fbpx
  • Latest
  • Trending
Angry And Afraid

Angry And Afraid

2 years ago
The Death of Privacy In America

The Death of Privacy In America

3 weeks ago
America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

3 weeks ago
Who Was Responsible For Fake News?

Who Was Responsible For Fake News?

3 months ago
When Billionaires Don’t Pay Taxes, People “Lose Faith in Democracy”

When Billionaires Don’t Pay Taxes, People “Lose Faith in Democracy”

3 months ago
Book Banning Is Only The Tip Of The Spear

Book Banning Is Only The Tip Of The Spear

3 months ago
A Push to Remove LGBTQ Books in One County Could Signal Rising Partisanship on School Boards

A Push to Remove LGBTQ Books in One County Could Signal Rising Partisanship on School Boards

3 months ago
Get Vaxxed If You Want To Play Indoors

Get Vaxxed If You Want To Play Indoors

5 months ago
There’s Something About Mary

There’s Something About Mary

6 months ago
End Of An Era

End Of An Era

7 months ago
The Shocking Kindness Of Ted Lasso

The Shocking Kindness Of Ted Lasso

8 months ago
Your Objections To Development Are Counter-Productive

Your Objections To Development Are Counter-Productive

8 months ago
Mary, Covered In Roses

Mary, Covered In Roses

12 months ago
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Login
  • Register
60 °f
Middle Township
61 ° Thu
68 ° Fri
68 ° Sat
66 ° Sun
The Standard
  • Home
    • All
    • Business
    • Culture
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Immigration
    • Justice
    • Letters
    • Local
    • Media
    • Military
    • National
    • New Jersey
    • Opinion
    • Politics
    • Satire
    The Death of Privacy In America

    The Death of Privacy In America

    America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

    America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

    Who Was Responsible For Fake News?

    Who Was Responsible For Fake News?

    When Billionaires Don’t Pay Taxes, People “Lose Faith in Democracy”

    When Billionaires Don’t Pay Taxes, People “Lose Faith in Democracy”

    Book Banning Is Only The Tip Of The Spear

    Book Banning Is Only The Tip Of The Spear

    A Push to Remove LGBTQ Books in One County Could Signal Rising Partisanship on School Boards

    A Push to Remove LGBTQ Books in One County Could Signal Rising Partisanship on School Boards

    Get Vaxxed If You Want To Play Indoors

    Get Vaxxed If You Want To Play Indoors

    There’s Something About Mary

    There’s Something About Mary

    End Of An Era

    End Of An Era

    Trending Tags

    • Politics
      The Death of Privacy In America

      The Death of Privacy In America

      America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

      America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

      Who Was Responsible For Fake News?

      Who Was Responsible For Fake News?

      When Billionaires Don’t Pay Taxes, People “Lose Faith in Democracy”

      When Billionaires Don’t Pay Taxes, People “Lose Faith in Democracy”

      Book Banning Is Only The Tip Of The Spear

      Book Banning Is Only The Tip Of The Spear

      A Push to Remove LGBTQ Books in One County Could Signal Rising Partisanship on School Boards

      A Push to Remove LGBTQ Books in One County Could Signal Rising Partisanship on School Boards

      End Of An Era

      End Of An Era

      Death And Taxes: The Right’s Last Stand

      Death And Taxes: The Right’s Last Stand

      Rep Jeff Van Drew Calls For Fencing To Be Removed Despite Threats To Capitol

      Rep Jeff Van Drew Calls For Fencing To Be Removed Despite Threats To Capitol

      Democrats Look To Regain A Foothold in Middle Township With Quanette Vasser-McNeal

      Democrats Look To Regain A Foothold in Middle Township With Quanette Vasser-McNeal

      Trending Tags

      • politics
    • Justice
      There’s Something About Mary

      There’s Something About Mary

      Middle Police Arrest Suspect In Connection With Stolen Guns in Cape May Court House

