Rift on the right: Entitlement vs. hard work revisited



A recent social media debate about the state of the American economy should make the GOP consider whether the party of self-empowerment should rebrand itself as the party of entitlement.

Christopher Rufo is a journalist who is well known for, among other things, his culture war crusades against critical race theory in K-12 schools and diversity, equity, and inclusion training in universities. But the goodwill he built up on the right began to evaporate quickly among his former supporters when he cited higher-than-expected salaries for managers at Panda Express and Chipotle as signs of a strong economy.

Life is hard, but part of being a man is doing hard things. Those bootstraps aren’t going to pull themselves up.

A descriptive point about the availability of work quickly morphed into accusations that right-wing influencers want young Americans — particularly white men — to accept the declining status brought on by unfettered immigration, the H-1B visa program, DEI, and other forms of anti-white discrimination.

As is often the case on social media — especially X — critics responded emotionally to the point they thought Rufo was making instead of replying logically to his actual words. One of the most illuminating aspects of the online chatter was the clear sense many people felt that working in the service industry was beneath young Americans today.

One popular account even suggested going to trade school was a sign that some conservatives want young men to willingly accept a life of mediocrity. In response, several commentators described having to struggle for years before becoming financially established — the same path every generation has had to take. The problem is that some people seem to think young people should have six-figure salaries within a few years of finishing college.

This debate is crucial for conservatives to hash out in public. While we all agree that elected officials must serve their constituents, opinions clearly diverge on the finer points of the deal.

This debate centers on a word that often makes conservatives uncomfortable: entitlement. Conservatives easily recognize entitlement when a newly graduated Ivy League student demands that co-workers respect his “she/they” pronouns. The same applies to progressives who insist on quotas in industries based on superficial identity traits like skin color, sex, or sexual preference. Yet expecting a specific type of job in an ideal location with a high salary is equally entitled.

This dynamic makes the current conservative debate especially compelling. For decades, liberals have argued that stagnant upward mobility in the working class — particularly for black Americans — stems from policy decisions, institutional bias, and market forces. They attribute disparities in unemployment rates and household income to employment discrimination. Similarly, they cite bias in banking as the reason for gaps in homeownership rates.

Conservatives often counter leftist critiques by emphasizing family, cultural norms, personal responsibility, and resisting self-pity. More people are starting to notice the heightened understanding conservatives display now that structural critiques are emerging from the right.

I hope policymakers and pundits in the MAGA era develop policies and cultural solutions that address the needs of all Americans, not just their favored groups. A hardworking young man should be able to pursue a meaningful vocation, find a good wife, raise a large family, support his community, and become part of a thriving local church. This vision applies equally to young black men in Brooklyn and young white men in Boise. Elected officials should consider both as constituents. At the same time, those men must work hard, seize every opportunity, and remain driven.

An entitlement mindset teaches people to focus on what they believe others owe them and encourages blaming external forces for personal failures. In contrast, an empowerment mindset fosters growth and the determination to make the most of available opportunities. Those who expect an ideal job in their desired location risk falling into envy, resentment, and self-pity. Meanwhile, those who take the job they can get and work diligently until a better one arises set themselves on the path to gratitude and fulfillment.

Yes, we should elect politicians who serve the interests of the American people. But even a booming economy doesn’t protect us from struggle. We can either respond with complaints about who owes us or get to work charting a path forward. Life is hard, but part of being a man is doing hard things. Those bootstraps aren’t going to pull themselves up.

Cut the Zoomers some slack



Every generation loves to give the next one a hard time. Socrates famously called youth lazy, disrespectful, and decadent, starting a tradition that continues today. Although these criticisms sometimes hold truth, elders rarely acknowledge their own role in fostering the conditions that led to spiritual and cultural decline.

Generation Z — or Zoomers — may seem alien to older generations, but they face unique challenges their elders can barely imagine, let alone solve. Issues of identity, spirituality, family, and economics have shifted beneath the feet of this younger cohort. Rather than disparage Zoomers, the right should offer them leadership and solutions.

Conservatives should offer the young a future worth embracing instead of ridicule for the world they inherited.

I am not a Zoomer. I was born only a few years into the Millennial generation, while Gen Z ranges from ages 13 to 28. Many of the problems Zoomers face originated long before they were born.

When young people complain about job prospects and financial stability, the standard response is to work harder and “pull themselves up by their bootstraps.” On an individual level, this advice is sound. No matter how dire one’s circumstances, effort and attitude remain personal choices. At a societal level, however, this stance can be disastrous. As a nation, we have a responsibility to foster an environment where young people can succeed, start families, and invest in a brighter future for their own children.

