The Rising Acceptance of Political Violence in America
In a recent podcast interview, political science Professor Robert Pape highlighted a concerning trend: the acceptance of political violence in America is at an all-time high. His research shows that tens of millions of Americans now view extreme actions like assassination as a viable means to effect change in politics. This shift has been accompanied by several alarming events, including multiple attempts on former President Donald Trump’s life, the murder of prominent Democratic politicians in Minnesota, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, along with the ICE assassinations of at least three U.S. citizens in the past year.
The situation extends beyond political violence. There is also a growing acceptance of violence toward minorities and women. For instance, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been criticized for its treatment of Hispanics, including children, sending them to foreign torture camps and keeping over 70,000 individuals, including thousands of children, in deplorable conditions that would likely result in the closure of an animal shelter.
Republicans have largely shrugged off these issues or even embraced them, while simultaneously attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and labeling them as anti-white-male. Those who bring up these topics are often accused of being overly sensitive.
The Roots of the Crisis
What is driving this wave of violence and unrest? According to Pape, it is a perfect storm of three factors: economics, racism, and misogyny. These elements have converged to create a volatile environment where political violence is increasingly normalized.
Economic Factors
The economic landscape has played a significant role in this crisis. When Ronald Reagan took office in 1981, he initiated a war on the New Deal and unions while drastically cutting income taxes on billionaires. This led to a massive $80 trillion transfer of wealth, wiping out worker protections, freezing wages, and ending most pensions. Over the past 45 years, the middle class has shrunk from two-thirds of the population to around 43 percent.
Men who once defined their masculinity through their ability to provide for their families now find themselves relying on their wives to support the household. Even this is not enough, as over half of working Americans are just a few paychecks away from homelessness or bankruptcy due to GOP policies and tax cuts.
Rush Limbaugh was among the first to capitalize on this economic anxiety, labeling working women as “Feminazis” and legitimizing rhetoric that blamed the emasculation of working-class men on their wives and other women in the workplace. Republicans in Congress joined this chorus, opposing the Equal Rights Amendment, which simply states that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex.
Trump’s infamous claim that he could sexually assault any woman he wanted because “when you’re a star, they let you do it” further fueled the rise of modern rape culture.
Racial Tensions
On the issue of race, there are two clear factors. The first is reminiscent of the last era of widespread white adoption of organized racism when President Woodrow Wilson sponsored a White House screening of the Klan recruiting film Birth of a Nation in 1915 and embraced an eugenics movement that promoted a racial hierarchy with whites at the top.
This led to a surge in Klan membership, which exploded from an estimated 400,000 to over four million in fewer than two years. Klan marches became common events in American cities until World War II.
Donald Trump and his racist allies have created a similar permission structure over the past 15 years, starting with the racist “birther” attacks on Barack Obama in March 2011. Trump’s explicit racism now echoes through his regime, with the last Black Republicans leaving the House of Representatives this year and six conservative Supreme Court justices allowing former Confederate states to destroy any vestige of Black representation in the South through extreme gerrymandering.
Misogyny and Cultural Shifts
Misogyny has also played a critical role in this crisis. The rise of the “manosphere” and the normalization of violent imagery and memes have contributed to a culture where men feel empowered to act out their frustrations. This is compounded by the erosion of traditional gender roles, where men no longer define their masculinity solely through their ability to provide for their families.
Solutions for a More Equitable Future
To address these challenges, Pape suggests three key strategies:
Reviving the Middle Class: This involves rolling back tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, offering free or low-cost national healthcare, and providing free or low-cost college education while eliminating student debt. Enforcing anti-trust laws and protecting workers’ rights are also essential steps.
Addressing Racial Inequality: Passing legislation to outlaw gerrymandering and other forms of political disenfranchisement, strengthening anti-racism laws, and launching a national education program about America’s racial history can help build understanding and empathy.
Redefining Masculinity: Society must redefine masculinity around competence and contribution rather than control of women. This includes bringing back DEI initiatives, which have primarily benefited white women, and promoting emotional literacy and reliability in men.
For half a century, Republicans have drained the wealth of white working-class men, hoovering it up for the likes of Bezos and Zuckerbergs, while fighting to keep the middle class from re-emerging. The current crisis is a predictable outcome of decades of GOP policy that gutted the middle class and shifted blame onto women, Blacks, and immigrants.
It is time for the Democratic Party to tell the truth about these issues and present a clear vision for addressing them. Sharing this article widely and joining the fight for a Democratic Party willing to confront these challenges head-on is crucial for the future of America.
