I think a large portion of the American public simply isn't as serious and as informed as they used to be. Many came of age being distracted by enormous channel offerings of shit television, moronic video games, and shallow consumerism. This People Magazine cohort never read history, and may well have lacked meaningful ties with folks who barely survived the Depression and WW2. They could have learned a lot from these folks.

Also, I think Trump learned a lot from his experience with professional wrestling and how to play to this crowd of rubes. The parallels between Trump rallies and his appearances on those moronic wrestling "events" are striking!

I don't recall that we've discussed the damage done by some on the left here vis a vis identity politics. All too often, we have disparate groups, all nursing grievances, imagined and real, who can't see beyond their narrow identity. I am solidly pro-gay rights, pro-civil and women's rights, pro-choice, etc.. I tick the box on mostly all of the traditionally left-of-center issues, but we need to realize that we have to appeal to a wider audience. Right wing media is adept at portraying these groups as being far out of the mainstream of American society. The Democrats need to speak to far more universal needs within the country: employment opportunities, clean air and water, good schools, a strong social safety net, and healthcare. These are concerns for everyone.

Peter T.