Did the fear vote drive Obama's reelection?

The Insecurity Election

Paul Krugman, NYT

So, looking at the most e-mailed list, I think we can safely conclude that Times readers are suffering from post-election burnout; all they seem to want to read about is food. Which is fine!

But I wanted to share some thoughts provoked by Ross Douthat's column today, which makes a very good point -- namely, that the winning Obama coalition did not for the most part consist of forward-looking, NPR-listening, culturally adventurous liberals; instead, the big numbers came from groups "unified by economic fear". Indeed: single women, Hispanics, and, as always, African-Americans are for a stronger welfare state because people like them need the security such a welfare state can provide.

Where I would part ways with Ross is in his suggestions that (a) rising insecurity reflects "social disintegration" and that (b) turning to the welfare state is a dead end.

(More here.)