowing-out of the American middle class. She focuses, in particular, on the cost of a college education. When Senator Warren went to community college as a single mom decades ago, she paid $50 a semester. Now, student loans make up a whopping 10.6% of all household debt, compared with just 3.3% in 2003.
Trump, along with his billionaire secretary of education Betsy DeVos, is allegedly planning to end student-loan forgiveness for public servants, eliminate $700 million in Perkins loans for disadvantaged students, and cut a $15 million program that gives child care to low-income parents in college. These are policies made by people with vast inherited wealth, who can blithely forget that there are millions of real Americans whose lives and choices will be curtailed by their cutting of the safety net.
Stop peddling Trump's lies, Mr. Brooks. Trump is not a populist and we have the last 122 days of actual actions on his part to prove he isn't a populist.
Populism hasn't failed. Trump has failed, and you are enabling him, once again.
17
Forgive me for thinking like an elitist, but David should have written this article after the Republicans nominated Trump as their champion back in July, and published it in all the right-wing venues, as there seems to me to be a very asymmetrical battle going on in the US.
The left seems to nominate and govern through capable professionals, while the right seems to nominate and govern from the opposite approach - ability to "game" the system through gerrymandering or pandering to emotions with simple messages and soundbites over deeper, and longer-winded explanations of positions.
Life wouldn't be a bowl of cherries here if Clinton or Sanders had won, but like under Obama, there would be a feeling that, positions aside, a smart, capable leader was in the Oval Office.
Hopefully as Fox unravels without Ailes, hopefully people will resort to more thoughtful media (and I remember when even right-wing conversation was thoughtful, and not dominated by fear and hatred). That's a hope, but too many Americans seem to wallow in the warm feeling of that fear & hatred, without leaders who ask that they rise above that.
The left seems to nominate and govern through capable professionals, while the right seems to nominate and govern from the opposite approach - ability to "game" the system through gerrymandering or pandering to emotions with simple messages and soundbites over deeper, and longer-winded explanations of positions.
Life wouldn't be a bowl of cherries here if Clinton or Sanders had won, but like under Obama, there would be a feeling that, positions aside, a smart, capable leader was in the Oval Office.
Hopefully as Fox unravels without Ailes, hopefully people will resort to more thoughtful media (and I remember when even right-wing conversation was thoughtful, and not dominated by fear and hatred). That's a hope, but too many Americans seem to wallow in the warm feeling of that fear & hatred, without leaders who ask that they rise above that.
11
I know a lot of Trump voters, very few of whom can be said to be suffering in any objective sense. The ones that I know are electricians and plumbers... all of whom have decent paying jobs and are perfectly nice people outside of political conversations. Once it turns political, they are angry. That part at least is true. At what precisely is actually kind of hard to say... but to say its a failure of the elite seems perfectly absurd. From my experience Trump voters somehow managed to accumulate a ton of nonsensical information that drives or at least reinforces a good portion of their anger.
There are deeper anxieties that for sure are driving that anger but unless we want to coddle anxieties around misogyny and bigotry coupled with some serious knowledge deficits in civics, economics, and history than I'm not sure that there is much you can do to integrate them back into establishment politics.
There are deeper anxieties that for sure are driving that anger but unless we want to coddle anxieties around misogyny and bigotry coupled with some serious knowledge deficits in civics, economics, and history than I'm not sure that there is much you can do to integrate them back into establishment politics.
20
Turn on Fox, Rush, or any religious AM radio station, and you'll see exactly what the source of that anger is. When I visit my Trumpian family or friends, I find that playing nearly 24x7 in the background, and I personally can only take that fear and hatred for so long. Little productive problem-solving going on - just blame and pointing fingers at those "elites" who are keeping you from becoming the 1%!!!
2
I'm in total agreement and am sick and tired of hearing about "elites" who forgot about middle America. Trump won by trading on ignorance and xenophobia.
4
The problem is the gap between the have and the have nots is growing. The clearest way to remedy that is to shift income by taxing the wealthy.
It seems to be a good baseline for income parity would be around 1960 and we should strive to drive disposable income averages to this time period. This will require a major shift is tax burden.
It seems to be a good baseline for income parity would be around 1960 and we should strive to drive disposable income averages to this time period. This will require a major shift is tax burden.
1
The real issue here, underlying alienation is the endurance of money worshiping which is deeply embedded in the american ethos. When American will start reorganizing their priorities and focusing on the fact that affordable health care, family friendly workplace policies, quality of life and strong communities are more important than a job that is likely to pay minimum wage and a 80 hours work week, then we will see progress. Neither the elite nor the Trump aficionados (and surely not most of the right leaning politician) have seriously supported this agenda or have been unable to gear the message to the disparate constituencies in US. As a result , america is going backwar instead then forward and soon will be an even more difficult place to live in.
1
Many of the commenters today don't grasp the situation. Many commenters shared their stories, they got their education and worked to better themselves. That's terrific but Davids article isn't about you it's addressing the larger issue of greed and globalization. There have always been "over achievers" who through hard work, intelligence and supportive family succeed. David is addressing the much larger issue of the millions who don't have the intelligence, the parental guidance or were unlucky enough to be born in what can only be termed American War Zones, inner cities more dangerous than Iraq. No one begrudges a person who gets an education and does well for themselves, bravo to them. The real issue is globalization and the willful allowance of unfettered immigration to keep down labor costs hurting the rest not so clever or so fortunate.
There was no excuse for shifting manufacturing to countries offering cheap labor, the last three hundred years was about throwing off the role of Kings who stole the fruits of our labor, it was about equality allowing all to share in the prosperity of a nation that so many sacrificed for and yet in a few short years greed has managed to undo all the good accomplished by generations of Americans. Henry Ford helped build a nation, Fisher(Gap), Lauren, Klein and their ilk, arguably the fathers of offshoring have destroyed it. Tariffs can correct it, a few manufacturers would be hurt, tough you've been hurting Americans for a generation.
There was no excuse for shifting manufacturing to countries offering cheap labor, the last three hundred years was about throwing off the role of Kings who stole the fruits of our labor, it was about equality allowing all to share in the prosperity of a nation that so many sacrificed for and yet in a few short years greed has managed to undo all the good accomplished by generations of Americans. Henry Ford helped build a nation, Fisher(Gap), Lauren, Klein and their ilk, arguably the fathers of offshoring have destroyed it. Tariffs can correct it, a few manufacturers would be hurt, tough you've been hurting Americans for a generation.
2
Wonderful!
I have always enjoyed reading Brooks, even though he well right of center. He explains things beautifully, in a polished, lucid language.
Lately, he seems to have moved closer to the center; maybe, even, crossed the center, a bit to the other side! And I am enjoying his writing even more.
I wish I could get hold of writings by Lenin and see how he described the situation in Russia soon after the first world war and compare those with Brooks analysis of contemprary America. There has to be a lot of similarity.
I have always enjoyed reading Brooks, even though he well right of center. He explains things beautifully, in a polished, lucid language.
Lately, he seems to have moved closer to the center; maybe, even, crossed the center, a bit to the other side! And I am enjoying his writing even more.
I wish I could get hold of writings by Lenin and see how he described the situation in Russia soon after the first world war and compare those with Brooks analysis of contemprary America. There has to be a lot of similarity.
No problem getting hold of Lenin's writings. Start by Googling "What Must Be Done?" In that essay Lenin says that just economic progress alone isn't enough to establish a government of the proletariat. The movement also needs to be guided by Marx/Engels political principles.
Personally, I don't think that one can compare a nation under the Romanovs with one under the Trumps, except in the matter of nepotism. Nevertheless, Lenin will give you plenty to think about.
Personally, I don't think that one can compare a nation under the Romanovs with one under the Trumps, except in the matter of nepotism. Nevertheless, Lenin will give you plenty to think about.
Its the labels. The elites. The alienated. Populism. The left. The right.
Every word carries a connotation which Trump used effectively to become
electably. The ramblings and rumblings of those who address what they consider to be answers to problems which are deep set in our lack of education system, miss the
point. Public school today SKIMS American democracy, history, geography, in order to keep up with technology, and the voter knows what Trump knows, the news is on TV. As children we brought to school newspaper articles germain to the day, talked about our country and its wonderful welcoming liberties. I love my iPhone, my computer, but I love my country more, and it is weakened because labels [code word for derisive name calling] create a fractured society.
Every word carries a connotation which Trump used effectively to become
electably. The ramblings and rumblings of those who address what they consider to be answers to problems which are deep set in our lack of education system, miss the
point. Public school today SKIMS American democracy, history, geography, in order to keep up with technology, and the voter knows what Trump knows, the news is on TV. As children we brought to school newspaper articles germain to the day, talked about our country and its wonderful welcoming liberties. I love my iPhone, my computer, but I love my country more, and it is weakened because labels [code word for derisive name calling] create a fractured society.
6
Well said! If you get what you ask for, Trump out, the nation will still be dealing with a conservative government for the next 3 years (I'm betting Trump does not make his 1st anniversary as President). The Democrats must show they are capable of working with in the system to make the lives of ordinary Americans better. I would urge you to adopt the model of Servant Leadership. Be as smart as you can be, but realize the ultimate goal is to lift up as many people as possible; not to look down from your rarefied, and elite, heights.
With all due respect, Mr. Brooks, it's more than that. It's Republicans.
They also chose Sarah Palin, who couldn't pass a readiness test to serve as president in 2007, just as Donald Trump could not in 2016.
He isn't even learning on the job. His only compliments come from reading a speech that someone else wrote for him.
This isn't a new phenomenon at all. Sarah Palin as vice president, one elderly McCain heartbeat away from the presidency??
Clearly Republicans don't handle their selection process well. They will take anyone to win over conservative voters with animosity toward certain groups.
You can go back as far as Reagan in these modern times as to Republicans manipulating voter animosity.
They also chose Sarah Palin, who couldn't pass a readiness test to serve as president in 2007, just as Donald Trump could not in 2016.
He isn't even learning on the job. His only compliments come from reading a speech that someone else wrote for him.
This isn't a new phenomenon at all. Sarah Palin as vice president, one elderly McCain heartbeat away from the presidency??
Clearly Republicans don't handle their selection process well. They will take anyone to win over conservative voters with animosity toward certain groups.
You can go back as far as Reagan in these modern times as to Republicans manipulating voter animosity.
8
“When a man as uncouth and reckless as Trump becomes president by running against the nation’s elites, it’s a strong signal that the elites are the problem.” Actually, Trump did not run against the "Elites" he ran against Blacks, Mexicans, Muslims, Immigrants, LGBTQ, immigrants and women. Racists, white nationalists, Islamophobia, Confederacy and Jim Crow nostalgia, and class inequity are the real problems.
11
I'm in the Ivy educated cohort and would probably be considered the "elite" by people in the middle of the US, but I would agree that the "elites" running the country have run it into the ground.
But Trump is incompetent and his policies are incoherent, and the GOP in general wants to tilt the table so even more flows upward.
I vote Democratic because occasionally they do something for the working person.
But if the working person wants to vote for tax cuts for the well to do, I guess I'll just have to get a nicer carbon fiber racing bicycle and take my family to Hawaii or Paris for vacation AGAIN. Can get tiring, you know!
But Trump is incompetent and his policies are incoherent, and the GOP in general wants to tilt the table so even more flows upward.
I vote Democratic because occasionally they do something for the working person.
But if the working person wants to vote for tax cuts for the well to do, I guess I'll just have to get a nicer carbon fiber racing bicycle and take my family to Hawaii or Paris for vacation AGAIN. Can get tiring, you know!
5
It starts with this question: We know what you are against, but what are you for?
The big dangling donut in all of this is that a cadre of super rich people who want as little government oversight as possible and the lowest taxes imaginable have taught a large chunk of the population that the rest of the population hates them and looks down on them - and that these people are represented by the Democracts.
The big dangling donut in all of this is that a cadre of super rich people who want as little government oversight as possible and the lowest taxes imaginable have taught a large chunk of the population that the rest of the population hates them and looks down on them - and that these people are represented by the Democracts.
