Whats Wrong With Americans? Part 2
The Soul of America Liberals Are Too Afraid to Acknowledge --- [Estimated reading time: 12 min.]
Fine let’s talk about it.
In my last article I pointed out that I do not think now is a great time to perform punditry on the 2024 election. But, like picking at a scab you know will scar, I haven’t been able to help myself from taking quick peeks at the liberal tears running down my social media feeds or listen to the opinions of the somber liberal leaders who drove us into this mess in the first place.
But it wasn’t the pundits on TV, the radical socialists on Youtube or even the esteemed New York opinion columnists in my phone that I think captured an explanation for the 2024 election. Instead it was a short video I saw of a wealthy older boomer sitting across from an asian immigrant - explaining that the reason he was voting for Trump was because he will ban muslims, control southern immigration and keep America a “white country”.
“We do not control the places where we’re not the majority”, he casually says, “we don’t control China, we don’t control the middle east. We only control the places where we are the majority - and Trump will keep it that way”.
Now, I know I know, you’re screaming at the screen right now that more minorities voted for Trump than ever before. But “economic anxiety” does not explain Fox news, the actual focus of Trump’s policies (not his rhetoric), and why this time the most powerful people in the United States who used to be in opposition to Trump - like Elon Musk and Joe Rogan - were fundamental in his victory.
It doesn’t explain this message from a Mexican woman’s grandmother, explaining why she voted for the deranged old white man who expresses nothing but contempt for any latino that’s immigrated into this country.
Fundamentally, you cannot understand the next political regime - and how it killed the Obama era of politics - without understanding American materialism and how American prosperity is fundamentally tied to American “whiteness”, whether you’re a rich elite or a destitute immigrant.
How can you vote for someone who calls YOU garbage?
In the 1950s and 60s, when the boomers were growing into their careers, it was normal to be able to afford a house, two cars, a stay at home wife, children and regular vacations on a single salary. Even my own very liberal and thoughtful Grandparents describe to me how they were “not well off” with a life that we would now describe as upper-middle class and cannot understand how good they had it compared to their grandkids.
This golden age is still the benchmark to be met and superseded by current and future generations, regardless of the fact that clearly our planet cannot sustain this quality of life for even a third of the Americans alive today. Nevertheless, the concept of the “American Dream” blossomed not just inside America but across the globe. The people that immigrated here, including my great grandparents and my own mother, had this image of American prosperity burned into their mind through American imperial propaganda that was, at the time, in direct competition with soviet communism. Immigrants were so convinced of the “American Dream” that they were willing to upend their lives to move here for a shot at attaining it. They had no awareness that the heartland of America was actually an apartheid state, and in some places black people were just trying to get by building their own communities on their own two feet without the interference of the state.
And every time they succeeded, it was burned down.
Because here’s the a secrete a white man will only tell you if you’re alone with them and they think you’re the right type of white. No matter how hard they try, black and brown people are supposed to be the dark contrast to the white American dream.
If you want to understand 2024 you have to understand the threat Trump supporters (white or not) see in the transition of America from a majority white country to a multi-racial democracy. It is not just about keeping other races down - it is about protecting what they perceive to be a fundamental component of what makes America great. Americans, on both sides of the aisle, do not have the political language to discuss resource depletion, diminishing returns and limits to growth. So as we see the quality of life diminish for ourselves and our children we have to blame the boogey men inside the political system - whether its hispanic immigrants, muslim terrorists, gay people, black social justice warriors or the racist white working class.
For example, let’s say Trump tanks the economy and civil liberties here and I move to Canada. I set up a life that is prosperous not just for me but the next generation of my family. However, at the same time as the economy begins taking a serious material nosedive for the average citizen like me - the amount of American nationals begins to tick up steadily. It may be wrong, and dangerous to my own family, to align myself with the “Canada is for Canadians” party, but it’s understandable if the basis of my migration is that I wanted to assimilate into Canadian life, liberty and prosperity - not bring my American-ness with me.
This is the experience of a Cuban refugee, or a Venezuelan migrant who left when Chavez took power. It’s not unimaginable to think that, even if you’re not white, you tie the promise of America to its “whiteness” because there’s an entire machine built by the richest men in the world trying to persuade you of it. It’s not hard to imagine why an American would vote for a Canadian who calls other Americans “trash”.
The left fundamentally misunderstands this as a conversation that begins and ends in a particularly antiquated form of racism. Yes, clearly blaming migrants instead of resource depletion and wealth inequality for our lowering living standards is dumb way to think - but (and the left really fucking needs understand this) politics is not about educating people, its about winning power.
At the end of the day Americans are fundamentally materialists. If racial equality and a functioning democracy means eggs are $5 instead of $2, they don’t see the use in it.
Right or Left, The American People Want Populism
A frustrating component of all this is that white working class Americans tried giving away their racial privilege and embracing a the vision of a multi-racial democracy under the understanding we’d get left wing populism in return.
