Talk to any old time Military veteran. They and I will tell you that the best way to improve the country is universal military training for everyone, with zero deferments. How many one-percenters or their children have ever served in the armed forces?
27
I have compassion for the trump voters who think their leader will bring back the old economy. They've been had. However, I have no respect for Trump voters who want to make America white again. Hate and bigotry are antithetical to the success of our nation. Why the soul searching; Democrats are not going get back the majority of white voters in rural and small town America. Metropolitan centers even in the south tend to be more progressive. So let them have their guns and anti everything. If it weren't for the electoral college,we in California would have saved the nation and provided job training for the angry white guys. It ain't gonna happen now. Enjoy your choice!
50
Wasn't the 1994 Republican victory also fueled by the passage of NAFTA which Bill Clinton promoted. That was certainly a betrayal of the working class.
4
Let's face it: Economy 101 tells us that labor's slice of the pie goes up when there is a labor shortage, high consumer demand, low mobility of industry and capital, strong enforcement of antitrust laws . All economic policies since the 1970ies have worked against this. Trade agreements and deregulation allowed mobility of companies and capital. Mass immigration of low skill labor and increasing automation led to splintering of loyalties across classes. Republicans officially railed against immigration while under pressure of industry and agriculture closed their eyes and accepted waves of easily exploited undocumented immigrants. Democrats in their push for legalization of immigrants created the impression, that they didn't care about the locals. A former colleague of mine worked during her college years serving meals and cleaning bed pans at a hospital. She earned $18 in the nineteen seventies! This should give everybody a real idea about the decline of income for unskilled labor. Today, 40 years later, the pay for jobs like these is more likely $ 12 while the cost of living more than doubled. But in the meantime the typical hospital ceo earns on average 2 millions.
The huge wave of immigration also led to a the sneering contempt for manual labor. I love the Norwegians and Danes, who have kept pay even for the lowliest workers at a decent minimum. If I remember correctly, McDonald in Denmark pays $16 plus compulsory employer's contribution to health insurance.
The huge wave of immigration also led to a the sneering contempt for manual labor. I love the Norwegians and Danes, who have kept pay even for the lowliest workers at a decent minimum. If I remember correctly, McDonald in Denmark pays $16 plus compulsory employer's contribution to health insurance.
10
The problem the Dems have is that Hispanics are not a monolith and many marry "white" adopting white values. Also Hispanics in heavily white areas tend to vote differently than Hispanics in majority Hispanic areas. So for example in Michigan something like 40% of Hispanics voted for Trump where as in Arizona 80% of them voted for Clinton.
Another problem is that the Dems have in reality become the "black" party. About 90% of Black voters are registered Democrats. They make up 30-40% of the Dem party and in some Southern states to be Dem is in essence to be Black. This is a major reason why Bernie couldn't win states with a black population higher than 20%/ Clinton had them locked up and they weren't compelled to move off it. Black politics though is heavy on the grievance and heavy on extracting government monies. These things tend to alienate the rest of the electorate even many Hispanics.
A lot can happen, Trump could fall flat on his face but it's been clear to me for awhile that it's the Dems that have the real issue keeping their party together.
Another problem is that the Dems have in reality become the "black" party. About 90% of Black voters are registered Democrats. They make up 30-40% of the Dem party and in some Southern states to be Dem is in essence to be Black. This is a major reason why Bernie couldn't win states with a black population higher than 20%/ Clinton had them locked up and they weren't compelled to move off it. Black politics though is heavy on the grievance and heavy on extracting government monies. These things tend to alienate the rest of the electorate even many Hispanics.
A lot can happen, Trump could fall flat on his face but it's been clear to me for awhile that it's the Dems that have the real issue keeping their party together.
9
Lots of comments about how working class whites need to pull themselves up by their boot straps, just like they used tell other disadvantaged groups to do. Feels good to say that doesn't it?
OMG! Progressives, this sort of statement and attitude are exactly why we lost!
There are many Americans, of all races, genders, and orientations, who now find themselves with few, if any, job prospects. For many of them, no matter how hard they try, they will not be able to move into the middle class ever again.
It will get worse. Automation took about 80% of manufacturing jobs lost, and globalization the remaining 20%. Advanced AI is now poised to do the same to a large number of white collar jobs over the next decade.
Accountant, lawyer, portfolio manager, management analyst - you feel good now. You are educated. Try to pull yourself up by your bootstraps when AI makes your education, experience, and skills redundant. If you get up early, you might get the greeter job at Walmart. A 60 year old white male lawyer cooked my order at Wegman's tonight.
