novelnext Chapter 154 The Voters' Obsession with Cleanliness
Chapter 154 The Voters' Obsession with Cleanliness
Chapter 154 The Voters' Obsession with Cleanliness
Harrisburg, Lieutenant Governor's Office.
Aston Monroe stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the city's administrative center.
The coffee cup in his hand was still hot, but the temperature in his heart was gradually dropping.
He had initially thought it was a perfect surgical strike.
Freeze funds, initiate audits, and use the righteous cause of "compliance" to crush those country bumpkins.
Within the framework of law and procedure, he is impeccable.
Despite the overwhelming online criticism, his stance remained firm.
"Tell the media office to continue emphasizing our position." Monroe turned to Paul Turner and ordered, "This is about protecting taxpayers' money and preventing the misuse of local funds. We must uphold the rule of law and not be held hostage by populism."
Turner stood across the desk, his face grim.
He was holding a tablet computer, the screen of which displayed a series of red warning data.
"Boss, I'm afraid this explanation won't work."
Turner handed over the tablet.
"Look at this. This is the polling feedback from Montgomery and Chester counties in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. That's our stronghold, full of highly educated middle-class people, lawyers, doctors, and university professors."
Monroe took the tablet, his brows furrowing instantly.
Data shows his approval ratings are declining in these affluent suburbs. And message boards and campaign emails are filled with unsettling questions.
Why let the workers go hungry?
"An audit can be conducted, but why cut off their livelihood?"
"I feel ashamed to see the workers in the workers' community who have no food."
Even worse news followed.
Turner took a deep breath and delivered the news that had worried Monroe the most.
"Also, the fundraising dinner that was scheduled for Friday at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia—this morning, twelve major donors cancelled their tickets."
"A refund?" Monroe's voice rose an octave. "What's the reason?"
"They said—" Turner stammered, "They said the recent news made them uncomfortable."
They don't want to show up at your party at this time; it would make them seem cold-blooded in social circles.
Monroe slammed the tablet computer down on the table.
He didn't understand.
Why would these elites, who usually value rules the most, hate radical unions the most, and look down on rude blue-collar workers the most, suddenly turn around and sympathize with those peasants?
Shouldn't they stand on the side of "rule of law" and "order"?
Pittsburgh City Hall.
Leo was equally perplexed as he looked at the latest intelligence report from Philadelphia that Ethan had sent him.
The video that said "We just need to work" caused such a huge stir on the internet that it actually breached the sophisticated breakwaters in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
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"This doesn't make sense."
"Leo thought to himself."
"Mr. President, look at these figures. The white middle class in the Philadelphia suburbs hates strikes the most and is most averse to people blocking the road. The more Frank and his men cause trouble in the streets, the more these people should support Monroe in suppressing them."
"Why are they now criticizing Monroe?"
"Were they really moved by that tragic story? When did these people, who usually only care about stock prices, become so compassionate?"
A cold laugh echoed deep within Leo's consciousness.
"Leo, you overestimate their compassion and underestimate their hypocrisy."
"You have to understand this group of people."
Roosevelt spoke slowly.
"This is a group known as the Champagne Liberals."
"They support the Democratic Party, they support environmental protection, and they support minority rights. They put up 'Love and Peace' signs on their lawns, they buy groceries at organic supermarkets, and they drink oat milk lattes."
"There is a core psychological motivation behind all of this."
"Moral fastidiousness".
Roosevelt dissected the psychology of this class.
"They need to feel like good people."
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"We need to confirm that we stand on the moral high ground, are protectors of the vulnerable, and advocates for civilization and progress."
"This allows them to enjoy a superior life while finding inner peace, and to tell themselves with a clear conscience: I am rich, but I am kind."
"And Monroe's current actions are shattering that illusion."
"Look at the desperate workers in those videos, the scenes are too tragic and too stark."
"They felt uncomfortable when these images appeared on their phones and in the morning news."
"Supporting Monroe at that moment was tantamount to supporting children losing their legs and workers starving to death."
"This makes them feel like they've become the villains in a movie."
"This makes them feel guilty."
"More importantly, it makes them feel awkward when chatting with friends in a coffee shop."
"Imagine if, when their friends are discussing that poor child, they say Munro did the right thing—that the investigation was necessary"—they would be seen as cold-blooded by those around them.
"In order to maintain their self-perception as respectable people, they must abandon Monroe."
Leo felt a strange sensation upon hearing these words.
It turns out that it wasn't because of justice, but because of "decency".
"There's a second point."
Roosevelt continued.
"Although they say they support the workers and the protests, in reality, as beneficiaries of the system, what they fear most is chaos."
"In Pennsylvania right now, there are protests everywhere, roads are blocked everywhere, and the news is full of negative stories."
"This shattered their illusion of a peaceful and idyllic life."
"They don't care about the legal issues involved, nor do they care who struck first."
"They only saw one result: As a lieutenant governor and as an administrator, Aston Monroe couldn't handle the situation."
"He couldn't even handle a few workers; he escalated the situation into statewide chaos."
"In the logic of the middle class, this is called incompetence."
"They'll think: if he can't even handle this little thing, what will he do when he becomes a senator? Won't he throw the country into chaos?"
"They hate chaos, so they hate Monroe for creating chaos, or for failing to control it."
Roosevelt then gave a summary.
"So, Leo."
"They abandoned Monroe not because they love workers, nor because they agree with your radical ideas."
"Just because Monroe didn't like their breakfast coffee."
Leo sat in the chair, looking out at the sky.
He suddenly felt that the world was absurd.
Frank and the workers toiled in the cold wind, fighting for survival and for their livelihood.
The key factor that determined the outcome of this war—the suburban middle class—was to maintain a false sense of moral superiority and to avoid feeling embarrassed.
But this is precisely the reality of politics.
Make use of all available emotions.
Anger is the driving force, fear is the leverage, and this hypocritical moral fastidiousness is the last straw that breaks the camel's back.
"Understood."
Leo stood up.
"Ethan."
He summoned his chief of staff, who was organizing documents.
"Adjust the promotional strategy."
"Change the wording for campaigns targeting Philadelphia and its suburbs."
"Stop emphasizing class struggle. Post more photos of the injured child and more close-ups of the mother crying."
"Also, draft an open letter."
"Speak in a gentle, rational, and compassionate tone."
"We want to ask Lieutenant Governor Monroe whether the rigidity of administration should give way to humanitarian concern."
Between rules and life, how should we choose?
Leo's eyes sharpened.
"We must put Monroe at the stake of morality."
"We want every self-proclaimed progressive and kind middle-class person to have to stand up and spit at Monroe in order to prove their morality."
Ethan paused for a moment, then understood Leo's intention.
"That's a really underhanded tactic," Ethan couldn't help but exclaim. "We're using their hypocrisy to defeat their agents."
"That's not considered insulting."
Leo straightened his collar, his tone calm.
"This is called following the will of the people."
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