When Baby Boomers came of age, America was flush with opportunity. Most jobs did not require a college degree, and a store manager could afford a home and support a family on one salary. Grandparents still tell stories of paying for college by working part-time and picking up extra shifts in the summer. Starter homes existed in decent neighborhoods and often cost less than one year’s tuition at many modern universities. Most important, the majority of children came from intact families that modeled stability, and parents felt an obligation to pass wealth and opportunity down to their children.

At 14, I rode my bicycle to work my first job at a Subway in the neighborhood. I believe holding a menial job as a teenager is a critical rite of passage, teaching humility and an ability to connect with average people. However, most employees were high school kids, and every manager or assistant manager was an adult with little ambition. No one there was paying for college, let alone buying a home or supporting a family, just by making sandwiches.

Today, many entry-level positions that would have offered much-needed job experience go to undocumented immigrants willing to work for less without the same labor restrictions. Meanwhile, Zoomers hear that college is the gateway to a middle-class life, but many white males quickly learn they do not meet diversity requirements. Those who make it into university pay tuition that can exceed the down payment on a home, only to land an accounting job their parents once secured through an apprenticeship.

After graduation, many discover that jobs not yet shipped overseas are granted to foreign labor brought in on H-1B visas. The path to financial security that their parents once took seems increasingly out of reach.

For Zoomers, dating and marriage seem bleak. They often come from broken homes, with few positive examples of healthy relationships. Churches — once crucial for moral guidance, meeting potential spouses, and helping couples through marital struggles — have been abandoned. Instead, young people turn to dating apps they find degrading, with low chances of success. Young women, burdened by college debt taken on to secure a job, hesitate to start families because they cannot rely on a husband’s income alone.

The American dream once revolved around becoming middle class. Rather than attaining a certain salary, middle-class status represented independence. Wage workers depended on employers for daily survival. Typically renters, they had little security and lived paycheck to paycheck. Aspiring to join the middle class meant freeing yourself and your children from dependence on the system.

A middle-class family owned its own home, its own car, and often a small business. The capital they accrued allowed for investing, saving for retirement, and creating new opportunities for their children. Civic organizations, fraternities, guilds, clubs, and churches formed a network of social institutions that kept government small while communities prospered. This leisure time and extra capital among the middle class fostered institutions that freed generations of Americans from depending on corporations or government.

Today, the American middle class has been proletarianized. Mortgages have stretched from 15 to 30 years, and that’s for those lucky enough to buy a home in a market where costs keep climbing. Car loans have lengthened as well, with many consumers opting to lease rather than own. Health care, education, housing, and food have all experienced runaway inflation, while wages have failed to keep pace. Even two college-educated parents often need long hours at jobs that compete with foreign labor just to afford a home and raise a child or two. Those children, in turn, are often cared for by strangers and educated by the state. For most workers, “middle class” now means affording both Netflix and Hulu, not a path to prosperity and independence.

Zoomers are not inherently entitled or lazy. They were born into a culture that gutted many key social institutions to boost abstract measures like GDP. Earlier generations forgot that economic growth should improve people’s lives, not just inflate earnings reports. Destroying faith, family, and community for profit invites cynicism among young people who see fewer pathways to success.

This does not excuse Zoomers from personal responsibility, but conservatives should encourage them rather than mock them. Opportunities remain, yet both illegal and legal immigration must be curtailed so American citizens can access those jobs. The college monopoly on credentials must end, and DEI mandates in schools and workplaces should be punished under the strictest legal standards. Conservatives who claim to uphold “family values” need to help rebuild the local institutions that enable families to thrive and mentor the next generation of leaders. They should offer the young a future worth embracing instead of ridicule for the world they inherited.

Abandoned by Democrats, voters find a voice in Trump’s agenda



People often ask how a former Bernie Sanders supporter like me could back Donald Trump. For me, it came down to one key issue: the Democrats’ abandonment of the working class. Sanders himself recently said it’s no wonder working Americans are leaving a party that no longer serves them.

The presidential election underscored this shift, as Trump saw record turnout among black and Latino voters. Yet instead of asking why, the left resorted to lazy stereotypes. MSNBC and other networks labeled black men “misogynists” and Latinos “racists” simply for voting Republican. These dismissive labels only deepen the disconnect. Rather than recognizing the cracks in their base, Democrats brush off real concerns, assuming they’ll regain minority support in a few years without changing their tone or agenda.

It’s no surprise that Americans turned out in record numbers for Trump, drawn to his focus on real issues and his willingness to engage with them directly.

The truth is simple: The Democrats lost because they stopped listening to everyday Americans.

Over time, they shifted focus to appeasing radical supporters and coastal elites. Instead of tackling economic issues like jobs and inflation, Democrats centered their platform on identity politics and social issues that resonate mainly with urban and affluent progressives. This approach alienates Americans grappling with real-world issues — concerns Democrats used to prioritize but now dismiss as outdated or irrelevant.