      Police Detectives Charged With Lying About Bar Fight In North Wildwood

      Middle Police Arrest Suspect In Connection With Stolen Guns in Cape May Court House

      Middle Police Arrest Suspect In Connection With Stolen Guns in Cape May Court House

      South Jersey’s Sanctuary City Designations Are A Haven For Violent Extremists

      South Jersey’s Sanctuary City Designations Are A Haven For Violent Extremists

      New Jersey Man Steals Police Car, Fatally Shot After Chase

      New Jersey Man Steals Police Car, Fatally Shot After Chase

      “This Political Climate Got My Brother Killed”: Officer Brian Sicknick Died Defending the Capitol. His Family Waits for Answers.

      “This Political Climate Got My Brother Killed”: Officer Brian Sicknick Died Defending the Capitol. His Family Waits for Answers.

      Florida Man Who Went Viral For Stealing Podium Identified

      Florida Man Who Went Viral For Stealing Podium Identified

      Defund The Police Was A Raging Success And Everyone Missed It

      Defund The Police Was A Raging Success And Everyone Missed It

      Non-Violence Isn’t A Just Moral Imperative, It’s A Superior Strategy

      Non-Violence Isn’t A Just Moral Imperative, It’s A Superior Strategy

      The Future Of The Supreme Court

      The Future Of The Supreme Court

      Trending Tags

      • Justice
    • Business
      When Billionaires Don’t Pay Taxes, People “Lose Faith in Democracy”

      When Billionaires Don’t Pay Taxes, People “Lose Faith in Democracy”

      Your Objections To Development Are Counter-Productive

      Your Objections To Development Are Counter-Productive

      Strong Grassroots Opposition Continues To Plague NESE Pipeline’s Fifth Attempt

      Strong Grassroots Opposition Continues To Plague NESE Pipeline’s Fifth Attempt

      The Power Of The People

      The Power Of The People

      Your Misplaced Loyalty Is Hurting Your Business

      Your Misplaced Loyalty Is Hurting Your Business

      It’s Not The End Of The World, But You Can See It From Here

      It’s Not The End Of The World, But You Can See It From Here

      You Are Not Welcome Here

      You Are Not Welcome Here

      Trending Tags

      • Environment
        Strong Grassroots Opposition Continues To Plague NESE Pipeline’s Fifth Attempt

        Strong Grassroots Opposition Continues To Plague NESE Pipeline’s Fifth Attempt

        New Female Snow Leopard Arrives In Cape May County

        New Female Snow Leopard Arrives In Cape May County

        Jackson Park Project A Threat To Clean Water

        Jackson Park Project A Threat To Clean Water

        Fixin Things Till They’re Broke

        Fixin Things Till They’re Broke

        Trending Tags

        • Education
          Book Banning Is Only The Tip Of The Spear

          Book Banning Is Only The Tip Of The Spear

          A Push to Remove LGBTQ Books in One County Could Signal Rising Partisanship on School Boards

          A Push to Remove LGBTQ Books in One County Could Signal Rising Partisanship on School Boards

          Award-Winning Children’s Author Greg Pizzoli Planning A Virtual Visit To Cape May

          Award-Winning Children’s Author Greg Pizzoli Planning A Virtual Visit To Cape May

