Study: Ethnocentrism and Republican democratic commitment

[US-SSR]

Free to read here. Can it be that surprising that decades of "Southern strategy," "welfare queen," "Islamic terrorism," "immigrant caravan" and similar rhetoric has rubbed off on the Republican rank and file, or that given a choice between elections where everyone votes, all the votes are counted and the person with the most votes wins (which they would lose) and either cheating or armed rebellion many would choose the latter?

What does this say about the idea that undereducated white men back Republicans because of economic rather than racial distress? Can democracy in America survive the Republican Party as presently constituted or is some form of authoritarianism inevitable? Can the Republican Party as presently constituted survive or will future generations group it with the Whigs and Know-Nothings?

After the 2008 election the Republican Party faced a choice: broaden its appeal to the people who would constitute the majority of Americans in the future or double down on resentful, undereducated white men. It chose badly. The day is fast approaching when no amount of fear, ignorance, electoral chicanery or institutions that privilege the most reactionary elements in US society such as the Electoral College will be enough. The Republican presence at all levels, local, state and federal, will quickly decline, and then vanish. When it comes, the end will be swift and sure. As for violent reaction, without the support, connivance or disinterest of the law enforcement and legal apparatus that will be confined to small, easily neutralized cells.

After last week's coronation all pretense has been cast aside. The Republicans are the party of fear, lies and authoritarianism. Individual Republicans who do not publicly oppose this have made their choice. Again, they chose badly. The end is near. History will not be kind to the collaborators.

"Growing partisan polarization and democratic “backsliding” in various parts of the world have raised concerns about the attachment of ordinary Americans to democratic institutions and procedures. I find that substantial numbers of Republicans endorse statements contemplating violations of key democratic norms, including respect for the law and for the outcomes of elections and eschewing the use of force in pursuit of political ends. The strongest predictor by far of these antidemocratic attitudes is ethnic antagonism—especially concerns about the political power and claims on government resources of immigrants, African-Americans, and Latinos. The strong tendency of ethnocentric Republicans to countenance violence and lawlessness, even prospectively and hypothetically, underlines the significance of ethnic conflict in contemporary US politics...

"The frailty of public commitment to democratic norms in the contemporary United States is illustrated by the responses of 1,151 Republican identifiers and Republican-leaning Independents* interviewed in January 2020 to survey items contemplating transgressions of a variety of essential democratic principles, including the rejection of violence in pursuit of political ends and respect for the rule of law and the outcomes of elections†. A majority of respondents (50.7%) agreed that “The traditional American way of life is disappearing so fast that we may have to use force to save it.” A substantial plurality (41.3%) agreed that “A time will come when patriotic Americans have to take the law into their own hands.” A near-majority (47.3%) agreed that “Strong leaders sometimes have to bend the rules in order to get things done.” Almost three-fourths (73.9%) agreed that “It is hard to trust the results of elections when so many people will vote for anyone who offers a handout.” In each case, most of those who did not agree said they were unsure; only 1 in 4 or 5 or 10 said they disagreed."

[Loben III]

commitment to what?

[The Emerald Legion]

Man who's entire career is pretending that shit talking republicans is a scientific discipline shit talks Republicans.

In other breaking news, scientists recently discovered that immersing yourself in water makes you wet.

[Borderlands of Rojava]

While Republicans feed on racial resentment, democrats have this bullshit white savior complex. You can miss me with one sided crap.

[Nobel Hobos 2]

I can't see this turning into anything but a generic election thread. But we'll see.

[Nobel Hobos 2]

While Republicans feed on racial resentment, democrats have this bullshit white savior complex. You can miss me with one sided crap.

Black voters more than any other kind of voters, just love the Democrats. Are they looking for a "white savior" or are they appreciative of policy that helps poor people?

[Borderlands of Rojava]

While Republicans feed on racial resentment, democrats have this bullshit white savior complex. You can miss me with one sided crap.

Black voters more than any other kind of voters, just love the Democrats. Are they looking for a "white savior" or are they appreciative of policy that helps poor people?

They know that the dems are slightly better for them than the Ronald Reagan fanclub. A large amount of black people don't vote and they don't because they know they're fucked either way.