2
Spot on! Well said!
Mr. Brooks, the alienated masses that voted for Trump, are alienated through their own choosing! They disparage education, science and the social net, which most of them need to survive! They believe that because they are white, majority of them are, they are entitled to their "country"! Most have chosen to drop out of high school, or do not attend college nor a vocational school which would give them a better life and a shot at the American Dream! Their anger was and is about a Black man in the White House, if you drive through deep red country you will see at least one bumper sticker that reads, "Make the White House White"! Their anger is projection of the anger they feel towards the lives they choose, and they dysfunctionally project that anger at Liberalism.
They loathed that an intelligent Black man and his beautiful family were successful! They loath that their kids are falling prey to opioids and heroin. They loath that their small towns are dying a slow, painful death!
Democrats are not perfect, but they are the party that has given America's poor, and disenfranchised the social safety net many of them depend on....and the Republicans (they are the real elitists) are hellbent on cutting these programs massively! What we, Liberals, offer is far better than the GOP ever has, yet the alienated reject Liberalism because they are still clinging to their bibles and their guns, to their own demise!
They loathed that an intelligent Black man and his beautiful family were successful! They loath that their kids are falling prey to opioids and heroin. They loath that their small towns are dying a slow, painful death!
Democrats are not perfect, but they are the party that has given America's poor, and disenfranchised the social safety net many of them depend on....and the Republicans (they are the real elitists) are hellbent on cutting these programs massively! What we, Liberals, offer is far better than the GOP ever has, yet the alienated reject Liberalism because they are still clinging to their bibles and their guns, to their own demise!
9
So well said I wish I had written it myself. The Republican Party these disenfranchised voters champion is the party that disenfranchised them. The party that despises them and proves it by every attempt to diminish the social safety net is the Republican Party. Yet the RP needs these voters. So, alienate them. Make them angry at the other side via the likes of Fox News. Spew the propaganda that those liberal elites are "taking" their jobs, country, religious freedom, culture, fill in the blank, and then sit back and get their vote. But something happened. After thirty years of waiting for their lives to change rather than change themselves, they took matters into their own hands and elected a personal champion. The party be damned. And now Republicans are wringing their hands, like David, and realizing that not only the party may be in trouble, but the whole country as a result of Republican self-absorbed preoccupation with enriching themselves. Why don't they, if they are so worried about our democracy, come back to the middle and start talking to democrats, who have always championed the little guy, and find ways to uplift all lives? After all, it's pretty apparent that, after a thirty year experiment, their plan isn't workings well. Just a thought!
The idea that democracy could function with participation by all of it's citizens was flawed that's why the founders made a representative democracy. Then as is now, not all people were created equal, some were capable of learning, were educable, and could be trusted to participate in governing.
Perhaps we do need a form of governing envisioned by Plato, philosopher kings.
Perhaps we do need a form of governing envisioned by Plato, philosopher kings.
"I have denied knowledge therefore, in order to make room for faith....I can have no respect for any inclination [value] whatsoever"
-Kant
The leading philosopher, the context of modern thought, is the basic cause of modern alienation.
-Kant
The leading philosopher, the context of modern thought, is the basic cause of modern alienation.
Now that there are so many investigations to reveal President Trump’s true ties with Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia; we must look into ourselves to find out who we really are and whether we’ll rise to the occasion for the sake of our democracy because we have the power.
1
'Angry voters made a few things abundantly clear: that modern democratic capitalism is not working for them'
What were the causes of the communist revolution in Russia a 100 years ago? I am trying to understand what was so different there.
What were the causes of the communist revolution in Russia a 100 years ago? I am trying to understand what was so different there.
It it is absolutely hilarious, and simultaneously morally disgusting, to hear conservatives, whose entire movement had been an exercise in trying to trick ordinary people into voting against their own best interests in favor of wealthy economic elites, wail and moan about the "elitism" of liberals. Trumpism is not populism; it is just most egregious and fraulent version of modern conservatism yet.
7
Why does it seem that every article on this topic begins with a gratuitous swipe at college professors?
5
“When a man as uncouth and reckless as Trump becomes president by running against the nation’s elites, it’s a strong signal that the elites are the problem.”
*****
This nation has always been "anti-elite", especially when it comes to intellectuals. But there has always been a paradox, in that our Founding Fathers were elites, as have been the greater fraction of our 'political class' these past two centuries.
So it's not so much that 'the elites are the problem' as much as it is that these alienated minds are looking for 'different elites', whether they know it or not. Or, as H. L. Mencken put it: Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.
*****
This nation has always been "anti-elite", especially when it comes to intellectuals. But there has always been a paradox, in that our Founding Fathers were elites, as have been the greater fraction of our 'political class' these past two centuries.
So it's not so much that 'the elites are the problem' as much as it is that these alienated minds are looking for 'different elites', whether they know it or not. Or, as H. L. Mencken put it: Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.
The notion Brooks suggests, that anyone and everyone with a college degree is a member of the elite, is absurd. No less absurd is the idea that those who recognize the very real domestic and international dangers posed by Trump are engaged in a faculty lounge conversation. I suggest that Mr. Brooks save discourse like this column for the shower. It's terribly unhelpful to print because It amplifies the divisions and chang s no minds.
5
"The campaign of 2016 was an education in the deep problems facing the country. Angry voters made a few things abundantly clear: that modern democratic capitalism is not working for them..."
Mr. Brooks, your very newspaper, right after the election, showed that Clinton won among the voters whose household income was less than $50K. All other groups, those whose income exceeded $50 through those making more than $250K cast more votes for Trump than Clinton.
Can you please explain why Trump was more acceptable than Clinton? May it, by any chance, have something to do with identity politics instead?
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/11/08/us/politics/election-exit...
Mr. Brooks, your very newspaper, right after the election, showed that Clinton won among the voters whose household income was less than $50K. All other groups, those whose income exceeded $50 through those making more than $250K cast more votes for Trump than Clinton.
Can you please explain why Trump was more acceptable than Clinton? May it, by any chance, have something to do with identity politics instead?
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/11/08/us/politics/election-exit...
4
Absolutely correct. DJT is the symptom not the problem. This essay provides ther outline for a rejuvinated "moral and just" civic politics and a revitalized USA. We are a rich and dynamic country. The main problem is massive income inequality and the power and ego (and isolation and arrogance) dynamics that flow from it.Read Richard Wilkerson and Kate Pickett's "The Spirit Level." Conservatism, the Republican Party, libertarianism have all become facades behind which the wealthy control their environment and preserve and grow their wealth. The "moral majority" then becomes their tool in this dynamic, not promoting virtue and justice but promoting sectarian victory and tearing apart the country. The market cannot solve this problem; it facilitates it. Good government agency by public servants is necessary and possible. Ledt's hope.
2
So in response they vote for the very people who have created the problem. Like them or not Dems are the only ones trying to help the poor. These Trump voters are fueled by hatred not policy. The notion that the left is hostile to faith or differing views is absurd. Liberals are tolerant by definition. Faith is for an individual not as a rationalization for public policy. Please put the blame where it belongs, squarely on the backs of people like Brooks who can't stop with the false equivalency.
12
A clearly written article which needs further delineation in order to help planning, carrying out and assessing options for effective, needed interventions.”Alienation” is word,defined with a range of meanings.A concept,of measurable and unmeasurable dimensions (levels, qualities and associated values + - +/-).A dynamic,multidimensional,nonlinear process.A thought.A feeling.A temporary or more permanent outcome.A mantra used and misused by individual and systemic stakeholder.A description presented as an explanation;when it may not be.A symbol representing what IS, that shouldn't be.What isn't, that should be.We are not reminded what Sen. Hayakawa noted decades ago:"The symbol is NOT the thing symbolized, the map is NOT the territory. The word is NOT the thing."Alienation can be,and is, many nuanced things to many.This article's style hints at alienation necessarily being negative and binary.One is.Or isn't. Suggesting that the "alienated",in their toxic alienated state,voted for Trump and trumpism. A retrospective cause and effect outcome.SO, we need to get rid of the factors causing alienation's harmful barriers!The sooner the better.Consider that we can also feel, and be, alienated from a culture of lies.Of norms,values and behaviors which violate socio-political-tradition-based constructed "the other. In a WE-THEY stigmatizing,marginalizing,excluding world. "Of principles of faith" which are faithless.It is not only THE alienated who are willfully blind.Deaf.Ignorant.
How is a political solution to wealth distribution possible in the current U.S. electoral system?
3
I think you miss the point here, Mr. Brooks. The elites are not the problem, unless you are describing the super rich, who are elite in wealth only. Elite minds, truly brilliant people, are being overlooked and derided. When you write "we need people who have been educated to understand policy problems" you are describing Obama. "Faculty lounge views" are certainly not the problem. Most teachers want to pay more taxes, support unions, provide more services, send fewer kids to war, and improve health care for everyone.
The problem is a privately owned fake news media that drills for alienation and refines it into political support. The problem is a mainstream media that trades in false equivalencies.
The problem is a privately owned fake news media that drills for alienation and refines it into political support. The problem is a mainstream media that trades in false equivalencies.
9
The day-in-day-out hyperbolic criticism of Trump has long since reached a point of saturation and uselessness. Even when George W. Bush took a wrecking ball to the Middle East one saw nothing like this level of uniform denunciation. No, his actions were widely applauded. Is this fear and loathing really about policy? Not really. It's about Trump's personality and style. More importantly, it's about his contempt for the news media facing their end as the sole purveyor of information. Little Grandees like Brooks and his fellows on this page are looking at a future of news conveyed by social media. Trump has the biggest megaphone on the planet and he's saying just that. The token conservatives, Brooks and Douthat, write precisely like the liberals. They're unified in their response to a threat to their status as pundits and interpreters. Of course, they consider their own profession as indispensable to democracy, even while some offer up sophistical arguments in defense of removing a legally elected president from office through the misuse of the 25th Amendment. Trump is indeed problematic, but the media are doing everything they can to make things worse. Their fantasy is that when Trump is gone, whenever that is, they will regain their lofty roles. But that will never happen.
1
Absolute and complete rubbish. Alienation is the excuse that Trump supporters use to justify their hateful outrage as minorities, immigrants, and LGBTQ individuals are granted equal rights within the country. Egged on by Fox news and Brietbart they are fed a daily dose of hate and vilification of the other as they pretend that only they are "Real Americans" as they gobble it up because it fulfills their not so hidden views about the "true" America. They aren't "racist" they are alienated. They aren't "xenophobic" they are alienated. They aren't "homophobic" they are alienated. Keep up the excuses Mr Brooks but I don't believe you.
7
"It’ll be necessary to revive a living elite patriotism. That means conducting oneself in office as if nation is more important than party; not using executive orders, filibusters and the nuclear option to grab what you can while you happen to be in the majority. "
Why must this behavior be labeled 'elite' instead of normal behavior of a rational human being. Elitism isn't going to change a country whose people largely care more about themselves than they do for the country, let alone politicians. The Republican Party (and Fox News) has perpetrated this 'Us' vs 'Them' motif for a generation, denigrating the 'competition' as being less patriotic, less religious, too inclusive while eliminating meaningful discourse in regard to challenges facing this country. They put party over country. Left leaning Independents and Democrats never had a good counter punch outside of a rational retort that fell on increasingly deaf ears. Outside of that, it also comes down to (false) expectations the populace places on the Federal Government to make their lives perfect. Our lives, all of them, are built on the choices made, any choice, good or bad. It isn't the FG's responsibility to make it all better.
Why must this behavior be labeled 'elite' instead of normal behavior of a rational human being. Elitism isn't going to change a country whose people largely care more about themselves than they do for the country, let alone politicians. The Republican Party (and Fox News) has perpetrated this 'Us' vs 'Them' motif for a generation, denigrating the 'competition' as being less patriotic, less religious, too inclusive while eliminating meaningful discourse in regard to challenges facing this country. They put party over country. Left leaning Independents and Democrats never had a good counter punch outside of a rational retort that fell on increasingly deaf ears. Outside of that, it also comes down to (false) expectations the populace places on the Federal Government to make their lives perfect. Our lives, all of them, are built on the choices made, any choice, good or bad. It isn't the FG's responsibility to make it all better.