          Gold, Lies, And Genocide In The New World

          Gold, Lies, And Genocide In The New World

          Social Distancing Fails At Ocean City High School

          Social Distancing Fails At Ocean City High School

          The Covid Kids Are Alright

          The Covid Kids Are Alright

          The Problem With The Pledge Of Allegiance

          The Problem With The Pledge Of Allegiance

          A Boat Full Of Holes

          A Boat Full Of Holes

          Why I Don’t Worry About My Kids Falling Behind

          Why I Don’t Worry About My Kids Falling Behind

          Any Plan To Reopen Schools This Fall Is Irresponsible And Negligent

          Any Plan To Reopen Schools This Fall Is Irresponsible And Negligent

          Trending Tags

          • Education
        • Housing
          There’s Something About Mary

          There’s Something About Mary

          Your Objections To Development Are Counter-Productive

          Your Objections To Development Are Counter-Productive

          Mary, Covered In Roses

          Mary, Covered In Roses

          Code Blue Is No April Fool’s Joke

          Code Blue Is No April Fool’s Joke

          Let the Voters Decide

          Cape May’s Untouchables

          The Cost Of Homelessness in Cape May County

          The Cost Of Homelessness in Cape May County

          The Myth Of American Justice: Falling Through The Cracks Part Two

          Falling Through The Cracks: Part One

          Falling Through The Cracks: Part One

          Invisible Walls

          Invisible Walls

        • Culture
          America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

          America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

          There’s Something About Mary

          There’s Something About Mary

          The Shocking Kindness Of Ted Lasso

          The Shocking Kindness Of Ted Lasso

          What Your Ring Tone Says About You

          What Your Ring Tone Says About You

          Award-Winning Children’s Author Greg Pizzoli Planning A Virtual Visit To Cape May

          Award-Winning Children’s Author Greg Pizzoli Planning A Virtual Visit To Cape May

          A View Of Goshen In Winter

          A View Of Goshen In Winter

          New Female Snow Leopard Arrives In Cape May County

          New Female Snow Leopard Arrives In Cape May County

          Peepers And Pizza: Spring Comes To New Jersey

          Peepers And Pizza: Spring Comes To New Jersey

          The Power Of The People

          The Power Of The People

          Your Misplaced Loyalty Is Hurting Your Business

          Your Misplaced Loyalty Is Hurting Your Business

          Trending Tags

          • Sports

            Trending Tags

            • Health
              America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

              America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

              Get Vaxxed If You Want To Play Indoors

              Get Vaxxed If You Want To Play Indoors

              There’s Something About Mary

              There’s Something About Mary

              Mary, Covered In Roses

              Mary, Covered In Roses

              Autism Awareness Day

              Autism Awareness Day

              Code Blue Is No April Fool’s Joke

              Code Blue Is No April Fool’s Joke

              You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated, Now What?

              You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated, Now What?

              The Disney Queue Of Vaccinations

              The Disney Queue Of Vaccinations

              It’s Going To Get Worse

              It’s Going To Get Worse

              Social Distancing Fails At Ocean City High School

              Social Distancing Fails At Ocean City High School

              Trending Tags

              • Healthcare
            • Opinion
              The Death of Privacy In America

              The Death of Privacy In America

              Death And Taxes: The Right’s Last Stand

              Death And Taxes: The Right’s Last Stand

              South Jersey’s Sanctuary City Designations Are A Haven For Violent Extremists

              South Jersey’s Sanctuary City Designations Are A Haven For Violent Extremists

              We Need Amy Kennedy Now

              An Open Letter To Congressman Van Drew

              Donald Trump Must Be Held To Account For His Crimes

              Donald Trump Must Be Held
              To Account For His Crimes

              All Our Sons

              All Our Sons

              It’s Not Enough For Joe Biden To Simply Be Human

              It’s Not Enough For Joe Biden
              To Simply Be Human

              We Have To Stop Trusting Our Leaders To Do The Right Thing

              We Have To Stop Trusting Our Leaders To Do The Right Thing

              The Godless Piety Of American Idealism As Reality Television

              The Godless Piety Of American Idealism As Reality Television

              Why We Can’t Talk About It

              Why We Can’t Talk About It

              Trending Tags

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Home
                • All
                • Business
                • Culture
                • Education
                • Environment
                • Health
                • Housing
                • Immigration
                • Justice
                • Letters
                • Local
                • Media
                • Military
                • National
                • New Jersey
                • Opinion
                • Politics
                • Satire
                The Death of Privacy In America

                The Death of Privacy In America

                America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

                America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

                Who Was Responsible For Fake News?

                Who Was Responsible For Fake News?

