In a recent post, California IS Different, But It’s Not TOO Different, I drew the distinction between the urbane sophistication of the state’s coastal region and the rural regions in its interior.
As one may expect, there is a huge chasm in terms of politics between the two areas. Yes, California is a blue state, and Trump lost the 2024 presidential election to Harris by about 20%, but 20 points is actually fairly close compared to the thumping he gave Harris in the red states that he won by considerable landslides (see map).
Fortunately, California has masses of well-educated people in the counties adjacent to the Pacific Ocean who are generally quite liberal in their thinking. Yes, there are a growing number of ranchers in the state’s eastern parts, but, for now at least, they’re far outnumbered by the folks fighting the traffic jams and ridiculous real estate prices in IT, entertainment, defense, insurance, professional services, manufacturing, healthcare, and banking.
I join those who say that the human race has evolved to be tribal and selfish. We are largely indifferent to the needs of others, and the capitalist society we’ve built has only served to reenforce this.
As Tom Waits observed, “We’re monkeys with money and guns.”
Now, are there some extremely decent and kind people spread around the globe? Of course. But they tend not to be the billionaires who make all the important decisions as to the how our culture will conduct itself.
Well, never is a long time, as they say.
Yet imagine this scenario, which is quite possible:
Trump is impeached and removed. Almost immediately, there is an incredible outpouring of information on an additional set of crimes committed by Trump and his administration. Simultaneously, the U.S. morphs into a social democracy, and its people enjoy quality education, access to healthcare, and prosperity, not unlike those in Northern Europe and elsewhere around the globe.
Yes, there will always be Republicans promising mass deportations and whatever else appeals to a dwindling MAGA base, but I would think they will have one hell of a hard time winning a national election.
The GOP can say the American economy is skyrocketing. But then there’s that nasty little piece of reality that people can’t afford groceries and are suffering financially more generally.
Or they can day that people are suffering financially, but it’s Biden’s fault. Oops. Biden left office 588 days ago.
Or they can say that the war in Iran has driven up gas prices, but that will turn immediately because we’ve won the war. Yikes. What can we say about all these bombs?
Or they can say that all the racial hatred and divisiveness is Obama’s fault. No, that’s problematic, since he’s been gone for almost 10 years.
Trump supporters may not be too sharp, but even they are having trouble accepting all this crap.
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