22 May 2024
Election Lie Is Just an Alternative Fact
Thomas Edsall reported in the 5/22/2024 NYT that political scientists Arseneaux and Truex have written that “belief in the lie may have buoyed some of Trump supporters’ self-esteem.” Indeed, the ability to supersede plain reality with “alternative fact” can be as big an ego-builder as discrimination against other human classes. Edsall attributes recognition of this transformational Trump legacy to history professor Brownell.
Ultimately, Trump’s presidential significance is not so much transformational as transactional. He has skillfully “tapped into and mobilized a vast following of discontented people” rather than led them, as argued by Taylor, another history professor quoted by Edsall.
In other words, Trump’s objective is not to resolve the causes of the MAGA crowd’s resentment, but only to use their discontent to drive the accomplishment of his own solipsistic goals. Indeed, America’s system of government is in danger of chaotic transformation if voters ignore that truth.
