Bonus: Everyone Hates Homelessness But Conservatives Hate The Homeless
Why do conservatives hate and fear critical thinking? Well, of course, critical thinking— seeking evidence, weighing arguments and distinguishing fact from opinion and propaganda— encourages us to question, analyze and evaluate information for ourselves rather than blindly accepting Trump’s deranged social media postings or Fox News’ neo-fascist propaganda. Conservatives thrive on obedience and conformity, so they discourage any form of independent thought that challenges their narratives or policies. They do not want us making informed decisions and acting autonomously. When people are able to think critically, they are less likely to be swayed by manipulation or coercion from conservative regimes, posing a threat to conservatives’ ability to maintain power. It’s why they’ve waged a decades-long war against public education.
Yesterday, one of my favorite public intellectuals, British economist Umair Haque, wrote that everywhere he looks, he sees examples of languishing. “Bright young professionals stuck in underemployment, middle-aged individuals in careers that once promised ascendancy now feeling trapped, and the elderly facing retirement in insecurity and isolation. Languishing is the absence of well-being— not necessarily filled with sadness or fear, but a numb, joyless existence where nothing seems meaningful or worthwhile. This emotional void captures the essence of what many feel in today’s turbulent times. Languishing mirrors economic and social stagnation. As economies and democracies flicker— struggling to sustain growth or fairness— people's lives mirror this decay. The impact is profound, leading to a joyless age where future prospects seem dim and uninviting. Addressing languishing isn't about individual healing; it's about societal reform. We need to rebuild our institutions to provide real prospects for growth, connection, security. Without systemic change, we are all at risk of succumbing to despair.”
That doesn’t sound like something the Democrats can solve— ever, let alone before November. But yesterday, Paul Kane noted that, at least in terms of the economy, voters in the swing states that will determine who will be in the White House next January, voters are less depressed than Umair’s dark picture Sure, voters still think the nation is going off rails— just not in their state. Voters are more upbeat about how things are going where they live than where things are going according to Fox and the rest of the national media (nationally). “A majority,” wrote Kane, “view their state’s economy as doing well, and many are likely to view the state— but not necessarily the nation— as being on the right track.
He pointed to a recent poll of seven key presidential battlegrounds: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin by the Wall Street Journal. “A good deal of attention went to how, in aggregate, just 25 percent of voters in those states thought the nation was headed in the right direction and only 36 percent considered the nation’s economy ‘excellent’ or ‘good.’’ Take North Carolina— just 33% said the economy was good but 64% rated the state’s economy as excellent or good. Basically, almost a third of his state’s voters think the national economy remains bleak but the Tar Heel State is doing quite well.
“The same dynamic,” continued Kane, “unfolds in all seven swing states. On average, 54 percent of voters said their state’s economy was excellent or good while 43 percent said it was not good, but their views of the national economy were reversed: 36 percent saying it was at least good, 63 percent disapproving of the nation’s economy.”
So why? Delaware Senator Chris Coons “suggested that part of the problem comes through media echo chambers still carrying out the battles over the last few years, particularly in conservative outlets where the economy is often talked down. ‘Hangover from the pandemic and high inflation, and other political figures who are saying we’re in a recession when we are not,’ he said. Some Democrats don’t consider this to be a problem, but rather an opportunity, because many swing-state voters are seeing improvement in their daily lives. They predict that approval for the national outlook is a lagging indicator that Democrats have time to show progress before the November elections.”
Let me go back to another one of my favorite British public intellectuals, this time Jonathan Pie. About a year ago he was celebrating the political demise of short-lived Prime Minister Liz Truss, but I want to point out something as relevant to our own country as to his. He was describing how politicians who win elections suddenly realize that “with political power comes the reality of actually running an actual country with actual real human beings with actual real fucking problems. When was the last time someone was actually running the country? I’m not talking about someone who’s politically aligned with me; I’m talking someone competent with a modicum of integrity and an ounce of intelligence. When?”
Friday, Pie released a new video that is also as relevant to the U.S. as it is to the U.K. It’s about homelessness and the homeless. It’s worth watching, especially since lots of people think it’s one of the top electoral issues in the country (our country). Pie is brilliant. You know that, right?