1
I do not long for "the good old days," when being a woman- or a minority- meant limited options. I DO long for the days when there was less of a chasm between the "haves" and the "have nots," when the owner of the factory lived better than those in his (always "his') employees, but not the log scale differences we see routinely today. The boss' big house on the hill is a far cry from private jets and millions in golden parachutes while workers face layoffs to improve corporate bottom lines.
Cable TV and the internet now allow one to view only opinions and "news" that supports your own beliefs, increasing the political and world-view chasm.
I am not optimistic that these changes are reversible, or that they will morph into something better than today. Sadly, few survive the fall of empire, and that is creating panic and grasping at straws- and demonizing "the other.".
Cable TV and the internet now allow one to view only opinions and "news" that supports your own beliefs, increasing the political and world-view chasm.
I am not optimistic that these changes are reversible, or that they will morph into something better than today. Sadly, few survive the fall of empire, and that is creating panic and grasping at straws- and demonizing "the other.".
3
Good column, Mr. Brooks. It doesn't address directly the two big elephants in the room -- economic inequality and race.
1
These essays by Brooks kill me. He's a fully paid up member of he college educated elite who has spent almost his entire career fomenting the alienation he now affects to despise. He may be surprised to know government is full of people who understand the problems and have risen gradually through the system but their expertise is now being disregarded by a bunch of right wing ideological zealots like Sessions, Tillerson and Mulvaney who Brooks has been instrumental in elevating.
2
Brooks - part and parcel to the party of no funding for education, no funding to help people train or retrain for fields that need work, no living minimum wage, no healthcare for all, no social security or medicaid safety net. Bobby Jindal let it slip that you republican leaders are quite aware -- you are the party of stupid. And as Forrest Gump would say: Stupid is as stupid does.
4
I guess I'm what you would call "elite" ... educated, professional, financially secure. I worked hard to get here, but I recognize that others also work hard, to the best of their ability, and still need help. I'm glad to offer it. That's a good use of my taxes.
You're asking us to become more "attuned" to the Trump voter ... to value their point of view, feel their pain, etc. Don't "alienate" them.
I'm sorry, but when someone's point of view is formed by bigotry, ignorance, and plain old fallacy, I can't get "attuned" to that.
Build a wall, because Mexicans are criminals. Ignore refugees, because they have a different religion. Heck, ban everyone from (some) Muslim countries. Remember 9/11 (but forget where the hijackers actually came from)! Lock her up (despite insufficient evidence)! Russia didn't try to interfere with the election (despite mounting evidence).
Regulations are bad. Coal is good. Climate change is a hoax. Evolution is just a theory. Christians are being persecuted in the US. Transgender people are trying to molest your kids in the restroom.
Obama is a Kenyan Muslim. Hillary ran a child sex ring out of a pizzeria (among other crimes).
We need more military spending. We don't need health coverage.
I would run out of space before I could list all the hateful absurdities. People actually believe this stuff. So no, I will not "attune" myself to this point of view. They need to attune themselves to reality.
You're asking us to become more "attuned" to the Trump voter ... to value their point of view, feel their pain, etc. Don't "alienate" them.
I'm sorry, but when someone's point of view is formed by bigotry, ignorance, and plain old fallacy, I can't get "attuned" to that.
Build a wall, because Mexicans are criminals. Ignore refugees, because they have a different religion. Heck, ban everyone from (some) Muslim countries. Remember 9/11 (but forget where the hijackers actually came from)! Lock her up (despite insufficient evidence)! Russia didn't try to interfere with the election (despite mounting evidence).
Regulations are bad. Coal is good. Climate change is a hoax. Evolution is just a theory. Christians are being persecuted in the US. Transgender people are trying to molest your kids in the restroom.
Obama is a Kenyan Muslim. Hillary ran a child sex ring out of a pizzeria (among other crimes).
We need more military spending. We don't need health coverage.
I would run out of space before I could list all the hateful absurdities. People actually believe this stuff. So no, I will not "attune" myself to this point of view. They need to attune themselves to reality.
8
Birtherism. Not mentioned. Comrade 45 built his following on racism. All the rest are excuses.
8
Speaking of alienation,is there any garbage barrel that Trump hasn't scraped?
Sheriff David ? Hired for homeland security.My mind refuses to recall the last name of this latest appointment from Trumps administration,truly a Mark of thoughtful intelligence.what a record!!!
Sheriff David ? Hired for homeland security.My mind refuses to recall the last name of this latest appointment from Trumps administration,truly a Mark of thoughtful intelligence.what a record!!!
1
We have an oligarchy that runs the country and much of the world. Wall Street, The Pentagon, Big corporations . This is the problem, Mr Brooks, these institutions create inequality and causes so much despair. The answer is easy, restore democracy and overthrow the oligarchy. Put your shoulder to the wheel Mr, Brooks.
5
Participation in U.S. elections have been usually around 55%. Therefore about one half of the population has been typically alienated from the voting process. To win any political campaign is a very expensive process and not too many candidates can get involved in it. The two-parties system is the result of how the whole electoral democratic system has been conceived. There is no way to attract the alienated population unless a real democratic participatory system is put in place.
2
Wonderful column. Wouldn't it be ironic if "Two Scoop" Trump's term in office paved the way to a kinder more compassionate country.
1
David, why is your reasoning so slimy? Why do you conflate things so?
You write: "Angry voters made a few things abundantly clear: that modern democratic capitalism is not working for them; that basic institutions like the family and communities are falling apart; that we have a college educated elite that has found ingenious ways to make everybody else feel invisible, THAT HAS MANAGED TO TRANSFER WEALTH UPWARD TO ITSELF, that crashes the hammer of political correctness down on anybody who does not have faculty lounge views."
The 1% that has taken to itself almost all of the growth in wealth over the last few decades, is NOT the academic, faculty lounge elite. The academic elite lead solidly middle class lives, but the real wealth is going to the Wall St. and more broadly corporate elite. By conflating these two, you do exactly the work that Thomas Frank warns against in "What's the Matter with Kansas": you take cultural resentment and mix it up with class resentment so that the REAL targets of class resentment go unmarked.
The capitalism that has left the working class behind is not the capitalism recommended by liberal economists who sit in the academy. It is the capitalism of greedy corporate types who want theirs, damn the rest.
Quit being a stooge for the latter, please!
You write: "Angry voters made a few things abundantly clear: that modern democratic capitalism is not working for them; that basic institutions like the family and communities are falling apart; that we have a college educated elite that has found ingenious ways to make everybody else feel invisible, THAT HAS MANAGED TO TRANSFER WEALTH UPWARD TO ITSELF, that crashes the hammer of political correctness down on anybody who does not have faculty lounge views."
The 1% that has taken to itself almost all of the growth in wealth over the last few decades, is NOT the academic, faculty lounge elite. The academic elite lead solidly middle class lives, but the real wealth is going to the Wall St. and more broadly corporate elite. By conflating these two, you do exactly the work that Thomas Frank warns against in "What's the Matter with Kansas": you take cultural resentment and mix it up with class resentment so that the REAL targets of class resentment go unmarked.
The capitalism that has left the working class behind is not the capitalism recommended by liberal economists who sit in the academy. It is the capitalism of greedy corporate types who want theirs, damn the rest.
Quit being a stooge for the latter, please!
10
"It’s that movements fueled by alienation are bound to fail."
True, David, and this is exactly why the Republican Party has over the past 240 years failed. Democracy, or Government of for and by the People, once again is under extreme attack by the Republican party of Alienation. Once the Superior and alienated people of the Republican party are attempting to divide the people into alienated groups of hate. Alienation is at the core of Republican beliefs. Namely, Republicans see them selves as superior to other people in many ways. They assume they have 90% of the Peoples wealth because they should have. They are the Party of the "haves and the have mores" as Bush proudly claimed. They do not need medicaid or public education or food stamps. And those who do are weak or lazy. The Republicans are alienated from Reality. They want to devolve into the ancient and already failed systems of Rulers and serfs.
This effort will fail as well, but as usual will generate millions of causalities in all sectors of the Peoples life. Very few of whom will be Republican, except that this time many of the fops and wannabes who do the dirty work for their masters will end up getting room, board, clothing and health care and paid for by the People in some relatively comfortable if some what confined prison.
True, David, and this is exactly why the Republican Party has over the past 240 years failed. Democracy, or Government of for and by the People, once again is under extreme attack by the Republican party of Alienation. Once the Superior and alienated people of the Republican party are attempting to divide the people into alienated groups of hate. Alienation is at the core of Republican beliefs. Namely, Republicans see them selves as superior to other people in many ways. They assume they have 90% of the Peoples wealth because they should have. They are the Party of the "haves and the have mores" as Bush proudly claimed. They do not need medicaid or public education or food stamps. And those who do are weak or lazy. The Republicans are alienated from Reality. They want to devolve into the ancient and already failed systems of Rulers and serfs.
This effort will fail as well, but as usual will generate millions of causalities in all sectors of the Peoples life. Very few of whom will be Republican, except that this time many of the fops and wannabes who do the dirty work for their masters will end up getting room, board, clothing and health care and paid for by the People in some relatively comfortable if some what confined prison.
2
I buy your solutions but not your diagnosis.
3 things happened: 1) the media made Trump their darling, letting him off the hook on lie after lie, never dreaming he might win the election. 2) the Democrats ran a flawed candidate with only slightly less negative perception than Trump 3) the Reagan democrats finally bailed on Republican trickle-down hooey disguised as cultural red meat.
I agree what we need now is a centrist party with actual governance skills. It can not, in this polarized atmosphere, seem to be extreme. But, the public needs to be educated that trickle-down elitism is effectively bankrupt.
3 things happened: 1) the media made Trump their darling, letting him off the hook on lie after lie, never dreaming he might win the election. 2) the Democrats ran a flawed candidate with only slightly less negative perception than Trump 3) the Reagan democrats finally bailed on Republican trickle-down hooey disguised as cultural red meat.
I agree what we need now is a centrist party with actual governance skills. It can not, in this polarized atmosphere, seem to be extreme. But, the public needs to be educated that trickle-down elitism is effectively bankrupt.
3
I see the problem as one involving the powerful instead of elites. Trump merely continues the dominance the powerful have due to their wealth over public policy. Trump's policies favor polluting industries, weapons companies, banks and religious power brokers over everyone else. They are dictating policy because while Trump has lots of ideas and prejudices but he had no policies of his own. The middle class who elected him will not be better off in 2018 or 2020. But the powerful will be a whole lot richer including himself.
2
Alienation is not always a negative force;for if addressed rightly through inclusive social policy response and effective service delivery tools, it could work as a potent corrective to the systemic imbalance and distortions also.
1
That may be true. But in this case scenario, alienation is a negative force-- and that's all it ever wants to be.
1
David, you say we must organize a new establishment "to address the alienation that gave rise to Trump." Further, you say that "alienation breeds a distrust that corrodes any collective effort. To be “woke” in the alienated culture is to embrace the most cynical interpretation of every situation, to assume bad intent in every actor, to imagine the conspiratorial malevolence of your foes." I agree with all of that but as an unpowerful citizen, I wonder if there is anything I can do to chip away at those negative things, and if so, where to begin.
1
Mr Brooks,
Alienation is nothing new. May I suggest you & your readers to (re)read some of the work by Lewis Mumford. With the background in sociology, surely you have read him. And to your readers, if Mumford is a model of Ayn Rand's villain in Fountainhead, perhaps he has a few good things to say even though his works were published 3/4 of a century ago
Alienation is destructive. One could argue the depressed have alienated themselves and led to suicide. Worse, when such alienation turns outward, people hurt others. Imagine aggression powered by hatred and anger. Could the Manchester bombing yesterday powered by an extreme form of alienation? Or leading Sean Urbanski killing Richard Collin III?
