The people you mention are about 1/3 of voters, who want it to be 1861 again, and can be relied upon to vote Republican, against their economic interests.
About 1/3 of voters can be relied upon to vote Democrat, like most people on this blog. This leaves 1/3 in the middle, who could vote either way.
The people you mention are about 1/3 of voters, who want it to be 1861 again, and can be relied upon to vote Republican, against their economic interests.
About 1/3 of voters can be relied upon to vote Democrat, like most people on this blog. This leaves 1/3 in the middle, who could vote either way.
In 2016, this middle third looked at their 401Ks, held their noses, and voted for Trump, or stayed home. After the four year horror show, they voted for Biden in 2020. And this time, in 2022, they decided that, despite inflation and a massive decline of their 401Ks, some things, like Roe, democracy, social security, and Medicare, were just too important.
If the 2024 Democrat platform comes from the left on these issues, I believe this middle third will vote overwhelmingly for it.
Hey, there might even be universal healthcare, something not available in 1861.
First, there is a generation gap. Statistics show that on average, younger people are less prejudiced and IMHO fewer hear the call to the collective racist subconscious. Had we been able to harness this, Democrats would have targeted their audience to hold both houses of government. We left too many votes on the table.
Second, we have a greater rural/urban divide than anything else. One size does not fit all and IMHO culture trumps economics. Don't pardon the pun.
As I have been preaching about economics, transactional analysis works with individuals and not so much with mass psychology. On an individual basis even cult MAGAts need government benefits to survive.
Daniel, many, many cult MAGAts need government benefits to survive. How many of them need Social Security and Medicare to survive? Reagan told his "welfare queen" story, but the truth was most welfare recipients were white. The performative politicians give the frightened MAGAts someone to look down on. The wealthy who purchase their politicians want a return on investment. They have been fighting against the social safety net since the 1800's. These wealthy people think they are special and
what's mine is mine and what's yours is mine also.
JennSH: The wealthy are the new welfare queens. What else is not paying your taxes but welfare for the rich? Welcome to the new age of socialism, not for the common man, but for the billionaires.
I’m from central NC. I’m so devastated about the 6-2 Republican Supreme Court in NC with a republican super majority In the senate and 1 seat short super majority in the house. When I hear MSNBC talk about how relieved they are their focus on how historic it was, that elections were free and fair it boils my blood because they are all gerrymandered outcomes...so not “fair”. Listening to them reminds me of football teams celebrating a scoring play as if they’ve won the game when it’s only the first quarter!
I know the feeling. I am originally from SC, but I have lived on the west coast since 1978. I am continuously astounded and disheartened at the way folks vote against their own best interests there. I wish I knew why. It feels like they are brainwashed into voting for a crazy ideology that makes no sense. I still do not understand their rejection of federal money to expand Medicaid.
Did you read what mchoiniere wrote? Most people in NC are not voting against their own best interests. The state is gerrymandered so that the Republicans stay in control despite being a minority ... and then they rig the elections even more. Numerous states with GOP legislatures are like this. And it's because the right wingers on U.S. Supreme Court set things up that way with their rulings on the Voting Rights Act and on gerrymandering.
Gerrymandering is a huge problem. My conservative uncle holds to the ideology that he pulled himself up by his bootstraps so everyone else should also, ergo he is a staunch PUB. I asked him- what about people who are born with no boots. He didn't get it. SC has counties with majority black populations (midlands, low country) or universities/urban and those are bue. The piedmont region and elsewhere are solid red. My puzzlement is why so many white people are PUBS? They have nothing to lose by going blue, but they don't. My well educated cousins are DEMS, yay!!! I also don't understand why Tim Scott is a PUB. He also thinks he pulled himself up with no help, snd he also seems deaf, dumb and blind to the disadvantages of the poor in the state. Yet, so many of the folks there are the sweetest people you could ever meet. Thanks for your comment!
mbchoiniere, I do agree that what is currently known about election results shows that a red bloodbath did not happen overall. BUT NC election results are HORRIBLE. If you live in Michigan (I did for 10+ years.) things look pretty good. The NC GOP is out to grind everyone else but their EXTREME selves into the dirt. I saw that little sleazy interloper Phil Berger at a university event on Saturday before Election Day. It was a sports event, not a political event of any kind. He was not campaigning; he was not trying to see any constituents. He did not need to; he and the other regressive R's have the state all rigged up in their favor. Now my congress weasel is a seditionist and so is the newest senator, sleazy lying Ted Budd. These Republicans think they are entitled to be elected, don't do a damn thing for the average person, just rich donors. I could just cry, but crying wouldn't help; it wouldn't even make me feel better.
