The 2022 U.S. midterm election results have surprised many people, including an allegedly furious Donald Trump. Like many others, I had chosen to believe the various (left+right) media articles predicting a Republican tsunami. It did not happen. The impopular Joe Biden did actually quite well. But why??
I suppose the voter discontent with anti-abortion amendments to several state constitutions is telling (eg, Axios, FT, SA). Voters have rejected the U.S. Supreme Court‘s decision, by mainly men, to start curtailing the rights of women. This fundamental issue is far beyond any divide (eg, left vs right).
The Belgian newspaper Standaard and National Review concluded that extreme candidates have lost. I tend to agree. This seems to apply to the alt-Right and the woke-Left. The 2022 U.S. midterms may indicate a renewed support for centrist policies. Joe Biden is a centrist rather than a left-liberal.
Moreover, ideology (eg, Trumpism) has lost from pragmatism (eg, women’s rights) in the USA, while – simultaneously – China is heading for the opposite direction (ie, more ideology). In my view, any decrease in ideology and/or increase in pragmatism is very, very good news.
Extreme opinions are like hot air balloons: they either burst or go higher but gravity always wins.
“Well, we had an election yesterday. It was a good day, I think, for democracy and, I think, a good day for America. [ ] Our democracy has been tested in recent years, but with their votes, the American people have spoken and proven once again that democracy is who we are. While the press and the pundits were predicting a giant red wave, it didn’t happen [ ] I’m prepared to work with my Republican colleagues. The American people have made clear they expect Republicans to be prepared to work with me.”
Some excerpts from a 9 November 2022 speech by Joe Biden (Politico, video, full video)
Gravity (2006) by John Mayer
artist, lyrics, video, Wiki-artist, Wiki-song
[Chorus]
Gravity is working against me
And gravity wants to bring me down
[Outro]
Just keep me where the light is
Just keep me where the light is
Just keep me where the light is
Come on, keep me where the light is
Come on, keep me where the light is
Come on, keep me where, now, keep me where the light is
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless in quotes or stated otherwise.
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