Ushered into office on the back of a financial disaster caused by the uber-wealthy’s gambling habits Obama promised “Change” but, to the relief of the 1%, didn’t actually follow through. He acquiesced to Republicans over and over again instead of vigorously fighting against them and around them. His solutions stayed within the bounds of the system he promised to change, and he didn’t usher in the legislation (or rhetoric) that truly beloved left politicians enact.
Nevertheless, the brief flirtation with left-wing populism scared the shit out of the white capitalist class, who were already insulted by the elevation of a black man to the presidency. It was clearly the start of an organic trend within the American polity away from neoliberalism and towards populism - as evidenced by the fact that the natural successor to Obama’s movement was a genuine left-wing populist who has never, ever, had a talking point beyond fixing wealth inequality and getting money out of politics.
This man is still the most popular politician in America.
Despite this gift the Democratic party decided to quash the genuine, multi-racial grassroots movement that could provide a fundamental improvement on the material conditions of working Americans. Why? Well I bet it has something to do with cornerstone of Sanders’ agenda removing the money in politics that buttresses Democratic operatives clearly overpaid salaries.
There is reason why the same people that voted for Obama and were the base of Sanders’ support (white and latino working class men - including Joe Rogan himself) now form the base of Trump’s victory in 2024. In 2024 populism was on the menu whether neoliberals liked it or not, the crushing defeat of Kamala Harris is evidence that the foundation of her entire political thesis was rejected - not small elements of it like supporting Israel, choosing Walz over Shapiro or deciding not to appear on Joe Rogan’s podcast like the pundits on TV will try and tell you.
Do you understand now why the clear reality of Biden’s age and cognitive decline fell on deaf ears until we got to the utterly unacceptable “don’t believe your lying eyes and ears” argument after his disastrous debate? Democrats themselves told you they didn’t want an open primary because it would fracture party solidarity - why would that be?
They knew that any true open primary would open the doors for another left populist surge because “the economy is fine, look at the numbers” is a stupid stupid stupid political message when no one can afford a fucking mortgage. AMERICANS 👏🏻 ARE 👏🏻 MATERIALISTS👏🏻 , if the voter tells you their finances aren’t doing great - pulling numbers out of your ass to tell them otherwise isn’t going to convince anyone. The only candidate that could have won in 2024 was someone that could move us forward from neoliberalism, not keep trying to revive it. That’s how Obama won despite being black, he promised CHANGE from the neoliberal system from one side of his mouth while he hands worked to resurrect it.
Just like how Trump promises right wing populism from one side of his mouth while his hands create a fascist future - which is alright with the capitalist class as long as they are on top of it.
Elections Have Consequences - The End Of The Obama-Era, The Erasure of His Legacy
To a white American, the Democratic party that died this week (and hopefully stays dead) showed them that all embracing a multi-racial democracy would do is keep the status quo while taking away the inherit privilege given to them, by god, at birth due to the color of their skin.
This is why “status”, not economics, is the way to understand the calculation of white Trump supporters. It’s not that they think he’ll really make the economy better for them, its that they know none of the options on offer really would fix the fundamental failings of the system while it remains intact - but at least with Trump they get to give the middle finger to the coastal elites that tricked them into electing a black man and can preserve the privilege they have even while white Americans becomes a plurality, not a majority, in the United States. This election the Obama-legacy became an aberration, in 2025 they will erase his legacy and maintain their connection to the prosperity of America through the color of their skin, since clearly no one is offering a real material difference in their lives.
And for the rich they get to be more than rich. Because lots of people in America are rich. But fewer are rich and white. When Elon said on Joe Rogans podcast that this was the last chance for Republicans to prevent Democrats from “turning” enough illegals in swing states to keep permanent political power in their grasp he tipped his hand. Obviously Democrats have never relied on using illegal immigrants to win elections, but they did woolop the GOP in 2012 via their historic gains with latinos. Even now, latinos and all minorities still favor Democrats. And America is becoming browner - nothing is going to stop that. So either the Republican party needs to appeal better to brown people or tilt the scales of American Democracy in order to survive - and unfortunately they’ve found a way to do both.
A Way Out
As I said earlier this week, it’s foolish to try and game out the next “election” when we don’t even know the game we’ll be playing or its rules. Trump has seen the cost of political defeat, he will be more entrenched in 2026 and 2028 and the next transfer of power will likely look more like the evolution of South American countries from military dictatorships to infant democracies or the collapse of the Soviet Union than the orderly transition of power we’ll see in 2025.
However I do know of one country that got out of this - Brazil.
After his first presidency the oligarchy of Brazil corruptly used the legal system to prosecute one of the only genuine left-wing populists on the continent. Due to the quirks in the Brazilian legal system and inherent weakness in their institutions they succeeded in locking up Lula, preventing him from running against an authoritarian president who was nicknamed “the Brazilian Trump” in 2019. Bolsonaro won that election using the same exact tools as Trump this year. However, despite the power of the state, the capture of their legal system, the backing of all the countries capitalists and the use of illegal and false digital campaigns Bolsonaro lost in 2023 when Lula was released from prison and able to run against him.