Jen, wow! Are you right about the rich MAgAts! They know they have made it, don't think they need anyone because, of course, they are so brilliant and talented they don't need any of the rest of us or Social Security and Medicare either. That, of course, is near-sighted because when disasters happen, as they will even more regularly due to global warming, they will be impacted. They will blame everyone else, and make even more demands, but what happens when they won't be able to maintain their lifestyle any longer? They won't even have the support of the legislators they bought because those guys will be worrying about their own downfall.
Miami-Dade County went Red this election. We had been a small blue island in this sea of Red Floriduh, but the Hispanic vote drank the Kool Aid of the tRump Cult. Local news ran some fool talking about voting against communism. Old Cubans here have never left the cold war crap of 1959, but unfortunately, like the racist bigots in Dixie, the next generation seems unable to break from their mythology. They haven't learned that Communism/Socialism vs Capitalism are Economic systems, not related to Democracy vs Autocracy which are governing systems. Also, they ignore that the Dems have nothing to do with the worldwide post COVID inflation and the damage of Putin's war on Ukraine that is affecting everyone around the world. They only comprehend dog-whistle catch phrases fed to them by the political gamers, then vote against their own best interests.
In other words, they bought the messaging. We as Democrats have a general messaging problem with a few exceptions. Money is part of the reason. But did you see D polls go up when Obama stepped on to the scene? He knows how to explain the realities to people on a level anyone can understand. We need more of that!
YES re Obama's appearance, at last! I felt such a lift inside! Those were the days -- and it gave me such a wonderful feeling that we can have our nation back again, the way it was under Obama.
Rob, I think there is an additional piece to the Hispanic puzzle in Florida. The white Cubans want to be seen in this country as white and despite rich white people claiming they have no privilege, they do have privilege, and the white Cubans want that. I suspect they think if they vote along with the privileged white folks they will be included as the Irish, Italians, and Eastern Europeans were a century ago. They probably will be because the white population is increasingly becoming a smaller and smaller majority. I think the white Cubans are making a mistake going in the direction of supporting the DeSantis crowd, but as you say, they are stuck in the 1950s and can't get past it and DeSantis and friends are very willing to exploit it, and everyone loses.
When the communists ousted Batista in 1959 a bunch of white Cuban's fled to Miami, which was SEGREGATED at that time. Of all the Cubans I know here only one was black (and I met him thru his Puerto Rican wife). I have been to crumbling Havana a few years ago and that's where all the black Cubans are. BTW, I have encountered racist Cubans when I lived in Hialeah in the '70s. Tho Hispanic, it appears they are the same as all the other Southerners in Dixie.
Rob, to let you know how ignorant I was until I was grown, I didn't even know about Black Cubans. I had never met one although I had met many white Cubans. How is it I didn't know when I knew slavery was big on the island. We gave haven to the white Cubans, but not so much to the Black Cubans. And, I have heard white Cuban racism is as well entrenched as that of the confederates. Just pay attention to Ted Cruz. How sad to come to a country so you can put all your hometown racism to work here too.
I had suspicions for years. Every time LIFE magazine or National Geographic did a feature on Cuba, there were lots of black ppl in the background. Since living in Miami, it is almost all white Cubans you see. Just a remnant of the ugly history of the 1960s Cold War era. I do have lots of Cuban-American friends here who are actually liberal and respect blacks & gays & other ppl out of favor in the last century. When I first got here in the '70s there were Cuban terrorists bombing anyone who did not support hard-line anti-socialist views.
