Learn this lesson: Democrats’ leftward drift helped elect Trump | Opinion

We are in a societal emergency, and citizens must take proactive and immediate action to avert disaster.

As much as Donald Trump won the 2024 election, Democrats lost it. In a nutshell, most Americans don’t want PC language policing, DEI hiring practices, people with male anatomy competing in female sports and LGBTQ+ materials in primary schools. Americans particularly dislike seeing a chaotic mass of uninvited and unvetted people crossing our borders, which bumbling President Joe Biden let continue for years.

Democrats gave the last election away.

Too often liberals cannot understand that they must think strategically to win the next election and not just parade out progressive policies once they’re temporarily in power.

In contrast, on the political right, is a party that has largely opposed historical legislation making America cleaner, safer and fairer. Despite their contradictory rhetoric, the GOP is obviously the party of the rich, corporate and evangelical. Even worse, the prevailing ideological gist at the core of their party is now apparent: Straight, white, Christian, conservative, wealthy men are superior and hence should own and control the world, so saith God.

Their leader, President Donald Trump, is a convicted criminal and likely prevalent in the Epstein files. His policies are damaging the economy, environment and America’s strong standing in the world. Furthermore, Trump’s political appointees exemplify kakistocracy (rule by the incompetent), and his incomprehension of intellectual basics, such as the Declaration of Independence, is troubling. Trump’s delusional speech given recently to the United Nations, filled with boasts and insults, illustrates the severity of his narcissism and unfitness to lead.

But most alarming, constitutional values and norms are being summarily discarded. Trump has clearly launched a full-blown effort to overthrow the Constitution and replace democracy with autocracy. We’re now in an emerging police state in which Trump wants to dictate what we watch, read and speak. Political rivals face imprisonment, and future elections are being rigged. Moreover, beyond federal law enforcement and the military, Trump now commands his own militia, riled up by social media and political demagogues.

What to do? According to some agitators, it’s too late. But most Americans are in the ideological center, and they reject the polarized extremes. So, there is hope, but we need to pause and understand the concerns of our fellow citizens.

To conservative extremists eager for the rise of a Christo-fascistic, totalitarian state, there’s little I can say other than that most of you won’t like it either, for you’ll be restricted, too. But to all other right-leaning citizens, I know you are better than the Trump administration. Tell your politicians you want them to uphold the Constitution instead of being sycophants to a vindictive dictator. Democracy entails compromise and a dedication to a system of laws and rights, not obedience to a strongman. You must dump Trump like the plague. Vote for more moderate politicians who display compassion and intellect.

And to individuals on the political left, quit sanctimoniously advocating overly-woke practices that make people want to punch you in the face! Don’t assume your values are superior to others. Be willing to compromise and stop obsessing about race and gender issues. Understand that excessive efforts toward accommodation eventually turn into promotion. Most conservatives don’t want to bash LGBTQ+ folks, but neither do they like having LGBTQ+ culture imposed on them.

And, regarding immigration, know that, if Hillary Clinton had said she would defend our borders, she’d have won the 2016 election. Trump would have faded away and there’d now be a six to three liberal majority on the Supreme Court.

Democrats, if fair elections somewhere occur again, you’ll do better if you stop letting progressive politicians determine your policies and instead accommodate some of the reasonable concerns of your conservative neighbors. Vote for sensible candidates who have a good chance of winning.

We all need to recognize our common humanity and come together in the center.

Mark Mansperger of Richland is a professor of anthropology. His research includes cultural ecology, societal development and political economy. The views presented in this column are his own.