Fundamental Differences

For a long time now I’ve been struggling to put into words some ideas. They’ve been hovering just out of my grasp.  Recently, I watched a video that finally articulated this idea in a concise way that was eluding me. This video is part of a series that I found interesting and worth taking a look at. But the first ~10 minutes of this one .

The crux of the idea here is that there is a fundamental difference in how people view the world. Not just politics or policy. But a foundational different view of life. One sees things as fundamentally egalitarian and the other hierarchical. Most people, at least Americans, are a mix but lean more toward one than the other.

This explains why two people, who on the surface appear to be very similar, are friends, get along in most things can, when confronted with some important political concept, view it in completely different lights. When they try and talk to each other it becomes frustrating because they appear to be talking past each other.

Nothing exemplifies this divide better than the current impeachment situation. Many people have opposed Trump since the beginning and found his actions and behavior abhorrent. But despite that, the idea of impeachment still felt a step too far. To use the videos terminology, rather than the political party, the Democratic-leaners belief in the institutions of our government meant that it wasn’t until Trump did something that endangered the institution of democracy that opinions shifted.

Conversely, for the Capitalist-leaners, none of the stuff Trump has done feels like something worthy of impeachment. To them, those on top can do whatever they want to stay on top. Because that’s how the game is played. There are no rules other than winning. They’ll quote the rules if it’s to their advantage but ignore them when it hurts them. This is McConnell’s entire tenure in the Senate in a nutshell.

It doesn’t matter what party controls the government. Democrats can abuse their power just as much as Republicans. The Capitalist side is fine in many settings. But in government, anyone in power needs to remember their Democracy side. That’s what has granted them power. That is where their responsibility lies. Right now, the majority of Republicans have forgotten that.

Speaking out against this abuse of power does not have to mean you have to become a Democrat (political party). Continuing to condone Trump and McConnell’s efforts to win by any means will lead to the death of the Democracy side entirely. Deep down, even people who lean to the Capitalist side, I don’t think actually want to live without the Democracy-side. But we could end up that way.