                When Billionaires Don’t Pay Taxes, People “Lose Faith in Democracy”

                When Billionaires Don’t Pay Taxes, People “Lose Faith in Democracy”

                Book Banning Is Only The Tip Of The Spear

                Book Banning Is Only The Tip Of The Spear

                A Push to Remove LGBTQ Books in One County Could Signal Rising Partisanship on School Boards

                A Push to Remove LGBTQ Books in One County Could Signal Rising Partisanship on School Boards

                Get Vaxxed If You Want To Play Indoors

                Get Vaxxed If You Want To Play Indoors

                There’s Something About Mary

                There’s Something About Mary

                End Of An Era

                End Of An Era

                Trending Tags

                • Politics
                  The Death of Privacy In America

                  The Death of Privacy In America

                  America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

                  America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

                  Who Was Responsible For Fake News?

                  Who Was Responsible For Fake News?

                  When Billionaires Don’t Pay Taxes, People “Lose Faith in Democracy”

                  When Billionaires Don’t Pay Taxes, People “Lose Faith in Democracy”

                  Book Banning Is Only The Tip Of The Spear

                  Book Banning Is Only The Tip Of The Spear

                  A Push to Remove LGBTQ Books in One County Could Signal Rising Partisanship on School Boards

                  A Push to Remove LGBTQ Books in One County Could Signal Rising Partisanship on School Boards

                  End Of An Era

                  End Of An Era

                  Death And Taxes: The Right’s Last Stand

                  Death And Taxes: The Right’s Last Stand

                  Rep Jeff Van Drew Calls For Fencing To Be Removed Despite Threats To Capitol

                  Rep Jeff Van Drew Calls For Fencing To Be Removed Despite Threats To Capitol

                  Democrats Look To Regain A Foothold in Middle Township With Quanette Vasser-McNeal

                  Democrats Look To Regain A Foothold in Middle Township With Quanette Vasser-McNeal

                  Trending Tags

                  • politics
                • Justice
                  There’s Something About Mary

                  There’s Something About Mary

                  Middle Police Arrest Suspect In Connection With Stolen Guns in Cape May Court House

                  Police Detectives Charged With Lying About Bar Fight In North Wildwood

                  Middle Police Arrest Suspect In Connection With Stolen Guns in Cape May Court House

                  Middle Police Arrest Suspect In Connection With Stolen Guns in Cape May Court House

                  South Jersey’s Sanctuary City Designations Are A Haven For Violent Extremists

                  South Jersey’s Sanctuary City Designations Are A Haven For Violent Extremists

                  New Jersey Man Steals Police Car, Fatally Shot After Chase

                  New Jersey Man Steals Police Car, Fatally Shot After Chase

                  “This Political Climate Got My Brother Killed”: Officer Brian Sicknick Died Defending the Capitol. His Family Waits for Answers.

                  “This Political Climate Got My Brother Killed”: Officer Brian Sicknick Died Defending the Capitol. His Family Waits for Answers.

                  Florida Man Who Went Viral For Stealing Podium Identified

                  Florida Man Who Went Viral For Stealing Podium Identified

                  Defund The Police Was A Raging Success And Everyone Missed It

                  Defund The Police Was A Raging Success And Everyone Missed It

                  Non-Violence Isn’t A Just Moral Imperative, It’s A Superior Strategy

                  Non-Violence Isn’t A Just Moral Imperative, It’s A Superior Strategy

                  The Future Of The Supreme Court

                  The Future Of The Supreme Court

                  Trending Tags

                  • Justice
                • Business
                  When Billionaires Don’t Pay Taxes, People “Lose Faith in Democracy”

                  When Billionaires Don’t Pay Taxes, People “Lose Faith in Democracy”

