JTFMax Politics:

WHY ARE GOP VOTERS THINK “AMERICA IS NOT GREAT ANYMORE?”

The acronym MAGA stands for “Make America Great Again,” a slogan that Trump used to win the 2016 presidential election. It’s also the name of a movement that supports Trump and the Republican Party.

What is MAGA?

It’s a cult-like movement built upon collective narcissism, fantasies of violence and cruelty, and an entire set of shared delusions. Like a bunch of peeved ex-workes, full of hate and believing conspiracy stories from shady politicians.

MAGA supporters embraced a variety of conservative positions, including anti-immigration, anti-women's health care rights, and support for white supremacy. In addition, these voters have a deep-rooted distrust of our institutions.

Many of them also think the 2020 election was rigged. According to a recent survey, over 80 percent of Southern state Republicans identifying as MAGA believe Biden was not the legitimate winner.

MAGA followers are older than other Republicans, skew males, and hardened white gals. They also are less likely to have a college degree. They also have higher rates of religious observance than other Republican voters.

Why are GOP voters not happy with America?

Despite being one of the world's oldest and best-established independent constitutional democracies, most Americans don't think the United States is working right. A new Times/Siena College poll finds that 58 percent of voters believe our political system needs significant reforms or an overhaul.

The poll also found that fewer than one-third of Americans think House GOP leaders are prioritizing the country's most critical issues. And a majority of Republicans disapprove of how their party's congressional leadership is handling their jobs.

For years, many Republicans have told pollsters that they prefer politicians who stick to their ideological guns rather than compromise. This hostility to compromise has implications for democracy because it's a vital part of what has made Republican obstructionism in Congress possible for so long.

How does MAGA affect the Republican Party?

President Trump primarily defines the MAGA movement within the Republican Party. Still, it also has many of the same features as the Tea Party wing of 2010- a group mainly determined by opposition to former President Obama.

The Republican Party remains a majoritarian power, but many of its voters believe the system is disenfranchising them and want to see changes made to it. Unfortunately, that has created a new wave of anti-democratic ideas and tactics in the GOP.

A new study from the University of Washington has surveyed a sample of MAGA supporters. Researchers found that they are more likely to support anti-democratic ideas than non-MAGA supporters, even if they don't share the same political views. In particular, they are likelier to believe the election was stolen and that COVID-19 is a Chinese biological weapon.

What does MAGA mean for the future of the Republican Party?

MAGA is a political label that can be used by Republicans who endorse President Trump's agenda. These candidates can win Republican primaries by appealing to MAGA voters.

A recent Grinnell College survey found that nearly one-third of self-identified Republicans have greater loyalty to the MAGA label than the GOP label. That's a sign of a strong faction within the Republican Party that supports Trump and rejects Democrats.

It also suggests that the party faces growing polarization between MAGA supporters and non-MAGA Republicans. For example, among MAGA Republicans, 76% believe "Democrats are a danger to our country and must be defeated at any cost."

But that's not the only reason they won't vote for Democrats. MAGA voters are also disenchanted with the leadership of the Republican Party.