Posted on: 11/08/2024 @ 08:54 PM
The 2024 election is over, and once again, America finds itself at a crossroads. The re-election of Donald Trump and thoroughly underwhelming campaign of Kamala Harris were two outcomes that many didn’t see coming, yet here we are. It’s a bittersweet result for some of us—unhappy with Trump’s success, but relieved that Harris lost. However, it’s crucial to examine why Trump’s message still resonates so strongly with so many Americans. The Left (or Democrats as I don't view them as The Left anymore) must recognize that its extreme rhetoric has alienated parts of the country that were once reachable.
#1 - Understanding the Results
The results make one thing clear: the country is deeply divided, with vast stretches of America feeling unheard or disregarded. Trump’s victory signals that his message—whether we agree with it or not—continues to tap into a strong sense of disillusionment. Many feel that his policies address their daily concerns, and that he speaks for those frustrated with being labeled or disregarded by mainstream voices.
#2 - The Role of Leftist Rhetoric
Over the past several years, parts of the Democratic Party have adopted an uncompromising stance, dismissing opposing views as “bigoted” or “Nazi-like” in ways that can feel alienating to average Americans. And if a person can prove they are not a bigoted fascist, then they just called morons that don't know what's good for them. This rhetoric has moved beyond advocacy for progress and into a sort of ideological purity test that many moderate and middle-ground Americans simply don’t relate to. Terms like “extremism” have become catchalls, leaving little room for constructive dialogue or nuance.
Impact on Middle America: For those in rural areas or outside major urban centers, these broad-strokes accusations only deepen feelings of exclusion and resentment.
Losing the Moderate Ground: The Democratic Party's approach has pushed some traditional Democrats or left-leaning moderates toward the right, not necessarily out of loyalty to Trump but because they feel they have nowhere else to turn.
Those two points need to be taken and digested by all Democrats. While we know the people worried about the economy and immigration; Something Republicans hammered on constantly with rhetoric of fixing, while Democrats were saying all is well in those areas. It's the alienating of middle America that MUST be examined. The United States of America is as diverse as it is vast. The majority of us just want what is best, we just differ on how we think to get there.
Once the extremists of the Democratic Party stop shouting and start having open dialogue with differing ideas to find common ground (or dare I say... compromise), we can truly heal and come together. Once we achieve E pluribus unum, we can gladly rid ourselves of people like Donald Trump. But if none of that happens, the people will always push back against the ones that look down on them and happily shout that condescending message from the skyscrapers. And that pushback comes with ugliness of people like Trump.