                  Your Objections To Development Are Counter-Productive

                  Your Objections To Development Are Counter-Productive

                  Strong Grassroots Opposition Continues To Plague NESE Pipeline’s Fifth Attempt

                  Strong Grassroots Opposition Continues To Plague NESE Pipeline’s Fifth Attempt

                  The Power Of The People

                  The Power Of The People

                  Your Misplaced Loyalty Is Hurting Your Business

                  Your Misplaced Loyalty Is Hurting Your Business

                  It’s Not The End Of The World, But You Can See It From Here

                  It’s Not The End Of The World, But You Can See It From Here

                  You Are Not Welcome Here

                  You Are Not Welcome Here

                  Trending Tags

                  • Environment
                    Strong Grassroots Opposition Continues To Plague NESE Pipeline’s Fifth Attempt

                    Strong Grassroots Opposition Continues To Plague NESE Pipeline’s Fifth Attempt

                    New Female Snow Leopard Arrives In Cape May County

                    New Female Snow Leopard Arrives In Cape May County

                    Jackson Park Project A Threat To Clean Water

                    Jackson Park Project A Threat To Clean Water

                    Fixin Things Till They’re Broke

                    Fixin Things Till They’re Broke

                    Trending Tags

                    • Education
                      Book Banning Is Only The Tip Of The Spear

                      Book Banning Is Only The Tip Of The Spear

                      A Push to Remove LGBTQ Books in One County Could Signal Rising Partisanship on School Boards

                      A Push to Remove LGBTQ Books in One County Could Signal Rising Partisanship on School Boards

                      Award-Winning Children’s Author Greg Pizzoli Planning A Virtual Visit To Cape May

                      Award-Winning Children’s Author Greg Pizzoli Planning A Virtual Visit To Cape May

                      Gold, Lies, And Genocide In The New World

                      Gold, Lies, And Genocide In The New World

                      Social Distancing Fails At Ocean City High School

                      Social Distancing Fails At Ocean City High School

                      The Covid Kids Are Alright

                      The Covid Kids Are Alright

                      The Problem With The Pledge Of Allegiance

                      The Problem With The Pledge Of Allegiance

                      A Boat Full Of Holes

                      A Boat Full Of Holes

                      Why I Don’t Worry About My Kids Falling Behind

                      Why I Don’t Worry About My Kids Falling Behind

                      Any Plan To Reopen Schools This Fall Is Irresponsible And Negligent

                      Any Plan To Reopen Schools This Fall Is Irresponsible And Negligent

                      Trending Tags

                      • Education
                    • Housing
                      There’s Something About Mary

                      There’s Something About Mary

                      Your Objections To Development Are Counter-Productive

                      Your Objections To Development Are Counter-Productive

                      Mary, Covered In Roses

                      Mary, Covered In Roses

                      Code Blue Is No April Fool’s Joke

                      Code Blue Is No April Fool’s Joke

                      Let the Voters Decide

                      Cape May’s Untouchables

                      The Cost Of Homelessness in Cape May County

                      The Cost Of Homelessness in Cape May County

                      The Myth Of American Justice: Falling Through The Cracks Part Two

                      Falling Through The Cracks: Part One

                      Falling Through The Cracks: Part One

                      Invisible Walls

                      Invisible Walls

                    • Culture
                      America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

                      America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

                      There’s Something About Mary

                      There’s Something About Mary

                      The Shocking Kindness Of Ted Lasso

                      The Shocking Kindness Of Ted Lasso

                      What Your Ring Tone Says About You

                      What Your Ring Tone Says About You

                      Award-Winning Children’s Author Greg Pizzoli Planning A Virtual Visit To Cape May

                      Award-Winning Children’s Author Greg Pizzoli Planning A Virtual Visit To Cape May

                      A View Of Goshen In Winter

                      A View Of Goshen In Winter

                      New Female Snow Leopard Arrives In Cape May County

                      New Female Snow Leopard Arrives In Cape May County

                      Peepers And Pizza: Spring Comes To New Jersey

                      Peepers And Pizza: Spring Comes To New Jersey

                      The Power Of The People

                      The Power Of The People

                      Your Misplaced Loyalty Is Hurting Your Business

                      Your Misplaced Loyalty Is Hurting Your Business

                      Trending Tags

                      • Sports

                        Trending Tags

                        • Health
                          America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

                          America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

                          Get Vaxxed If You Want To Play Indoors

                          Get Vaxxed If You Want To Play Indoors

                          There’s Something About Mary

                          There’s Something About Mary

                          Mary, Covered In Roses

                          Mary, Covered In Roses

                          Autism Awareness Day

                          Autism Awareness Day

                          Code Blue Is No April Fool’s Joke

                          Code Blue Is No April Fool’s Joke

                          You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated, Now What?