This election cycle highlighted that disconnect. Democratic elites like Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and their Hollywood allies spent more time lecturing Americans on how they should think and vote than addressing their daily struggles. For voters barely getting by, these lectures felt out of touch and tone-deaf.

Democrats focused almost exclusively on women’s issues, especially abortion, neglecting the bread-and-butter topics most Americans care about: job security, rising costs, and public safety. Men — and the average voter — were left feeling sidelined by a party that once claimed to represent them. The Democrats’ relentless single-issue focus underscored a shift from uniting Americans to dividing them by identity.

Meanwhile, Trump and GOP leaders like JD Vance took a different approach. While Harris skipped major bipartisan events like the Al Smith Dinner, Trump showed up where it mattered — flipping burgers at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, while Vance poured beers at a Wisconsin pub. These weren’t just photo ops; they were genuine efforts to connect with everyday Americans, listen to their concerns, and emphasize shared values. By showing up, Trump and his team reminded voters that they’re willing to meet people where they are — a concept Democrats seem to have forgotten.

Trump didn’t stop there. Recognizing Americans’ desire for unity over division, his campaign built a coalition that crossed traditional party lines. He assembled a bipartisan “Avengers” task force, featuring figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and even Elon Musk. This team focused on issues that unite Americans — economic security, public safety, and national sovereignty. It was a sharp contrast to the Democrats’ divisive identity politics, and it resonated with voters tired of being labeled as “the problem” or forced to align on every single issue.

Harris’ campaign, in contrast, spent nearly three times as much as Trump’s, burning through close to $1 billion, only to underperform Biden’s 2020 numbers and end $20 million in debt. Harris simply didn’t connect with voters. Her race-driven messaging left many feeling overlooked and undervalued. Instead of addressing real concerns, her campaign focused on topics that, while important to some, missed the mark for a large slice of the voting population. It’s no surprise that Americans turned out in record numbers for Trump, drawn to his focus on real issues and his willingness to engage with them directly.

The Democrats’ refusal to listen or adapt led to a massive red wave, as voters from diverse backgrounds chose a path that aligns with their lived realities. Trump’s approach resonated because it addressed the everyday struggles Americans face.

People are tired of empty promises and tone-deaf lectures from leaders who seem out of touch. They want leaders who speak to their concerns about jobs, safety, and economic opportunity — leaders who prioritize practical solutions over ideological rigidity. While Democrats continue to alienate voters by talking down to them and dismissing dissent, Republicans are building a coalition that listens to and values Americans across all walks of life.

The facts of this election reveal that the Democratic Party’s focus on ideological purity has cost Democrats their connection to the everyday American. Working-class families, once the backbone of the Democratic base, are tired of empty promises and divisive rhetoric. They’re rejecting a narrative that labels them “racists” or “misogynists” simply for voting in their own best interests. Instead, they’re joining a movement that prioritizes their voices, addresses their concerns, and puts America first.

Trump’s win isn’t just a victory for one candidate; it’s a triumph for Americans who want their voices heard. It sends a message to Washington that people are finished with being dismissed and sidelined. They have chosen leaders who stand up for real issues and who are unafraid to challenge a political establishment that, for too long, has forgotten whom it serves.

A middle-class party: The GOP’s new path to the American dream



The Republican Party reveals itself as a national middle-class party. A party that is friendly to earned success and those in need looking for a hand up. A party where the middle, bottom, and top are not divided and play a zero-sum game but are instead united in the pursuit and possession of the ever-optimistic American dream.

A patriotic party. A party that loves America — warts and all. A party with America First self-confidence and swagger on a global stage. Not chauvinism, but swagger. Which just happens to be good for everyone.

Pax Americana is not a global occupier or welfare state, but a beacon of freedom and hope to the nations.

A party for men and women alike — from Elon and Tulsi to the forgotten women and men across our great nation. A party of equals who know what a woman is, know what a man is, and celebrate the complementary difference. A love, marriage, baby carriages, "worried about the cost of living and growing prosperity" party.

A party that takes care of its own and defends its sovereignty. That takes full advantage of the natural resources to underwrite American prosperity at home and global peace and stability abroad.

A party that does not withdraw from the world but leads it through good example and willingness to defend and enforce its clearly stated prerogatives. A party willing to make long-term win-win deals. A party willing to use carrots and sticks to defend and pursue its interests.

A party that is dedicated to prudently guiding, funding, and restraining a military that is without equal.

A nation that fights wars to win and not occupy. When we win, we do so decisively and our former foes become prosperous friends. Pax Americana is not a global occupier or welfare state, but a beacon of freedom and hope to the nations.

Editor’s note:This article was originally published by RealClearPolicy and made available via RealClearWire.