We are all in this boat together. Too many of my own Democratic party do not seem to understand that. Hillary didn't lose because of sexism. She lost because of jobs. Oh, and the bigoted anti-white working class comments of her supporters.
OMG! Progressives, this sort of statement and attitude are exactly why we lost!
There are many Americans, of all races, genders, and orientations, who now find themselves with few, if any, job prospects. For many of them, no matter how hard they try, they will not be able to move into the middle class ever again.
It will get worse. Automation took about 80% of manufacturing jobs lost, and globalization the remaining 20%. Advanced AI is now poised to do the same to a large number of white collar jobs over the next decade.
Accountant, lawyer, portfolio manager, management analyst - you feel good now. You are educated. Try to pull yourself up by your bootstraps when AI makes your education, experience, and skills redundant. If you get up early, you might get the greeter job at Walmart. A 60 year old white male lawyer cooked my order at Wegman's tonight.
We are all in this boat together. Too many of my own Democratic party do not seem to understand that. Hillary didn't lose because of sexism. She lost because of jobs. Oh, and the bigoted anti-white working class comments of her supporters.
35
Edsall writes, "...many Republican candidates have tapped into anti-black bias without running as overt segregationists." Not that many of the people Edsall figures have "anti-black" bias will read this op-ed or my comments, I suggest that many, many working class and working poor white men and women in the rustbelt are not biased against blacks; they are rather against systems that seem to be rigged against them. I may have missed it if Edsall addressed it, but other media reports suggest that the "Obama coalition" of voters did not turn out for this election because neither Obama nor someone like Obama were running. Many, many white working class voters are offended by the notion that they voted for Trump out of any bit of racism and I'm not so sure they're in denial. In a few of the anti-Trump demonstrations held locally, it must be interesting for low income, underemployed white men and women to see obviously well dressed, well dressed black students walking out of their classrooms to shout that Trump's win is the result of institutional racism. It is about class and I believe that this election was greatly about patriarchal religious based gender bias AND class.
14
Of the African-Americans who voted, 88% voted for Hillary.
But a lot of them stayed home and didn't vote for anyone, which was equivalent to voting for Trump.
It's not just that whites voted for Trump.
It's that a lot of people (Hispanics, educated white/Asian females, blacks, Muslims) didn't vote, which ended up being a vote for Trump.
It's all about getting your voter base out to vote! If you don't like the results of this election and you didn't vote! Tough! You are stuck with him.
But a lot of them stayed home and didn't vote for anyone, which was equivalent to voting for Trump.
It's not just that whites voted for Trump.
It's that a lot of people (Hispanics, educated white/Asian females, blacks, Muslims) didn't vote, which ended up being a vote for Trump.
It's all about getting your voter base out to vote! If you don't like the results of this election and you didn't vote! Tough! You are stuck with him.
21
I would like to know the breakdown between religious fundamentalist whites and mainstream and non-religious whites. My main worry is with the faction that prefers Bronze Age myths over well established science. Our future prosperity depends on a society that is scientifically literate. In addition, science rarely if ever supports bigotry.
18
We elected to the most important job in the land somebody without any public service experience. In addition, if he had behaved the way he did on the campaign trail, he would have probably been fired from any decent corporate job, had he ever had one. I could easily see Trump spending more time in HR than at his desk in most of today's corporations. Yet, somehow, we think that such a person is good enough to lead the country.
19
Has Trump lifted that phone yet to tell Carrier not to move that plant to Mexico?
21
"Since that time, many Republican candidates have tapped into anti-black bias without running as overt segregationists."
Playing with anti-black bias is very dangerous as members of the race that brought them here against their will hundreds of years ago. Whether overt or covert, everyone knows the history of that arrival, and tapping into an emotion that goes against the facts of that history is akin to pouring gasoline on a fire.
Not only is it dangerous, it is just plain rude and shows that Trump is not the originator of this device, but just the full bloom of the seed that was planted long ago.
"CRG found that in the view of the white working class, the “Democrats are the giveaway party and ‘giveaway’ means too much middle class money going to blacks and the poor.”
The white "lower" class receives those "giveaways" the same as blacks and the poor. It's incredible that they would prefer "middle class money" go to the already wealthy, rather than to those with whom they share so much more in economic terms.
Republicans have certainly been successful in dividing and conquering...so much for their present calls for unity.
