Facts vs Feelings – The New Political Reality

Facts vs Feelings – The New Political Reality

We’re Heading in the Wrong Direction; It’s Out of Control




We chuckled when Trump spokesperson Kellyanne Conway referred to her boss’ proclivity to speak in “alternative facts.” After all, logical pundits reasoned, facts are facts. Yet as time passed, as a deadly pandemic gripped our nation, as the American dream and upward mobility were replaced with income inequality, massive homelessness, expensive everything and a feeling rose among even the most liberal and progressive voters that life was deteriorating for all but a new generation of mega-rich, the average American felt a serious loss of direction for the country.

For those able to afford homeownership, with retirement savings intact, it was time to tighten their grip on what they had. For those on the other side of a hopeful, affordable lifestyle, there was confusion over a recalculation of American values. For those who believed simply in an orderly transition pattern, generation to generation of reasoned prosperity as incumbents simply passed the baton to the next… there was a new wall, one we built for ourselves, but the wall became our new national symbol. Which side of that wall were you on?

As polarization amplified, as social connectivity of isolated common perceptions found digital connections that solidified “feelings” and “explanations,” state borders became more political. I find it strange that loyal Democrats have such difficulty with change. I listen to liberal newscasts rail at the fact that Joe Biden’s achievements over the economy are being ignored (woe to “Bidenomics”), that Trump who presided over one of the worst economic presidencies of all time, is increasingly trusted – by a huge margin – over “the Biden economics statistics are so good” to helm the economy, to bring affordability back to America.

That people do not live “statistics” seems to elude Democratic politicians who point to a significant fall in inflation. But food costs more. The cost of housing is absurd. Student debt is lifestyle threatening. Gasoline prices seem to trend upwards. Interest rates are impacting everything in a bad way. Homelessness and immigrants banging at our southern border are in our collective face. Yet, we’re spending money on foreign wars. Traditional white incumbents are realizing that they will soon be a vastly less powerful minority unless the political system changes. Yet both Biden and Trump resort to tariffs against “cheap goods” manufacturer China, ever growing, and keeping cheap labor from entering the country… both policies serious accelerants to rising prices. “Drill, drill, drill” will not cut gasoline prices which are set in the global marketplace (Texas does offer “American discounts”), and only the Federal Reserve controls interest rates.

When government seemed unable to deliver expectations, America adopted coping mechanisms to “blame and explain.” Blame allowed many of us a solution that if we could eliminate the blamed ones, all would be well. Reducing taxes for the rich was supposed to create new solid jobs; it never did. Instead, it only benefited the rich and sent a massive deficit interest charge to every single taxpayer every year. So, blame “entitlements” as the cause of that deficit. After all, we’ve unchained the rich (Citizens United vs FEC) making campaign contributions… so politicians can’t really blame them without serious campaign risks. The ravages of climate change, inflicting trillions of dollars of damage, are very expensive to fix and threaten some major legacy industries (like Big Oil), so denial and marginalization seem a more efficient path. That Nature does not care never enters into the equation.

And when these paths fail to produce results, “alternative facts” embrace “us against them” conspiracy theories and “God is punishing us so we much change our ways” responses. If democracy is not serving us, they reason, perhaps a strong unifying force can show us the way, cut through the “deep state” and “only I can fix it.” Since “educated elites” frown on such reality substitutes, they are obviously part of the problem. The November election is probably going to be determined 60% by feelings… and less than 40% by facts. And yes, Joe, if Trump is elected, we will take one giant step toward autocracy, possibly decimating American democracy in the process. To you and the Democratic Party, that’s a terrible result. To many deeply religious Americans or believers in conspiracy theories, autocracy is the solution.

So, Joe, you need to listen more, understand the role of feelings and the quest for simpler and more easily understood solutions, if you have any hope of reversing a rising tide against you. You were dealt a harsh hand with Gaza, and you know Netanyahu would like to see Trump back. Yet, even our most basic economic axioms just might not work anymore. As Danial Chandler, writing for the May 14th Time Magazine notes: “For decades, economic policy in most liberal democracies has been premised on two core beliefs: that free markets would maximize economic growth, and that we could address inequality through redistribution.

“The recent revival of industrial policy, championed by President Biden, is a clear repudiation of the first of these beliefs. It reflects a growing recognition among economists that state intervention to shape markets and steer investment is crucial for fostering innovation, protecting strategically important sectors like semi-conductors, and tackling the climate emergency.

“But we must also reassess the second belief—that taxes and transfers alone can address the vast inequalities that have brought American democracy to such a perilous juncture. Doing so will lead us towards a more fundamental rethink of our economic institutions, and the values that guide them.

“This is partly a pragmatic response to economic reality. The massive increase in inequality since the 1980s in America was mostly driven not by a reduction in redistribution, but by the growing gap in earnings between low skill workers, whose wages have suffered an unprecedented period of stagnation, and college-educated professionals whose salaries have continued to soar. And while inequality has increased in most advanced economies, that it is so much higher in the U.S. compared to Europe is mostly the result of bigger gaps in earnings than lower levels of redistribution. In other words, even if America were to increase the generosity of the welfare state to European levels it would still be much more unequal.”

Those are the facts, but then facts just might be irrelevant in 2024. When it comes to feelings, Joe, remember that the one most consistent description of “Joe Biden” is that you are “too old” to be president. So, show more attacks, use fewer “old words” (“malarky” hasn’t been used for decades), walk briskly and attack fiercely. As tough as it may be, focus on feelings and perception. Deal with the facts later!



I’m Peter Dekom, and the political side that understands feelings will determine the entire November election and can harness them… will most probably win.

