Interesting article in the Times today about the mental state and self esteem of people who support right wing populist parties. Regardless of education and wealth these people are more than twice as unhappy with their lives and equally pessimistic about the chances of it getting better than supporters of other parties. From a study of AfD supporters but apparently there is ‘a solid body of evidence’ that the results hold true for all European countries. One thing that is not clear is whether they are unhappy because they are right wing populists or being unhappy turns them into right wing populists.
I read it. It's pretty clear people turn to right wing populist parties when times are hard and they are dissatisfied with the way their country has been run, particularly as regards mass immigration.
So the kindly old gentleman stumbled over his words. Americans will now vote for the mad evil one instead.
The ‘kindly’ (evidence?) old man has the opportunity to step aside and let a more competent, or at least more sentient, opponent race against the ‘mad evil’ one, it’s not necessarily a straight either/or. Most Americans don’t want this rematch, it’s a failure of their ossified political system, designed with the best of intentions two and a half centuries ago and stuck there, that it’s happening. I doubt Biden will step aside though, and apparently only he can make the decision, which is nuts - unless the VP and cabinet decide he is unfit to serve as president which might disqualify him from running again I suppose. If a CEO of a decent sized company performed like Biden did in the debate he/she wouldn’t be CEO for long. He obviously can’t think on his feet or express himself spontaneously or clearly. He can’t even effectively rebut insane lies as they are spewed out. Thankfully he doesn’t have to take instant decisions, you can only hope he listens to and takes advice.
The Democrats abdicated responsibility and will surely have to take their fair share of the blame for what is to come just as the Republicans did. It does remind me once again of the absolute folly of the abolition of a default retirement again in the interest of allowing each and every one of us to decide when it is right to retire. In the real world those who won't go are eventually got rid of in some disgrace. Meanwhile the opportunities for getting a foot on the ladder never mind career progression for the young are constantly reducing as a result of those in the 65-75 age group hanging on for dear life because they can't afford to retire or simply don't want to