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JD Vance exposes globalism’s destruction of America’s middle class



Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance called for revitalizing America’s industry and infrastructure during his debate with Tim Walz, but his words weren’t empty platitudes meant only to capture the attention of swing voters. Like his running mate, Donald Trump, Vance has long condemned globalization, positioning himself as the only candidate on the stage offering genuine hope to Americans.

During a 2023 taping of American Moment’s podcast “Moment of Truth,” I asked Vance why the U.S. no longer makes many crucial weapons of war here at home. His response reflected an understanding of the difficult path ahead for policymakers, but he also made it clear that reviving American manufacturing is one of his top priorities.

As Vance said during the debate, Democrats may be the party of “Dick Cheney and Taylor Swift,” but Republicans stand for “every American, whether they’re rich or poor.”

“Even if you design a really cool missile in the United States of America, it’s really hard to design it with components we control in our own industrial supply chain. That requires a lot of rejiggering,” he said. “It would require a massive investment. It would require us to completely cast aside the green energy fanatics to invest in our own energy supplies, first of all, and then to really commit ourselves to bringing parts of the industrial supply chain back.”

Even though Joe Biden has paid lip service to the idea of reshoring American manufacturing, manufacturing employment hit its lowest share of the U.S. workforce — less than 10% — on his watch. During Tuesday’s debate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz mirrored the inadequacies of the Biden administration over the past three years. Walz left the stage without addressing the actual problems facing voters. That’s why the realignment of working-class voters to the GOP is occurring in places like northeastern Pennsylvania — and these voters could be the key to a Trump victory in 2024.

A Harris-Walz administration sees the nation’s future as a service economy and forgets that we need to make things to be not only strong but safe. Will it take another pandemic to remind us of the national security implications of shipping manufacturing jobs overseas?

Surprisingly, the question of climate policy highlighted the difference between the two tickets’ visions for the nation during Tuesday’s debate. How can we prevent natural disasters? What options do we have to power our nation responsibly? Walz’s solution: Purchase solar panels created by Chinese coal.

While the moderators looked on smugly, expecting that any Republican would immediately become tongue-tied at the mention of “climate change,” Vance delivered a message that all of his GOP colleagues would be smart to adopt.

“What have Kamala Harris's policies actually led to?” he asked. “More energy production in China, more manufacturing overseas, more doing business in some of the dirtiest parts of the entire world. When I say that, I mean the amount of carbon emissions they’re doing per unit of economic output. So if we actually care about getting cleaner air and cleaner water, the best thing to do is to double down and invest in American workers and the American people.”

Nuclear energy and natural gas are the future, but Harris and Walz prefer to smuggle the Green New Deal through the back door, leaving Americans to foot the bill. While high-paying manufacturing jobs have been outsourced and illegal aliens continue to flood the southern border, economic security remains the top concern for Americans. It's not about the right to abortion or a president’s tweets — jobs need to come back to America so that our children can have a future.

“The cost to American manufacturing is not just the direct and obvious stuff,” Vance told my co-host, Saurabh Sharma, and me in 2023. “It’s not just the jobs lost in northeast or southwest Ohio. It’s not just the opioid problem that moved in when the jobs moved away. It’s that we’ve done incredibly damaging, dynamic things to our economy.”

Voters are realizing that due to globalism, America may not hold its position as the world’s top economy much longer. Walz and Democratic leaders remain out of touch, offering little more than empty platitudes. As the election draws near, it’s crucial to consider which candidate truly prioritizes the well-being of the people. As Vance said during the debate, Democrats may be the party of “Dick Cheney and Taylor Swift,” but Republicans stand for “every American, whether they’re rich or poor.”

‘I’m from a middle-class family’: Kamala crashes and burns in friendly MSNBC interview



You know it’s bad when not even the friendly setting of an interview with MSNBC can make Kamala Harris sound coherent.

“This may be the reason why they’ve got all this internal polling showing that people are panicking,” Sara Gonzales of “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered” comments, noting that the interview was “disastrous” despite Kamala “sitting down with someone who clearly already loved her.”

In the interview, Kamala was asked by MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle about “Americans who don’t see themselves” in her plans.

“For those who say these policies aren’t for me, what do you say to them?” Ruhle asked.

“Well, if you are hardworking, if you have the dreams and the ambitions and the aspirations of what I believe you do, um, you’re in my plan,” Kamala answered. “I have to tell you I really love and am so energized by what I know to be the spirit and character of the American people.”

After rambling a little longer about “hopes and dreams,” Kamala then went into describing her “opportunity economy” and how she comes “from a middle-class family.”

“That was like a minute and 30 seconds of saying absolutely nothing,” Gonzales says.

BlazeTV investigative journalist Steve Baker is also in awe that the interview went as badly as it did considering the easy nature of the setting.

“She had the most friendly of friendly interviewers, and she still can’t reach forth and find a thought that will tie it all together in one pithy comment or response,” he says.


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