Opinion by Paul Waldman: Striking poll numbers show the divide in American politics is even deeper than you think.
, but the United States is defined by dynamism, especially through the successive waves of immigrants whose economic and cultural contributions helped create each iteration of our national character.Throughout our history, the inexorable momentum of change has always been greeted with anger and resistance from conservatives, whether it was 100 years ago or last week. Conservatism, after all, is about, at least on the surface. But it’s also about the maintenance of some hierarchies of power.
That’s why Donald Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again” was so powerful, perhaps more than any other slogan in our political history. The key is in the word “again” — and its assertion that the best America is somewhere in the past, which can be restored with sufficient ruthlessness toward those who have brought the change you abhor.
For many on the right, opposition to the changes they see all around them has become central to their political identity. And because of modern media, change is more visible than ever before. As DeSantis said, “We see it with our eyes.”You might live in a small town and never encounter anyone you know is transgender, but there’s an enormous media apparatus devoted to making you angry and afraid that trans people are busy destroying everything you believe in.
As this new polling demonstrates, dismay at the inevitable evolution of our society is vital for Republicans. The politicians seeking to lead their party know it, and they’ll be doing everything they can to appeal to those fears — as viscerally as possible.
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