Towards the end of his 2024 campaign, Kamala Harris made a big mistake. Having won traction for speaking of “joy” and “freedom” He panicked and returned to the apocalyptic warnings about Trump.
Today, Those warnings Read as a prophecy. But, and this part is key, he still lost.
The lesson? Screaming “Democracy is on the ballot” is not a code of tricks to win elections.
In fact, in 2024, many voters who affirmed that democracy was their main problem He threw the lever for … Donald Trump (What is like saying that its highest priority is dental hygiene, and then brushing your teeth with a Hershey bar).
This, of course, leads us to current events. Trump is working overtime to show that Harris was right. He has federalized and militarized the Washington Police, deployed the National Guard and threatened a similar action in Chicago and Baltimore.
Trump's FBI registered John Bolton's house, and floated reopening the “Bridgegate”, because nothing shouts strength like digging up a 10 -year scandal to punish Chris Christie for being bad.
He also signed an executive order against the ardor of the flag, completed with the conversation of a mandatory prison sentence of one year. Because, you know, freedom of expression.
Trump reached an agreement giving the United States government a 10% participation in the Intel chips manufacturer. Because socialism is now apparently good.
And ice? They arrested Kilmar Abrego García. Again. The last time, he was deported to El Salvador. This time, they are trying to send it to Uganda. Next time? Maybe exterior space.
Meanwhile, Trump fired the governor of the Lisa Cook Federal Reserve, a movement that seems destined to press the Fed to reduce interest rates.
And in the event that the optics of the “North Korean dictator” was no longer obvious, the Labor Department deployed a large banner with Trump's head.
It is frustrating to see the systematic and endless erosion of US standards and institutions, while most Americans collectively yawn. But the truth is that most voters do not hold their pearls about this kind of thing.
For Joe Sixpack, deploying the National Guard sounds as a fight against crime. And having your home in the search for the FBI feels like the type of things you just have to worry if you are an elite, and probably deserve it. (Demons, half of the electorate probably thinks that John Bolton is that guy who sang “How are I supposed to live without you”)?
For everyday people, all this feels abstract, and the abstracts do not resonate with most voters. In fact, he turns them off.
That is the paradox. Support liberal democracy too much, and Democrats sound as out of touch hall monitors. Ignore Trump's power, and they look complicit or spiny at his base. Anyway, they lose.
So what is left? The same is always more important for most voters: The economy.
In 2024, Trump turned inflation into a Cudgel. Americans obsessively Concerned about the cost of eggs. Not the Constitution. No standards. Not Trump's promise of compensation or Talk about being a dictator for the “first day.” Eggs!
And boy made it work. After the elections, a huge 32% of voters said the economy was the most important issue. that influenced his vote.
Now, the script has turned. Trump promised lower groceries “prices on the first day.” Instead, prices are again – and their tariffs and immigration policies will only push them higher. (Idem forcing the fed at lower interest rates, a movement that probably stimulates inflation in all types of consumer articles).
That is the openness that the Democrats have needed.
Not only take my word for it. While Trump was busy running, Democrat Catelin Drey won a great victory of special two -digit elections for a seat in the Senate of the Iowa state who previously possessed a Republican.
And what was Drey's choice? “The main point of frustration that I am listening is that we have a crisis of affordability.” She told DES Moines Registry. “And people really feel that in their pockets and in their spending decisions.”
The great lesson we can take from Drey's victory and Harris's defeat is not that “democracy doesn't matter”; You can't lead With a civic conference. Lead with groceries and rent and child care.
So not only say that Trump is eroding democracy, say that he is eroding your savings. Not only do you say that you are breaking the rules, say you are breaking the bank. Not only speak about Trump's empty promises, talk about empty shelves, empty wallets, empty refrigerators.
Because here is the true truth about the current state of America: democracy will not save talking about democracy or calling Trump an author. The only way to save democracy is to demonstrate that it is better, and cheaper! – That the alternative.
Matt K. Lewis is the author of “Dirty rich politicians” and “Too dumb to fail. “
