New research indicates that extreme protest tactics tend to undermine a movement’s popular support in the United States by alienating both neutral observers and supporters . . .It isn't too much of a stretch to conclude that violent protests by people who oppose Trump will help him get reelected. This is, of course, an outcome devoutly to be desired.
The researchers conducted six experiments with 3,399 participants in total, in which they assessed how different types of protest behaviors influenced support for a variety of progressive and conservative social causes, including the Black Lives Matter movement and the anti-abortion movement. They found that more extreme behaviors — such as the use of inflammatory rhetoric, blocking traffic, and vandalism — consistently resulted in reduced support for social movements.
The nation needs Trump's corrective actions so our rusty old ship of state can stay afloat for another decade or two. After 2024, it's someone else's problem, maybe young Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR, no relation).
