A cause of the death of liberal democracy: Misogyny

The gender gap widened significantly during this election, and, sadly, Trump made quite big gains among young men, even if he gained ground everywhere.

These are young men who lack the critical thinking skills I had even in my late teens and early twenties.

Even if I was much more of a prick back then.

(If anyone is wondering why I will be referring to South Korea as the Republic of Korea or just Korea, you can thank our resident US Navy vet Colin from Las Vegas.)

Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol got elected in large part by appealing to misogyny in the country.

Keep in mind that the Republic of Korea has serious institutionalized misogyny even by the standards of a region that struggles with gender equality. Whereas in most countries, a majority of homicide victims are young men, in Korea, a majority of homicide victims are women.

Although most women who are murdered are killed by a male partner or acquaintance, women do not typically make up a majority of murder victims at the national level.

This is to say nothing of how often women in Korea are victims of a spy cam epidemic, where men will place small cameras in bathrooms, locker rooms, hotel rooms, and other private spaces to record these women without their consent and upload them to the internet for fun and profit.

You can all probably infer that responses to other forms of violence against women, such as domestic violence and sexual assault, are at best inadequate.

Korea also has some of the largest wage/power gaps in the world between men and women.

Yoon Suk Yeol made it clear that he declared martial law because of legislative setbacks related to the budget.

He claimed that it was because there were pro–North Korean elements inside the Korean legislature.

If you are wondering what the point of all this background information is, it is that Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, the same president who got elected in large part by playing on misogyny endemic in Korea, attempted a coup with the Korean Armed Forces.

Thanks in part to this misogyny, liberal democracy nearly died on the southern half of the Korean peninsula.

Democracy only survived because the Korean parliament rushed to overturn the declaration of martial law, protesters helped members of parliament get past the military blockade to vote, and the foot soldiers were not prepared to use lethal force against Korean citizens.

Although one can argue one way or another if racism or misogyny plays a bigger role in Trump’s core appeal, it is undeniable that a loathing for women and girls is an essential component to Trump’s appeal, especially to a lot of men my age (I am 28) and younger.

The point being that many men proved they are willing to act in unmanly ways so they can lord over women. It happened in Korea, and, regrettably, it has happened here in America.

A Word to Men my Age and Younger Who Voted for Trump

Traditionally, men are supposed to take responsibility for their actions, do what needs to be done, have discipline, keep their word, not let their emotions rule them, and have courage.

Attributes distinctly lacking in Trump world’s men.

Many of you boast about how you will never bend your knee to anyone or that you are your own man who can think clearly.

Yet so many of you bow down to obvious charlatans who think you know no better than the suckers who keep them rich.

Andrew Tate being Exhibit A.

You all profess to let logic and critical thinking direct your decisions, yet you allow your emotions to dictate some vital decisions, such as who to vote for and what policies to support, all because you got turned down for a date or sex by a woman you fancied.

Courage is one of your alleged virtues, yet you all bend a knee to a coward who submits to dictators all around the world.

I can think of few things more pathetic no matter what.

Those of you who swallowed the Trump bait hook, line, and sinker right now are suckers in the traditional sense of the word.

You are more likely to leave your local casino rich than getting rich via crypto and “business opportunities” that better resemble a pyramid scheme.

You should be warned: Trump’s economic policies will make the price of everything from food and housing to video consoles skyrocket.

There are consequences to raising taxes on overseas goods and services, starting trade wars with your biggest trading partners, and depleting an already overstretched labor force via mass deportations.

As for me, I really don’t like the fact that a good cut of steak is going to climb even higher in price because meatpacking plants already short on workers are about to have their staffing cut even further. Nor do I like the fact that eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit, and cereal are going to cost more. I especially don’t like that chicken and rice are going to get more expensive.

One of my greatest enjoyments in life is ordering a nice dinner at a steak house with bread, a cut of steak redder than Kentucky, and some french fries and broccoli and then ending things with a slice of chocolate cake if I have any room. A pleasure that will get even less accessible thanks to Trump’s policies.

I should also warn you that there are members of the Trump administration who are dedicated to waging a war on porn. It is part of Project 2025.

You may have heard of it.

So if you have a harder time getting access to your favorite porn, you can thank your local Republican congressman.

Also, if you find it much harder to get laid, you can thank the fact that the upcoming Trump administration is dedicated to fighting women’s reproductive rights and their bodily safety. If sex becomes even more dangerous for women as a result of the Trump administration’s policies, you can thank them for not getting any action.

Not helping is how many credibly accused sexual predators are a part of the upcoming administration.

As normal people like to say, “Congratulations, you played yourself.”

I sincerely hope many of you voted for Trump because you failed to do your homework, not because you were looking to lash out.

But even then, that explanation is itself quite damning.

We are all stuck with the consequences of your bad decision making.

The consequences of Trump’s policies are based on facts, not feelings.

Your feelings have perhaps helped doom the country.

With all sincerity.

Fuck your feelings.