We knew that many in the Cuban community want a caudillo and long for the days when they had absolute control over minorities. Thus los pendejos DeSantis and Rubio.
But I am also pissed at Blacks and other minorities for not voting. I am pissed at BLM for giving Florida to that mentality by endorsing the Cuban government over the dissidents in Cuba, who happen to be 99% Black. I am pissed at Bernie for his complete ignorance about Cuba, I am pissed at the DNC, with whom I spoke, for pulling out support for local candidates in Miami Dade. I am pissed that we didn't have viable candidates to run against Gutierrez and Mario Diaz-Balart. I'm also pissed at myself for spending time and money on dead losers' when I should have spent it on Ohio, Georgia, Nevada and Aridzona.
Rob. These people who "drank the Kool Aide" are the same folks that fill up their cars with fuel to go to work, that go to the grocery stores and try to purchase food for their families. Say all you want. Biden and his team have made things from COVID and the Ukraine war worse NOT BETTER. Most intelligent people can see that. Get out of your bubble. Many good hard working citizens are not STUPID as Democrats seem to think!!!
Sorry Cecelia, there are a lot of us intelligent people out here who know what you and conservatives claim is not true. Biden did not cause the inflation nor the rise in gas prices. Oil corporations saw a chance to raise prices even though not needed, as Dr. Reich has pointed out. Years ago, to increase their profits. We ceded the making of the equipment to achieve leadership in renewable energy to China because having it here would offend the fossil fuelers. The war in Ukraine was a fantasy war by Putin to recreate the Russian empire of yore. It would not have stopped with Ukraine and we have obligations to our allies, Ukraine being one of them to provide support if they were to be invaded. Conservatives worry more about immigrants coming through our southern border, calling it an invasion while not wanting us to support a real invasion of an ally. I am not sure how that works for them, but the message really gets out to those Conservative Republicans, who are disgruntled about everything, thinking they are somehow owed something. They don't even want to pay taxes for all the stuff they want and whine about regularly. What a mess!
Intelligent people also "fill up their cars...", etc. They don't see what you think they see, and Kool-Aid isn't on their grocery lists.
Whatever you think "Biden and his team have done," one thing they have NOT done is push white supremacy as the Emerald City at the end of the US Yellow Brick Road.
Nonsense. You're trying to persuade people that "your side" is better, more accurate, whatever. You're also ASSuming that anyone who doesn't see things your way is in a bubble.
Maybe you're just WRONG.
You're writing to people who aren't in a bubble, who DO look at "both sides," and who make DECISIONS based on what they see on both sides. We REJECT your side. Based on overwhelming, irrefutable evidence. Get it?
I bet you have NO idea how much your statement reveals about you. Have you no filter?
There is nothing wrong with wanting to be able to support oneself. That is one reason they are against "welfare". But they blame politicians, especially the Democratic Party, which for so many years stood up for them, as being responsible for their job losses. And while Republicans had a big helping hand in this process, fundamentally they are correct: the Democratic Party of Bill Clinton bought into globalism without providing a safe landing for these people. Almost ALL of their anger is economically based, as Prof. Reich has been telling us all along. Look at history: while anti-semitism had been around for a long time prior to the rise of Hitler, the Great Depression following on the back of very (overly) harsh sanctions against Germany at the end of WW1 allowed Hitler to direct their ECONOMIC angst against the "invaders" who were "stealing" their welfare. So if we are to have a chance of reaching these people, we must address the economic disparity which they face.
David, yes, it is right that people should be able to support themselves, but alas, some can't for a variety of reasons, and there are a lot of folks in the “red” states and others who are intergenerational complainers. They elect people who care nothing about their plight, then blame others when nothing happens to help them. Globalization was well underway before Clinton took office and continues. Job losses are part of that. In addition, Clinton did not cause the problems with welfare. The “welfare to work” bill was a compromise. Republicans under Gingrich wrapped in their racist, misogynistic ideas of welfare queens wanted to ditch welfare altogether. Before complaining, people everywhere need to think about what their real challenges are and what first, they are doing to keep them challenges, then what others are doing to contribute to keeping those challenges in place. Most people do not take that much time to consider, and are often willing to be scooped up by the complaint distorters and magnifiers like Trump and Kump and will follow them anywhere.
