# The Republican Civil War **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 13, 2021, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015 "2021-05-13T15:50:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thegunismightierthanthepen/32/2981_2.png) [@TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheGunIsMightierThanThePen)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2021, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015/21 "2021-05-15T16:39:17Z")
Maybe it’s because we actually realize that the world and its problems are complex, and that they can’t be boiled down to a series of feel-good sound bites? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2021, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015/22 "2021-05-15T20:13:05Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Do you think most liberals really understand what it’s like to be a coal miner in West Virginia, or a farmer in Kansas, or spend much time trying to? I do. And I think I can. What i do have trouble understanding is how the people in that situation think “those durn liberals” are bad for wanting the coal miners to have a safer mine. Why we’re “communinists” because we care about their lungs, their water supply, or their air. They’re the ones living and dying in these conditions - I have trouble “empathizing” why they think they way they do about health. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015/23 "2021-05-17T19:09:15Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’m not sure that’s entirely true. Do you think most liberals really understand what it’s like to be a coal miner in West Virginia, or a farmer in Kansas, or spend much time trying to? Actually, relatively speaking I think they do. In the midst of and after the 2016 election there were hundreds of articles and books written by liberals investigating, explaining and sympathizing with the plight of the working class white man who was Trump’s base and calls from Democratic politicians to understand what they are going through. Heck even Clinton’s “Deplorable” soundbite was part of a general claim to understand the other side. Meanwhile on the right there is zero interest in trying to understand what is behind the liberal mindset. Books written about African Americans from the conservative side don’t discuss the trials and tribulations that they suffer as a result of latent racism. Its just about how lazy and dysfunctional they are. And that if the liberal elites would just give them a swift kick in the back side instead of coddling them we could put all this racism stuff behind us. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2021, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015/24 "2021-05-17T19:25:00Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > And that if the liberal elites would just give them a swift kick in the back side instead of coddling them we could put all this racism stuff behind us. And don’t forget all the “X are the _real_ racists!” claims. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2021, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015/25 "2021-05-17T19:36:35Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’m not sure that’s entirely true. Do you think most liberals really understand what it’s like to be a coal miner in West Virginia, or a farmer in Kansas, or spend much time trying to? > > I don’t think the farmer or the miner spend any time trying to understand what it’s like to be a college student in New York, either. Everybody has struggles, and both sides could do a better job of listening to each other. Show me the rural reporter that writes a book about trying to understand people that live in cities, and you MIGHT have a point. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2021, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015/26 "2021-05-17T21:44:41Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Trump supporters are not necessarily the working poor, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t feel threatened or deprived. The fear of losing power can be just as real as the fear of losing status on the lower echelons of society. Actually, I think the (relatively) higher-ups\* may be _more_ concerned about losing power and/or status than those who never had it in the first place. I recall an incident in Asimov’s **The Caves of Steel** where the protagonist was contemplating a demotion that would disconnect the sink in his living quarters: whereas going to the communal bathroom for his daily shave was no big deal before, the thought of doing so now was not to be borne. Or as Gershwin put it: > _De folks wid plenty o’ plenty_ > _Got a lock an dey door_ > _‘Fraid somebody’s a-goin’ to rob 'em_ > _While dey’s out a-makin’ more_ \* The _real_ higher-ups have no such concerns — they’re likely to come out on top no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2021, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015/27 "2021-05-17T22:58:13Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Do you think most liberals really understand what it’s like to be a coal miner in West Virginia, or a farmer in Kansas, or spend much time trying to? I think they try to, yes. I know I try. A liberal tried to offer a solution to the coal miners plight in 2016. She was rejected for the fantasy that the former guy lied about. ---