                          You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated, Now What?

                          The Disney Queue Of Vaccinations

                          The Disney Queue Of Vaccinations

                          It’s Going To Get Worse

                          It’s Going To Get Worse

                          Social Distancing Fails At Ocean City High School

                          Social Distancing Fails At Ocean City High School

                          Trending Tags

                          • Healthcare
                        • Opinion
                          The Death of Privacy In America

                          The Death of Privacy In America

                          Death And Taxes: The Right’s Last Stand

                          Death And Taxes: The Right’s Last Stand

                          South Jersey’s Sanctuary City Designations Are A Haven For Violent Extremists

                          South Jersey’s Sanctuary City Designations Are A Haven For Violent Extremists

                          We Need Amy Kennedy Now

                          An Open Letter To Congressman Van Drew

                          Donald Trump Must Be Held To Account For His Crimes

                          Donald Trump Must Be Held
                          To Account For His Crimes

                          All Our Sons

                          All Our Sons

                          It’s Not Enough For Joe Biden To Simply Be Human

                          It’s Not Enough For Joe Biden
                          To Simply Be Human

                          We Have To Stop Trusting Our Leaders To Do The Right Thing

                          We Have To Stop Trusting Our Leaders To Do The Right Thing

                          The Godless Piety Of American Idealism As Reality Television

                          The Godless Piety Of American Idealism As Reality Television

                          Why We Can’t Talk About It

                          Why We Can’t Talk About It

                          Trending Tags

                          • About
                          • Privacy
                          • Subscribe
                          • Contact
                          No Result
                          View All Result
                          The Standard
                          No Result
                          View All Result
                          Home Opinion

                          Angry And Afraid

                          byDavid Todd McCarty
                          2 years ago
                          inNational, Opinion, Politics
                          Reading Time: 6 mins read
                          250
                          0
                          Angry And Afraid

                          Photo by Camila Quintero Franco on Unsplash

                          210
                          SHARES
                          296
                          VIEWS
                          Share on FacebookShare on TwitterEmail this story!

                          There is a new silent majority in America—a peculiar coalition of Leftist Progressives, establishment Democrats and moderate Republicans who recognize how dangerously close this republic is to self-immolation.

                          By David Todd McCarty | Sunday, August 30, 2020

                          Fear and anger have always been powerful forces in American politics. But rarely have they been so effectively used to motivate the Left and Centrist elements of the electorate. 

                          The idea of using a campaign of terror relying on base emotions such as fear and anger has typically been the purview of the far right, not the intellectual left or the practical center. The usual strategy would be to advocate for responsible, egalitarian moderation. But Trump and his cult of sycophants and evangelical kamikazes have unleashed an unintended strategy for those who oppose fascism. It just feels strange to many Americans, to be fighting fascism within the context of a domestic election—not a foreign battle field, and to be using the tactics of the right against them.

                          President Trump has always advocated for America First, so he brought the war he wanted to fight, the one he thought he could win, into the home of every American. Too much of a coward to fight a war against experienced authoritarians, he has staged a proxy war at home, pitting brother against brother, and neighbor against neighbor.

                          But this time around, it’s the GOP’s turn to be overconfident and underestimate the “silent majority” of voters. Trump supporters see themselves in a position of strength, a position of power. They are demonstrably excited and unusually energized. They view his win as inevitable. Just look at all the flags, they say. Everyone they know is a Trumper. Everything they hear confirms their distorted world view. For if God is for us, who could be against us? 

                          The hubris is palpable.

