Inside the depressing reason behind Trump's 'mandate'

[justaprogressive]

Seven months past the November election, Donald Trump's supporters are still talking a big game about an electoral “mandate.” Justifying their actions under Trump’s largely unconstitutional executive orders, cabinet members sing a constant chorus about a November “landslide” and voter “blowout.” Trump's spokes-child repeats the phrase, “President Trump’s resounding mandate” ad nauseum, like a talisman that makes critics disappear.

But counting by the Electoral College vote or the popular vote, it was anything but. The election results reflect a nation nearly split down the middle, with 49 percent voting for Trump and 48 percent voting for Kamala Harris.

If there is any insight to be had about why the US is veering dangerously close to fascism, the most pressing — but under-analyzed — question isn’t why people voted how they did, but why a plurality of qualified voters didn’t bother to vote at all. Trump won 77,304,184 votes compared to Harris’ 75,019,616, but an even greater number than either candidate won — 90,000,000 qualified voters — stayed home. We need, urgently, to understand why.

Disengagement may be personal more than political

Scholars are examining loneliness as an independent predictor of electoral abstention. Loneliness is defined clinically as a subjective perception of a misalignment between one's expectations and the actual state of social relationships. Researchers at MIT report that political participation becomes less likely among people who suffer from loneliness due to alienation from society, real or perceived.

https://www.alternet.org/alternet-exclusives/inside-the-is-loneliness-democracy-the-hidden-reason-behind-trump-s-mandate/

paywall free:
https://archive.is/hmgQp

[Mysterian]

1. There is no mandate

Just a bunch of lies from the corporate "news" media.

[Scrivener7]

2. I really can't get why we're twisting ourselves in knots. It was racism and sexism that kept those people home.

Our only mistake was in not realizing that there were plenty of racist and sexist Democrats as well as republiQans.

[Fiendish Thingy]

6. If only it were that simple

Racism and sexism definitely played a role, but it’s only part of the story.

[Scrivener7]

7. Enough to win.

[Fiendish Thingy]

8. Enough to win...

When 90 million stayed home.

[k_buddy762]

11. Bingo.

[newdeal2]

9. Lack of education is the biggest reason IMO

Obviously that can lead into racism and sexism too. But I've met so many people who are shockingly unaware of the issues or what a particular policy means. They make decisions based of off soundbites online (usually misinformation) and it's hard to change their minds.

[Fiendish Thingy]

3. I must repeat the money quote:

If there is any insight to be had about why the US is veering dangerously close to fascism, the most pressing — but under-analyzed — question isn’t why people voted how they did, but why a plurality of qualified voters didn’t bother to vote at all. Trump won 77,304,184 votes compared to Harris’ 75,019,616, but an even greater number than either candidate won — 90,000,000 qualified voters — stayed home. We need, urgently, to understand why.

The Dems are wasting $20 million to learn “how to listen to (white) men”, when that money would have been better used to motivate disenchanted young voters (the largest untapped pool of voters in the nation, who overwhelmingly support progressive policies) to get to the polls.

[k_buddy762]

12. You need to be a strategist

or at least a voice working for the party. Seriously.

[LearnedHand]

4. "Loneliness"? How about "neither party represents me"

Or "neither party's votes benefit people like me." How about we actually talk to non-voters before we decide loneliness causes them to stay home.

[3catwoman3]

5. I wish we could have compulsory voting...

...like they do in Australia.

90 million civic deadbeats - thanks for nothin'.

[Silent Type]

10. I'm hoping that 90 Million don't lean right. I'm no longer sure, unfortunately.

[k_buddy762]

13. Unfortunately the swing to the right

appears to slowly creep by the day.