The Dispatch Podcast David French Is Wrong (Or Is He?) | Roundtable
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Aug 16, 2024 
Megan McArdle is a keen commentator on political and economic issues, while David French offers a conservative perspective, and Jonah and Sarah provide unique insights on democracy and voting complexities. They dive into the muddled purpose of voting, debating the implications of endorsing Kamala Harris. Tensions rise as they discuss the difficulties of defining voter identity, the impact of neoliberalism on political parties, and the economic realities facing the Biden administration amidst rising inflation.
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Vote Is A Narrow Signal, Not Identity
- Jonah argues a vote is a momentary decision that conveys limited information about a person's beliefs.
- He warns treating votes as identity flattens complex reasoning into crude tribal labels.
Use Protest Votes To Signal Party Dissatisfaction
- If you want to send clearer signals to parties, use write-ins or down-ballot drop-offs to indicate protest.
- Those patterns show gettable voters more clearly than endorsing the opposing nominee.
Anti-Neoliberal Debate Mirrors Right-Wing Shifts
- The podcast connects left-wing anti-neoliberalism to a strategic debate about electability versus ideology.
- Both parties face mirror arguments that moving to extremes explains candidate failure and demands corrective shifts.