                          Trump Rally. Wildwood, NJ. Photo: David Todd McCarty

                          But Trump has managed to do the one thing that Democrats have failed so miserably at for so long. He has motivated his own opposition with fear and anger, and fear and anger, as Trump can surely attest, are a powerful motivators. Every police shooting. Every vigilante murder. Every violation of democratic norm and social etiquette. Every scornful rejection of public safety. The sheer cruelty and abject indifference to human suffering. Each incident we experience vicariously on social media reinforces the notion that no one is coming to save us and we will actually have to do it ourselves.

                          Trump has finally energized the Democratic Party to do what they themselves have been unable to do, which is to convince voters that their vote is not only important, but critical and obligatory.

                          This is not to say it will be easy, or that victory is at hand. Democrats have a way of being both overconfident and pitifully ineffectual when it comes to elections. You need look no further than the 2nd Congressional District of New Jersey where Jeff Van Drew, the incumbent Republican, who until just recently was a Democrat, is being challenged by Amy Kennedy, a well-funded Democrat.

                          Party loyalists like to quote voter rolls to explain that the district actually has a slight edge with registered Democrats outnumbering Republicans by a slight margin (171,000 Democrats – 150,000 Republicans). But what they don’t tell you is that Unaffiliated voters account for an additional 190,000 voters, larger than either party, most of whom identify as conservative and tend to caucus with the Republican Party. While the Cook Politcal Report current rates the race as a Toss-Up, mainly given Trump’s unfavorables, the district is still considered an R+1. There are a lot of intangibles at play given Van Drew’s recent defection from his own party, but it’s not a gimme. It’s literally a wide open race. But it’s not really a race between Van Drew and Kennedy. It’s not a race of ideas, or policy objectives. It’s a proxy war between anyone who supports Trump and anyone who opposes Trump.

                          There is a real danger, especially in CD2, to mistake Independents for swing voters. They are unaffiliated, not undecided. They are mostly Republicans who so dislike government that they don’t even want to be associated with the Republican party. They are clearly not party loyalists but that doesn’t mean they are unengaged. The small number of Lefty Independents who think the Democratic party is too moderate, are not enough to tip the scales, but they too are paying attention.

                          In New Jersey, as in America, everyone has chosen a side. It’s less an election than a culture war. Identity politics is all we have now and our personal identities are so firmly tied to our political identities that we can no longer separate the two. The culture war ensures that at least one of our many identities (Mother, Pastor, Conservative, Gay, Christian, Vegan, Sportsman, American) are being threatened by outside forces on a daily basis, and our identify activates under threat. We don’t walk around thinking of ourselves in terms of labels, until that label, that specific identity is threatened. Then it becomes a principle part of who we are.

                          Wildwood Liberation March. Photo: David Todd McCarty

                          There are increasingly more and more connections between our political identity and our personal identities that heretofore were considered apolitical. There is no respite from politics anymore. Not in religion, sport, education, health, work or play. You are no longer just a sports fan because you have to have an opinion on whether athletes should protest or not. You are no longer worried about a virus because it may compromise your family’s health, you wear a mask or you don’t, because it’s a symbol of your identity. Some would rather die than give up their identity. 

                          It’s not mere political rhetoric when Joe Biden says this election is a fight for the soul of America. It’s a war to determine which tribe commands the more effective fear of the other, the greater anger. It’s not a battle of wits, it’s a fight for tribal domination. It’s vainglory on the one side. Life and death on the other. Celebration versus survival. It’s an epic struggle. 

                          We will look back on this period as a defining moment, not just as an important part of our history, but as a tipping point that would decide whether or not we had a future. Possibly whether two and half centuries was all we had within us to begin with.

                          Many great thinkers have pondered on the fragility of democracy in America over the years, but it’s never been more apparent than it is now. How else can a country of such scale and diversity survive if not through the acceptance of a plurality of ideas and tolerance for dissent? If we lose that, we lose our ability to govern ourselves and will find ourselves ultimately subjugated to an authoritarian government who would rule us by force. There aren’t that many options after all. 