The minimum wage hasn't been raised since 2009. Which party votes against it religiously? Which party supports more tax cuts for the rich?
Of course there's nothing wrong with wanting to support oneself. Greedy and/or selfish people don't just want to support themselves. They want everything they can get their hands on regardless of who gets hurt on the way. No political party has a lock on that.
Daniel, I like your points. Both are critical for understanding how people vote. For some reason, we focus on our differences far more than what we have in common. I think that is because we have a lot in common and make groups based on how we are different from others. The future requires us to reach across the divides you mention because with global warming and the other challenges we face, we are going to need everyone involved in finding solutions rural and urban, all racial/cultural groups, all genders, etc. Republicans are trying hard to pretend that our differences define us completely and that global warming isn't happening. That will change as each one of us is forced to face the reality of a desperately sick planet.
Daniel, I think you underestimate the power of "generational" politics. A family which suffered job loss years ago due to globalism is going to feel ripple effects for generations, along with the hatred felt towards political decisions which led to their loss of income. Young people voting differently
don't just appear out of thin air, their belief systems are greatly influenced by their parents and, without interventions which give them help (namely education and then job
opportunities) may never veer far from their parents' prejudices. I say this as a long time teacher. Yes, it is possible to break the cycle, but not easily.
And you don't have to live in a rural area to be affected by this. I have a good number in my neighborhood. One family is leaving our very urban area for a rural area because of their disgust with perceived issues with public schools here.
David, I am sorry your neighbors are leaving because of their discontent with the schools, but what are they doing to help things get better? I am a retired teacher in a very disadvantaged school district: wonderful kids, caring families, a friendly community, but the goal of everyone is to get out and go somewhere else where they deposit all the problems they ran away from because they were never actually addressed. What makes your neighbors think a rural school will be better? They are the complainers who want and want but can't seem to take it past that wanting. I hope they find what they are looking for, but I doubt they will. Maybe, they will learn to adapt because I suspect they won't have the resources to make another move to find their dream.
David, Yes, the ripples of globalization are going to be passed down in families, but blaming others for that two or three generations past is unproductive and keeps people voting for loud-mouthed mostly men who promise anything and produce nothing for those folks. It's like a disease that never gets treated because there are members of the politics industry who want to be sure there are always folks with that disease they can use.
Daniel, you are spot on with your observations and I believe that we all have a responsibility to build up, not pull down, you can't help yourself if you won't help yourself 24/7 365 days a year, it's not where you are, its who you are. Pain, anger, resentment, revenge, they are raw emotions, fine tourists but lousy guides!
If the Democrats seek to pull up then we need to start with who before we get to the why! How often does FEAR get in the way of what we want to do? Far more often than anyone would care to acknowledge.
Michael, I believe you are right about the 2024 election and the Democratic platform needing to be progressive. Many people need better health care than they now have. By then, global warming will be even more problematic than it is now, yes, in just 2 years. Better regulation of corporations and their monopolies or near monopolies needs to be front and center because so much of our economy is tied to that. If we could come up with a platform that all or most Dems around the country can run on, we have a good chance to move our nation away from the fascist elements.
The question is, why should "those in the middle" have to rely almost solely on their 401k's to get ahead, rather than increases to their salaries? Why is an increase in the stock market now almost ALWAYS attached to Republican rather than Democratic control? The reasons have all been addressed by Prof. Reich in "The System". The reason is corporate power which is now in the hands of fewer and more monopolistic corporations, and who hold sway over our democratic process.
The people you mention are about 1/3 of voters, who want it to be 1861 again, and can be relied upon to vote Republican, against their economic interests.
About 1/3 of voters can be relied upon to vote Democrat, like most people on this blog. This leaves 1/3 in the middle, who could vote either way.
In 2016, this middle third looked at their 401Ks, held their noses, and voted for Trump, or stayed home. After the four year horror show, they voted for Biden in 2020. And this time, in 2022, they decided that, despite inflation and a massive decline of their 401Ks, some things, like Roe, democracy, social security, and Medicare, were just too important.
