In India, the world’s largest democracy, many voters are illiterate so parties are identified by symbols. Congress is the palm of the hand, the Bharatiya Janata party is the lotus, and so on. Voters who cannot read put their thumbprint against their party’s image.

I have often wondered what symbol would best capture Donald Trump’s message. Democrats would have the rainbow to express the diversity of their coalition. Traditional Republicans would have the American eagle to denote their patriotism — or perhaps a likeness of Ronald Reagan. Mr Trump’s symbol would be the middle finger to express what his fans think about politics. The Donald is what they think about Washington. No other visual would do.

Middle America’s blind anger has become the standard explanation of the 2016 election. Blue collar voters are livid and feeling betrayed. Mr Trump is their reckless way of venting it. But this may be as misleading as the earlier discarded pieces of conventional wisdom. There is nothing whimsical about Mr Trump’s fan base. Those who support him are sending a calculated message of contempt for career politicians. The more Mr Trump offends their sensibilities — an hourly event — the more effective he is. “Even Trump is better than you,” they are saying. “That’s the low regard we hold you in.”