Why It Might Not Be a ‘Bernie Bro’

Last week I suggested that Democrats may come back in 2028 with a more socialist candidate. Trump ushered in a shift left on economic policy and Republicans are now the party of the working class in a major realignment. The Democrats may go even farther left, knowing the Republicans will never go as far in the class war.

But what if nobody wants that either? Twenty years ago a book titled “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” asked why working-class people voted against their economic self-interest (rather prescient).

Maybe class war doesn’t work anymore because we’re too rich. Life is good enough for everybody. I’m not poor, and I don’t want to undermine others’ struggle, but what if it just isn’t as bad as it used to be? I’m old enough to remember what poor families did to get by in the 1980s and 1990s, and this is by any measure a more prosperous time.

I remember when parents would sew patches onto their children’s ripped clothes to get extra years out of them. I remember when there was such a thing as a TV repairman. For at least 20 years we’ve been in the “throw in the gutter and go buy another” era. You can furnish a house for free by surfing Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, because people are ready to buy another but feel bad about throwing away their newish stuff.

I remember families that had one car, and not urbanist posers like me. They didn’t have just one car by choice. They couldn’t afford a second car. I recently had to explain to my son what a “hooptie” was. I’m not sure they exist. What would a hooptie be today? Cars with perennial problems aren’t on the roads anymore.

I remember people who had never been on a plane before, or had never been to Florida. I remember when activities like skiing or going on cruises were only for rich people. All of that is accessible to all, staunch middle class today.

I remember families who didn’t have cable. They had six television channels. Today, for $15 per month, Netflix has more programming than you have time in your life to watch. Social media offers another eternity for the low price of FREE.

Americans are fat and happy. Things are too easy and they’re getting bored. They want drama. Professional sports are good, but they’ve found politics never end. They don’t want to go back to boring policy debate. They want professional wrestling-style reality television in their politics. Donald Trump gives them what they want.

Maybe the Democrats don’t come back with a Bernie Bro, but another drama queen to rival Donald Trump. Someone who is shocking and sensational. The policy comes second.