If the 2024 Democrat platform comes from the left on these issues, I believe this middle third will vote overwhelmingly for it.
Hey, there might even be universal healthcare, something not available in 1861.
Not the economy, stupid.
First, there is a generation gap. Statistics show that on average, younger people are less prejudiced and IMHO fewer hear the call to the collective racist subconscious. Had we been able to harness this, Democrats would have targeted their audience to hold both houses of government. We left too many votes on the table.
Second, we have a greater rural/urban divide than anything else. One size does not fit all and IMHO culture trumps economics. Don't pardon the pun.
As I have been preaching about economics, transactional analysis works with individuals and not so much with mass psychology. On an individual basis even cult MAGAts need government benefits to survive.
Daniel, many, many cult MAGAts need government benefits to survive. How many of them need Social Security and Medicare to survive? Reagan told his "welfare queen" story, but the truth was most welfare recipients were white. The performative politicians give the frightened MAGAts someone to look down on. The wealthy who purchase their politicians want a return on investment. They have been fighting against the social safety net since the 1800's. These wealthy people think they are special and
what's mine is mine and what's yours is mine also.
JennSH: The wealthy are the new welfare queens. What else is not paying your taxes but welfare for the rich? Welcome to the new age of socialism, not for the common man, but for the billionaires.
Michael, yep, the new age of socialism. I like the term "corporate welfare" and would like to expand it to include "one-percent welfare."
I’m from central NC. I’m so devastated about the 6-2 Republican Supreme Court in NC with a republican super majority In the senate and 1 seat short super majority in the house. When I hear MSNBC talk about how relieved they are their focus on how historic it was, that elections were free and fair it boils my blood because they are all gerrymandered outcomes...so not “fair”. Listening to them reminds me of football teams celebrating a scoring play as if they’ve won the game when it’s only the first quarter!
I know the feeling. I am originally from SC, but I have lived on the west coast since 1978. I am continuously astounded and disheartened at the way folks vote against their own best interests there. I wish I knew why. It feels like they are brainwashed into voting for a crazy ideology that makes no sense. I still do not understand their rejection of federal money to expand Medicaid.
Did you read what mchoiniere wrote? Most people in NC are not voting against their own best interests. The state is gerrymandered so that the Republicans stay in control despite being a minority ... and then they rig the elections even more. Numerous states with GOP legislatures are like this. And it's because the right wingers on U.S. Supreme Court set things up that way with their rulings on the Voting Rights Act and on gerrymandering.
Gerrymandering is a huge problem. My conservative uncle holds to the ideology that he pulled himself up by his bootstraps so everyone else should also, ergo he is a staunch PUB. I asked him- what about people who are born with no boots. He didn't get it. SC has counties with majority black populations (midlands, low country) or universities/urban and those are bue. The piedmont region and elsewhere are solid red. My puzzlement is why so many white people are PUBS? They have nothing to lose by going blue, but they don't. My well educated cousins are DEMS, yay!!! I also don't understand why Tim Scott is a PUB. He also thinks he pulled himself up with no help, snd he also seems deaf, dumb and blind to the disadvantages of the poor in the state. Yet, so many of the folks there are the sweetest people you could ever meet. Thanks for your comment!
mbchoiniere, I do agree that what is currently known about election results shows that a red bloodbath did not happen overall. BUT NC election results are HORRIBLE. If you live in Michigan (I did for 10+ years.) things look pretty good. The NC GOP is out to grind everyone else but their EXTREME selves into the dirt. I saw that little sleazy interloper Phil Berger at a university event on Saturday before Election Day. It was a sports event, not a political event of any kind. He was not campaigning; he was not trying to see any constituents. He did not need to; he and the other regressive R's have the state all rigged up in their favor. Now my congress weasel is a seditionist and so is the newest senator, sleazy lying Ted Budd. These Republicans think they are entitled to be elected, don't do a damn thing for the average person, just rich donors. I could just cry, but crying wouldn't help; it wouldn't even make me feel better.