Because at the end of the day people everywhere earnestly want liberty and sound policies that make them happy. It’s why states that voted for Trump this year still legalized Marijuana and abortion whenever it was on the ballot. It’s why Trump will cut up Obamacare and label it Trumpcare rather than actually kill it entirely in 2025. It why, when the disastrous consequences of his policies come to fruition and turn the electorate against him, he will try and bend the rules of Democracy to prevent “fraud” in the next election and will embrace violence to eliminate whoever tries to rise against him in 2028.
But whoever tries to defeat Trump in 2028 will only succeed if their primary concern is taking care of the material concerns of the working class, not identity politics. As I’ve said over and over again, Americans are materialists - not moralists or gender studies intellectuals or liberal ideologues.
And I don’t say this with relish, I say it with shame. I truly do not have much admiration or respect for Americans - as evidenced by my previous articles about them. I see nothing exceptional or notable about this country aside from is geographic fortune. It’s populated by brutish, arrogant, spoiled, forgetful, selfish, individualist people that like to pretend they are warriors. Like Russia, the only truly good thing about this country is the land it stands on and the resources within it - Trump and I agree that the country is a “trash heap”.
In many ways I find the election of Trump fitting - I think he truly reflects the soul of the nation. A narcissistic people, so desperate to be pampered and praised that they will stick a gun in everyone else’s face since that’s the closest they’ll ever get to any real admiration.
Suffering is the chisel of virtue and Americans, due to the dollar being the world reserve currency and their complete isolation from any neighboring threats, simply haven’t suffered enough.
“As democracy is perfected, the office [of president] represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move towards a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”
- HL Mencken
Regardless, politics is not about educating people or making them different than they are - it’s about winning power. If there is one truth the American people drive home again and again and again, its that they are materialists above everything and anything else - it is the only key to the Whitehouse that matters. If you want to live in a virtuous, equitable, liberal society without bribing the white working class first you can move someplace else.
This is no country for moral men.
On The Continued Pursuit of Virtue, An Editors note - November 8th, 2024
Whelp this one is definitely going to piss off everyone on both sides. I’m fine with that, I don’t write here to be liked I write here to speak unvarnished truth.
As you can tell from the bite in my writing this week, I am having a hard time changing my habits away from consuming and thinking about the news. Podcasts and domestic or international politics are such a vital part of how I spend my resting time - I’m not sure what to fill the void with when I’m driving or doing chores or making coffee in the morning.
But positive reactions to this newsletter has seriously been a life line for me this week. The fact that you all not only let me rant in your inboxes but actively support my work is just an astounding miracle to me. Sincerely, thank you to everyone whose taken the time to read this far and a very very special thank you to those that send me a nice little note and a cup of coffee. It, literally, means the world to me right now.
While todays article ends on a very pointed note, I don’t think that anything that has happened or will happen in the future should change your own practice of virtue. History is defined by people who rise above the baseness of their fellow country men and the times they find themselves in. I would say that the Romans were as or more decadent and corrupt as modern Americans, but we still read the words of Cicero, Octavian and Marcus Aurelius as their temperance and eloquence rose above the pettiness that killed the Roman republic and would eventually end the western empire itself.
Put another way, even in the wake of such a crushing defeat - I’d still rather be someone who voted the right way in this election than someone that voted the wrong way. I’d still rather be Lenin, a man of the people who could inspire his country to actual revolution rather than Stalin, whose only means to power was to hijack that revolution and who had to rule his people with violence since they would never follow or admire him on their own accord. In the end Stalin would die alone, pissing himself in bed while all his closest “friends” delayed fetching a doctor and watched his demise with glee - prepared to murder Stalin’s only son in order to preserve power for themselves.
Good men may suffer evil men, evil men by definition must suffer themselves. When Jesus said sinning would send your soul to hell - he was describing the lived experience of being a person consumed with sin, not what would happen after your death. Aligning yourself towards virtue is the only way to truly command the respect of notable men, generate notable works of art and generate peace and contentment within yourself.
For all he has done, the only people that actually respect Trump are rubes and deep down he knows it. It’s why he is visibly disgusted by the people in his base and surrounds himself with people like Elon Musk and JD Vance who obviously only seek to use him for his power. It’s why hates Obama, a president even his own supporters adore, with such a fiery passion. For all Trump’s accomplishments any serious man can tell that day-to-day Trump is rarely happy. He may be celebrating now, but even at the height of his power his own wife wont be in a portrait with him.
Once we are done with this petty tyrant no great men will be inspired by his life’s work, even his own children will not remember him with the reverence he reserves for his own father - and he knows it. Even in the rank of evil men, he’s a baffonish Mussolini playing second fiddle to actually dangerous and cunning men like Putin, Hitler and Xi Jinping. To be “Trumpish” will be an insult, just like when Vance compared him to Hitler. Nothing he says or does in the next 4 years can change that.
So on that note, remember to take care of your body even if your mind ails you. Remember that even in your darkest hour you have the intellect, temperance and will to be a being that generates light for yourself and others. Remember the greatest thing you can be is a content man - nothing, not even power, is a more worthy endeavor in your life’s journey.
Until next time,
Jordan Sinclair Lovinger
What a fantastic article. Looking forward to part 3