Happens on the left and the right. The fringe movements either get co-opted (like the Tea Party) or shifted to other topics less threatening. Sometimes, the astro-turfing is so obvious you want to cry. Do you think the average middle-class republican gave a shit about inheritance taxes (the death tax) until it was pushed on them that it was the most important thing to repeal back in about 2002 or so by George W. Bush?
I'm not saying there is a uni-party...I would take republicans over the democrats in office any day of the week, but the way our opinions get manipulated is scary.
I will give it to Trump, though. He read what the people wanted, rather than the elites. One example is control of immigration, and he shifted the Overton Window towards no amnesty. Before Trump, they were fairly close to giving us amnesty.
Happens on the left and the right. The fringe movements either get co-opted (like the Tea Party) or shifted to other topics less threatening. Sometimes, the astro-turfing is so obvious you want to cry. Do you think the average middle-class republican gave a shit about inheritance taxes (the death tax) until it was pushed on them that it was the most important thing to repeal back in about 2002 or so by George W. Bush?
I'm not saying there is a uni-party...I would take republicans over the democrats in office any day of the week, but the way our opinions get manipulated is scary.
I will give it to Trump, though. He read what the people wanted, rather than the elites. One example is control of immigration, and he shifted the Overton Window towards no amnesty. Before Trump, they were fairly close to giving us amnesty.