Playing with anti-black bias is very dangerous as members of the race that brought them here against their will hundreds of years ago. Whether overt or covert, everyone knows the history of that arrival, and tapping into an emotion that goes against the facts of that history is akin to pouring gasoline on a fire.
Not only is it dangerous, it is just plain rude and shows that Trump is not the originator of this device, but just the full bloom of the seed that was planted long ago.
"CRG found that in the view of the white working class, the “Democrats are the giveaway party and ‘giveaway’ means too much middle class money going to blacks and the poor.”
The white "lower" class receives those "giveaways" the same as blacks and the poor. It's incredible that they would prefer "middle class money" go to the already wealthy, rather than to those with whom they share so much more in economic terms.
Republicans have certainly been successful in dividing and conquering...so much for their present calls for unity.
13
Today's Democrats seem more concerned about bathroom habits, undocumented workers (formally known as illegal immigrants) and paying your "fair share" of taxes ( a slippery, undefined number) than actually making sure people have jobs that can support a family.
Open borders and an unfettered trade policy have lead to empty bank accounts which lead to a broken family and hopelessness. When a person objects? Racist.
Open borders and an unfettered trade policy have lead to empty bank accounts which lead to a broken family and hopelessness. When a person objects? Racist.
33
The arrogance and elitism of journalists in America never cease to amaze me. What also amazes me is how clueless these folks are to what little it means to categorize every single voter in to some box just to get statistics that only feed our nation's false sense of division along political lines.
"White working class"???
Guess that is me due to the fact that I am a wage earner working in manufacturing.
But wait!
I used to have a salary position in the past and I have an associate degree and have taken over a dozen other college level courses.
So am I somehow not "working class"?
What they really want to call us are "peasants"!!!
"White working class"???
Guess that is me due to the fact that I am a wage earner working in manufacturing.
But wait!
I used to have a salary position in the past and I have an associate degree and have taken over a dozen other college level courses.
So am I somehow not "working class"?
What they really want to call us are "peasants"!!!
18
As Democrats and Progressives we need to simply accept that an overtly racist message from Mr. Trump, certainly worthy of George Wallace, carried the day. Yes, there were other factors like the weaknesses of the other candidate lacking an inspiring message. And, yes, a lot of working people are hurting economically (of all races). And , yes, Mr. Trump is a brilliant salesman.
But unfortunately, as Mr. Edsall, certainly demonstrates, there is a long history of electoral success by the Republicans since the passage of the Civil Rights Act by exploiting white working class racial fears and resentments. Lyndon Johnson predicted it and he certainly was proven correct. Trump was just more open and vulgar about it.
We lost but we have nothing to be ashamed of. Can the other side say the same after the flush of victory fades?
But unfortunately, as Mr. Edsall, certainly demonstrates, there is a long history of electoral success by the Republicans since the passage of the Civil Rights Act by exploiting white working class racial fears and resentments. Lyndon Johnson predicted it and he certainly was proven correct. Trump was just more open and vulgar about it.
We lost but we have nothing to be ashamed of. Can the other side say the same after the flush of victory fades?
20
I have several college degrees but not the hubris you have mr Ed. The wizard of oz taught us that it doesn't take a diploma to be smart. The one thing Trump voters lack that college diploma holders have is 4 years of tutelage under a group of fanatical proselytizers of liberal doctrine. That's the real reason college "educated" (brainwashed) folk (to use BO's word) are more liberal. You know it, too. The people I know who don't have a college degree are no less smart than the degree holders.
It's funny that liberals claim that certain groups of people are no less smart than others, and should be admitted to college (usually for free, which is the only part I object to)--which should do away with the "you didn't go to college so you must be stupid" argument--but then they argue that only college educated people are smart.
LOL!
It's funny that liberals claim that certain groups of people are no less smart than others, and should be admitted to college (usually for free, which is the only part I object to)--which should do away with the "you didn't go to college so you must be stupid" argument--but then they argue that only college educated people are smart.
LOL!
15
Count me among those who think we should be spending our energy on formulating policies that benefit more Americans, rather than on the "horse race." If there is one lesson we should all learn from this election, it's that The People still have a voice. Trump was not my choice, but I fully respect the right of all of our citizens to be heard.
7
So, for the Democratic party to win, they have to appeal to the lowest, most self-serving, bigoted, and short term impulses that humans possess? I'd rather continue to lose.
This country is in trouble.
This country is in trouble.
11
May their numbers continue to shrink.
2
President-Elect Trump won the election, along with Vice President-elect Pence and those in their immediate circle of friends and followers.
