A quietly released new study from Johns Hopkins reveals the stunning reason many Americans choose to throw their support behind President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, according to a new report.
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Salon writer Mike Lofgren on Sunday published a thorough analysis of the Agora Institute study he argues directly undermines the liberal political theory of “Abundance” put forth by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson in their book of the same name.
While Klein and Thompson urge Democrats to follow former President Bill Clinton’s mantra, “It’s the economy, stupid,” and slash regulations to provide economic resources faster, Lofgren points to the study as proof their plan would be dead on arrival.
“On a political level, Klein and Thompson’s proposals are nonsensical,” wrote Lofgren. “Getting into a bidding war with Republicans over cutting regulations is like being suckered into a hot dog-eating contest with Joey Chestnut.”
Lofgren dismissed Klein and Thompson’s work as reflecting the views of the privileged few, as did the New York Times review that called its argument that of “elite finance and tech bros in two or three coastal cities.”
But the “coastal” vibe isn’t the real problem, Lofgren argues. The real problem can be found in the Johns Hopkins report which found, as he summarized, “The groups it hopes to convert don’t want it.”
Lofgren then explained the study found 14 out of 21 participants responded negatively to a fundamental American value. He quoted a Wyoming woman named Sarah as telling researchers, “I don’t like the word democracy.”
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“Let that sink in,” the Salon writer urged. “It’s what many of us expected, but it’s still surprising to see it in print, given the almost phobic avoidance by major media, academia and think tanks of any discussion of whether Americans actually believe in the nation’s unofficial civic religion of democracy. It may also explain why ordinary, non-elite conservatives are untroubled by Donald Trump’s assertions that he would be “dictator on day one” or that he intended to ‘terminate’ parts of the Constitution. On the contrary, that’s what they want.”
The study, Lofgren argued, found that what such Americans would prefer is protection of the beliefs they perceive as under attack by democracy itself.
“Since they believe their values are under relentless attack by the institutions of democracy, then democracy must be sacrificed,” Lofgren wrote. “In this mindset, political opponents are not acting in good faith but are outright demonic.”
How this plays out for liberals is best captured by the views of a study participant from Michigan named Maria, Lofgren concluded.
The study stated, “Her verdict on the Democratic Party as having dedicated its playbook to Satan and chosen the ‘platform of death’ does not leave room for normal civic constraints to apply.”
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