Category Archives: politics of extremism

How Democracies Die

Posted on March 30, 2018 by politicaloptic

How Democracies Die (2018), a book by two Harvard political scientists, is a sober view of liberal democracy’s vulnerability in today’s world. The book has achieved attention for focusing on the troubling political forces now at work in the United … Continue reading →

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Putin-philia on the American Right

Posted on July 29, 2017 by politicaloptic

Trump’s adoration for Putin is not an anomaly in today’s American politics. Such at least is the gist of Jeremy Peters’ recent article in the New York Times , which shows that figures on the American right have been lauding … Continue reading →

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Will Trump Exploit a Terrorist Attack for His Own Ends?

Posted on February 26, 2017 by politicaloptic

Because Trump’s tweets are spontaneous, they provide a useful indicator–a kind of Rohrschack Test–of his fundamental instincts. One recent tweet, reacting to the Federal Court’s  blockade of his immigration executive order, was nothing less than a wake-up call for concerned Americans. Trump tweeted: “Just … Continue reading →

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Team of Wreckers

Posted on December 22, 2016 by politicaloptic

Donald Trump campaigned as the man who would shake up Washington. He was the anti-candidate, the enemy of political correctness, the scourge of the establishment, the “only one” who could turn things around. With hyperbole and swagger, Trump presented himself as the agent of … Continue reading →

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The Republican Party Will Never Be the Same after Trump

Posted on May 30, 2016 by politicaloptic

It will be a while before Republicans truly come to grips with a Trump-dominated party. So far leaders are trying to view his upcoming nomination in the old manner, still convinced he can fit a recognizably Republican mold. RNC Chairman Priebus is bravely … Continue reading →

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North Carolina’s Bathroom Law: Culture War Redux

Posted on April 29, 2016 by politicaloptic

North Carolina’ recent “bathroom bill” is a classic example of legislation that creates a problem rather than solving one. Not only does it make life excruciatingly difficult for a vulnerable minority, it seems to decree general chaos. Among other stipulations about discrimination, House Bill 2 requires all transgender … Continue reading →

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“Telling Like It Is,” Trump Comes Back to Punish the GOP Establishment

Posted on February 26, 2016 by politicaloptic

The “tell it like it is” tactic, so brilliantly portrayed in Donald Trump’s current campaign, has long been used as a forceful way of connecting with the voter. On the face of it, it is a form of plain-speaking, where the speaker says things … Continue reading →

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What Trump Hath Wrought: Mobs versus Elites in the GOP

Posted on December 26, 2015 by politicaloptic

The Republican higher-ups can hardly contain their horror and dismay. Enfant terrible Donald Trump, by embracing chauvinistic populism and garnering popular support in the race for the GOP nomination, has thrown “their” party into chaos. He has sucked up the available oxygen and left his … Continue reading →

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Are the Voters to Blame?

Posted on November 28, 2015 by politicaloptic

“Throw the bums out!” So say plenty of disgruntled voters in the face of government shutdowns, filibusters, and obstructions in recent years. Polls show that approval ratings for Congress are hovering around 15%, near their all-time lows. Over 70% say they want a turnover in … Continue reading →

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How Not to Govern: U.S. Highways and Infrastructure the Victim of Ideology

Posted on July 25, 2015 by politicaloptic

Once upon a time, government investment in the nation’s infrastructure was a bipartisan thing. Democrats saw such investment as encouraging jobs, the Republicans saw it as helping business, and everybody agreed that it strengthened the nation. This view has been shared by both parties throughout our history. Democrats were … Continue reading →

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