In 2024, Nikki Haley, the only significant primary opponent to Trump, coined the word "chaos" to criticise the kind of government Trump would bring to America if he got elected. The term "chaos" did not work well enough for her then. Will it be the best approach for the anti-MAGA today? Today, I heard Chuck Schumer, Senate minority leader, use the word "chaos" as the attack charge congressional Democrats are planning as a theme for next week. "Chaos" may need to be replaced with "cruel" if Trump policies become a long-term, painful reality with higher prices, inflation, and recession, as Democrats have predicted. That could come sooner than later. In fact, it is happening now: https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-trump-tariffs-trade-war-04-11-25/card/consumer-sentiment-tanks-in-april-on-recession-fears-zPCqlvnxjQZIIJWhMVEy?mod=e2tw and https://data.sca.isr.umich.edu/charts.php
What Trump just did in proclaiming a 90-day moratorium on tariff disposition is to keep "chaos" on the burner, he thinks. It was clearly a delay tactic. However, businesses may still hike prices as a hedge against what they feel about the future. We will get a better feel for that within the month, as March and April, the consumer price index and inflation data are released, "Chaos" itself can still have a degree of impact depending upon how much the person in power is trusted, and Trump's erratic behavior does not help the trust factor. It isn't just consumer prices that will tell the tale. The impact of the DOGE chainsaws on federal customer services and funding for human services will begin to be felt by even those who have not been paying attention.
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The most important question pollsters can ask is, "Does X care about you?" Choosing the right word theme can make the difference between losers and winners
"Chaos" is a two-edged sword. For those who believe Trump's soothing words that it will hurt a little now, but it will be beautiful in the future, and the non-MAGAs who believe it will turn out badly, warning that pain will last, is predictive and unsettling. However, as a political stance now, it does not swing many blue voters who once voted for Trump. Chaos may be a good description of what is happening now, as Trump reacts to Wall Street crashing and claiming his tariff policies are a negotiating strategy he had always planned. "Chaos" may need to be replaced soon with "cruel" if Trump policies becoming a forever painful reality with higher prices and inflation as Democrats have predicted.
Chaos is a term that may cause worries to MAGA, but if leaning red, they are keeping the faith it will all turn out fine, and the leaning blue is rallying their voters with Chicken Little, the sky is falling in, warnings. The term chaos may work for some, but when the sky actually crashes on their heads, it becomes reality even for the MAGA. We are not there yet in spite of the extreme Wall Street gyrations. When the tariffs actually impact the costs of what people want or need to buy or spend money on, Chicken Little comes home to roost. Chaos is no longer the theme Democrats should embrace, but another word needs to become the theme.. depending on the severity. MAGA becomes the party of needless pain to benefit the rich. "Cruel." is a better pejorative, and the reminder of how Trump's promises failed them, should be, MAGA, "you voted for this?"
.By far, the better stance is the sub-theme that whatever MAGA is doing, they do not care about those who never seem to have enough to make ends meet. They are the party of "let them eat cake", disconnected for the real life people are actually experiencing. Trump cares mostly for those who have some money to pay for what they need or want, regardless of cost (like oligarchs and billionaires ).What politicians call such people is problematic. Depending on the candidate, those are called working class, middle class, or something similar, which is a handy term that some may not describe where they are...poor and old or facing large expenses on cars, home ownership, or expensive medical challenges, or unemployment. Working class is economic, socialist jargon to which not all can relate. American optimism is that, unlike in Europe, it is possible to live the American dream even if you come from economic deprivation. You are not stuck in a "class," but there is hope for upward mobility.
" Kitchen table" worries can resonate, but... better still ...worried about making ends meet is a better description of a wide range of economic "classes". Some may just be worried about even affording the bare necessities of a place to live and food to eat, and more will worry about whether they can afford college tuition, take a vacation, or buy or replace electronics, appliances, and a new or used car. Some may be even well off but are penny pinchers by nature. Some who experience layoffs may find themselves sinking into a lower "class". I remember as a radio talk show host on consumer affairs, I received blowback from listeners who resented being placed in an economic class for political purposes. Many people do not see themselves fitting into any class. It works for Bernie and AOC, but the people impacted by MAGA/Trump/Musk are more than just the lower middle income and poor, but also stretch into the middle income. We are all consumers, but not everyone in that group is price sensitive or is on a budget. It does however relate to more than just those struggling to pay for basic necessities, but also those who are resenting being screwed by price hikes and inflation who are better heeled.