I've had to deal with alot of stereotypical liberals in my life. They treat minorities like big babies and I couldn't deal with the disrespect no more. It was worse than when the republican types in my county would call me and people I know spics and dune coons.

[Washington Resistance Army]

When it comes, the end will be swift and sure. As for violent reaction, without the support, connivance or disinterest of the law enforcement and legal apparatus that will be confined to small, easily neutralized cells.

Probably the most uneducated thing posted on NSG this week thus far. It is full stop impossible to prevent lone wolf or very small unit based terrorism.

[Borderlands of Rojava]

When it comes, the end will be swift and sure. As for violent reaction, without the support, connivance or disinterest of the law enforcement and legal apparatus that will be confined to small, easily neutralized cells.

Probably the most uneducated thing posted on NSG this week thus far. It is full stop impossible to prevent lone wolf or very small unit based terrorism.

I really do see American Ulster coming up in our near future, if we aren't already living through its early days.

[Nobel Hobos 2]

Black voters more than any other kind of voters, just love the Democrats. Are they looking for a "white savior" or are they appreciative of policy that helps poor people?

They know that the dems are slightly better for them than the Ronald Reagan fanclub. A large amount of black people don't vote and they don't because they know they're fucked either way.

I've had to deal with alot of stereotypical liberals in my life. They treat minorities like big babies and I couldn't deal with the disrespect no more. It was worse than when the republican types in my county would call me and people I know spics and dune coons.

I'd like to point out that I've called you out for saying racist stuff at least once. I know you're multi-ethnic because you tell everyone ("race salad" didn't offend I hope?) and I'm a liberal. Is it treating you like a big baby to call you out when your attitude is bad? I think I do that to everyone, and if I've been easy on you it's because we're broadly on the same side politically.

I do not treat you like a big baby unless you act like one, which sadly sometimes you do. Putting yourself in danger for the thrill of a fight (or almost-fight) and driving recklessly are both things that can kill or seriously disable you. You should take more care of yourself!

[Nobel Hobos 2]

When it comes, the end will be swift and sure. As for violent reaction, without the support, connivance or disinterest of the law enforcement and legal apparatus that will be confined to small, easily neutralized cells.

Probably the most uneducated thing posted on NSG this week thus far. It is full stop impossible to prevent lone wolf or very small unit based terrorism.

Not arming the country to the teeth would have reduced the potential for that. But I guess that ship sailed.

[Borderlands of Rojava]

They know that the dems are slightly better for them than the Ronald Reagan fanclub. A large amount of black people don't vote and they don't because they know they're fucked either way.

I've had to deal with alot of stereotypical liberals in my life. They treat minorities like big babies and I couldn't deal with the disrespect no more. It was worse than when the republican types in my county would call me and people I know spics and dune coons.

I'd like to point out that I've called you out for saying racist stuff at least once. I know you're multi-ethnic because you tell everyone ("race salad" didn't offend I hope?) and I'm a liberal. Is it treating you like a big baby to call you out when your attitude is bad? I think I do that to everyone, and if I've been easy on you it's because we're broadly on the same side politically.

I do not treat you like a big baby unless you act like one, which sadly sometimes you do. Putting yourself in danger for the thrill of a fight (or almost-fight) and driving recklessly are both things that can kill or seriously disable you. You should take more care of yourself!

When did I mention you? "Treating like a baby" was not in reference to anything you said, and I've never said anything racist on here unless it was to quote someone else or quote a hypothetical someone else. You're getting way too defensive about me criticizing certain left wing whites for having a condescending view of minorities. Criticizing you as an individual wasn't my intention

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I think both parties are in for a good restructuring. If they continue this way, I doubt either can actually subsist.

[Nobel Hobos 2]

A large amount of black people don't vote and they don't because they know they're fucked either way.

I missed this the first time. It's wrong. Black turnout was pretty bad last century, but it rose gradually and in 2008 and 2012 it exceeded white turnout. For an obvious reason. But it's still up, and not that much worse than white turnout.

"Fucked either way" doesn't apply significantly more to black voters than to white voters, it seems.

Hispanics on the other hand ...

[Borderlands of Rojava]

A large amount of black people don't vote and they don't because they know they're fucked either way.