As for everybody else, including all the voters who elected the GOP ticket, we will not know for several months who the actual winners and losers are.
Maybe the infrastructure projects will bring actual jobs to Americans. Or it could go to the lowest bidder and those jobs filled with H2B visa holders. It would only be good business after all.
As for everybody else, including all the voters who elected the GOP ticket, we will not know for several months who the actual winners and losers are.
Maybe the infrastructure projects will bring actual jobs to Americans. Or it could go to the lowest bidder and those jobs filled with H2B visa holders. It would only be good business after all.
2
Hanging your hat on Hillary winning the popular vote is folly when 1) voter turnout was down from previous election, ergo significant number of voters sat this one out and 2) margin of victory was less than 1%.
Continuing to harp on this is not productive.
Continuing to harp on this is not productive.
7
Race, race, race...can't you guys just give it a rest for just one day?
28
In 1948, 1964, 1968, and afterwards who voted for against liberals who supported civil rights and equal opportunities because they thought that those policies would hurt their interests. But, the fact that Trump won despite not being qualified by voters who actually thought that he would shake up the system or because they thought that he would manage economic policies and defense policies better without actually knowing his history makes me think that people who voted for him are careless and reckless, not thoughtful in the least. It's more that tribalism or reactionary attitudes or even authoritarianism, it's a kind of self destructive nihilism or completely magical thinking that led to Trump's election.
10
The one fact that cannot be denied is this:
Those without a college degree voted more for Trump than those who have one.
Demonstration of critical thinking skills might not be a bad requirement in the future before receiving your voters card.........just saying.
Those without a college degree voted more for Trump than those who have one.
Demonstration of critical thinking skills might not be a bad requirement in the future before receiving your voters card.........just saying.
9
"Disaffected" minority voters without college degrees have been putting Democrats into office for decades without notice or scrutiny from our Sovietized mass media.
So what's new here, white guys finally got the message that minorities have been tuned to for so many years--multiculturalism, Liberal Imperialism, and open border uber alles--and finally have had enough of it?
But Hillary as the DNC Politburo favorite was a serious problem, too, so let's not blame all of it on all those "disaffected" white guys, Mr. Edsall.
So what's new here, white guys finally got the message that minorities have been tuned to for so many years--multiculturalism, Liberal Imperialism, and open border uber alles--and finally have had enough of it?
But Hillary as the DNC Politburo favorite was a serious problem, too, so let's not blame all of it on all those "disaffected" white guys, Mr. Edsall.
17
I am tired of all the talk about disaffected working class whites, too, Especially the talk about which political party has their best interests at heart. 'm a liberal, always vote Democratic, but I have to admit that there is this teeny little grouchy side of me that's like: If people in small midwestern towns are disaffected because their job went to Mexico, why sit around waiting for the gov't to bring your job back? Why not consider moving to where the opportunity is? Isn't that what the ancestors of the majority white Americans did? By boat, or mule or wagon? And they experienced far greater hardship than doing it than most Americans would experience today, and far less certainty. You'll probably survive a car ride to Seattle, but your ancestors may not have survived the wagon trip. Furthermore, I work with community college students, many of whom have lost jobs. That's why they are in school. They are not waiting for Trump to bring their jobs back. They are showing up at school and retraining, retooling. I admire their courage everyday. Based on the secret glances and long faces in class on Nov 9, I doubt many voted for Trump.
12
The latest turn of events for Republicans is the result of a curious anti-Republican promise, which involves protectionism and promising deficit spending.
The new Republican tax policy is designed to reward the wealthy and the working class at the expense of middle and upper middle income professionals, especially those in the "blue" states. Trump's "tax cut" will actually increase middle class taxes in the "blue" states by eliminating deductibility of state and local taxes. More subsidy of "red" states by "blue" states.
I have a proposal for Democrats who are tired of this game: how about vote to lower Federal taxes to the bare minimum and defund the "red" states by eroding their subsidy. This will also throttle the Federal government and make it less likely that Trump Fascism has any tools to work with.
The new Republican tax policy is designed to reward the wealthy and the working class at the expense of middle and upper middle income professionals, especially those in the "blue" states. Trump's "tax cut" will actually increase middle class taxes in the "blue" states by eliminating deductibility of state and local taxes. More subsidy of "red" states by "blue" states.
I have a proposal for Democrats who are tired of this game: how about vote to lower Federal taxes to the bare minimum and defund the "red" states by eroding their subsidy. This will also throttle the Federal government and make it less likely that Trump Fascism has any tools to work with.
