Weekend Successes of Bernie Sanders Signify Shift in Direction of American Politics in Elections
The 2016 presidential campaign is shaping up to be a crucible for modern politics, unlike any other for at least a generation. William Greider of The Nation posits that Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders could alter the landscape of two-party politics, potentially leading to a major realignment in U.S. politics.
The political scientist Ronald Inglehart has suggested that the 2016 U.S. presidential election could be a potential trigger for such a realignment. Divided rule has been the norm in America since 1968, but the conventional wisdom in politics can be wrong, and new conventional wisdoms often emerge.
The economy is doing better, but not for everyday Americans. This economic disparity is a significant factor in the Sanders and Trump movements. White voters who feel that American politics has been hijacked by elites are flocking to these candidates, creating a powerful new voting bloc that is redefining politics.
Hillary Clinton has faced challenges in the primaries, losing three caucuses all by at least 40 points. Sanders, on the other hand, has won three caucuses in Washington State, Hawaii, and Alaska in a landslide. The author does not explicitly state whether a party uniting the working-class discontent would strengthen or weaken American democracy, but the answers to these questions will become more evident in November and beyond.
The Christian Science Monitor published a must-read article by Mark Sappenfield about changes in U.S. politics. Joe Gandelman discusses the potential for a major realignment of parties, with Sanders, Trump, and Ted Cruz reshaping American politics. Greider adds that the great question for 2016 is whether either party can bridge the gaps and unite the working-class islands of discontent.
There is a philosophical question about what reality is in politics. The conventional wisdom in politics can be wrong, and new conventional wisdoms often emerge. The 2016 presidential campaign is becoming a crucible for modern politics, and only time will tell if it will lead to a major party realignment.
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