I missed this the first time. It's wrong. Black turnout was pretty bad last century, but it rose gradually and in 2008 and 2012 it exceeded white turnout. For an obvious reason. But it's still up, and not that much worse than white turnout.

"Fucked either way" doesn't apply significantly more to black voters than to white voters, it seems.

Hispanics on the other hand ...

And many whites feel fucked regardless too. I cant blame most Americans for feeling fucked regardless but to me, black voters who vote Democrat occupy the same place as the trumpsters do in my head. Folks voting endlessly for the same people, hoping for a savior. Truth is, neither party will save them. Younger black folks, like young folks in general, are realizing this.

[Diarcesia]

Younger black folks, like young folks in general, are realizing this.

Good for them. Truly altruistic politicians are an exception.

[Sundiata]

A large amount of black people don't vote and they don't because they know they're fucked either way.

I missed this the first time. It's wrong. Black turnout was pretty bad last century, but it rose gradually and in 2008 and 2012 it exceeded white turnout. For an obvious reason. But it's still up, and not that much worse than white turnout.

"Fucked either way" doesn't apply significantly more to black voters than to white voters, it seems.

Hispanics on the other hand ...

Don't lose hope.

[Kowani]

commitment to what?

Democracy.

[Washington Resistance Army]

Probably the most uneducated thing posted on NSG this week thus far. It is full stop impossible to prevent lone wolf or very small unit based terrorism.

Not arming the country to the teeth would have reduced the potential for that. But I guess that ship sailed.

Even in countries without the second amendment it's not possible. If I alone decide I'm gonna go kill people for political reasons, who can stop me? Any response would be reactive, not preventative.

[Borderlands of Rojava]

Not arming the country to the teeth would have reduced the potential for that. But I guess that ship sailed.

Even in countries without the second amendment it's not possible. If I alone decide I'm gonna go kill people for political reasons, who can stop me? Any response would be reactive, not preventative.

Look at what islamists did in France over the course of three years. A truck attack in Nice and a bomb attack in Paris. You can only ban the guns to a point. Guns are harder to get in the UK but it didn't stop the UDA or IRA.

[Kowani]

Not arming the country to the teeth would have reduced the potential for that. But I guess that ship sailed.

Even in countries without the second amendment it's not possible. If I alone decide I'm gonna go kill people for political reasons, who can stop me? Any response would be reactive, not preventative.

Avoiding neoliberalism and neoconservativism would’ve been…

[Bombadil]

The fact is that simple slogans of freedom, deregulation and tax cuts are far more compelling than social rules, regulation and welfare.. even though the latter make for a better society.

It also appeals to business, certainly large business subject to regulations such as environmental impact and those businesses have far more influence, in terms of donations to influence politicians (it's been shown that politicians act on donation influence far more than voter wants), ownership of media and more.

So Republicans have massive advantages over Democrats. They can then appeal to religious wedge issues and, somewhat more subtly though not recently, race issues.

This has meant they've always dominated the white base, who are most influential in elections, and as that base narrows alas they've had to lurch into more extreme language to maintain that base.

Barack Obama was extraordinary really, if you look at popularity charts of presidents, it's really about swing voters, if they rise in popularity among democrats they rise among republicans and vice versa, falling among republicans is a fall in democrat support as well. Obama among democrats was similar to Reagan under both, experiencing a W shaped popularity across his term. However among Republicans for Obama it's starkly different, it just drops.. doesn't match at all.

This really all accrues from the rise of the Tea Party, 8 years of Obama presidency to the cesspit of relations amplified by Trump.

Hopefully it's the last concentrated toxicity of a base that will be beaten out and so the republicans will be forced to change, which they will, and successfully, because they retain those initial advantages I just mentioned.

[Bassoe]

I imagine either:

Scenario A: American English vernacular assimilate a bunch of Spanish loanwords and whoever decides this crap concludes the latinos are officially white and as such, America's population is still majority white and pandering to their fears of this changing can win elections. It isn't like we haven't seen all this before.