I think some of this analysis cherry-picks the best and worst years for Democrats to neglect the fact that many of the voters that Hillary lost went for her husband and Obama. They're not all cartoon characters full of racist grievance. A certain percentage of white people over 35 and without college degrees were a critical part of Obama's coalition. Obama appealed to them but they were left out of Hillary's calculus, to her sure regret. Trump exploited them, but they've been swinging back and forth wildly for the past 50 years and they're likely to continue to do so. And stop giving so much credit to Teixeira's mythology. He's so far been dead wrong and you can't pretend demographics are destiny and win elections.
8
Making this about race and blaming whites is self defeating Democrat illusion. The rust belt made the difference because Trump spoke to the rust belt and HC did not. What Trump said may have included promises that can not be kept, but maybe there will be an effort. It seems the rust belt heard the economic message( empty or not), and in mass voted for Trump. It so happens the rust belt has a large white population, but it was still a mostly white population that elected a Black man twice. It would be helpful to this nation if we all now recognize that HC's loss was not the result of the FBI Director, or white woman, or Blacks and other not showing up. It is retrospect, but HC was not talking to a part of the US that comprised 70 electoral votes. She simply got it wrong.
19
Perhaps these white people thought that those great jobs were theirs by entitlement. Building infrastructure will not bring back those salad days. Maybe it will get the 30 year old children out of the basement but only for a while. The checkbook will fall short again. The answer was, and is, whatever color you are, get a better education. Those that did not and do not have only themselves to blame. There could be another a "white" election, but it is less likely than this one and increasingly less likely the farther out one goes.
3
The Left seems not to understand that their own intolerance of differing opinions on issues, combined with their non-stop name-calling, vicious slurs, and ongoing violence is what put Trump in the White House.
For once, just once, could the Left discuss the major issues - trade policies, immigration, terrorism - without immediately jumping into attack mode and making everything a partisan issue framed into a "dumb deluded white GOP racists" vs "sophisticated enlightened Democrats" mindset?
Because if the Democrats have not learned a lesson from this humiliating loss, they will continue to experience defeat in every election until they do.
For once, just once, could the Left discuss the major issues - trade policies, immigration, terrorism - without immediately jumping into attack mode and making everything a partisan issue framed into a "dumb deluded white GOP racists" vs "sophisticated enlightened Democrats" mindset?
Because if the Democrats have not learned a lesson from this humiliating loss, they will continue to experience defeat in every election until they do.
19
The "how will Democrats reach out to poor white people?" story is fine for campaign managers, political demographers and, disappointingly, Bernie Sanders, but it's an irrelevant sideshow from a policy perspective.
Want to know why?
First, name a problem that afflicts poor white people only, not poor people generally. (Aside from disproportionate media attention.)
Second, come up with a policy aimed specifically at giving poor white people a leg up. Feels like white supremacy, right?
It's clear from some of the research cited in this article that poor whites don't see their problems as poor people problems. They think they're the result of a zero-sum game with other races. I don't see how Democrats can respond to that.
Th white working class isn't distinct from the black working class or Latino working class.
Want to know why?
First, name a problem that afflicts poor white people only, not poor people generally. (Aside from disproportionate media attention.)
Second, come up with a policy aimed specifically at giving poor white people a leg up. Feels like white supremacy, right?
It's clear from some of the research cited in this article that poor whites don't see their problems as poor people problems. They think they're the result of a zero-sum game with other races. I don't see how Democrats can respond to that.
Th white working class isn't distinct from the black working class or Latino working class.
12
Mr. Edsall,
Please wake-up! We have just had our last free election so all this talk about the electorate is useless. We now have a narcisstic demagogue leader supported by a Republican Party that tramples on democratic processes and values and whose sole purpose to to remain in power. Stop looking at the Trumpian Tree and look at the Republican Forest.
Please wake-up! We have just had our last free election so all this talk about the electorate is useless. We now have a narcisstic demagogue leader supported by a Republican Party that tramples on democratic processes and values and whose sole purpose to to remain in power. Stop looking at the Trumpian Tree and look at the Republican Forest.
8
The truth is that even I as an Asian have felt sidelined by the new political correctness mania. I don't know WHAT happened to Democrats.
I don't think that Hillary herself is such a PC maniac. Her defense of Bill and her ties to Saudi Arabia show that. But her constituency has lots of them who want to practice reverse discrimination (while denying it) and censor people's speech (while pretending that it is "mere" politeness.)
