Note: This post was written in September 2024.
As the political divide and divergent versions of reality in American politics have increased, I became increasingly curious.
What was the cause? As someone who studied social psychology, psychology, and sociology, I thought there was more to it than simple explanations such as red state vs. blue state, liberal vs. conservative, close-minded vs. open-minded, or bright vs. stupid.
I still do not understand Donald Trump’s attraction to 49% of American voters (including friends and family), so I wrote the attached to explain why some people might vote for him. I might vote for him, too, if I thought our country was veering toward a pizza-based pedophile regime or a pet-eating communist state. However, in the real world, the American stock markets set all-time records almost daily, and America’s economy weathered COVID-19 better than any other major country. The sane Republicans in Ohio assure us that Haitians are not eating their family pets.
Growing up in Queens, Trump was said to have a “thing” for a pro wrestler named Gorgeous George. Muhammad Ali and the singer James Brown acknowledged that they were heavily influenced by the larger-than-life wrestler (George was only 5’9” tall).
George was not the biggest or meanest wrestler but a successful, flamboyant self-promoter. Interestingly, one of his trademarks was his blonde, curly hair. Spoiler alert: professional wrestling is not really a sport. It is a form of entertainment. Gorgeous George was a master at making wrestling look legitimate while thrilling his fans with his flamboyant, theatrical style.
Watching Trump and his MAGA cohorts daily reminds me of pro wrestling theatrics. Almost everyone knows it is fake, but it is cathartic and entertaining for those attending the Trump rally! Attending a Trump rally (whether in person or online) gives attendees psychological cover and confidence that they are with the “right” political party. The rally strips away the need to fact-check or be concerned with weighty subjects like “the truth.” As long as the message is entertaining, consistent, and self-reinforcing…all is good. Why listen to anyone else, particularly those dull and less entertaining than Trump?
American politics tends to be binary, either Republican or Democratic. Those who distance themselves from the two options are Independents who either totally disengage or reluctantly select one of the two binary choices at election time. Third parties occasionally arise, and some Republicans or Democrats disengage, but this is uncommon. Most politically active people are born into or adopted into their permanent “tribe.” Our belief that we are good and righteous people with good and righteous political affiliations reinforces this permanence. Despite the barbarian seizure of the GOP over the past eight years by MAGA, most Republicans remain loyal to their party. Even if Trump shoots their best friend on 5th Avenue in New York City, most are still shackled to their GOP tribe.
Democrats are generally extensions of urban America, the Rooseveltian New Deal, and a progressive path to social justice and science. Republicans are generally more rural, in favor of low taxes (especially for the wealthy and their acolytes), and, concerning social justice, would rather live in the 19th century than the 21st century. Thanks to our collective permissiveness toward propaganda and “free” speech, hardcore progressives and conservatives now live in separate worlds and have become increasingly antagonistic. The Democrats leave the propaganda barn door open because they do not want to appear soft on the First Amendment, and the MAGA crowd happily bursts into the barn and sets it on fire. They file a lawsuit if a concerned citizen yells, “Fire.” Speaking of free speech, social media nullifies the need for journalism since the truth can be spun as quickly and cheaply as cotton candy. Lies become sacred truths after they are repeated 10,000 times and reposted on X by a celebrity.
The animosity between the two parties has increased so dramatically that many Americans, even those with historically solid party affiliations, have become cynical about America and its future. Historically, the current anger and nastiness are only matched by the fight over the slavery issue that sparked the American Civil War. [How did that go?] However, many Americans are stunned by the current rise in mutual outrage and have become perplexed. They are like a theatre crowd forced to watch the equivalent of a Vince and Linda McMahon World Wrestling Entertainment Smackdown for six hours.
By definition, the lucrative McMahon wrestling enterprise is escapist but alluring entertainment. Unfortunately, our politics has replaced serious political activity with a similar, violent form of reality entertainment, thereby losing its credibility to solve real-world problems. The new MAGA entertainment politics is akin to the magical thinking that a robust, political wrestling theater with high ratings will cure cancer or fund hurricane relief.
The facts speak for themselves. The current Republican-led 118th Congress (starting on January 3, 2023) enacted only 106 pieces of legislation. During the Reagan Presidency, the 100th Congress (January 6, 1987, to October 22, 1988), 761 pieces (an 86% drop) were enacted. With increased complexity, problems, and citizen needs, how can we be happy with a Congress that engages in full-contact entertainment instead of doing the people’s work? Coincidentally, two prominent Republican Congressmen (the felon, Dennis Hastert, and Jim Jordon) were wrestling coaches at Ohio State University.
The reality that the 45th President can say or do anything he pleases without losing his captive base also speaks for itself. His base accepts his candidacy based on his macho entertainment skills instead of his governing skills. They do not care about the results of any of his policies. Strangely, evangelicals pour their faith in a man who has been found guilty of sexual predation and is objectively (except to the true believers) the antithesis of Christ. He has no comprehensive plan or policy for anything other than enriching himself. After nine years, the ghost of John McCain STILL awaits Trump’s plan to improve the Affordable Care Act. Trump retains his base because he entertains them, or like their favorite wrestler, he pretends to defeat their imagined pet-eating Haitian, communist, and fascist foes.
The MAGA movement perfected the current trend of turning politics into mendacious entertainment. If this continues, it will further degrade our faith in our country. We risk falling into a cynical abyss, much like Russia. Without hyperbole, most of today’s Russians drink gallons of vodka or continually repeat to themselves that Putin will Make Russia Great Again. Unsurprisingly, most elements of the MAGA movement adore the Russian dictator.
It is not too late. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents can steer away from Putin’s/Trump’s death spiral and towards a more constructive political landscape focused on real-world problem-solving rather than gravitating toward violent escapist entertainment. The potential for positive change is within our reach.
Or we can order a few gallons of cheap vodka, pull up an easy chair, and watch an American dumpster fire. Trump has already stated his intentions. He wants to bring in the military to arrest politicians who disagree with him. Maybe Pence will hang after all. That should receive the highest ratings yet and be titillating for the MAGA hoard and the cynical.
Trump’s spontaneous, unfiltered communication style endears him to Americans looking for entertainment and a license to let their dark impulses rule their lives. However, there is one fundamental flaw with Trump’s communication style. While a shoot-from-the-lip style wins votes from his base, his candid, revealing tweets and interview causes him to lose virtually every legal battle. His compulsion to comment on every facet of life on Earth also allows America’s enemies to understand his future moves and motivations. He is like a foolish gambler who openly displays what he thinks is his winning hand to his competitors.
In summary, while Trump’s MAGA movement might be entertaining, like a wrestling match between Gorgeous George and Fritz von Erich, the US Presidency is nothing like a wrestling match.