Scenario B: As soon as demographic change makes it a practical impossibility for the republicans to win, the democratic party coalition splinters. New factions are a christian party with the difference from the modern republicans of being more accepting towards nonwhite christians and socialism and mass migration as 'what jesus would do' and a technocratic/libertarian party based around 'make of social norms whatever you like' including nominally good stuff like the women, minority and lgbtq rights blocs, but also the Cult Of The Free Market crazies and the libertarian right to send all jobs abroad crowd.

Scenario C: The republicans try to seize power once they cannot win it by fair election, either by violence or voter suppression/blatant corruption.

[Nobel Hobos 2]

Not arming the country to the teeth would have reduced the potential for that. But I guess that ship sailed.

Even in countries without the second amendment it's not possible. If I alone decide I'm gonna go kill people for political reasons, who can stop me? Any response would be reactive, not preventative.

I guess that ship sailed.

If you alone decided you're gonna go kill people, you already have a gun. So you'll kill 20 or so, I guess.

If I alone decided I was gonna go kill people, I'd have to make do with a sword. If I went somewhere like a park or a beach where people were dense enough but not too dense (or I might get tackled) I could kill maybe 5 or 6 of the ones who weren't good runners. If anyone has a gun, I'm going to die.

So let's consider I'm not in such a hurry. My mental health background probably rules out buying a gun from a shop. I could try, but I'd need a license of competency (learning with someone else's gun at a range), then apply, that could be a week or two, THEN I could go the gun shop and buy a basic gun. All that isn't worth the time and expense considering I'm probably disbarred. So I'll go into Liverpool or (some suburb I'd rather not mention) and ask around about ... hmm, I'd better not say guns. Most crims won't go near guns. I'll try and buy some drugs, that will establish that I'm at least entry-level criminal dude. OK I've bought the drugs, and I might as well take them since I'm about to get robbed anyway. I'm in this sleazy criminal house (seen a few people and they ALL looked like criminals) and there's a new-looking Glock on the table. I know this could get me in trouble, but I have to know: "Is that a police weapon?" The guy does not like that. He stares me down. And I realize it doesn't matter anyway, I'm going to be dead soon, one way or the other. It's time to close the deal, to remove the guy's incentive to kill me. Three thousand five hundred. Worst case scenario was that it would be more than I had in cash, but I actually have five thou distributed in my pockets. I'm feeling brave now, so I bargain him down to three thousand two hundred. Oops, almost forgot ammo. Three thousand four hundred after all. Well I figured three-two was soft, now I know why. I fumble out the money, put it on the table and watch as he picks it up and counts it. He finishes, and nods at the gun which I take to mean it's mine. I put it in an inside pocket, making the coat hang badly, and the box of ammo in the side pocket.

I get out of there alive. My god, I'm actually going to kill some people before I die. So much better than being a headless limbless torso in the harbor!

What should be my next move? Remember I've only shot 20 rounds or so in a range (this is the real me now) so I'm not a good shot. I'm going to have to sight along the barrel to hit anything at all. How many people do you think I can kill?

[Nobel Hobos 2]

I imagine either:

Scenario A: American English vernacular assimilate a bunch of Spanish loanwords and whoever decides this crap concludes the latinos are officially white and as such, America's population is still majority white and pandering to their fears of this changing can win elections. It isn't like we haven't seen all this before.
(Image)

Scenario B: As soon as demographic change makes it a practical impossibility for the republicans to win, the democratic party coalition splinters. New factions are a christian party with the difference from the modern republicans of being more accepting towards nonwhite christians and socialism and mass migration as 'what jesus would do' and a technocratic/libertarian party based around 'make of social norms whatever you like' including nominally good stuff like the women, minority and lgbtq rights blocs, but also the Cult Of The Free Market crazies and the libertarian right to send all jobs abroad crowd.

Scenario C: The republicans try to seize power once they cannot win it by fair election, either by violence or voter suppression/blatant corruption.

Scenario D: Almost all states adopt Proportional Representation for at least one chamber of their legislature. This makes 3/4 of States for a constitutional amendment to replace the US House with a Proportional Representation chamber. The Senate is all on board, but of course the House members who would lose their jobs will not agree. SCOTUS rules that in cases affecting its own existence, the House's assent is assumed as they must recuse themselves. Proportional Representation from coast to coast!

What's good about this: you can have ALL of those parties above, plus others wonderful or vile, all in the House at the same time!