The rise of populism has been characterized by a liberalization of thought and speech that had previously been suppressed by the prevailing authorities of orthodoxy. Much of this was necessary and welcome. The cultural limitations on what ordinary people were supposed to think about issues like immigration and “gender identity” were thrown off when populist leaders came along who dared to say things that many people had felt. But with this liberation of legitimate and reasonable ideas inevitably came a wider unleashing of much uglier sentiments on the right.
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But nationalism has its malignancies. National exceptionalism is easily interpreted as national supremacism and, even in a multiethnic country like the U.S., as ethnic supremacism. As generations of Jews around the world know better than anyone, nationalism often breeds antisemitism and other bigotries.
The second factor feeding the far right is the collapse of trust in major institutions. Universities, public “experts” and the media have forfeited their credibility by promoting ideological viewpoints disguised as research and reporting. The effect has been to weaken public faith in authority more widely. Part of the far right’s appeal is to say: “If they lied to you about climate change and Covid, how do you know they’re not lying to you about the Holocaust and slavery?” In this void of mistrust, all kinds of noxious ideas will flourish.
Barry Brownstein reminds New Yorkers about what they’ve forgotten about prosperity.
Jack Nicastro reports that “Trump baselessly accuses meat packers of ‘criminally profiting at the expense of the American people.'” Here’s his conclusion:
Trump has expressed concern that American ranchers are being improperly blamed for high meat prices at the checkout counter. To ascribe blame for the recent uptick in meat prices to four-firm concentration in the meat packing industry is unconvincing at best and, at worst, a deliberate smokescreen for his restrictionist trade policies that have exacerbated the problem.
Erica York tweets: (HT Scott Lincicome)
The President is confusing tariff revenues with investment plans
Tariff revenues are paid by US importers (CBP shows $89B paid through mid-Sept) and would need to be returned.
Investment plans from foreigners are separate and would not require repayment if abandoned.
Ben Connelly rightly criticizes state lotteries. Here’s his conclusion:
Conservatives should be clear about something. Gambling is a vice. It is not a social good. It is not an individual good. One of the roles of the conservative in society is to frown upon vices, to enforce social stigma against those activities that harm both the individual and society. Whether or not you believe that adults should be free to make their own choices about their money, including choosing to waste it on sports betting or lotteries, every conservative should agree that states shouldn’t be profiting from a vice. Even libertarians should agree with that, even if they don’t believe there’s anything wrong with gambling.
