A recent analysis argues that segments of the modern left, particularly within the Democratic Party, have adopted a radical ideology and approach reminiscent of the Jacobin movement during the French Revolution. This perspective suggests that the intense opposition to Donald Trump and the MAGA movement between 2015 and his 2024 re-election was not merely political disagreement but a more fundamental drive to reshape the nation.
The author posits that this opposition, characterized by what is described as "hysteria unseen in over 160 years," sought to "destroy" rather than simply defeat political opponents. This approach, it is argued, shifted the focus from traditional political discourse to a more radical stance, drawing parallels to the ideological fervor of 18th-century revolutionary France.
The analysis identifies a pivot in the Democratic Party from solidarity with the working class to a movement led by wealthy and professional elites who see themselves as arbiters for the less fortunate. It suggests that these elites often do not personally bear the consequences of the radical ideologies they advocate, such as climate change policies, open borders, or defunding the police.
Instances cited include figures like Reps. Jasmine Crockett and Ilhan Omar, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who are described as originating from upper-middle-class backgrounds, claiming multimillion-dollar wealth, or arriving as elites from illiberal homelands. The piece claims these individuals champion "boutique issues" like reparations, transgender athletes in women's sports, and bans on natural gas appliances, which it argues alienate the middle class and minority groups.
This radicalization is traced back to the 2016 campaign, with Democrats under Hillary Clinton being labeled "veritable Jacobins." The author contends that policies were opposed if they bore Trump's influence, regardless of their merit or popularity, with the primary goal being the elimination of a perceived "demonic public menace." This pursuit, it is argued, led to the erosion of norms and the establishment of dangerous precedents that could backfire.
The author invokes the historian Thucydides and his account of civil strife in Corcyra, warning against the destruction of general laws during times of revenge, which are later missed by those who dismantled them. The analysis suggests that Joe Biden's nomination in 2020 was a "Faustian bargain" to provide a moderate facade for a "hard-leftist Democratic Party" implementing a radical agenda, including what is described as the "erasure of the southern border."
Furthermore, the piece links this "Jacobin nihilism" to issues such as mass looting and shoplifting in major cities being lightly punished, citing California's ballot proposition that made stealing under $950 a misdemeanor. This impunity is presented as having spread nationwide after the death of George Floyd.
The author asserts that the "blue-state model" has reached a breaking point, characterized by high taxes, eroding infrastructure, weaponized jurisprudence, unfunded pension obligations, and poor public services in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Baltimore. This perceived failure of the Democratic Party to moderate its course is seen as fueling a "Trump renaissance."
The analysis describes the political landscape as a "new medievalism" with extreme wealth inequality in Democratic-dominated states, contrasting with the supposed intent to rectify inequality. Elites in coastal cities, enriched by globalization, are depicted as having a "romantic, top-down mindset," assuming societal challenges are solved without benefiting the broader population.
This elite perspective is characterized by conducting "social experiments" without personal consequence, while lower classes bear the brunt. The migration of populations from blue states to red states is framed as being met with a "good riddance" attitude by some in the left-leaning elite, such as Shankar Singham, who reportedly suggested vacated spots would be beneficial for new immigrants.
Two core realities of this "new elite leftism" are identified: the belief that human nature is malleable and can be reshaped through government intervention, and the exemption of the ruling elite from the rules they impose, likened to Soviet-era nomenklatura.
The traditional liberalism of the 20th century is contrasted with the modern Democratic Party's focus on perceived trivialities while ignoring existential issues. The author concludes that the left's obsession with Trump and his supporters as racists has led to a disregard for reason and history, resulting in diminished popularity and a path toward "self-made near ruin."