I see Gallup has published its latest poll of the electorate’s Party identification and leanings. It comes out to, in the former case, 30% – 25%, and in the latter case, if push comes to shove, a 49% – 39% lead.
For the Democrats.
Much of the current crop of Republicans are from the MAGA movement, and even among those who are not from MAGA, there runs a strong anti-professional current, a preference for amateurs, as former Speaker Ryan (R-WI) and current Senator Rand (R-KY) will attest.
What is not often mentioned, and should be, is this: Amateurs are often incompetents.
When we use the word amateur, we mean an enthusiast for whatever vocation or avocation, that we recognize is not up to professional standard, but still earns respect for trying something difficult.
But in politics, amateurs in the top ranks of government are not folks to be admired for trying. They are people who, knowingly or not, are endangering the country. For all that Americans see themselves as rough and tough and all that, the truth of the matter is that government provides a stable ground for us to build futures and families on.
And when it’s put in the hands of arrogant amateurs such as Trump and his minions, often people who’ve been sucking down conspiratorial theories since birth, we get the consequent of amateurism: incompetent governance. Similarly, when the Democrats were in control, they pursued some foolish agendas, or pursued agendas improperly, that probably were birthed by amateurs on the left, and when the elections of 2021-2024 rolled over them, I noted the frenzied CYA (cover your ass) excuses (such as “voters are just bigots!“).
Voters are taking it in the teeth, and the Republicans are beginning to risk total dissolution because of their distrust of professionals. The sad part is, of course, that professionals do, from time to time, indulge in unethical behavior.
But the flip side, trusting in amateurs, is proving much, much worse. Both foolish and credulous in the arena of politics and governance, a demented failed businessman has leveraged his acting skills to manipulate them to give him power. Once he has it, his promises go by the wayside and now we face the difficult task of prying him out of power while keeping the nation going.
It’s a mess.