Whether it is terrorism or hate crime, these are extreme cases. Thank goodness humanity has a deeper well. Still, the choice of Trump is not just about the failure of capitalism but also how seductive populism is when it is wrapped in the cloak of injustice. People are so blinded by their outrage that multi-colored world into black and white
Reacting to the Manchester bombing, Trump called the terrorists losers. Then Netanyahu added they should remain losers. That is the problem, not the solution. Trump's The Art of The Deal is supposed to make everyone come away a winner. Too bad he doesn't believe in what he preaches
Like Boston bombing & other mayhems, Manchester bombing brings out the best in humanity. Imagine if they are not reactive but a natural process: alienation be gone
Alienation is nothing new. May I suggest you & your readers to (re)read some of the work by Lewis Mumford. With the background in sociology, surely you have read him. And to your readers, if Mumford is a model of Ayn Rand's villain in Fountainhead, perhaps he has a few good things to say even though his works were published 3/4 of a century ago
Alienation is destructive. One could argue the depressed have alienated themselves and led to suicide. Worse, when such alienation turns outward, people hurt others. Imagine aggression powered by hatred and anger. Could the Manchester bombing yesterday powered by an extreme form of alienation? Or leading Sean Urbanski killing Richard Collin III?
Whether it is terrorism or hate crime, these are extreme cases. Thank goodness humanity has a deeper well. Still, the choice of Trump is not just about the failure of capitalism but also how seductive populism is when it is wrapped in the cloak of injustice. People are so blinded by their outrage that multi-colored world into black and white
Reacting to the Manchester bombing, Trump called the terrorists losers. Then Netanyahu added they should remain losers. That is the problem, not the solution. Trump's The Art of The Deal is supposed to make everyone come away a winner. Too bad he doesn't believe in what he preaches
Like Boston bombing & other mayhems, Manchester bombing brings out the best in humanity. Imagine if they are not reactive but a natural process: alienation be gone
It is highly desirable that citizens participate in governance, but one must be aware of the limitations of this participation. We have a country where you can vote from the smallest government unit to the highest. You can participate in discussions, petition, speak directly to your representatives, protest, organize collect signatures, even start a referendum. So, I ask, what other forms of participation would Mr. Brooks suggest? Alienation does not come from the lack of opportunities to participate. There are all over the world large number of people who simply do not wish to participate, out of disinterest, out of laziness, out of ignorance. There are also some who feel that matters are stacked against them no matter what they do. These people participate in society mostly through the exercise of an activity: work. They find purpose and dignity in their job and when that is lacking, they have few avenues through which to channel their lives.
But failing that, they want society to help them. I don't believe in the karma of conservatives who keep on repeating that people resent government help. If work is not there to fulfill their lives, they don't want to see their children starve.
That's what political and business leaders have to understand, and the pursuit of profits to the detriment of workers always brings sociald problems.
But failing that, they want society to help them. I don't believe in the karma of conservatives who keep on repeating that people resent government help. If work is not there to fulfill their lives, they don't want to see their children starve.
That's what political and business leaders have to understand, and the pursuit of profits to the detriment of workers always brings sociald problems.
2
Statements like, "We have a college-educated elite that makes everyone else feel invisible," are misleading and only make the problem worse by giving credence to the kinds of comments I have heard about the "so-called intellectuals who think they know everything and don't know anything."
By characterizing the educated elite as out of touch you inadvertently contribute to the devaluation of education and the pursuit of knowledge. I know plenty of people with advanced degrees who are underemployed and feel aliened and invisible themselves. And even many of those who aren't hurting are full of empathy and work hard to improve the lives of others. I would also point that many of the financial elite who are, in fact, out of touch never went to college. And among the well-educated who were responsible for the collapse of Wall Street, how many were content to enjoy "faculty lounge views?"
The Republican party has been taken over by people with alternative facts who relish putting down intellectuals. We should take great pains not to allow them to suggest that the educational elite shoulder the blame for the alienated masses. The blame belongs to those individuals, educated or not, who see the greed of unchecked capitalism as the engine that can drive the nation forward.
By characterizing the educated elite as out of touch you inadvertently contribute to the devaluation of education and the pursuit of knowledge. I know plenty of people with advanced degrees who are underemployed and feel aliened and invisible themselves. And even many of those who aren't hurting are full of empathy and work hard to improve the lives of others. I would also point that many of the financial elite who are, in fact, out of touch never went to college. And among the well-educated who were responsible for the collapse of Wall Street, how many were content to enjoy "faculty lounge views?"
The Republican party has been taken over by people with alternative facts who relish putting down intellectuals. We should take great pains not to allow them to suggest that the educational elite shoulder the blame for the alienated masses. The blame belongs to those individuals, educated or not, who see the greed of unchecked capitalism as the engine that can drive the nation forward.
4
America was great when we had national purpose, such as when JFK challenged us to go to the moon and we did it. Alienation was an academic absrraction.
But dark forces were already at work, seeking to divide us along lines of race and income. An old idea, in new supply side clothes, told us that the already wealthy should be ''freed'' by reducing their taxes.
We were conditioned to fear the ''other,'' whether dark-skinned or from another place. The Southern Strategy was supplemented by all sorts of divisive tactics, even as middle and working class jobs were sent from the US to other countries with no offsetting national strategy for employing Americans.
It was the ''free market'' at work--no national purpose was needed.
Brooks, you know who did this. You know which party intentionally converted American optimism into cynicism and fear. You were part of the team that alienated America.
...He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind...
But dark forces were already at work, seeking to divide us along lines of race and income. An old idea, in new supply side clothes, told us that the already wealthy should be ''freed'' by reducing their taxes.
We were conditioned to fear the ''other,'' whether dark-skinned or from another place. The Southern Strategy was supplemented by all sorts of divisive tactics, even as middle and working class jobs were sent from the US to other countries with no offsetting national strategy for employing Americans.
It was the ''free market'' at work--no national purpose was needed.
Brooks, you know who did this. You know which party intentionally converted American optimism into cynicism and fear. You were part of the team that alienated America.
...He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind...
1
The events of the last four months have been a complete validation of what most Americans have known since the Snake Oil Birther Liar came down his gold-plated escalator in June 2015 and said to America, "have I got I some more snake oil to sell you ?!"
What did the Liar say on that day ?
"We have to repeal Obamacare, and it can be— and— and it can be replaced with something much better for everybody. Let it be for everybody. But much better and much less expensive for people and for the government. And we can do it."
Millions of racists and Fake Newsers heard those Trump words and fell for the career Con-Artist, who rewarded them with a Trump University Healthcare degree that significantly increases their chance of premature death.
An alienated mind is one thing, but orchestrated, right-wing brain-damaged minds are another, and democracy cannot function with disinformed minds.
Pachyderm Spongiform Encephalopathy is our national pandemic, proudly owned and operated by Republican mad scientists who thought Greed Over People was worth destroying their own country for.
As long as the Republican right wing continues to teach Americans that Greed, Guns and God solve problems while vilifying education, science, infrastructure, logic and evidence, America's collapsed IQ will flourish and gravitate to Morons-In-Chief like Boy George and Trumpty Dumpty.
The 50-year "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge" campaign has to be given a proper burial by the Republican Party.
What did the Liar say on that day ?
"We have to repeal Obamacare, and it can be— and— and it can be replaced with something much better for everybody. Let it be for everybody. But much better and much less expensive for people and for the government. And we can do it."
Millions of racists and Fake Newsers heard those Trump words and fell for the career Con-Artist, who rewarded them with a Trump University Healthcare degree that significantly increases their chance of premature death.
An alienated mind is one thing, but orchestrated, right-wing brain-damaged minds are another, and democracy cannot function with disinformed minds.
Pachyderm Spongiform Encephalopathy is our national pandemic, proudly owned and operated by Republican mad scientists who thought Greed Over People was worth destroying their own country for.
As long as the Republican right wing continues to teach Americans that Greed, Guns and God solve problems while vilifying education, science, infrastructure, logic and evidence, America's collapsed IQ will flourish and gravitate to Morons-In-Chief like Boy George and Trumpty Dumpty.
The 50-year "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge" campaign has to be given a proper burial by the Republican Party.
4
For the life of me, I can't understand why the Republicans haven't supported an independent commission to investigate Russia's (and maybe other's) tampering with our elections - this would put the focus on maintaining the integrity of our democracy and take the focus off any single politician or party. And, an independent commission would take the issue out of the political spotlight and tamp down the endless speculation, leaking, et al. That would reduce the partisanship and help people of good will on their way toward doing what Brooks suggests, "Now is the moment for a new establishment to organize, to address the spirit of alienation that gave rise to Trump, but which transcends him."
1
RE: "Going forward we need a better establishment, one attuned to Trump voters, those whose alienation grows out of genuine suffering". How about a political party who's supposedly now their benefactors, not tone deaf, not committed to punishing them for their supposed "moral failings" and not committed to destroying their safety net and the very government establishment that could provide help with job retraining, etc.
This piece ought to address the economic roots of alienation. People with a college education are not the enemy of the working class. Our government has grated to much power to corporate interests and have made individual citizens less powerful in turn. This current administration is an extreme example. We need to overturn Citizens United.
2
In history after 1900 or so, Republicans were the elite who bore the prejudices of the elite. Hillary and others started out middle (or lower) class and were attracted to the privilege of elitism, but the PARTY only started to look elitist, if I'm not mistaken, when Bill Clinton started triangulating and moving to the right on welfare programs and so on. I think Democrats had problems from being TOO leftist, "socialist", rather than too elitist until Clinton, and Sanders was the corrective who almost made it.
1
Somehow, some way, in describing and talking about alienation in this column you and the people you quote seem to me to be using language in the service of observation and reflection. You're pretty clearly not building the sort of verbal sand castle that would allow you to next start talking about "the alienated," as you then go about deciding who will now be considered to be among the class of "the alienated" and what we're going to do about them.
No, instead there is such a thing as alienation, we know something about that, and we know something about problems in our society and in our institutions that are involved with that. So let's patiently set about the work of repairing and improving ourselves and the ways we relate to one another and the honest competency of our institutions.
That subtle difference in the way you use language in service of observation and reflection rather than to build a verbal sand castle that takes on a life of its own, with its own internal logic and its own associated emotions, seems very basic and important to me. Part of my frustration with the academic left is that this seems to me like the sort of thing one should be able to begin learning about in school.
No, instead there is such a thing as alienation, we know something about that, and we know something about problems in our society and in our institutions that are involved with that. So let's patiently set about the work of repairing and improving ourselves and the ways we relate to one another and the honest competency of our institutions.
That subtle difference in the way you use language in service of observation and reflection rather than to build a verbal sand castle that takes on a life of its own, with its own internal logic and its own associated emotions, seems very basic and important to me. Part of my frustration with the academic left is that this seems to me like the sort of thing one should be able to begin learning about in school.
David, thank you for your very interesting article. I gleaned insights from it, and from the reactions/comments it inspired. I believe that the moral realism you call for needs a well educated society and that appears to be being thrown under the bus with the defunding of public education and the steady rise of schools that lack diversity of attitude, values and colour.
I also question the use of "political correctness" as an axe. It certainly is currently. To me, an "elite" educated American, it has always meant that a certain civility is required and necessary in dealings with diverse peoples and interests so that a involving dialogue can proceed. The current use of perjorative terms for any non-white is deepening the chasm and, I must admit, makes me burn my hair.
Thank you for this thoughtful perspective.
I also question the use of "political correctness" as an axe. It certainly is currently. To me, an "elite" educated American, it has always meant that a certain civility is required and necessary in dealings with diverse peoples and interests so that a involving dialogue can proceed. The current use of perjorative terms for any non-white is deepening the chasm and, I must admit, makes me burn my hair.
Thank you for this thoughtful perspective.
