Opinion | Voters to Elites: Do You See Me Now?
November 6, 2024, at 7:00 PM Eastern Time
We are now in a different political landscape. For roughly the last four decades, we have experienced the information era. Many of us among the educated population believed, with some reasons to support this view, that the postindustrial economy would be shaped by individuals like us, leading us to create social policies that catered to our interests.
Our education system encouraged individuals to pursue four-year degrees to prepare them for the future job market. As a result, vocational training fell by the wayside. We adopted a free trade approach that shifted industrial jobs to cheaper labor markets abroad, allowing us to concentrate on knowledge-based industries staffed by those with higher education. Consequently, the finance and consulting industries expanded significantly, while manufacturing jobs dwindled.
Geography was seen as irrelevant — it didn’t matter if wealth and skilled workers chose to gather in places like Austin, San Francisco, and Washington, leaving many other towns to struggle. Immigration laws allowed well-educated individuals to tap into a pool of low-paid labor, while those with fewer skills found themselves up against new rivals. Our focus moved towards green technologies that appeal to the tech-savvy, while those in manufacturing and transportation, reliant on fossil fuels, were often overlooked and disadvantaged.
The noticeable shift you noticed was a change in how respect was shared. Those who excelled in academia received plenty of praise, while others were overlooked. This trend affected boys the most. By the time they reach high school, around two-thirds of the students in the top 10 percent are girls, whereas about two-thirds in the lowest 10 percent are boys. The educational system isn't designed to help boys succeed, and this has lasting impacts on their lives and, increasingly, on society as a whole.
Society functioned as a large system of division, placing those with academic talents on a higher pedestal than others. As time passed, the gap created by educational attainment emerged as the most significant divide in American society. Individuals who finish high school tend to have a shorter life expectancy, living around nine years less than their college-educated counterparts. They are also six times more likely to die from opioid overdoses. High school graduates are less likely to marry, more prone to divorce, and have a higher chance of becoming parents outside of marriage. Additionally, they face a greater likelihood of obesity. A recent study by the American Enterprise Institute revealed that 24 percent of those with only a high school diploma lack close friendships. Compared to college graduates, they are less inclined to visit public places, participate in community activities, or join sports teams. They also may not use the appropriate language associated with social justice or embrace the luxury beliefs that signify public decency.
The divisions have caused people to lose their faith and trust, resulting in feelings of betrayal. Just nine days before the elections, I attended a Christian nationalist church in Tennessee. While the service was filled with genuine belief, it was also overshadowed by a toxic atmosphere of bitterness and hostility. As the pastor spoke about the betrayers trying to harm us, the term “dark world” came to mind—depicting a group of individuals who feel they are constantly under threat and surrounded by deep mistrust. These individuals, along with many other Americans, weren't interested in the optimistic political messages that Kamala Harris and her fellow law school graduates were promoting.
The primary mission of the Democratic Party is to tackle inequality. Right in front of them was a significant divide in equality, yet many Democrats seemed oblivious to it. While some on the left concentrated on issues of racial, gender, and LGBTQ inequality, it can be challenging to address class inequality if you've attended a wealthy university and engaged in corporate initiatives focused on environmental issues and diversity. Donald Trump may be an extreme narcissist, but it's concerning to see an educated elite that only recognizes its reflection in society, ignoring the broader picture.
As the political left shifted towards a focus on identity politics, Donald Trump fully embraced the class struggle. His deep-seated resentment towards the elite in Manhattan, stemming from his Queens upbringing, resonated perfectly with the feelings of frustration experienced by people in rural areas nationwide. His core message was clear: These elites have let you down, and they're not very smart either.
In 2024, he accomplished what the Democratic Party had previously aimed for — creating a diverse, working-class coalition. His popularity increased significantly among Black and Hispanic workers. He saw remarkable successes in areas such as New Jersey, the Bronx, Chicago, Dallas, and Houston. NBC exit polls showed that he secured one-third of voters from diverse backgrounds. This marks the first time in two decades that a Republican has garnered a majority of the votes.
The Democrats clearly need to reconsider their approach. The Biden administration made efforts to attract the working class by offering subsidies and economic stimulus, but the core issue at hand is more about a lack of respect than it is about financial solutions.
Some individuals on the left may argue that Trump's victory reflects the deep-rooted racism, sexism, and authoritarian tendencies within American society. It seems like those individuals enjoy experiencing defeat and are eager to repeat it over and over.
The rest of us should approach this outcome with humility. While American voters may not always be wise, they tend to be pragmatic and have lessons to share. My first instinct is to reassess my own beliefs. As a moderate, I appreciate when Democratic candidates position themselves toward the center. However, I have to admit that Harris attempted this strategy and it fell short. Perhaps the Democrats need to adopt a more radical approach, akin to Bernie Sanders, which might challenge my own comfort zone.
Is it possible for the Democratic Party to achieve this? Can a party that represents universities, wealthy suburban areas, and trendy urban neighborhoods really make it happen? Consider this: Donald Trump took control of a corporate party, which certainly didn't appear to be a platform for working-class rebellion, and managed to pull it off. For those of us who look down on Trump, it’s worth recognizing that he accomplished something that many of us could not.
We are stepping into a tumultuous time. Trump brings chaos, rather than fascism. In the coming years, we can expect a wave of disruption to sweep across America and quite possibly the entire globe, unsettling everything in its path. If polarization troubles you, just wait for the global upheaval to really test our limits. However, amid the chaos lies the chance to build a new society and respond differently to the challenges posed by Trump’s political, economic, and psychological tactics. These moments will truly challenge our character, and we will discover our true strength.
David Brooks is an opinion writer for The New York Times, where he covers issues related to politics, society, and culture. You can find him on Twitter @nytdavidbrooks.
