A Deep Dive into What Is Destroying America

Photo by Gunnar Ridderstrom

A good many people including me believe that there are three things that are destroying our nation; classism, racism, and the replacement theory. We have heard a great deal about racism and classism, but today I want to focus on replacement theory as well. There are some statistics that we need to know to understand why power is so important to the white “haves” in our nation. Replacement theory is part of the glue that allows classism and racism to be so prominent in so many people.

Classism can be seen in the statistics that 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. That represents a widening gap that has occurred slowly but now is prevalent. 43% of black Americans represents the number of Americans who are black. Today white people make up 57.5% of the population. But that number is higher because white people are older with increased death rates where there are also fewer births of white children in our country.

As indicated multi racial people have increased their population by 137% between 2000 and 2023. There are more black people than white people in the world. Let me suggest that realization is a subliminal awareness among white people meaning they could not give you this percentage that is the source of great fear in the psyche of white people in our nation. It is also a latent fear by some. Not because they know these percentages, but because fear of the “other” (anyone different from me) is part of our history.

The above issues have enabled classism and racism to exist and to answer why placement theory needs to be added to the discussion. A year ago, according to a Gallup Poll, %37 of Americans supported our funding and military support of Israel. Now 60% of Americans do not like our support of Israel. We will see why late in this blog. You should be able to see the issue just by looking at the above statistics.

So, what is the underbelly of what is occurring that is really causing antisemitism, classism, and racism? These three issues have been empowered by Trump and the extension of his policies that have been the basis for his attack on the soul of America.

The theme in Isabel Wilkinson’s book, Caste, points to the human trait that we human beings always seem to have designated groups to serve the purpose as people to be looked down upon or to have power over others. There are 902 billionaires in our nation. We have 20% of the population who are in the upper class defined as earning twice the medium ($175,000). 2-4% of the United States population have a net worth of more than $2 million. This view supports the three “Isms” just mentioned. All three have been lying more dormant until they have become socially acceptable by Trump and some Republicans in their legislative actions.

There has been a new coalition based as well in replacement theory which is usually associated with antisemitism but really extends to racism and antisemitism.

Heather Cox Richardson, one of the leading historians in our nation, points to some of this theory in her book, How the South Won the Civil War, Oligarchy, democracy, and Continuing Fight for the Soul of America. She makes the point that the Republicans and Democrats have just traded places. Remember Lincoln was a Republican. She makes the point that the issues are the same, they have just changed parties.

Replacement theory posits that a shady group of elites (usually referring to Jews) is plotting to flood Western countries with immigrants replacing the white population and destroying its culture and political power. In essence, people who are not like us known as well as the others will dominate if the white population doesn’t do something. You may have heard the words replacement theory when watching the KKK march through the University of Virginia shouting the words, “Jews will not replace us!”

There is nothing subtle about Trump. He said that “immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country.”

Whenever we have a widening gap in the wealth distribution in a country, that country is ripe for chaos. Trump’s building an East Wing, an Arch of Triumph, and is putting his name on everything that doesn’t move is an overt expression of his wanting power over everything.

The killing of 11 congregants at the Tree of Life synagogue and 51 Muslim worshippers in Christ Church, New Zealand are the result of religious cleansing in favor of Christian Nationalism.

But replacement theory also needs a catalyst. The most recent phone call between Trump and Netanyahu was strained as Trump became angry with Netanyahu’s attacks during the cease fire. What will occur in the future is more antisemitism as others have indicated that Netanyahu has wanted this war for 40 years and finally found a president who was searching for fame to get in with him. Now, Trump is looking for someone to blame. This means we must be more vigilant in stamping out antisemitism.

It seems that every gesture that Trump makes reflects white power domination.

Maya Anegolo said, “When people show you who they are, believe therm.”

Right now, white people are scared to death because they have the statistics on their side regarding money and population. They can choose to ignore all” the others” who are not like them to live and work in a white world. But soon that option will be gone.

The problem is also based on the nation’s gaining moves toward DEI whether they like it or not. Replacement theory has the answer to the question of why Maga (the working class) supports Trump who is so unlike them. The answer is found in a chapter in Freakonomics by Dubner and Levitt.  Why do drug dealers live with their mothers? Is the title of the chapter. When they are earning little money selling drugs on the street, they see their source of the drugs driving around in a big Cadillac. It’s the Cadillac that they want. What Maga wants is to have what Trump has, and they are willing to do any irrational thing to get it or more than they have now. They have not inculcated that Trump over cares about Trump. You can’t blame them because their leader is a liar and grifter at the highest level.