MARCH 5, 2020 – Yesterday I had five intense political conversations—takes on the fourth-round playoffs.
The first conversation was with a guy on my bus. In his early thirties, he’s secure and established. Exceptionally well informed, he’s even keeled in his demeanor and political views. Before The Great Consolidation, he’d been searching for the right Democratic moderate. He’s concerned about the world but not perched on a ledge and no revolutionary. Our conversation lasted the duration of the 20-minute bus ride. By the end, I myself felt even keeled.
The second conversation was with a guy whose office is next to mine. He’s a much sought-after consultant with extensive ties to the local (Democratic) establishment. He vehemently opposes Bernie Sanders, on policy grounds and as to “electability.” When I suggested that political scientists are having a field day, my office neighbor took issue. “Not political scientists,” he said, “as much as sociologists.”
The third conversation occurred over lunch with a serious student of history, politics, business, economics, and technology, who constantly checks the S&P. Based on “deep-dive” statistics, he dismisses the covid-19 scare; given global economic fundamentals, he’s not worried about volatility in equity markets; though disgusted with the Vacant Mind, he thinks technology, commerce, and capital flows will out-power politics. He voted for Biden but gives credit to Bernie for the clarity and consistency of his messaging, however flawed the underlying analysis and remedial prescriptions. Also, Mr. S&P reminded himself and me that in the words of AOC, Bernie’s constituency doesn’t care about stocks they don’t own. They care about wages.
The fourth conversation was with Derek (see yesterday’s post), who was distraught over Super Tuesday results. Not helping Derek’s attitude was a conversation he’d overheard in the lunch line at a nearby sandwich shop—one older white guy to another: “Sure am glad Biden won. I don’t need some damn revolution tanking my investments.” Though doing fine himself, Derek worries that so many people have been left out of prosperity (“Investments?!” he said. “Most people don’t have any!”), they’ve been rendered revolutionary. The tinder—lack of sustainable jobs; shortage of affordable housing; inadequate health care—is explosively dry. The strike of a match—failure of Bernie’s bid?—and KABOOM!
The fifth conversation was with a now Democrat lawyer (from a prominent Republican family), who between college and law school had been a Washington staffer for . . . Mitch McConnell. The lawyer expressed the usual disdain for Trump but even greater abhorrence for spineless Senate Republicans. The lawyer’s insight into McConnell was that the senator disliked all Republican presidents (Bush senior, the least), including Trump, but in the end, is all about running McConnell’s own show and controlling the judiciary. Trump’s antics, the lawyer said, are actually welcomed by McConnell, because they provide cover for the senator’s “judiciary agenda.” The lawyer’s biggest issues: judicial appointments and the climate debacle.
Is anything “extrapolatable” from these conversations? Probably not, but talk to enough people and you can feel a pulse of our body politic.
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© 2020 by Eric Nilsson
