Socio-economics. It’s no longer about sex, race or nationality. It’s about the generational, cultural or economic lens that shapes your view of the world.
Whether you are young, affluent, educated and sitting in the middle of new economy industries or aging, poor, uneducated and nested in the belly of old economy industries is more likely to shape your biases and perspectives than whether you are black or white, Jewish or Christian.
I am struck by this reality every day I walk down the block of my (somewhat) yuppified, upwardly neighborhood. Namely, how totally foreign San Francisco, CA sentiment is from Charleston, SC. Heck, how totally different SF Marina mindset is from Bakersfield.
Once upon a time, the societal fault lines were more clearly delineated along simple polarities like sex, race, nationality, sexual orientation and religious affiliation.
But today, it is more about HAVING – money, youth, economic prospects, education (and the cultural depth, sense of life options it bears) – or NOT HAVING.
I would argue that this is what the next presidential election is truly about. What societal viewpoint drives the next four years. It’s not even so pat as to say Republican versus Democrat, as the choice is muddier than that. Otherwise, eight years of the Bush presidency and the havoc it’s wrought (economically, global reputation, civil liberties, partisan politics, etc.) would point to a landslide victory for Obama and the Dems. As of yet, it doesn’t. The race is very close.
In simple terms, it comes down to which candidate can put forth the narrative that speaks to the biggest base, socio-economically speaking. In Obama’s case, his ‘home advantage’ is having the most fervent base of politically engaged Obama-tons, and a message of real change when the present doesn’t look so hot.
By contrast, McCain has the advantage of consistently riding above the Republican brand, as Mr. Straight Talk Express, experienced war hero in scary times.
It’s Age and Experience versus (as David Brooks of The New York Times put it) The 21st-Century Man. In an excellent Op-Ed piece, Brooks, commenting on Obama’s stalled position in the presidential polls, and what he must do to re-engage the populace, notes:
Of course, the Obama campaign has been here before. Just about a year ago, Obama was stagnant in the polls. His supporters were nervous and full of advice. And in the crowning moment of his whole race, Obama shut them out. He turned his back on the universe of geniuses and stayed true to his core identity.
At the core, Obama’s best message has always been this: He is unconnected with the tired old fights that constrict our politics. He is in tune with a new era. He has very little experience but a lot of potential. He does not have big achievements, but he is authentically the sort of person who emerges in a multicultural, globalized age. He is therefore naturally in step with the problems that will confront us in the years to come.
Pretty sound analysis, I think, and it will be interesting, no gripping, to see which view of the world prevails.
A final note. Watching John McCain last night on Jay Leno, what I saw was a candidate that seems to have found his footing. McCain is playing the populist. He is the underdog – like the American people.
Deftly sidestepping the truth about having seven homes, and living a truly wealthy life, and eight years of Bush brown-nosing that leave the Straight Talk moniker smelling a bit foul, McCain was incredibly scripted, yet nonetheless, very solid.
The choice is not simply a black and white matter anymore.
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