1
I agree "It'll be necessary to fight alienation with moral realism". In this essay you have demonstrated the short comings of the alienation, especially Yuval Levin's point, that alienation can organize an electoral coalition, but not a governing coalition. Reinhold Niebuhr challenged his audience in his book "Moral Man and Immoral Society" to use their mind and spirit to attempt the impossible. That is, "to make the forces of nature the servants of the human spirit and the instruments of the moral ideal, a progressively higher justice and more stable peace can be achieved." I see the Resistance Movement in the Democratic Party as the people of the impossible dream who seek more than remembering the forgotten ones, recovering those left behind, but also including the 1% in the efforts to rescue, rebuild, and heal the lost, the lonely, the broken, the ill, the infirm, and the alienated. What better American ideal is there than the one we pledge, "Liberty and Justice for All."
David Brooks, fails to mention, as he always does, the way the Republicans in government prop Trump and all his follies. Brooks also seems to imply that the right and the left are equally alienated. Not so, Mr. Brooks. The right has lost touch with governing with principle and morality a long time ago.
2
Mr. Brooks: You, along with many other commentators, are looking in all the wrong places when you focus on the economic alienation of the "left behind" that brought our country to its present state. Donald Trump's voters were not the "unwashed poor"; they were in fact of average to above average income people. What motivated Trump's voters was cultural alienation; the fear of the other.
For them, the election and re-election of Barack Obama was direct proof that something drastic needed to be done to "take our country back" from people of color, the immigrants and all their supporting cast. That drastic action was electing someone they knew to be unfit for such high office. What made it easier was the Comey effect and the involvement of the Russians who stole information that was disseminated by WikiLeaks and weaponized by the Trump campaign. 2016 would not have happened if the Democratic Party had nominated a different candidate more skilled in political organization and able to convey why she/he wanted to be President. 2020 will be very different.
For them, the election and re-election of Barack Obama was direct proof that something drastic needed to be done to "take our country back" from people of color, the immigrants and all their supporting cast. That drastic action was electing someone they knew to be unfit for such high office. What made it easier was the Comey effect and the involvement of the Russians who stole information that was disseminated by WikiLeaks and weaponized by the Trump campaign. 2016 would not have happened if the Democratic Party had nominated a different candidate more skilled in political organization and able to convey why she/he wanted to be President. 2020 will be very different.
Mr. Brooks should have read the piece in the Times that shows the affluent are less like to be considerate of the less well off and more likely to consider their success almost exclusively the result of their own efforts. People with lower incomes engage in community support more readily than the well off and the charity acts of the well-to-do have to be motivated by appealing to their own personal pet projects. The disaffected do not have a monopoly on alienation. They have all they want, and do not walk among the rest of us. alienation comes at different levels. After all, isn't the Bubble just a synonym for a form of willful alienation, supported by special seats, suites in arenas, and gates on communities?
"Impeached or not, it’s hard to see how Trump recovers as an effective governing force. Now is the moment for a new establishment to organize, to address the spirit of alienation that gave rise to Trump, but which transcends him."
We have them. Its called the FCC and the SCOTUS. Punish the propoganda makers, take them off the air, and reverse Citizens United.
We have them. Its called the FCC and the SCOTUS. Punish the propoganda makers, take them off the air, and reverse Citizens United.
Elites of some sort have always run our government. The problem is now and for the last 40 years we have had the wrong kind of elites. Since the depression we have had civic minded educated elites who believed the helping hand should include education and more than just subsistence. These people believed that expanding access means expanding knowledge and taking a responsible seat at the civic table.
Now we have the elites that resemble the deep south. People who feel that property rights trump personal or civic rights. These elites believe you earn your right at the civic table when you can afford on your own to be there. This type of elite is very tribal and they guard their "tribe" or property with slogans and propaganda.
Of course the governance that comes with these different elites is diabolically opposed one opens doors, the other keeps the doors barely ajar.
We have for a long time had the wrong kind of elites in charge. These elites are the single bottom liners, the corporatists who see the big picture in stock prices and dividents. These people's approach to public policy is to protect wealth generation and accumulation. In their zeal they fail to see how a more expansive view of shating the wealth is good for the body politic. In fact over the last generation in public policy and corporate behavior they have excluded common labor from the table. Hence stagnant wages, hollowing out of the middle class and little support for those behind.
Now we have the elites that resemble the deep south. People who feel that property rights trump personal or civic rights. These elites believe you earn your right at the civic table when you can afford on your own to be there. This type of elite is very tribal and they guard their "tribe" or property with slogans and propaganda.
Of course the governance that comes with these different elites is diabolically opposed one opens doors, the other keeps the doors barely ajar.
We have for a long time had the wrong kind of elites in charge. These elites are the single bottom liners, the corporatists who see the big picture in stock prices and dividents. These people's approach to public policy is to protect wealth generation and accumulation. In their zeal they fail to see how a more expansive view of shating the wealth is good for the body politic. In fact over the last generation in public policy and corporate behavior they have excluded common labor from the table. Hence stagnant wages, hollowing out of the middle class and little support for those behind.
1
I wonder if Brooks does not paint with too broad a brush in this piece. Certainly many Trump voters were (and are) alienated, but others championed Trump's calls to put brown people "in their place," and still others were financial elites whose primary interest lay in reduction of their taxes, regardless the cost to anyone else. On the other side of the ledger, Brooks lumps as "elite" not only the wealthy, some of whom are among Trump's most ardent supporters and others his most vocal critics, but also the educated and intellectual elite, some of whom espouse policies that would exacerbate the alienation and others of whom have been advocating policies to address the economic concerns of the "alienated" class for decades.
Hillary Clinton understood the alienation many Americans feel, but because she "deplored" the bigots who also supported Trump, her message was lost in the "deplorables" rallying cry that shouted down the distinction she was trying to make. Perhaps Brooks should consider the lesson of Clinton's labels. Isn't the broad brush lumping of people into camps--whether "elite" and "alienated" or anything else--just contributing to the problem? Inviting superior/inferior distinctions and side-taking? Without a more nuanced appreciation of all angles of the wall of alienation Brooks describes, finding solutions appears unlikely. Certainly calling for the patriotism of those in power, while laudable, is unlikely to fall on any but deaf ears.
Hillary Clinton understood the alienation many Americans feel, but because she "deplored" the bigots who also supported Trump, her message was lost in the "deplorables" rallying cry that shouted down the distinction she was trying to make. Perhaps Brooks should consider the lesson of Clinton's labels. Isn't the broad brush lumping of people into camps--whether "elite" and "alienated" or anything else--just contributing to the problem? Inviting superior/inferior distinctions and side-taking? Without a more nuanced appreciation of all angles of the wall of alienation Brooks describes, finding solutions appears unlikely. Certainly calling for the patriotism of those in power, while laudable, is unlikely to fall on any but deaf ears.
American capitalism's excessive privatization alienates all of us. But in an open society, alienation can motivate effective organizing. In the early 20th century, imported, exploited industrial workers translated their alienation into creating collective bargaining unions, both improving their economic conditions and fostering social integration. But under privatized capitalism, unions were denounced as greedy and corrupt, never allowed to exhibit the larger meaning of social or economic solidarity for a democratic society.
In later decades, descendents of imported African slaves translated their experiences of alienation into a political movement that succeeded in outlawing racial segregation. But under privatized capitalism, class segregation has only intensified in both institutional and residential settings.
Vilifying Trump voters as alienated minds denies the alienation we all experience from the inaccessible power of privatized capitalist institutions. They have defined American social structure for generations, and now, through the Republican party, have succeeded in functionally privatizing our most important political institutions: Congress, the Presidency, and the Supreme Court.
Can Democrats generate a movement that empowers all of us to challenge both political privatization and privatized capitalism with institutions dedicated to creating a more public, participatory economy in which profits secure the well-being of all citizens? If not, alienation wins.
In later decades, descendents of imported African slaves translated their experiences of alienation into a political movement that succeeded in outlawing racial segregation. But under privatized capitalism, class segregation has only intensified in both institutional and residential settings.
Vilifying Trump voters as alienated minds denies the alienation we all experience from the inaccessible power of privatized capitalist institutions. They have defined American social structure for generations, and now, through the Republican party, have succeeded in functionally privatizing our most important political institutions: Congress, the Presidency, and the Supreme Court.
Can Democrats generate a movement that empowers all of us to challenge both political privatization and privatized capitalism with institutions dedicated to creating a more public, participatory economy in which profits secure the well-being of all citizens? If not, alienation wins.
1
I think few will like this view, but if you take the gems of David Brooks, the paragraphs of real "truth and insight" that he writes in this article and others before - those statements that try to point to the kind of persons we need to lead, Bernie Sanders fits the great majority of those characteristics. He put forth a platform of humanity, a government for all of us, he said it with consistency and integrity, and he resonated with a huge number of people, just not quite enough. The Trump/Fox message of hate and fear resonated with more people, and the Democratic establishment did not have the foresight or guts to back Bernie. It was Hillary's time, and in their view, Bernie could not win. But let us not overlook the appeal that Bernie made to voters. End Citizens United - get big money out of politics, end tax breaks for the rich. Spread the wealth and stem the growing inequality. Health Care for all. Raise the minimum wage. Make State College free. "Fix" the injustice in policing and incarceration of the less fortunate. These are issues all affecting the "alienated" in the positive way. David Brooks, you had to be brought kicking and screaming to a recognition of the Bernie campaign as legit You continued to label him as too far left, when indeed he was pushing, so consistently, for the very issues that could address the alienated concerns. Yes, this is hindsight, but how is he NOT the kind of leader you are pleading for?
Brooks reverts to form, ignoring or denying the role Republicans have played, and continue to play, in alienation. They have persistently proposed, and often implemented, policies that favor the currently wealthy over others, and campaign on fear, with exaggerated claims of external and internal threats, and disdain for any governmental function except force (whether military, police or prisons). People are alienated not because of the "elites", but because Republican policies have caused them to be alienated, and Republican campaigning has fomented fear and mistrust.
1
Mr. Brooks your description of the ideal candidate to appeal to alienated Trump voters sounds very much like President Obama, proving that it is possible to lead a horse to water but impossible to make it drink.
Had the Republican establishment done the patriotic thing - to be a loyal opposition party and work to make the lives of all Americans better - our country would be in a much better place today. But it didn't because it is corrupted by big donors.
Had the Democratic establishment done the right thing and back a candidate who was ready and able to push back against the oligarchy that wants government to be its slave we would be in a much better place today. But it didn't because it is corrupted by big donors.
This will only go on for so long. At some point even the Trump loyalists will recognize that their emperor wears no clothes.
Had the Republican establishment done the patriotic thing - to be a loyal opposition party and work to make the lives of all Americans better - our country would be in a much better place today. But it didn't because it is corrupted by big donors.
Had the Democratic establishment done the right thing and back a candidate who was ready and able to push back against the oligarchy that wants government to be its slave we would be in a much better place today. But it didn't because it is corrupted by big donors.
This will only go on for so long. At some point even the Trump loyalists will recognize that their emperor wears no clothes.
2
I agree with David Brooks that alienation is a major political problem in our society today, but disagree with his nebulous proposal for dealing with it.
We don't need a six-point program for "elite" reform. We need a Democratic party that (1) articulates proposals for policies that will reduce economic inequality and increase economic security for working Americans, (2) enacts those policies when in power, and (3) repeat (1) and (2).
What we do not need are any more Clintons or Clinton clones running for public office as Democrats. Running one last year helped give us Trump as President -- and it would be nice if we Democrats took some responsibility for that.
Repeat after me: Democrats ran a corporate shill as our Presidential candidate in 2016, a candidate who could not even articulate plausible fake reasons to vote for her. In doing so, we helped elect the Donald.
We don't need a six-point program for "elite" reform. We need a Democratic party that (1) articulates proposals for policies that will reduce economic inequality and increase economic security for working Americans, (2) enacts those policies when in power, and (3) repeat (1) and (2).
What we do not need are any more Clintons or Clinton clones running for public office as Democrats. Running one last year helped give us Trump as President -- and it would be nice if we Democrats took some responsibility for that.
