> I think you’re misdiagnosing the cause. Nearly everyone I know—my circle skews highly educated and well compensated—cares more about social issues than economic ones.
That's because they're liberals (or, worse, neoliberals) and liberalism is about aesthetics. It's about appearing to do something without actually doing anything. I don't mean this is any kind of perjorative sense by the way. I know many people like this too.
Take the Democratic Party. In response to the Dobbs leak the Demorats did... nothing. When the decision was handed down they sent a bunch of fundraising emails and texts and did... nothing. Well, other than "vote harder" messaging. The leadership has decided an issue with 75% public support is "too controversial" to tackle.
Why is the Democratic Party in this situation? Because there is always a rotating villain that blocks any action. Currently that's Senators Manchin and Sinema. In past years it was Joe Lieberman. This is by design. Everyone else gets to point at the rotating villain and say they tried but they got blocked and then fundraise off [insert blocked issue here].
Now look at an issue like homelessness. The most important factor that leads to homelessness is cost of housing. The one thing that would help above anything else is a housing-first policy, meaning giving homeless people somewhere to live. But rampant NIMBYism, even in heavily blue states like California, means that's a nonstarter. This is why you'll see people fund raise for homelessness without tackling the root causes.
This is what I mean by aesthetics.
That's because they're liberals (or, worse, neoliberals) and liberalism is about aesthetics. It's about appearing to do something without actually doing anything. I don't mean this is any kind of perjorative sense by the way. I know many people like this too.
Take the Democratic Party. In response to the Dobbs leak the Demorats did... nothing. When the decision was handed down they sent a bunch of fundraising emails and texts and did... nothing. Well, other than "vote harder" messaging. The leadership has decided an issue with 75% public support is "too controversial" to tackle.
Why is the Democratic Party in this situation? Because there is always a rotating villain that blocks any action. Currently that's Senators Manchin and Sinema. In past years it was Joe Lieberman. This is by design. Everyone else gets to point at the rotating villain and say they tried but they got blocked and then fundraise off [insert blocked issue here].
Now look at an issue like homelessness. The most important factor that leads to homelessness is cost of housing. The one thing that would help above anything else is a housing-first policy, meaning giving homeless people somewhere to live. But rampant NIMBYism, even in heavily blue states like California, means that's a nonstarter. This is why you'll see people fund raise for homelessness without tackling the root causes.
This is what I mean by aesthetics.