7 Comments

The idea that TWW gave dems a false playbook as mistake theorists I find bananas. In general, progressive movements are always the masters of subversion and whatever-it-takes strategies since they are the ones demanding change. They've certainly never treated Trump as though they are mistake theorists - he's been a beyond-the-pale man of evil to them from the outset. Trump may have mastered brazenness as an individual, but the dems/media are masters of coordinated brazenness, which ultimately then selects for individuals of exceptional brazenness on the other side.

Expand full comment
author

I largely agree with you. My post was something a steelman of their position, but also a way of pointing out that they're just as brazen, but, as you point out, their brazenness looks different, and is more subversive.

I do think that they want to appear to be mistake theorists, and sometimes they even are, but as I pointed out often what this results in is the worst of both worlds.

Expand full comment
Jul 12·edited Jul 12Liked by R.W. Richey

> [dems] brazenness looks different, and is more subversive.

I think this goes to the heart of the matter. Dems are conflict theorists too but try to play the mistake theory game on the surface - see the removal of Sanders in 2016 (you mention this.

Overall a really good thought-provoking article. with a very useful mental model to think about US political culture - thanks!

Expand full comment

I think that a distinction between "dems" as politicians and "dems" as voters would be helpful here. All politicians are arbiters of brazenness, but they must tailor/temper their brazenness to the voters. Trump changed the rules on brazenness, and voters are arguably in a deep flux because of steep changes in culture. It's a pretty chaotic space right now for both subjects and objects.

Expand full comment
author

Your point about flux is dead on. And I could have done a better job differentiating between the various groups of Democrats, though that can sometimes end up being a bottomless pit of clarifications.

Expand full comment
Jul 11Liked by R.W. Richey

It does seem that Biden's approach to dealing with Iran is based on mistake theory, while Iran is firmly entrenched in conflict theory.

Expand full comment
author

That's a very clarifying way to put it. Funny that I hadn't considered it in those terms.

Expand full comment