The myth of the silent majority: who are the American people
By Norman Franklin
The American people have given the mandate. The American people want an end to government meddling in their lives. The American people want an end to the waste of their tax dollars - an end to waste, fraud, and abuse in government bureaucracy. The American people support the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill.
I am a person-an American of African descent. I would like to believe that this group of American people so frequently referenced is inclusive. But I don’t align with any of the desires of these people. So, who are these American people whose ideas and wants set the tone and direction of the political climate.
In the era of identity politics, it is important that we understand the distinction. This elusive group of Americans, cohesive in their ideology, purports to want what is best for the country. These devoted American people are referenced in virtually every conservative Republican narrative. The phrase has become a piece of weighted rhetorical framing, a sleight of hand used to mask the divergence between those who vote with their emotions, unaware of the consequences, and those who write the policy from behind gated communities, and Victorian- furnished corner offices.
There is a deep dichotomy within the ranks of this signature group of Americans. It’s deceptive to claim that the American people mandated the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The numbers tell a different story: less than a third of the voting population supported the legislation. The demographics of the supporting electorate are mixed—predominantly conservative, broadly MAGA aligned, and anchored by the wealthy elite. Ironically, a majority of these enthusiastic supporters will bear witness to the consequences: economic contractions and the erosion of social safety net programs resulting from these harsh policy changes.
“The American people” is often rhetorical cover for a narrow constituency. It’s a loaded phrase— weaponized and manipulative in tone, cloaked in patriotism, nostalgia, and a false sense of inclusivity. The narrative would have us believe that cuts to healthcare, reductions in SNAP benefits, and slashes to HUD’s affordable housing programs are what the American people voted for.
The American people include those in rural America forced to drive more than an hour for emergency medical care—their loved ones clinging to life, questioning the wisdom of their vote to Make America Great Again.
They are the residents of small towns whose SNAP spending once bolstered the local economy. As their communities turn into food deserts, they’ll spend more traveling to neighboring food centers, spend less on food, and make even greater sacrifices. This is the new America—where austerity is no longer a policy but a lived reality.
But the burden doesn’t stop at rural, small-town America. Urban centers will also face cuts to critical safety net programs: reduced funding for housing assistance, decreased HUD subsidies for affordable housing development, and deep cuts to Housing Authority voucher programs. The result? Rising homelessness and deepening inequality.
Speaker Johnson pointedly promised that there would be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid under the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill. Other conservative legislators echoed his assurance.
They are being truthful—but not honest. The cuts are real—just delayed. They’re written into the legislation, scheduled to take effect after the 2026 midterm elections, safely tucked away from immediate political fallout.
It’s not the silent majority shaping America’s political climate—it’s the elite minority.