By George Wilson, republished with permission
STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. | Why has the Republican Party changed? The political scientist and editor Theda Skocpol offers a useful two-part explanation in a new book, Upending American Politics.
First, the sharp rise of inequality has empowered conservative donors and activists who want to protect their fortunes by shrinking government. Second, many rank-and-file voters have grown angry about economic stagnation, wage inequality, and anxiety about immigration and secularization. These voters have become attracted to, or at least tolerant of, politics tinged with ethno-nationalism and authoritarianism. Also, the failure to reach out to all Americans instead of the ever-diminishing white base. One example: New Hampshire has 20,000 fewer registered Republicans than the previous election.
Furthermore, many other Republican moves are involved: vote suppression, gerrymandering, Senate obstruction, courts flooded with conservatives for decades, abortion rights repealed, and corruption cover ups. Add this to a right-wing and social media only interested in maximizing eyeballs and money.
The problem is not the Republicans, although they pushed moral corruption to a form of art. It is time to realize, United States citizens, that the problem lies with our antiquated Constitution. It has served us well, but now parts of it are more of a burden than it is an asset.
Moreover, this is evidenced by unlimited money pouring into campaigns by secret dark money groups, the mass slaughter of citizens because of lack of control on guns and the unequal representation in the Senate. Californians are beginning to resent that they have a population of 40 million, while Wyoming has a population of 578,000 ( much smaller than Gwinnett County, Ga.), yet they each have two United States senators.
Finally, all democracies in the world have changed theirs to adapt to the present. Why do we cling so much to it? The Founding Fathers would be shocked that we didn’t find the courage or the talent to write something or improve what we have.
Stone Mountain, Ga., resident George Wilson is a contributing columnist to sister publication Gwinnett Forum, where this commentary first was published.
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