Why conservatives win

By Deauwand Myers

Particularly in Europe, the 20th century is replete with cases where conservative elites ― so bent on maintaining their grip on political power ― backed rightist, populist demagogues. In other words, historically, the right thought the left was so illegitimate ― insofar as holding political power ― that a deal with the devil was worth whatever the costs. Post-World War I Germany and Italy are good examples. The conservative elites in those countries thought they could control the popular populists there in the short-term.

The rest of this story is fairly well-known. These same conservative elites underestimated the power and ruthlessness their would-be puppets possessed, and once these demagogues achieved legitimacy through democratic processes, the same conservative elites who empowered said demagogues were systematically exiled, imprisoned or summarily executed. No one really thought Adolf Hitler or Mussolini would become the monsters they became until it was far, far too late. (In fact, Britain's Prime Minister Churchill and America's President Roosevelt thought Hitler was an efficient leader, before Nazi Germany invaded Poland).

Does this sound familiar? In our current historical moment, we have lots of examples that are less dramatic, but no less anti-democratic: Hungary's President Janos Ader, Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko, China's President Xi Jinping, Russia's President Vladimir Putin, and Turkey's President Recep Erdo?an.

Just like in post-World War I Europe, in most of the aforementioned countries, these president-dictators were ushered in through normal, democratic processes.

I know you expect me to mention ex-President Donald Trump, which the Republicans, the main conservative party in America, have decided to make a defeated, twice-impeached, venal, mendacious and exceedingly corrupt head of state their titular leader. These conservative elites ― cynical and power hungry ― made the political calculus, that though Trump and his base supporters are dangerous idiots, their electoral energy could help bolster the party's chances of success at the ballot box.

Yet, Trump's attempts to stay in power illegally were easily defeated through the judiciary. Trump doesn't have political capture of the judicial branch like Xi in China or Putin in Russia. There's a slow-moving second coup attempt going on throughout the states by Republican operatives, but success is unlikely, because any obvious attempt to change election results or throw out valid ballots would be challenged, and the judiciary would reject those attempts.

Nonetheless, the corrosive effects of Trump's bruised ego-turned-madness amount to a malignant narcissism that damages democracy in this way: when a party never concedes defeat, then all elections are suspect and illegitimate.

So with all that, and the usual negatives that go with conservative ideology in far too many corners of America and other places ― ethno-nationalism, white supremacy, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and the other usual suspects ― why on earth do conservatives win in places like America, Japan, Korea, and Britain, countries with advanced democracies and sophisticated economies?

The left and the political parties representing it in all the respective democracies in the world, often have nuanced and intellectual arguments. The social safety net, fair wages, equal opportunity employment, and on and on sound nice but don't fit so well on bumper stickers. It seems that rather, "Low taxes," "Protect Our Borders," "Protect babies" and "The Mexicans" are short, quick and easily digestible.

Further, especially in America, the Democrats face three conundrums. The Democrats were so successful at social and welfare legislation in the past (Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, Children's healthcare, Voting Rights, Civil Rights, etc.) that the broader population forgot who implemented and protected these wildly popular programs in the first place.

Secondly, the Republicans, and conservatives more broadly, have so demonized government power, that while Republican politicians take credit for policies they fought against, they dare not tell the truth about where all the public goodies came from.

Lastly, and most importantly, the conservatives are ruthless and not only love power, but expertly deploy it. They are both monolithic in messaging and in achieving objectives in a kind of militaristic way that the Democrats and the left never were. Some of this ruthlessness and immorality is unacceptable ― from placating and even encouraging white grievances and white supremacy, to pushing for voter suppression laws, to their positions on pressing social issues ("pro-life" and anti-gay policies, for example).

But some of the right's core political strategies the Democrats need to adopt, posthaste.

Messaging needs not be nuanced. Policy debates are great in debates, but messages on the campaign trail should be hard-hitting and easily understood. "Childcare is pro-family." "Low prescription drug prices." "Free college tuition."

Most importantly, deploy power when you have it. The Republicans don't suffer the affliction of seeking bipartisanship like a few of the Democrats, particularly in the Senate, do. No. When they had the majority, federal judges ― some not qualified to judge a baking contest ― were rammed through with lightning speed. Legislation was passed on party lines, and public policy was changed brooking no dissent amongst the Republican caucus or wider public.

Right now, President Joe Biden could forgive all student loan debt through executive action, for example. If it suited his or her political aims, you don't think a Republican president would do it?

Deauwand Myers (deauwand@hotmail.com) holds a master's degree in English literature and literary theory, and is an English professor outside of Seoul.

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