Like button doesn't work.
Exactly my thoughts....I live in Texas, which has been gerrymandered "to death", along with new voter restrictions.
Jen, wow! Are you right about the rich MAgAts! They know they have made it, don't think they need anyone because, of course, they are so brilliant and talented they don't need any of the rest of us or Social Security and Medicare either. That, of course, is near-sighted because when disasters happen, as they will even more regularly due to global warming, they will be impacted. They will blame everyone else, and make even more demands, but what happens when they won't be able to maintain their lifestyle any longer? They won't even have the support of the legislators they bought because those guys will be worrying about their own downfall.
I suspect if they tried to mess with Social Security or Medicare, their own parents would be banging on their head to knock it off.
Touche'.
Miami-Dade County went Red this election. We had been a small blue island in this sea of Red Floriduh, but the Hispanic vote drank the Kool Aid of the tRump Cult. Local news ran some fool talking about voting against communism. Old Cubans here have never left the cold war crap of 1959, but unfortunately, like the racist bigots in Dixie, the next generation seems unable to break from their mythology. They haven't learned that Communism/Socialism vs Capitalism are Economic systems, not related to Democracy vs Autocracy which are governing systems. Also, they ignore that the Dems have nothing to do with the worldwide post COVID inflation and the damage of Putin's war on Ukraine that is affecting everyone around the world. They only comprehend dog-whistle catch phrases fed to them by the political gamers, then vote against their own best interests.
In other words, they bought the messaging. We as Democrats have a general messaging problem with a few exceptions. Money is part of the reason. But did you see D polls go up when Obama stepped on to the scene? He knows how to explain the realities to people on a level anyone can understand. We need more of that!
YES re Obama's appearance, at last! I felt such a lift inside! Those were the days -- and it gave me such a wonderful feeling that we can have our nation back again, the way it was under Obama.
Rob, I think there is an additional piece to the Hispanic puzzle in Florida. The white Cubans want to be seen in this country as white and despite rich white people claiming they have no privilege, they do have privilege, and the white Cubans want that. I suspect they think if they vote along with the privileged white folks they will be included as the Irish, Italians, and Eastern Europeans were a century ago. They probably will be because the white population is increasingly becoming a smaller and smaller majority. I think the white Cubans are making a mistake going in the direction of supporting the DeSantis crowd, but as you say, they are stuck in the 1950s and can't get past it and DeSantis and friends are very willing to exploit it, and everyone loses.
When the communists ousted Batista in 1959 a bunch of white Cuban's fled to Miami, which was SEGREGATED at that time. Of all the Cubans I know here only one was black (and I met him thru his Puerto Rican wife). I have been to crumbling Havana a few years ago and that's where all the black Cubans are. BTW, I have encountered racist Cubans when I lived in Hialeah in the '70s. Tho Hispanic, it appears they are the same as all the other Southerners in Dixie.
Rob, to let you know how ignorant I was until I was grown, I didn't even know about Black Cubans. I had never met one although I had met many white Cubans. How is it I didn't know when I knew slavery was big on the island. We gave haven to the white Cubans, but not so much to the Black Cubans. And, I have heard white Cuban racism is as well entrenched as that of the confederates. Just pay attention to Ted Cruz. How sad to come to a country so you can put all your hometown racism to work here too.
I had suspicions for years. Every time LIFE magazine or National Geographic did a feature on Cuba, there were lots of black ppl in the background. Since living in Miami, it is almost all white Cubans you see. Just a remnant of the ugly history of the 1960s Cold War era. I do have lots of Cuban-American friends here who are actually liberal and respect blacks & gays & other ppl out of favor in the last century. When I first got here in the '70s there were Cuban terrorists bombing anyone who did not support hard-line anti-socialist views.
I agree with everything Rob says.
We knew that many in the Cuban community want a caudillo and long for the days when they had absolute control over minorities. Thus los pendejos DeSantis and Rubio.
