Many Democrats continue to believe that the racism of average Americans — many of whom voted for Barack Obama twice — explains why Donald Trump won. This moralism suits party elites who would rather demonize the public than address growing inequality.
What we’re talking about is a game between two players: democrats and their potential voters. It is totally a valid strategy in game theory to punish the other player when they’re not cooperating. If you’re always cooperating even when your opponent (i.e. your preferred political party) isn’t, you’re just encouraging them to continue to not cooperate.
Try out this interactive page.
In this context, “valid strategy” = everyone is worse off, protestors get the opposite of what they wanted and fascist gain power.
In this context, “punishing the other player” = punishing yourself.
Yes. Doesn’t mean it’s a bad strategy.
This is not a one-round game. Elections happen repeatedly. If you show someone you will punish them for bad behavior even at cost to yourself, it might teach them to change their ways. On the other hand, always minimizing your losses in the current round (i.e. having no memory or vision) makes you a perfectly predictable and exploitable player.
If Trump and the GOP accomplish their goals there will not be any more “rounds” or elections.
This is the reason it’s a bad strategy