In John Harris’s article (From Trump’s victory, a easy, inescapable message: many individuals despise the left, 10 November) there’s a nugget of textual content that greatest describes the abominable mess the “left” (a catch-all descriptor which is in itself a part of the issue) finds itself in, as a result of it superbly expresses each the issue and answer for these of a progressive bent in a single fell swoop – albeit he delivers them in reverse.
It got here when Harris spoke of an agenda usually “expressed with a judgmental conceitedness, and based mostly on behavioural codes – to do with microaggressions, or the proper use of pronouns …”. That rings true with many individuals who aren’t that fussed with id politics (or politics on the whole) and really feel alienated by those that are.
However then Harris continues with a clanger I may barely imagine he placed on paper: “… which are very laborious for individuals outdoors extremely educated circles to navigate”. I’m certain it’s not intentional, however certainly such a coda, in its implication, falls foul of the identical jaundiced pondering: you might be too dumb to know what “progress” is.
Quite the opposite, it’s not that individuals don’t perceive the should be respectful to or tolerant of others who’re totally different; outdoors of political extremes, I’d say even socially conservative individuals have a code of “reside and let reside”. No, it’s extra that many individuals are bored with being informed how backwards they’re in the event that they don’t play together with the priggishness of indicators, flags, symbols and linguistic guidelines.
When the latter stance hardens into an ideology that brooks no dissent, the outcome on the poll field can be considerably inevitable – nonetheless ghastly it could be to a few of us. The irony is that the rising solipsism on the coronary heart of a lot progressive politics appears to be occupying each the ivory tower and the bunker on the similar time. Possibly leaving each these locations is easy methods to begin the comeback.
Colin Montgomery
Edinburgh
John Harris recognises that there are various explanation why Trump gained, however then reverts to a view of a progressive left despised by a reactionary proper and a muddled center. The final 50 years have seen extraordinary modifications in society: modifications in behavioural norms, in attitudes in the direction of feminine equality, totally different ethnicities, sexual orientation, behaviour and faith. However societies are heterogeneous, and many individuals really feel uncomfortable with some modifications.
Inequality of wealth and revenue is much less accepted as honest, mandatory or inevitable, with a rising hole between aspirations and achievement. The left underestimated the problem of making widespread acceptance of the modifications that they’ve launched and marketing campaign for, making it simple for these we name populists to name us the “liberal elite” and to realize votes for “conventional values”.
Societal issues are complicated. Advanced issues by no means have easy options, and most of the people haven’t any time, want or potential to wrestle with the complexities.
Martyn Thomas
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
John Harris has as soon as once more proved he’s the neatest author the Guardian has. The left has turn out to be elitist, snobbish and tone deaf to its outdated voting base within the working class. Should you proceed to marketing campaign on emotions and “vibes” fairly than guarantees saved and financial actuality, you’ll maintain dropping. Keir Starmer gained an election on guarantees and misplaced assist immediately by breaking them.
Dan Rainey
Hull
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