There is a need for Democrats to appreciate why Donald Trump is so popular with Republicans.
Trump represents the admirable quality of being a strong leader who speaks his mind and performs actions that are sometimes outrageous but supports his right-wing political beliefs. Government legislation always moves slowly and often the results are middle-of-the-road compromises that can disappoint people who like quick and decisive actions.
Trump appeals to the maverick aspect of Americans. This is similar but not as extreme as the outlaw attitude that appeals to Americans of every persuasion except evangelicals. And even evangelicals have traditionally been the mavericks of the Christian religion. Plus, obstructing democratic proposals is consistent with a Republican streak of moral rigidity of which they have always been proud. This is not always a wise choice to make, however, and fuels legislative gridlock.
With Trump, there has been a turning away from some traditional GOP positions that have served Republicans well in the past.
Republicans since the time of William F. Buckley have claimed to be the party of reason. They have never been afraid of intellectual leadership that has embraced well-thought-out conservatism that is consistent with their support of big business and becoming wealthy.
Yet by following Trump, they have embraced the idea of political disruption that has sacrificed intelligent and well-reasoned debate. They famously fight political correctness but unquestionably accept conspiracy theories and an unending flood of misinformation from dubious sources.
They failed to make a key distinction that many learned in the 1960s. Fighting political correctness has dulled their inborn intellectual crap detector. The two things are quite different. Crap detecting is a key ability in politics to avoid deluding oneself and becoming a fool. It helps avoid misinformation and helps maintain a healthy sense of reality. Being politically incorrect does not protect a person from accepting all kinds of bulls---. Republicans need to replace their misplaced trust in political incorrectness with an improved sense of crap detecting.
The second main problem in turning away from Buckley’s emphasis on reason is that it is a turning away from science. Science has brought us landing a man on the moon, cellphone technology, cars that can drive themselves, genetic research to fight human diseases, the internet, microwave ovens, among numerous other advances that have improved human lives. Now, because of a political leader, many of his followers do not have any faith in science or the truth? This is the kind of thinking that used to land people in insane asylums.
Thirdly, Republicans used to believe in the free market economy. There was a common belief between Republicans and Democrats that free market trade between nations is good both economically and politically. Economic interdependence lessened the possibility of political and military conflict. Free trade between nations allowed each nation to benefit from resources that their nation held in abundance.
One cannot avoid the fact that China, Brazil, Vietnam and Russia have a lock on many rare earth minerals that are essential to our computers and smart watches, among other items. Just search the internet on which countries have the most rare earth minerals.
Free trade involves eliminating as many tariffs as possible. Tariffs, as used by Trump, may have had an effect on China, but at the cost of more political conflict between our two nations. For example, our leverage in keeping Hong Kong democratic is now at zero. Tariffs on our NATO allies have had a disastrous effect on political relations.
All tariffs have damaged our economy in numerous unlikely ways. All corporations benefit from the free flow of resources and workers in all fields of employment. We live in a highly interconnected global world no matter how hard Trump has fought this. Thinking that the United States has a lock on intelligence and creativity only reflects the discredited views of World War II eugenics.
Creativity and intelligence can come from anywhere, no matter the race, social class, nationality or gender identity. It usually pops up in the most unlikely places. We need to be accepting of all people.
So, I appeal to Republicans: Return to your best traditions.
Gary Leimback
Gary Leimback, a resident of Salt Lake City, is desirous of putting his political biases aside to bring about common understandings between Democrats and Republicans.