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Chantal Mouffe argues that that black movement, women's rights, etc.. should join together to achieve the universal goal of freedom and equality for all. If BLM abandons universal principles it will lack basic arguments of legitimacy

Moderator: Identity politics has fragmented the entire political community. A political community can have a plurality of politics but must share a common political culture.

America was initially Anglo-saxon protestant. But as more races and ethnic groups multiplied its national identity is multi-racial, mult-ethnic, resulting the separation of cultural politics and political culture.

Identity politics must constrain itself as if its fragmentation breaks the common political culture holding all the diversity together then America will fall apart.

BT: I feel identity politics is dangerous. It always argues for the small group over the large, claiming any imposition as authoritarianism. Yet any country that spends all its time stressing identities and opposing national identity will inevitably end up divided.

To return to BLM, the problems blacks face are nowadays mostly economical. High black unemployment leads to high black crime, mistreatment by law enforcement naturally goes up, etc.. The problems are rooted in slave history but the problem NOW is economical, not identity.

The solutions aren't going to be based on race. If this isn't understood, the problems not only will not be solved, but may get worse. E.g. affirmative action helps the black middle and upper-middle classes. This makes it feel unfair to white middle and upper-middle families.

This can exacerbate racial tensions but most importantly the black people who need help (the poor) receive no help. It's trying to treat an economic problem wrapped in racial symbolism as a purely racial problem.

New topic: The Coming Election in America and Black Lives Matter

Moderator: In the last election, Trump's slogan was to MAGA and make american manufacturing great again, culminating in a win w/ support from the working class in 4 swing states.

With the current anti-racist movement, the democrats have started to play the card of identity politics but Trump has adopted a position tough on BLM. What do you 3 think the impact will be of this movement on the election?

LQ: I've been thinking his chances are slim. In the 1960's the US saw violent protests as well and Nixon won w/ the slogan "law and order". It was surprising since there were anti-war protests in major cities. The 'forgotten people' not seen at the protests were voting for Nixon

Identity politics is a dangerous game that can be played by your opponent. In 2016, Trump made use of the power of white identity politics via the KKK. The current BLM movement has also seen moments of violence and destruction which can turn off sympathizers.

The question is how the current movement will make the middle voters lean. A mix of things have happened so it's hard to say if it helps or hurts Trump's chances.

Moderator: I agree, I suspect a split in the GOP with some announcing a split w/ Trump either due to coronavirus or handling of BLM. He will probably have trouble taking advantage of the movement.

LQ: I'd add that there has always been a Never Trump faction in the GOP. They launched the lincoln project to oppose his reelection. Trump doesn't really have any part identification and never relied on the support of GOP party elders. His power lies in his electoral base.

WG: We see the democrats working hard to use BLM to win black votes but also worry the movement will get out of hand pushing middle voters to republicans.

Trump is always ready to change tactics and doesn't care about support from the middle. Similar to Sanders he relies on voters who identify with him via a make-or-break strategy.

So I agree with LQ that BLM will not necessarily hurt Trump. The typical democratic strategy of appealing to both left and right not might work well in the current moment. Looking indecisive may cost them voters in the middle.

Also, for a lot of voters in bad shape, Trump is sort of a father figure. In his rhetoric he speaks for the oppressed and the mistreated. He might not be perfect, but has self confidence and a sense of commitment. With intensifying conflict, he speaks to their psychological needs

BT: Even when Trump won he lost the popular vote and won by razor thin margin. In his 4 years, he has strengthened his base like a talk-show host would do instead of broadening it.

Also, in 2016 Hilary was not well-liked to the point that Sander's supported voted for Trump and many democrats and independents just didn't vote. Biden does not inspire the same dislike. His problem is that his voters aren't excited for him.

COVID has had major impact on the US economy, leading Trump to lose a major source of support. For now, his loss looks to be clear. He seems to be trying to copy Nixon, winning over the silent majority via law and order.

Though, at the time Nixon was challenging the incumbent while Trump IS the incumbent. BLM also calmed down instead of escalating. The military clearly stood up to his efforts to use the military to shut down demonstrations.

When he took a picture in front of the church w/ a Bible in hand, hoping to gain support from the religious community, his violent dispersal of peaceful protestors was met w/ strong backlash.

Even though in 2016 people said he couldn't win and he did I still think he will lose 2020. Still, he hit on real problems in the US w/ blue collar Americans being unable to keep up w/ globalization, automation, and high tech development even if his solutions sucked.

At the same time, Biden doesn't seem to know what to do either. END