But I am also pissed at Blacks and other minorities for not voting. I am pissed at BLM for giving Florida to that mentality by endorsing the Cuban government over the dissidents in Cuba, who happen to be 99% Black. I am pissed at Bernie for his complete ignorance about Cuba, I am pissed at the DNC, with whom I spoke, for pulling out support for local candidates in Miami Dade. I am pissed that we didn't have viable candidates to run against Gutierrez and Mario Diaz-Balart. I'm also pissed at myself for spending time and money on dead losers' when I should have spent it on Ohio, Georgia, Nevada and Aridzona.
That is very interesting! I have been trying to understand the Latino vote in Florida, but haven't made any sense of until now.
And DeathSantis cheated like crazy.
Rob. These people who "drank the Kool Aide" are the same folks that fill up their cars with fuel to go to work, that go to the grocery stores and try to purchase food for their families. Say all you want. Biden and his team have made things from COVID and the Ukraine war worse NOT BETTER. Most intelligent people can see that. Get out of your bubble. Many good hard working citizens are not STUPID as Democrats seem to think!!!
Sorry Cecelia, there are a lot of us intelligent people out here who know what you and conservatives claim is not true. Biden did not cause the inflation nor the rise in gas prices. Oil corporations saw a chance to raise prices even though not needed, as Dr. Reich has pointed out. Years ago, to increase their profits. We ceded the making of the equipment to achieve leadership in renewable energy to China because having it here would offend the fossil fuelers. The war in Ukraine was a fantasy war by Putin to recreate the Russian empire of yore. It would not have stopped with Ukraine and we have obligations to our allies, Ukraine being one of them to provide support if they were to be invaded. Conservatives worry more about immigrants coming through our southern border, calling it an invasion while not wanting us to support a real invasion of an ally. I am not sure how that works for them, but the message really gets out to those Conservative Republicans, who are disgruntled about everything, thinking they are somehow owed something. They don't even want to pay taxes for all the stuff they want and whine about regularly. What a mess!
Like button didn't work.
Amen.
Please explain to us how Biden has made things economically worse. We're open here. Tell us.
Intelligent people also "fill up their cars...", etc. They don't see what you think they see, and Kool-Aid isn't on their grocery lists.
Whatever you think "Biden and his team have done," one thing they have NOT done is push white supremacy as the Emerald City at the end of the US Yellow Brick Road.
You're the one in a bubble.
Like button doesn't work.
Yes you are. You support price fixers, price gougers and ultimately Putin.
Why are you even on Robert Reich's page with all those lies?
Marcel. Hoping some people will step out of their bubble and look at both sides of the issues!!
Lies like yours are not a "side of the issues", they are lies.
Nonsense. You're trying to persuade people that "your side" is better, more accurate, whatever. You're also ASSuming that anyone who doesn't see things your way is in a bubble.
Maybe you're just WRONG.
You're writing to people who aren't in a bubble, who DO look at "both sides," and who make DECISIONS based on what they see on both sides. We REJECT your side. Based on overwhelming, irrefutable evidence. Get it?
I bet you have NO idea how much your statement reveals about you. Have you no filter?
Do not agree.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to be able to support oneself. That is one reason they are against "welfare". But they blame politicians, especially the Democratic Party, which for so many years stood up for them, as being responsible for their job losses. And while Republicans had a big helping hand in this process, fundamentally they are correct: the Democratic Party of Bill Clinton bought into globalism without providing a safe landing for these people. Almost ALL of their anger is economically based, as Prof. Reich has been telling us all along. Look at history: while anti-semitism had been around for a long time prior to the rise of Hitler, the Great Depression following on the back of very (overly) harsh sanctions against Germany at the end of WW1 allowed Hitler to direct their ECONOMIC angst against the "invaders" who were "stealing" their welfare. So if we are to have a chance of reaching these people, we must address the economic disparity which they face.
David, yes, it is right that people should be able to support themselves, but alas, some can't for a variety of reasons, and there are a lot of folks in the “red” states and others who are intergenerational complainers. They elect people who care nothing about their plight, then blame others when nothing happens to help them. Globalization was well underway before Clinton took office and continues. Job losses are part of that. In addition, Clinton did not cause the problems with welfare. The “welfare to work” bill was a compromise. Republicans under Gingrich wrapped in their racist, misogynistic ideas of welfare queens wanted to ditch welfare altogether. Before complaining, people everywhere need to think about what their real challenges are and what first, they are doing to keep them challenges, then what others are doing to contribute to keeping those challenges in place. Most people do not take that much time to consider, and are often willing to be scooped up by the complaint distorters and magnifiers like Trump and Kump and will follow them anywhere.