Repeat after me: Democrats ran a corporate shill as our Presidential candidate in 2016, a candidate who could not even articulate plausible fake reasons to vote for her. In doing so, we helped elect the Donald.
1
At this point, after seeing everythingTrump has done to this country for the sake of a dollar, I can only laugh at those who continue to rant on about the Democrats running a "corporate shill".
Here's an idea.
Take a closer look at the corporate millionaire's row that now comprises the current administration. Enough said.
No need to repeat after you.
Here's an idea.
Take a closer look at the corporate millionaire's row that now comprises the current administration. Enough said.
No need to repeat after you.
1
I am an ordinary citizen with advanced college degrees. However, I don't consider myself an "elite." It is a mistake to despise education and the educated; rather, an all-out effort should be made to make education available to everyone.
1
The Alienation that we are witnessing is two fold and reasonably universal across international borders.
First, the people who voted of Donald Trump and the Republican Message, as well as that of Brexit backers, and the LePen message in the French Elections were harking back to a simpler time where the Europeans are in charge.
Mixed in with this message is the economic winding down of manufacturing in the hearts of these countries, outside of the big cities that are globally connected.
The remedies are simple and long term; education, capital investment, and social services to carry these areas through the industrial realignment. This stands against all the unregulated capitalist principles that the the Americans, British, and French conservatives espouse. Tax cuts wealthy, smaller government, and no central planning, i.e. a free for all, which end up benefiting those with capital.
First, the people who voted of Donald Trump and the Republican Message, as well as that of Brexit backers, and the LePen message in the French Elections were harking back to a simpler time where the Europeans are in charge.
Mixed in with this message is the economic winding down of manufacturing in the hearts of these countries, outside of the big cities that are globally connected.
The remedies are simple and long term; education, capital investment, and social services to carry these areas through the industrial realignment. This stands against all the unregulated capitalist principles that the the Americans, British, and French conservatives espouse. Tax cuts wealthy, smaller government, and no central planning, i.e. a free for all, which end up benefiting those with capital.
1
We are in a Technology Revolution with some big winners and many more losers. We should look to the Industrial Revolution, especially in England, when millions were displaced from family farms and moved to cities for grueling, low-pay, factory work. Entire communities were decimated and a way of life ended for the majority of the English people. Technology, and to some extent globalization, has brought the same upheaval and emotional/physical displacement in the U.S. We should look to history for at least some of the solution.
In addition, we now have the habit of demonizing and belittling our institutions and elected officials. I suggest that if we want a better "class" of politicians, we become better citizens. Americans watch five hours of television a day, some of it is news, but primarily it's entertainment. We should spend some of this time educating ourselves on policy and paying attention to what our elected officials are doing in Washington. If Americans were less complacent and more informed, the special interest money, the deceitful political messaging and outright lies would have little effect. Currently, Americans are led around by the nose by our choice of news source with the greatest offender being Fox News.
In addition, we now have the habit of demonizing and belittling our institutions and elected officials. I suggest that if we want a better "class" of politicians, we become better citizens. Americans watch five hours of television a day, some of it is news, but primarily it's entertainment. We should spend some of this time educating ourselves on policy and paying attention to what our elected officials are doing in Washington. If Americans were less complacent and more informed, the special interest money, the deceitful political messaging and outright lies would have little effect. Currently, Americans are led around by the nose by our choice of news source with the greatest offender being Fox News.
1
As usual Brooks inflates his essay with quaint, airy idealism. But none of what he suggests is likely to happen. America’s fatal flaw, part of its DNA, is its Darwinian cult of individualism. It produces winners and losers, and therefore, collateral damage in the form of alienation. Alienation is a natural by-product of this individualistic system that we not only endorse, but, because we are a fanatically religious society, we worship. According to this credo of self-interest, the alienated have no right to complain because everyone has an equal chance to the American Dream. That “promise” of equality is the mythic veneer that encases the American sense of democracy. What is difficult to see through the fog of myth, is the glaring contradiction between the promise and the reality. And there is no greater manifestation of the cult of individualism than capitalism and corporations being granted the “natural” rights of individuals including the unfettered freedom to pursue profit no matter what the consequences are for the collective. Brooks urges us to appreciate the “institutions our ancestors left us.” But to embrace those institutions is to buy into their myths – lofty abstractions, constructs like patriotism, democracy, and capitalism. The reality of those institutions is that they are anchored in an elite Anglo-Saxon, male sense of privilege based on wealth. Its energy runs from the founding fathers to Donald Trump. Democracy in America is reserved for them.
1
Are you actually saying that the college educated elite created an alienated class by making people feel invisible and transferring wealth upward to itself? Somebody did that, but I don't think college had much to do with it.
Political correctness can get kind of silly. But underlying "PC" is the motivation to eliminate discrimination, to call out the bias contained and promoted in certain kinds of language. If those whose language is being called out feel uncomfortable, it's understandable. But to defend against this by protesting against a "hammer" of political correctness being "brought down" by those in the faculty lounge creates a straw man.
Which brings me to Fox News. With regard to "alienation breed(ing) hysterical public conversation", I'd say it's at least a bit of a chicken and egg situation, if not the opposite: Fox News breeds alienation. Fox, and those of their ilk, target the decimated middle class and those uncomfortable with cultural evolution that threatens the primacy of white male power and privilege. Fox defines the boogeyman - the liberal, elite, brown, and corrupt.
Stop blaming the "college educated elites" for Trump. Blame lots of things for Trump. Not least among them the Democratic party's failure to counter Fox propaganda and convince people that the tyranny of the corporate elite is mostly responsible for the redistribution of wealth. But the Democrats failure, alone, nor the actions of the college educated elite, did not get Trump elected.
Political correctness can get kind of silly. But underlying "PC" is the motivation to eliminate discrimination, to call out the bias contained and promoted in certain kinds of language. If those whose language is being called out feel uncomfortable, it's understandable. But to defend against this by protesting against a "hammer" of political correctness being "brought down" by those in the faculty lounge creates a straw man.
Which brings me to Fox News. With regard to "alienation breed(ing) hysterical public conversation", I'd say it's at least a bit of a chicken and egg situation, if not the opposite: Fox News breeds alienation. Fox, and those of their ilk, target the decimated middle class and those uncomfortable with cultural evolution that threatens the primacy of white male power and privilege. Fox defines the boogeyman - the liberal, elite, brown, and corrupt.
Stop blaming the "college educated elites" for Trump. Blame lots of things for Trump. Not least among them the Democratic party's failure to counter Fox propaganda and convince people that the tyranny of the corporate elite is mostly responsible for the redistribution of wealth. But the Democrats failure, alone, nor the actions of the college educated elite, did not get Trump elected.
Did not Hannah Arendt show us how isolation from communities of liberal values would reconnect the alienated through evil made routine, submerged, as she described, within life's banalities?
The power and effect of Trump's campaign should alert us to the importance of individual self-worth through constructive association. No longer defined within geographic community, personal identity now develops from global desiderata and expectation, isolating entire segments from economic and cultural relevance, ironically geographically as well as demographically.
The Electoral College, originally integrating geographic identity, today empowers communities isolated both economically and socially, but collected in despair.
The power and effect of Trump's campaign should alert us to the importance of individual self-worth through constructive association. No longer defined within geographic community, personal identity now develops from global desiderata and expectation, isolating entire segments from economic and cultural relevance, ironically geographically as well as demographically.
The Electoral College, originally integrating geographic identity, today empowers communities isolated both economically and socially, but collected in despair.
It is interesting to see that the elites who were thrown out think all that they need to do is appear to care and then everyone will vote to let them run things again.
What is not stated here is that the elites broke our systems. They broke health care; made it worse. They broke the economy; made it worse. They broke the family; made it worse. They've broken higher education; made it worse.
Now a little back patting and a few "we understand how you feel" will smooth over all the stupid things you've done.
I'm sorry to be the one to tell you but all that we see from Berckley to Washington is not going to let anyone with any sense put the elites that are showboating now back in power. There may be changes to who is elected next, but it won't be the useless fools there now.
Most folks now would rather see the elites for who they are showing themselves to be than believe the elites can change. Because that's what politicians do; they change and that's why you can't trust them.
What is not stated here is that the elites broke our systems. They broke health care; made it worse. They broke the economy; made it worse. They broke the family; made it worse. They've broken higher education; made it worse.
Now a little back patting and a few "we understand how you feel" will smooth over all the stupid things you've done.
I'm sorry to be the one to tell you but all that we see from Berckley to Washington is not going to let anyone with any sense put the elites that are showboating now back in power. There may be changes to who is elected next, but it won't be the useless fools there now.
Most folks now would rather see the elites for who they are showing themselves to be than believe the elites can change. Because that's what politicians do; they change and that's why you can't trust them.
Geez.
"Liberal elites" are blamed for everything. Conservatives blame us for wanting to help elevate the disenfranchised and the disenfranchised blame us for disenfranchising them? It's so spectacularly frustrating that the very people who need help hate those who are trying to help.
One would logically assume that those who need assistance to improve their lives would blame the political party that takes funding away from education, social security, medicaid, and other essential programming. Instead, they seem to demonize liberals and cling to Trump. Very confusing.
"Liberal elites" are blamed for everything. Conservatives blame us for wanting to help elevate the disenfranchised and the disenfranchised blame us for disenfranchising them? It's so spectacularly frustrating that the very people who need help hate those who are trying to help.
One would logically assume that those who need assistance to improve their lives would blame the political party that takes funding away from education, social security, medicaid, and other essential programming. Instead, they seem to demonize liberals and cling to Trump. Very confusing.
2
The ultimate expression of alienation is Libertarianism, and this doctrine is at the heart of the Republican, conservative ideology which has been so damaging to our public life since Reagan introduced it into our politics.
Libertarianism is founded in Christian soul theory -- the belief that we all have a unique kernel of "self" that makes us different from everyone else. In the "religions of the book" this fundamental human alienation ("the Fall") is overcome because all souls are united in God and must obey his commandment that we love one another.
"Godless Libertarianism" cuts the soul off from obedience to God or to any social or political contract that impinges on "individual liberty" by requiring the individual to take on responsibility for other human beings -- by, for example, requiring him/her to pay federal taxes for programs the poor and middle class need, but which the rich don't want or need.
This is why 50 Roman Catholic Bishops wrote Paul Ryan a letter in which they explained to him that his budget fantasies were "unchristian," despite his thinking of himself as a good Catholic.
Brooks can whine about lack of civility, but most of the incivility is coming from the Libertarian branch of his own party. It is rooted in the deep alienation of fallen souls like Ryan, Mulvaney, and the "freedom caucus" who believe they have no responsibility for their poor and downtrodden neighbors, indeed, for anyone other than these "young guns" themselves.
Libertarianism is founded in Christian soul theory -- the belief that we all have a unique kernel of "self" that makes us different from everyone else. In the "religions of the book" this fundamental human alienation ("the Fall") is overcome because all souls are united in God and must obey his commandment that we love one another.
"Godless Libertarianism" cuts the soul off from obedience to God or to any social or political contract that impinges on "individual liberty" by requiring the individual to take on responsibility for other human beings -- by, for example, requiring him/her to pay federal taxes for programs the poor and middle class need, but which the rich don't want or need.
This is why 50 Roman Catholic Bishops wrote Paul Ryan a letter in which they explained to him that his budget fantasies were "unchristian," despite his thinking of himself as a good Catholic.
Brooks can whine about lack of civility, but most of the incivility is coming from the Libertarian branch of his own party. It is rooted in the deep alienation of fallen souls like Ryan, Mulvaney, and the "freedom caucus" who believe they have no responsibility for their poor and downtrodden neighbors, indeed, for anyone other than these "young guns" themselves.
I have three relevant comments:
1) In reading Monique Lecoq's biography of Danton, the lawyer who was a leading figure in the French revolution, I am struck by her analysis that leaders such as Danton were swept along by the people rather than leading them.