**Author:** ![Flopnoodle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@Flopnoodle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flopnoodle)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015/28 "2021-05-18T00:05:26Z")
> [@TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](#): > > Maybe it’s because we actually realize that the world and its problems are complex, and that they can’t be boiled down to a series of feel-good sound bites? I read a lot here but don’t post that often. But you’re exactly right. The problem is that we only have so much bandwidth, mentally, and if you’re just trying to get by its hard to spend any time or effort understanding someone else. And so a quick feel-good sound bite can be very reassuring that you don’t HAVE to think about it when you have your own problems to deal with. The complex answer is correct, but the three-word-slogan means you don’t have to think. ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015/29 "2021-05-18T00:21:08Z")
I think of it as “You can’t argue with a bumper sticker”. In other words, you can’t debate it, you can’t reason with it, you can’t change it’s mind as it rolls down the highway. You can only agree or disagree. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015/30 "2021-05-18T15:47:05Z")
My hope is a deep schism in the GOP renders it sterile and ineffective for the next few election cycles by splitting their vote, which allows the nation to not only get back on it’s feet, but makes major strides on a lot of problems. However, in reality I suspect conservatives, no matter how bad the party stinks of everything trump and the cult of personality it has become, will never support Democrats and their agenda. So, in the end we’ll have a vocal and visual group of Republicans bitching and moaning loudly about the more odious people and deeds their party is carrying, but when it comes down to brass tacks, they will still quietly tow the party line (a la Susan Collins) and continue their merry way with science denial, racism, nativism, division, fear, and conspiracies, just like before 1/6/21. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015/31 "2021-05-18T15:56:51Z")
> [@Flopnoodle](#): > > The complex answer is correct, but the three-word-slogan means you don’t have to think. - _The Terminator_ created the all-purpose quote. “Understand. That three-word-slogan is out there. It can’t be reasoned with, it can’t be bargained with. It doesn’t feel pity or remorse or fear and it absolutely will not stop.” ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015/32 "2021-05-18T20:47:56Z")
The party won’t split, just like it didn’t split for the Teaparty. There might be some bitter primary fights ahead, but when aren’t there? Once the primary passes, and a candidate from one side of the party or the other is selected, the vast majority of the rest will fall in line and vote for that candidate. What other option do they have, vote for the Democrat? Sure, some might not vote, and maybe the Libertarian or whoever will pick up a vote or two, but those will be meaningless protests. The Democrats won’t be able to take advantage of any of this, either. So the Republicans will continue to win or lose just as if they were a unified party. Right now is the time for the Democrats to use any of these divides to split off just one or two votes in the senate, plus any similar action at state and local levels. Right now is the time for Democrats to pass a new voting rights act, and other things to keep the playing field level. Corporations will get publicly scared away from the most racist and bigoted behavior, but they’ll still use trade organizations and PACs to lobby all sides. They mostly don’t really care, because both the Democrats and Republicans usually do what the corporations want, even if the details are different. I hope I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015/33 "2021-05-18T21:37:36Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > There might be some bitter primary fights ahead, but when aren’t there? Once the primary passes, and a candidate from one side of the party or the other is selected, the vast majority of the rest will fall in line and vote for that candidate. What other option do they have, vote for the Democrat Pretty much this. I think what’s key is that since Obama at a minimum (arguably longer), the Republican party as a whole has abandoned being ‘for’ anything, just being against whatever the Democrats do. In this, the Tea Party was an aberration, in which they tried to stick to a more ‘traditional’ view of the Republican party, and stuck to their guns, until they caved for Trump. Sure, they still stick to their “Guns and God (as long as it is Jesus)” perspective, but otherwise, no actual strong ideology at all. And t hus, as **echoreply** put it, who else are they going to vote for, the Democrat, who they consider the enemy? Nope, again at best they just won’t vote, or still vote (R) just to rile up the libs. Honestly, I’m much, _much_ more worried about a Civil war for the Democrats: they each have actual ideologies and the slow turning of the governmental gears are making the more intense members of the party upset. And considering how the Republicans are turning into out and out zealots, the Democrats can’t really afford to be tearing each other apart in frustration. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015/34 "2021-05-18T22:08:48Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > The party won’t split, just like it didn’t split for the Teaparty. I thought it was the Teabaggers? The name fits better anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015/35 "2021-05-18T22:27:42Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > …but otherwise, no actual strong ideology at all. Tax cuts. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015/36 "2021-05-19T00:03:16Z")
That’s not ideology, that’s payoffs. But point taken. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-civil-war/942015.md?page=1)