In the wake of every election, there is the temptation to read into it some seismic implication. Doubly so when that election involves so disruptive a figure as Donald Trump. It’s as though he is so overwhelmingly unconventional, that every vote for him must be, too.

The syllogism seems to run roughly as follows: Trump is racist/misogynist/dictatorial; therefore his voters are racist/misogynist/dictatorial and vote for corresponding reasons. And if America votes for him en masse, then it must fit this description, too.

Following the election, many pundits have tried to simplify the reasons for people voting for Trump. Credit: AP

This style of reasoning seems to apply both in victory and defeat. In this way, many allowed themselves to........

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