                          It really is a war for the very soul of America. A fight for the future of democracy. Liberty. Freedom. Ideas. Dissent. Tolerance. Independence. Religion. Morality. Patriotism. Pride. Empathy. Love.

                          All the marbles.


                          Follow David Todd McCarty on Twitter @davidtmccarty and The Standard @capemaystandard

                          Related

                          Tags: Amy KennedyDemocracyDonald TrumpElectionElection 2020Jeff Van DrewJoe BidenNew Jersey
                          Previous Post

                          All Hail The Dead Presidents

                          Next Post

                          Mmm Mmm Good

                          David Todd McCarty

                          David Todd McCarty

                          David Todd McCarty is a writer, director, photographer and designer. You can follow him on Twitter @davidtmccarty.

                          Related Posts

                          The Death of Privacy In America
                          Opinion

                          The Death of Privacy In America

                          May 4, 2022
                          America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair
                          Politics

                          America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

                          May 3, 2022
                          Who Was Responsible For Fake News?
                          Media

                          Who Was Responsible For Fake News?

                          March 9, 2022
                          When Billionaires Don’t Pay Taxes, People “Lose Faith in Democracy”
                          Business

                          When Billionaires Don’t Pay Taxes, People “Lose Faith in Democracy”

                          March 1, 2022
                          Book Banning Is Only The Tip Of The Spear
                          Education

                          Book Banning Is Only The Tip Of The Spear

                          February 23, 2022
                          A Push to Remove LGBTQ Books in One County Could Signal Rising Partisanship on School Boards
                          Education

                          A Push to Remove LGBTQ Books in One County Could Signal Rising Partisanship on School Boards

                          February 23, 2022
                          Next Post

                          Mmm Mmm Good

                          Meta

                          • Register
                          • Log in
                          • Entries feed
                          • Comments feed
                          • WordPress.org
                          • Trending
                          • Comments
                          • Latest
                          You Are Not Welcome Here

                          You Are Not Welcome Here

                          August 13, 2020
                          Social Distancing Fails At Ocean City High School

                          Social Distancing Fails At Ocean City High School

                          September 9, 2020
                          Trump, Chauncey Gardiner, And America’s Accidental Presidency

                          Trump, Chauncey Gardiner, And America’s Accidental Presidency

                          January 29, 2020
                          Open Letter To South Jersey Committee Chairs

                          Open Letter To South Jersey Committee Chairs

                          1
                          The Left’s Purity Dilemma, or Don’t Get Fooled Again

                          The Left’s Purity Dilemma, or Don’t Get Fooled Again

                          1
                          Let the Voters Decide

                          Let the Voters Decide

                          1
                          The Death of Privacy In America

                          The Death of Privacy In America

                          May 4, 2022
                          America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

                          America Sits At The Nexus of Fear, Rage, and Despair

                          May 3, 2022
                          Who Was Responsible For Fake News?

                          Who Was Responsible For Fake News?

                          March 9, 2022

                          ©2019 Hopping Frog Studios, LLC.

                          No Result
                          View All Result
                          • Home
                          • Politics
                          • Justice
                          • Environment
                          • Health
                          • Education
                          • Housing
                          • Business
                          • Culture
                          • Sports
                          • National
                          • Opinion
                          • Login
                          • Sign Up

                          ©2019 Hopping Frog Studios, LLC.

                          Welcome Back!

                          Sign In with Facebook
                          OR

                          Login to your account below

                          Forgotten Password? Sign Up

                          Create New Account!

                          Fill the forms below to register

                          All fields are required. Log In

                          Retrieve your password

                          Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

                          Log In
                          This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
                          Privacy & Cookies Policy

                          Privacy Overview

                          This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
                          Necessary
                          Always Enabled
                          Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
                          Non-necessary
                          Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
                          SAVE & ACCEPT
                           

                          Loading Comments...
                           

                          You must be logged in to post a comment.