2) The irony of the situation in this country is that it was the so-called 'elites', who favored raising minimum wage, raising the unemployment benefits, championing health care, making taxes more progressive, who are being blamed by the disaffected.
3) It is the alt right in this country who want to deny all social benefits to the middle class and poor, who are content to sleep with the Russians, and who favor programs that (unnecessarily) enrich the rich, and who, along with the Thug that is currently our president, have been adopted by the Republican Party.
1) In reading Monique Lecoq's biography of Danton, the lawyer who was a leading figure in the French revolution, I am struck by her analysis that leaders such as Danton were swept along by the people rather than leading them.
2) The irony of the situation in this country is that it was the so-called 'elites', who favored raising minimum wage, raising the unemployment benefits, championing health care, making taxes more progressive, who are being blamed by the disaffected.
3) It is the alt right in this country who want to deny all social benefits to the middle class and poor, who are content to sleep with the Russians, and who favor programs that (unnecessarily) enrich the rich, and who, along with the Thug that is currently our president, have been adopted by the Republican Party.
The first task is to deprogram the minds of people warped and deluded by the hysteria and extremism of the right leaning press. I don't think anything can be accomplished until we have a majority of citizens with a mutually agreed upon reality.
In attempting to explain Trumpism, Brooks once again espouses a socio-psychological theory BASED entirely on what happened rather than a theory ostensibly CONFIRMED/SUPPORTED by what happened. He skips the whole hypothesis/synthesis/theory thing altogether and in so doing, co-opts the term "alienation", which as Brechtian critics have pointed out, means "making strange" in order to encourage unemotional analysis.
Its saddening to see how an intelligent and educated person constructs an explanatory model of the world that misses simple facts, quite obvious to an external observer. And then goes into some sort of self pity and indirect self accusations for not understanding...Mr Brook is a really nice person but ...
Big money in US has spent billions to brainwash people into believing the neoconservative self-serving nonsense. And it really worked. Spent billions into undermining the trade unions and it also worked.
The power in US society has tipped over to one side the 1%...and the frustration is much more widely spread.
Hope US can find someone like France's E. Macron that can mobilize the positive energies of the society. Mr Macron started to build his own movement from the bottom, around issues and solutions with no political labels ...maybe this is an model to follow for renewal of the political life?
Big money in US has spent billions to brainwash people into believing the neoconservative self-serving nonsense. And it really worked. Spent billions into undermining the trade unions and it also worked.
The power in US society has tipped over to one side the 1%...and the frustration is much more widely spread.
Hope US can find someone like France's E. Macron that can mobilize the positive energies of the society. Mr Macron started to build his own movement from the bottom, around issues and solutions with no political labels ...maybe this is an model to follow for renewal of the political life?
David, I think you've built a utopia. Precisely which Congresspeople or Senators are going to behave in this "necessary" way, and when will they start? There's no way to get there from here!
1
The first (picks) pages of the readers comments today are particularly good.
Kudos to the commenters I had the time to read.
Kudos to the commenters I had the time to read.
One of the things said to have been "made abundantly clear" by angry voters is not a clear fact, but a fuzzy notion: "that we have a college educated elite that has found ingenious ways to make everybody else feel invisible, that has managed to transfer wealth upward to itself...."
David, is it the angry voters who conflate their educated compatriots with their wealthy ones, or is it you? At least you seem to accept it as a fact. You're an educated man, yourself. Are you also one of those who are managing the upward transfer of wealth? I'm in the first category, but to tell me I'm in the second is adding insult to the injury of getting Donald Trump for president.
The wealthy Americans who scheme to beggar working Americans are no doubt educated people in most cases, but that's not a salient feature of the set. Nor is wealth a salient feature of the "educated elite" as usually defined and resented: college professors, journalists, and others whose tastes and attitudes are generally alien to working people (but many of whom vote and argue for the interests of working people).
Those angry voters will find a remedy what ails them when they discover the legendary common sense of the common people and figure out who their friends are.
David, is it the angry voters who conflate their educated compatriots with their wealthy ones, or is it you? At least you seem to accept it as a fact. You're an educated man, yourself. Are you also one of those who are managing the upward transfer of wealth? I'm in the first category, but to tell me I'm in the second is adding insult to the injury of getting Donald Trump for president.
The wealthy Americans who scheme to beggar working Americans are no doubt educated people in most cases, but that's not a salient feature of the set. Nor is wealth a salient feature of the "educated elite" as usually defined and resented: college professors, journalists, and others whose tastes and attitudes are generally alien to working people (but many of whom vote and argue for the interests of working people).
Those angry voters will find a remedy what ails them when they discover the legendary common sense of the common people and figure out who their friends are.
Excuse me, Brooks, but the party you have shilled for has over the course of the last 40 years been demonizing everything in our Nation: the Press, the Universities, the Democratic Party and liberals in general, the French, Science, the Post Office, even our Government itself.
I don't know what they love when they say the Love America? Maybe it is a comic book America they think existed somewhere in time.
Liberals may not want to listen to some right wing extremist speaking about white supremacy or the evils of homosexuality on campuses, but I don't think we are trying to suppress thoughts that don't agree with ours.
Maybe you should write about the reasons conservative approaches should be more widely adopted; give us some examples of the benefits to supply side economic theory, tell us again why it is important to keep certain of our citizens from voting, remind us how important it is to invade Iraq and rattle sabers at Iran.
Remind US why the real elites, the 1% who own everything, need more tax cuts. Why they need to hoard more wealth while the Nation's infrastructure rots.
Fill US in on why the white race(?) is superior and should maintain a stranglehold on political power.
Remind us once again why those poor downtrodden southern rural wanna be confederates need special care and attention.
Or maybe you could remind your base that the South lost the war and that the war was treason against the Nation and that we don't build monuments to losers.
Alienated.......
I don't know what they love when they say the Love America? Maybe it is a comic book America they think existed somewhere in time.
Liberals may not want to listen to some right wing extremist speaking about white supremacy or the evils of homosexuality on campuses, but I don't think we are trying to suppress thoughts that don't agree with ours.
Maybe you should write about the reasons conservative approaches should be more widely adopted; give us some examples of the benefits to supply side economic theory, tell us again why it is important to keep certain of our citizens from voting, remind us how important it is to invade Iraq and rattle sabers at Iran.
Remind US why the real elites, the 1% who own everything, need more tax cuts. Why they need to hoard more wealth while the Nation's infrastructure rots.
Fill US in on why the white race(?) is superior and should maintain a stranglehold on political power.
Remind us once again why those poor downtrodden southern rural wanna be confederates need special care and attention.
Or maybe you could remind your base that the South lost the war and that the war was treason against the Nation and that we don't build monuments to losers.
Alienated.......
3
In the wake of Trump-GOP alienation and pseudo-populism vs. establishment ennui, many have cited Orwell's "1984" as currently relevant, but that novel may now be passé. As Michael Idov--a Russian-born, American journalist who has spent years in Moscow--recently commented:
". . . [T]he residents of a hybrid regime such as Russia's--that is, an autocratic one that retains the facade of democracy--know that the Orwellian notion [of autocratic rule] is needlessly romantic. Russian life . . .[is] marked less by fear than by . . . the all-pervasive cynicism that no institution is to be trusted, because no institution is bigger than the avarice of the person in charge."
Michael Idov, "Russia: Life After Trust," New York Magazine (January 23-February 5, 2017), p. 22.
President Trump, Mr. Putin's ardent admirer, is now in office. To what extent has the U.S. become one more autocratic regime with a facade of democracy? The Republican politicians and conservative jurists have already assured that the U.S. has become a plutocracy with a democratic facade. It is not much of a stretch from that political situation to autocracy.
Kleptocracy already abounds.
Who will author "Trump's America: Life After Trust"?
". . . [T]he residents of a hybrid regime such as Russia's--that is, an autocratic one that retains the facade of democracy--know that the Orwellian notion [of autocratic rule] is needlessly romantic. Russian life . . .[is] marked less by fear than by . . . the all-pervasive cynicism that no institution is to be trusted, because no institution is bigger than the avarice of the person in charge."
Michael Idov, "Russia: Life After Trust," New York Magazine (January 23-February 5, 2017), p. 22.
President Trump, Mr. Putin's ardent admirer, is now in office. To what extent has the U.S. become one more autocratic regime with a facade of democracy? The Republican politicians and conservative jurists have already assured that the U.S. has become a plutocracy with a democratic facade. It is not much of a stretch from that political situation to autocracy.
Kleptocracy already abounds.
Who will author "Trump's America: Life After Trust"?
You can't accept that your president is the genuine product of your party.
You repeat the largely inaccurate reason for Trump's election: angry, white, male voters cheated by "democratic capitalism", whatever that is. You don't mention the 1-percenters, the rich, retired who adore Trump.
You say family and community are falling apart. Maybe in the rust-belt and the bible belt, but not generally and not everywhere.
But with the Trumpites' favorite punching bag, college-educated elites, who "make everybody else feel invisible" and crash "the hammer of political correctness down on anybody who does not have faculty lounge views", you have outdone yourself. Hyperbole must be infectious.
The poor and disadvantaged would do anything to become elite. Most have felt alienated by your party for years because it ignores, pinches, denigrates them; your speaker Ryan calls them takers. It's as if being poor isn't misery enough, the GOP blames them for it and always has.
You and the GOP seem not to able to comprehend being non-white, non-male, and non-privileged trying to make a living. Even if a non-white person becomes president, he is subject to suspicion and covert cum overt racism by the GOP and your president.
Trump and the GOP have managed to alienate most Americans. The 60-plus percent who disapprove of Trump, detest him because of his many glaring deficiencies, being republican just one of them.
You repeat the largely inaccurate reason for Trump's election: angry, white, male voters cheated by "democratic capitalism", whatever that is. You don't mention the 1-percenters, the rich, retired who adore Trump.
You say family and community are falling apart. Maybe in the rust-belt and the bible belt, but not generally and not everywhere.
But with the Trumpites' favorite punching bag, college-educated elites, who "make everybody else feel invisible" and crash "the hammer of political correctness down on anybody who does not have faculty lounge views", you have outdone yourself. Hyperbole must be infectious.
The poor and disadvantaged would do anything to become elite. Most have felt alienated by your party for years because it ignores, pinches, denigrates them; your speaker Ryan calls them takers. It's as if being poor isn't misery enough, the GOP blames them for it and always has.
You and the GOP seem not to able to comprehend being non-white, non-male, and non-privileged trying to make a living. Even if a non-white person becomes president, he is subject to suspicion and covert cum overt racism by the GOP and your president.
Trump and the GOP have managed to alienate most Americans. The 60-plus percent who disapprove of Trump, detest him because of his many glaring deficiencies, being republican just one of them.
2
We have a reality-show star as president. A reality-show star! If you are one of the over sixty million voters who put him in office, it's a good bet that you are alienated from the Establishment. But unless you are simply nihilistic, you also have to be spectacularly naïve, and really think DJT is your guy. Many people and entities can be blamed for exploiting naivety, among them the GOP certainly. But for a democracy to function, people have to do their part and educate themselves better.
1
The political establishment you describe already exists in the US: it's the democratic party! "Living elite patriotism" is a very apt description of the Obama/Clinton approach. It was met with a maelstrom of hatred, racism, and sexism from an underclass losing its social standing.
Yes, and there should be lots of fluffy bunnies.
We got here because of the way people are made. Getting out of here will require more than good intentions.
We got here because of the way people are made. Getting out of here will require more than good intentions.
This is absurd, Mr. Brooks.
You simply refuse to admit that Republicans are the problem, not elites.
For the last 30 years, Republicans have lied about economics, arguing, again and again, and now again with Trump, that cutting taxes for the wealthiest in this country benefits everyone, and not just the wealthy.
This is a damn lie, and the facts prove that this is a lie.
Trump is no populist, but he lied and people believed him. Fox News backed him up on his lies, as did the Russians who went after Hillary.
Trump said he would repeal the ACA and replace it with something better, cheaper. That's a lie.
