There are several defining traits of our modern left that used to baffle me.

They have an image of themselves as educated, worldly, rational, and traveled, but then they cast away traditional knowledge, express near Puritan horror of normal sex, shriek and emote instead of debate, and seem ignorant of the most obvious of human events outside their sheltered conclaves.

I have tried various explanations and models for these contradictions and I have finally found one I think fits them best.

They are Provincials.

As Provincials they have their own clothes their own shops their own foods. Only approved books can be read, only approved music can be heard, only approved words can be spoken.

As Provincials they don’t need to know what happens just over the horizon in the next community. It is either just like theirs or it is unworthy of knowing except as a paternalistic lesson of their own superiority.

As Provincials they Know what is the Truth and to question it brings the worst fate, you are scourged and exiled. Anathema. Canceled.

They are the pampered know-nothing end result of the fantastic success of the earlier American project. Wealth has infused and insulated them. They have never had to test the self indulgent pet theories that occur to everyone when growing up. They may live their whole lives Untested.

Those who sense this, will be attracted to causes. Some place to prove themselves. The more erratic and anti-social will seek out Antifa like direct action movie or video game style conspiracies. The smarter will move towards politics, or its adjunct, journalism.

The rest will simply move from the summer camp to the college campus to the corporate job seamlessly. It is all the same people same activities and same cliques.

This results in them imputing bad motives to people from outside the Province who argue with them. They have little experience with people who live differently than themselves but when they face someone who superficially looks like just them they become especially confused.

There can be only one explanation in that case, that person must be evil.

Take President Trump for example.

He was rich, white, and from a preferred city. Just like they are. He must be one of the chosen of the Province. And indeed, before coming out as an Other Trump was lauded and feted. Sure he seemed loud and coarse but the Provincial left loves flaunting such in front of the stuffy right. Thus they created his celebrity. Brought him on talk shows, invited him to exclusive parties, wrote glowing articles in news and magazines, published his books, and gave him cameos in movies. All the hallmarks of leftwing approval.

So when he ran as a non-Provincial, (note I do not mean as a Republican as the Provincial right is another story), he began saying things that veered wildly from acceptable Provincial thought. The only explanation must be that he is an Evil one as warned of in the Provincial books.

He has the original sin of Racism and does not repent!
Also he is a sexist, homophobe, transphobe, xenophobe, science denier.
So sayeth we all.

So the tribe gathered together and lit many fires and pitchforks and drove the demon out. This time an Elder of the tribe was chosen to lead the whole Nation, Provinces and Others.

Elder Biden says only the correct things and it is good.

Of course one of the many weaknesses of Provincials is that they only read their own Press. When a simple glance at a ‘Conservative’ American or almost any Foreign paper will tell you the truth about the Elder, and you still support him anyway...well that’s the kind of stubborn bitter clinging to their choices we’ve come to expect out of the Provincials.

In an earlier time we would call them Rubes and warn them of all the Hucksters out to swindle them. But they are our sheltered ruling class, as sure and certain as they are naive and ignorant. They will not listen.

I think they have bought some magic beans thinking themselves quite clever but it will be the rest of us who when the seeds finally sprout have to step up and pay for the Stalk.

Sinae delenda est