The Turtle Theory, or Why Has the Democratic Party Lost Five Out of the Last Six Presidential Elections, yet Retained Strong Control of the House, Won Majorities in the Senate, and Retained Three-Fifths of State Houses and Most Governorships?

This chapter focuses on why the Democratic Party, which does so well in state, local, and congressional races, has such a hard time winning the presidency. Republican presidential victories, taken together with democratic success in congressional elections, have provided a puzzle that no one yet has been able to unravel. The turtle theory suggests that if only poor people were singled out for special consideration public reaction, especially white working male reaction, would be quite different. Democrats are often advised to be more centrist, speak positively about defense, talk less about social issues, and perhaps wave the flag a bit more. The crucial elections would then be the next two when the egalitarian agenda was enacted into law. Whatever happens, the rise of radical egalitarianism and the decline of the alliance between individualists and egalitarians that made the United States exceptional argues for rough political weather ahead.