Most of us are familiar with the term IQ, “intelligence quotient,” used for a century to describe the score people receive on a test measuring their reasoning ability.
I propose that we create a new term, DQ (the Decency Quotient) and use it to refer, not only to our local Dairy Queen, but also to the level of decency we have encountered in public statements by politicians since Donald Trump entered politics.
We are all aware that American English has become coarser in recent decades. I have noticed that the F-word is now found in novels published in recent years. But the use of angry, hostile language to describe political opponents seems to be more common in Trumpworld.
Consider this post by Donald Trump after Joe Biden dropped his bid for a second term: “Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run and is certainly not fit to serve—and never was! He only attained the position of President by lies, Fake News, and not leaving the basement.”
Beyond Trump’s tone, notice another characteristic here, the use of psychological projection, attributing to your opponent “your own ideas, feelings, or attitudes to other people ... especially the externalization of blame, guilt, or responsibly as a defense against anxiety.” Trump, not Biden, is the one who uses massive lying and popularized the term “Fake News.”
In fairness, not all Republicans have a low DQ. Here is what former Vice President Mike Pence wrote after Biden’s withdrawal: “President Joe Biden made the right decision for our country and I thank him for putting the interest of our Nation ahead of his own. ... Now is the time for leaders in both parties to project calm and send a message of strength and resolve to America’s friends and enemies alike.”
Pence’s statement showed his higher DQ, his respect for the Presidency, and his unwillingness to kick a man when he was down. This was clearly not acceptable to some of Trump’s sycophants, who curry favor by lowering their DQ to the level of their party’s leader.
Pence’s statement aroused the ire of some people in Trumpworld. In the same story reporting Pence’s respectful farewell to Biden, I found the following comments by Trumpers: “Did a Democrat write this?” one man said. Another responded “You should sit out this one, Mike, no one gives a f*** what you think.” Another, also using the F-word, said that Pence’s statement was the reason he was called a traitor.
Many Americans across the political spectrum would agree that any politician who engages in and thus encourages such malicious language from supporters does not deserve to hold political office in America.
That is another reason, among many, why the word “unfit” has been used so often since 2016 to describe Donald Trump. Yet “the Donald’s” ugly, mean language remains very popular with his many followers. Why is this the case?
A new book by American University political scientist Thomas Zeitzoff entitled Nasty Politics: The Logic of Insults, Threats, and Incitement offers some explanations. Zeitzoff believes most people don’t really like vicious politics but that “during periods of heightened threat or uncertainty, voters may want someone who’s a little tough” just as a person “going through a nasty divorce might not want a nice, polite lawyer.” Trump exploits these fears.
Nastiness also grabs media attention. News media “are not going to report on a politician saying ‘I respectfully disagree with my opponent’ but if he says ‘my opponent is a junkyard dog who should be put down,’ that is going to get clicks and likes.”
All of this helps us understand the drop in our political DQ, but we can raise it. Zeitzoff says nasty politics “demobilizes people” making them ... less interested in participating in politics.” We can’t let that happen.
Democrats must use their current enthusiasm for Kamala Harris’ candidacy to “demobilize” those Trumpers who want us to hate each other. Real Republicans and Independents will help us.
Only then might we be able to raise the Decency Quotient in our political life.
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