Trump said he would not cut the safety net. That's a lie.
Trump said he would drain the swamp, would keep lobbyists out of Washington and his administration. That's a lie.
Trump said he would reform the tax code and make it fair. That's a lie.
Trump ran against Goldman Sachs and bankers. That's a lie.
Trump os not a damn populist. He ran on a platform of lies.
Stop perpetuating Trump's lies.
Bernie Sanders is a populist, as is Elizabeth Warren. They believe in taxing the wealthiest. They believe in doing something about the banks. They believe in single payer. They believe in fixing college debt. The believe in fixing the infrastructure, but not in privatizing it like elites like Trump suggest. They believe in getting rid of carried interest. They believe in maternity leave, paid. They believe in Dodd Frank, Glass Steagall.
Stop lying about Populism, Mr. Brooks.
You simply refuse to admit that Republicans are the problem, not elites.
For the last 30 years, Republicans have lied about economics, arguing, again and again, and now again with Trump, that cutting taxes for the wealthiest in this country benefits everyone, and not just the wealthy.
This is a damn lie, and the facts prove that this is a lie.
Trump is no populist, but he lied and people believed him. Fox News backed him up on his lies, as did the Russians who went after Hillary.
Trump said he would repeal the ACA and replace it with something better, cheaper. That's a lie.
Trump said he would not cut the safety net. That's a lie.
Trump said he would drain the swamp, would keep lobbyists out of Washington and his administration. That's a lie.
Trump said he would reform the tax code and make it fair. That's a lie.
Trump ran against Goldman Sachs and bankers. That's a lie.
Trump os not a damn populist. He ran on a platform of lies.
Stop perpetuating Trump's lies.
Bernie Sanders is a populist, as is Elizabeth Warren. They believe in taxing the wealthiest. They believe in doing something about the banks. They believe in single payer. They believe in fixing college debt. The believe in fixing the infrastructure, but not in privatizing it like elites like Trump suggest. They believe in getting rid of carried interest. They believe in maternity leave, paid. They believe in Dodd Frank, Glass Steagall.
Stop lying about Populism, Mr. Brooks.
16
Why does David Brooks always describe "elites" as educated people "with a view of the faculty lounge?" The real elites in the country are the 1% - the De Voses, Kochs, Mercers and other Wall Street Barons who control and manipulate our politicians for their own obscene gains and everyone else's loss. If people were better educated and able to think critically, if they watched something other than Fox "News" and listened to someone other than Rush Limbaugh, if they stopped blaming the government for all their woes (Gee, maybe there's no future in coal mining) then we wouldn't be stuck with an ignoramus in the White House.
23
Not very deeply behind this position (and, heaven forbid, Mr. Brooks, you are never known for being deep) is implicit false equivalence. Yes, you concede, the current administration is a disaster, but anything else is also bad, so let's tread softly.
Unfortunately, a corollary of Godwin's Law is that one can never be accused of fascism, even if fascist.
Unfortunately, a corollary of Godwin's Law is that one can never be accused of fascism, even if fascist.
3
Mr. Brooks exhorts us, "it’ll be important for us Trump critics to not set our hair on fire every day..."
Four months into his term, it's starting to dawn on a few conservative intellectuals the dysfunction that Trump has brought to our government. A few, like Mr. Brooks, are actually discovering that their own intellectual establishment actively promoted the Trump anarchy and have regrets now. But let's be honest, most conservatives are still actively promoting it. And their promotion has always been accompanied with high powered flame throwers, going well beyond "hair" in its destruction of rational perspective.
The "Flight 93 election" essay he links to is a case in point. It's a metaphor, you see: "charge the cockpit or you die." Applied to the election, "a Hillary Clinton presidency is Russian Roulette with a semi-auto. With Trump, at least you can spin the cylinder and take your chances."
Maybe Mr. Brooks once agreed with this sentiment masquerading as conservative intellectual thought. And maybe he sees the danger in that reasoning now.
Brooks' citing this vapid little essay shows the level to which conservatives have descended. I only had to look up the author's pen name, "Publius Decius Mus," a Roman consul (ca. 340 BC) who ritually sacrificed himself in battle, to see the pretentious self-image these erudite conservatives have of themselves.
The fire is already lit, Mr. Brooks, by your colleagues. Exhort them if you want to do something positive.
Four months into his term, it's starting to dawn on a few conservative intellectuals the dysfunction that Trump has brought to our government. A few, like Mr. Brooks, are actually discovering that their own intellectual establishment actively promoted the Trump anarchy and have regrets now. But let's be honest, most conservatives are still actively promoting it. And their promotion has always been accompanied with high powered flame throwers, going well beyond "hair" in its destruction of rational perspective.
The "Flight 93 election" essay he links to is a case in point. It's a metaphor, you see: "charge the cockpit or you die." Applied to the election, "a Hillary Clinton presidency is Russian Roulette with a semi-auto. With Trump, at least you can spin the cylinder and take your chances."
Maybe Mr. Brooks once agreed with this sentiment masquerading as conservative intellectual thought. And maybe he sees the danger in that reasoning now.
Brooks' citing this vapid little essay shows the level to which conservatives have descended. I only had to look up the author's pen name, "Publius Decius Mus," a Roman consul (ca. 340 BC) who ritually sacrificed himself in battle, to see the pretentious self-image these erudite conservatives have of themselves.
The fire is already lit, Mr. Brooks, by your colleagues. Exhort them if you want to do something positive.
4
So how do we get Congress to read this, and act on it?
Easy answer. Call your Congressional representative and remind them that it's your vote that put them into office, and your vote that keeps them there.
And tell all your friends to do the same.
REPEAT.
And tell all your friends to do the same.
REPEAT.
1
I am not quite sure if Brooks is writing about Trump supporters or Hillary supporters :)
2
I beg to differ. It's the establishment that is holding back some breathtakingly rational reforms. Sanctuary cities are a magnet for illegal immigration, not a solution. Trump ended Obama's "catch and release," a practice all but inviting illegal immigrants (obviously). And believe it or not, David, Trump's push for a wall is so obvious as a piece of the deterrence puzzle that it is hard to express! Anyone who has put a fence up around their property knows it's not a perfect solution, but then it doesn't have to be. Walls work, for cripes sake. So build the freaking wall.
The establishment, from do-nothing Republicans to the embedded, junket-minded DC agency bureaucrats, to the NYTimes columnists screaming for conformity, IS the problem. You're part of it, David, making a case for holding tight to the root of the problem. It's how we got to the mess we're in now.
Donald Trump has at least one strength: He sees the obvious where people like you abstract the obvious away.
"The Alienated Mind." Ha! Another metaphysical road to nowhere.
The establishment, from do-nothing Republicans to the embedded, junket-minded DC agency bureaucrats, to the NYTimes columnists screaming for conformity, IS the problem. You're part of it, David, making a case for holding tight to the root of the problem. It's how we got to the mess we're in now.
Donald Trump has at least one strength: He sees the obvious where people like you abstract the obvious away.
"The Alienated Mind." Ha! Another metaphysical road to nowhere.
So that government of the rich/multinational corporation, by the rich/multinational corporation, and for the rich/multinational corporation will not perish from the face of the earth.......or something like that.....
I went to college whilst working 30 hours a week! I was a single mom for 15 years after their dad left. I was in high tech mgmt for 20 years. I worked for ALL of it against all odds as a white woman and dealt with harassment and sexism every step of the way. What I was NOT was a victim whom felt that I was entitled and I never, ever felt the slightest bit elite. I had to reinvent myself after Great Recession that laid off a lot of older middle managers (too expensive and seen as obsolete). It took me five years to rebuild and I love my life.
What I see in Trump voters are VICTIMS. They feel whatever their dreams that got ripped out underneath them somehow are someone's nefarious plan to oppress them. They cling to false confidences such as their "patriotism" and their "family values" that permit horrible behavior and alienating words and deeds.
Every day these victims make a choice to be dumber, bitter, not better. And when Trump, Fox News or the GOP comes along with snake oil solutions, they greedily lap it up because it's EASY and oh my does it feels good to have someone, no matter how slick and dishonest, come along and say, "it's not your fault and I can fix this and life with be grand." Instead of, "grow up, work hard and stop being a selfish spoiled brat!"
What I see in Trump voters are VICTIMS. They feel whatever their dreams that got ripped out underneath them somehow are someone's nefarious plan to oppress them. They cling to false confidences such as their "patriotism" and their "family values" that permit horrible behavior and alienating words and deeds.
Every day these victims make a choice to be dumber, bitter, not better. And when Trump, Fox News or the GOP comes along with snake oil solutions, they greedily lap it up because it's EASY and oh my does it feels good to have someone, no matter how slick and dishonest, come along and say, "it's not your fault and I can fix this and life with be grand." Instead of, "grow up, work hard and stop being a selfish spoiled brat!"
9
Bravo for you for going to college against all odds! Agree 100%! These people see themselves as "victims" that's why they blame everyone but themselves for their dead end lives! Fortunately, most of them are older and won't last long!
1
Thanks SO much!
In management, the term is "positive attrition." :-)
I can't stand "victims" and I really can't stand people who won't do whatever it takes...including moving...for a better life. People from other countries are literally dying trying to get to all the opportunities we have here. I also have "issues" with people who don't take care of their own health (obesity, smoking, etc.) and just get SO mad when I think of how much that costs us in insurance, etc. Grrrr...okay, off the soapbox!
In management, the term is "positive attrition." :-)
I can't stand "victims" and I really can't stand people who won't do whatever it takes...including moving...for a better life. People from other countries are literally dying trying to get to all the opportunities we have here. I also have "issues" with people who don't take care of their own health (obesity, smoking, etc.) and just get SO mad when I think of how much that costs us in insurance, etc. Grrrr...okay, off the soapbox!
I am tired of educated elites and NYT columnists bestowing the title "populism" on Trump's "movement." You alienate your readers of color by doing so. It is NOT populism, but plain old racism, misogyny, and xenophobia by a disgruntled and increasingly disenfranchised White American population. Do you really think that a person of color could be elected president, or a woman for that matter, spewing lewd hate speech? Would Barack have been elected if there were audio recordings of him discussing how he sexually assaults women?
12
As usual, Brooks hits the nail on the head.
Cynics, do not laze in the self-righteousness of your dispair, lest you deny yourself the moral realism of a mature mind set.
Be thou grateful in the institutions of our ancestors and filled with the confidence of their reformation.
Or, Davo, we can vote out every Republican and tell the real elites to pound sand for fueling the abomination.
Be thou grateful in the institutions of our ancestors and filled with the confidence of their reformation.
Or, Davo, we can vote out every Republican and tell the real elites to pound sand for fueling the abomination.
In short: European style socialism!
1
Hummm...
If a society is "remote, incomprehensible or fraudulent" then the proper response to it IS "hostility".
"My country, right or wrong" only works if the country IS right.
It is said, David, that you never read your "comments".
I always read a hundred or so.
In those "comments" I find solutions and observations that you do not/have not/will not consider.
That happens every column.
If it only happened every tenth column or so then your column would still have great value.... but it does not.
It happens EVERY column.
You set up a bloated straw-man, your commenters shoot it down.
And so it goes.
Someday you are going to write a column I will agree with....
I look forward to that day....
On the other hand: Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
So far I have seen no "new result".
I guess I'll go read David Leonhardt's column....
If a society is "remote, incomprehensible or fraudulent" then the proper response to it IS "hostility".
"My country, right or wrong" only works if the country IS right.
It is said, David, that you never read your "comments".
I always read a hundred or so.
In those "comments" I find solutions and observations that you do not/have not/will not consider.
That happens every column.
If it only happened every tenth column or so then your column would still have great value.... but it does not.
It happens EVERY column.
You set up a bloated straw-man, your commenters shoot it down.
And so it goes.
Someday you are going to write a column I will agree with....
I look forward to that day....
On the other hand: Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
So far I have seen no "new result".
I guess I'll go read David Leonhardt's column....
3
Sorry Davd but your are a poor journalist.