Facts vs Feelings – The New Political Reality

We’re Heading in the Wrong Direction; It’s Out of Control

We chuckled when Trump spokesperson Kellyanne Conway referred to her boss’ proclivity to speak in “alternative facts.” After all, logical pundits reasoned, facts are facts. Yet as time passed, as a deadly pandemic gripped our nation, as the American dream and upward mobility were replaced with income inequality, massive homelessness, expensive everything and a feeling rose among even the most liberal and progressive voters that life was deteriorating for all but a new generation of mega-rich, the average American felt a serious loss of direction for the country.

For those able to afford homeownership, with retirement savings intact, it was time to tighten their grip on what they had. For those on the other side of a hopeful, affordable lifestyle, there was confusion over a recalculation of American values. For those who believed simply in an orderly transition pattern, generation to generation of reasoned prosperity as incumbents simply passed the baton to the next… there was a new wall, one we built for ourselves, but the wall became our new national symbol. Which side of that wall were you on?

As polarization amplified, as social connectivity of isolated common perceptions found digital connections that solidified “feelings” and “explanations,” state borders became more political. I find it strange that loyal Democrats have such difficulty with change. I listen to liberal newscasts rail at the fact that Joe Biden’s achievements over the economy are being ignored (woe to “Bidenomics”), that Trump who presided over one of the worst economic presidencies of all time, is increasingly trusted – by a huge margin – over “the Biden economics statistics are so good” to helm the economy, to bring affordability back to America.

That people do not live “statistics” seems to elude Democratic politicians who point to a significant fall in inflation. But food costs more. The cost of housing is absurd. Student debt is lifestyle threatening. Gasoline prices seem to trend upwards. Interest rates are impacting everything in a bad way. Homelessness and immigrants banging at our southern border are in our collective face. Yet, we’re spending money on foreign wars. Traditional white incumbents are realizing that they will soon be a vastly less powerful minority unless the political system changes. Yet both Biden and Trump resort to tariffs against “cheap goods” manufacturer China, ever growing, and keeping cheap labor from entering the country… both policies serious accelerants to rising prices. “Drill, drill, drill” will not cut gasoline prices which are set in the global marketplace (Texas does offer “American discounts”), and only the Federal Reserve controls interest rates.

When government seemed unable to deliver expectations, America adopted coping mechanisms to “blame and explain.” Blame allowed many of us a solution that if we could eliminate the blamed ones, all would be well. Reducing taxes for the rich was supposed to create new solid jobs; it never did. Instead, it only benefited the rich and sent a massive deficit interest charge to every single taxpayer every year. So, blame “entitlements” as the cause of that deficit. After all, we’ve unchained the rich (Citizens United vs FEC) making campaign contributions… so politicians can’t really blame them without serious campaign risks. The ravages of climate change, inflicting trillions of dollars of damage, are very expensive to fix and threaten some major legacy industries (like Big Oil), so denial and marginalization seem a more efficient path. That Nature does not care never enters into the equation.

And when these paths fail to produce results, “alternative facts” embrace “us against them” conspiracy theories and “God is punishing us so we much change our ways” responses. If democracy is not serving us, they reason, perhaps a strong unifying force can show us the way, cut through the “deep state” and “only I can fix it.” Since “educated elites” frown on such reality substitutes, they are obviously part of the problem. The November election is probably going to be determined 60% by feelings… and less than 40% by facts. And yes, Joe, if Trump is elected, we will take one giant step toward autocracy, possibly decimating American democracy in the process. To you and the Democratic Party, that’s a terrible result. To many deeply religious Americans or believers in conspiracy theories, autocracy is the solution.

So, Joe, you need to listen more, understand the role of feelings and the quest for simpler and more easily understood solutions, if you have any hope of reversing a rising tide against you. You were dealt a harsh hand with Gaza, and you know Netanyahu would like to see Trump back. Yet, even our most basic economic axioms just might not work anymore. As Danial Chandler, writing for the May 14th Time Magazine notes: “For decades, economic policy in most liberal democracies has been premised on two core beliefs: that free markets would maximize economic growth, and that we could address inequality through redistribution.

“The recent revival of industrial policy, championed by President Biden, is a clear repudiation of the first of these beliefs. It reflects a growing recognition among economists that state intervention to shape markets and steer investment is crucial for fostering innovation, protecting strategically important sectors like semi-conductors, and tackling the climate emergency.

“But we must also reassess the second belief—that taxes and transfers alone can address the vast inequalities that have brought American democracy to such a perilous juncture. Doing so will lead us towards a more fundamental rethink of our economic institutions, and the values that guide them.

“This is partly a pragmatic response to economic reality. The massive increase in inequality since the 1980s in America was mostly driven not by a reduction in redistribution, but by the growing gap in earnings between low skill workers, whose wages have suffered an unprecedented period of stagnation, and college-educated professionals whose salaries have continued to soar. And while inequality has increased in most advanced economies, that it is so much higher in the U.S. compared to Europe is mostly the result of bigger gaps in earnings than lower levels of redistribution. In other words, even if America were to increase the generosity of the welfare state to European levels it would still be much more unequal.”

Those are the facts, but then facts just might be irrelevant in 2024. When it comes to feelings, Joe, remember that the one most consistent description of “Joe Biden” is that you are “too old” to be president. So, show more attacks, use fewer “old words” (“malarky” hasn’t been used for decades), walk briskly and attack fiercely. As tough as it may be, focus on feelings and perception. Deal with the facts later!

I’m Peter Dekom, and the political side that understands feelings will determine the entire November election and can harness them… will most probably win.