Like button didn't work.
The minimum wage hasn't been raised since 2009. Which party votes against it religiously? Which party supports more tax cuts for the rich?
Of course there's nothing wrong with wanting to support oneself. Greedy and/or selfish people don't just want to support themselves. They want everything they can get their hands on regardless of who gets hurt on the way. No political party has a lock on that.
Daniel, I like your points. Both are critical for understanding how people vote. For some reason, we focus on our differences far more than what we have in common. I think that is because we have a lot in common and make groups based on how we are different from others. The future requires us to reach across the divides you mention because with global warming and the other challenges we face, we are going to need everyone involved in finding solutions rural and urban, all racial/cultural groups, all genders, etc. Republicans are trying hard to pretend that our differences define us completely and that global warming isn't happening. That will change as each one of us is forced to face the reality of a desperately sick planet.
Daniel, I think you underestimate the power of "generational" politics. A family which suffered job loss years ago due to globalism is going to feel ripple effects for generations, along with the hatred felt towards political decisions which led to their loss of income. Young people voting differently
don't just appear out of thin air, their belief systems are greatly influenced by their parents and, without interventions which give them help (namely education and then job
opportunities) may never veer far from their parents' prejudices. I say this as a long time teacher. Yes, it is possible to break the cycle, but not easily.
And you don't have to live in a rural area to be affected by this. I have a good number in my neighborhood. One family is leaving our very urban area for a rural area because of their disgust with perceived issues with public schools here.
David, I am sorry your neighbors are leaving because of their discontent with the schools, but what are they doing to help things get better? I am a retired teacher in a very disadvantaged school district: wonderful kids, caring families, a friendly community, but the goal of everyone is to get out and go somewhere else where they deposit all the problems they ran away from because they were never actually addressed. What makes your neighbors think a rural school will be better? They are the complainers who want and want but can't seem to take it past that wanting. I hope they find what they are looking for, but I doubt they will. Maybe, they will learn to adapt because I suspect they won't have the resources to make another move to find their dream.
David, Yes, the ripples of globalization are going to be passed down in families, but blaming others for that two or three generations past is unproductive and keeps people voting for loud-mouthed mostly men who promise anything and produce nothing for those folks. It's like a disease that never gets treated because there are members of the politics industry who want to be sure there are always folks with that disease they can use.
Daniel, you are spot on with your observations and I believe that we all have a responsibility to build up, not pull down, you can't help yourself if you won't help yourself 24/7 365 days a year, it's not where you are, its who you are. Pain, anger, resentment, revenge, they are raw emotions, fine tourists but lousy guides!
If the Democrats seek to pull up then we need to start with who before we get to the why! How often does FEAR get in the way of what we want to do? Far more often than anyone would care to acknowledge.
Calling someone stupid is beneath you, I think; not sure...
Daniel Solomon - we are not related, but I really appreciate your comments.
Well stated.
Michael, I believe you are right about the 2024 election and the Democratic platform needing to be progressive. Many people need better health care than they now have. By then, global warming will be even more problematic than it is now, yes, in just 2 years. Better regulation of corporations and their monopolies or near monopolies needs to be front and center because so much of our economy is tied to that. If we could come up with a platform that all or most Dems around the country can run on, we have a good chance to move our nation away from the fascist elements.
The question is, why should "those in the middle" have to rely almost solely on their 401k's to get ahead, rather than increases to their salaries? Why is an increase in the stock market now almost ALWAYS attached to Republican rather than Democratic control? The reasons have all been addressed by Prof. Reich in "The System". The reason is corporate power which is now in the hands of fewer and more monopolistic corporations, and who hold sway over our democratic process.
Well stated Michael. I am that one third in the middle.