In an article long enough to need a table of contents, Amanda Taub of Vox brings us an insightful and adroit look at the true phenomenon taking place behind the curtain of Donald Drumpf and his rise to prominence within the Republican Party.
It took me a few days to get through it, due to a combination of its sheer volume and the distressing nature of her findings. It has been frequently said that the most troubling aspect of Trump's rise is not Trump himself, but the number of his supporters. In itself, this is not surprising, but the article sheds light on what lies behind the droves of supporters the businessman-turned-reality-star has garnered. The researchers have discovered that around 44% of Americans (who are mostly found in the republican party) display authoritarian personality traits. Those with these authoritarian personalities tend to be fearful of foreign threats, and of social change, feeling personally threatened by a change in the structure of society. In a climate like now, when they are encouraged to fear ISIL, Russia, and Iran; when they are afraid of terrorist attacks and the Zika Virus, when they see Gay Marriage becoming legal, immigration changing the demographics of society, and protesters shouting that "Black Lives Matter" they experience existential dread over their place in society, and desire a perceived "strong man" to take charge and tell them everything will be alright; that he'll make the scary bad guys go away. Enter Drumpf. He fits their needs to a T.
The Good News
The article seems to suggest that they don't have the numbers to pull off a win in the General election.
The Bad News
The large number of authoritarians in America suggests that their anxieties and their desires will continue to exist as a force in politics long after this election.
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