It was scary that people like these would control the Supreme Court and for the next 20 years, no one who was not PC would be allowed to open their mouths.
I know several people with PhD's. only ONE of whom is a white American male, who preferred Trump to Clinton. And that includes one person who is a black female, and one person who is from Poland and "should be afraid of Trump's friendship with Putin" but isn't.
But anyway, NYT readers do not read anything which is not an attack on Republicans, so I will stop right here.
I don't think that Hillary herself is such a PC maniac. Her defense of Bill and her ties to Saudi Arabia show that. But her constituency has lots of them who want to practice reverse discrimination (while denying it) and censor people's speech (while pretending that it is "mere" politeness.)
It was scary that people like these would control the Supreme Court and for the next 20 years, no one who was not PC would be allowed to open their mouths.
I know several people with PhD's. only ONE of whom is a white American male, who preferred Trump to Clinton. And that includes one person who is a black female, and one person who is from Poland and "should be afraid of Trump's friendship with Putin" but isn't.
But anyway, NYT readers do not read anything which is not an attack on Republicans, so I will stop right here.
22
The majority actually voted for Hillary.
Unfortunately, the individual voter's vote in actuality really does not count in the Presidential election. Every person's vote should count. The current system IS the reason why people don't vote. I know in Utah I hear this all of the time - "My vote doesn't count." Hillary won in Salt Lake County which has more minorities and people who are not LDS.
Unfortunately, the individual voter's vote in actuality really does not count in the Presidential election. Every person's vote should count. The current system IS the reason why people don't vote. I know in Utah I hear this all of the time - "My vote doesn't count." Hillary won in Salt Lake County which has more minorities and people who are not LDS.
4
Any white person who has spent any time around white conservatives when no one else is listening knows that it doesn't take long before at least one of them starts talking derisively or making jokes about "those people." That is an accurate definition of the American conservative. Trump played to that often silent choir, and he has given it a loud voice. He is the leader of the Confederate party.
4
I think these Trump voters are heading for a big letdown. Bringing back their 25-30 dollars an hour job is fantasy. Manufacturing has moved on overseas. Clean energy is a MUST solution for the future of our planet. Voting an untested inexperience real estate rich person is not going to get your high paying jobs back.
5
Those non-college educated whites who supported Trump should be surprised today as lobbyists and Wall Street / Washington insiders comprise almost 100% of Trump's transition team. Translation: these people work for their corporate masters and to line their own wallets, not Middle America's "Heartland".
His supporters may be further surprised as Trump continues to define a familial and corporate oligarchy, assigning roles to family members with clear conflicts of interest. This should be interesting to watch.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Kushner
His supporters may be further surprised as Trump continues to define a familial and corporate oligarchy, assigning roles to family members with clear conflicts of interest. This should be interesting to watch.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Kushner
2
Didn't black voters abandon Hillary, too.
5
I work with a lot of these guys. Most are oblivious to facts, paranoid, believe in conspiracy theories, and racist. A better education is what they need. But don't expect the Republicans to solve this issue of better education. Keep them uneducated as they continue to vote Republican against their own interests.
2
NYTIMES ... you answered your own question several days ago.
How could a significant portion of the American population even "consider", much less "vote" for a man with documented Mafia ties, six business bankruptcies (where he cheated his suppliers out of their hard earned money) and predatory behavior towards women? It's the closet racists who not only make about $70,000 Dollars a year but are aware of the fact that their "White Majority" is rapidly coming to an end. Michael Ignatieff, a historian and former Liberal Party leader in Canada, said that in much of the West, “what defined the political community” for many years “was the unstated premise that it was white.” The loss of that comforting hum has accelerated a phenomenon that Robin DiAngelo, a lecturer and author, calls “white fragility” — the stress white people feel when they confront the knowledge that they are neither special nor the default; that whiteness is just a race like any other. Fragility leads to feelings of insecurity, defensiveness, even threat. And it can trigger a backlash against those who are perceived as outsiders.
.... a textbook example of the results of the loss of "White Privilege" is Donald Trump and his "birther" campaign. My only hope is that, in a fit of vexation, those who have bought into that "Manifest Destiny" nonsense ... don't take us all down with them ..
( taken and paraphrased from the nytimes )
How could a significant portion of the American population even "consider", much less "vote" for a man with documented Mafia ties, six business bankruptcies (where he cheated his suppliers out of their hard earned money) and predatory behavior towards women? It's the closet racists who not only make about $70,000 Dollars a year but are aware of the fact that their "White Majority" is rapidly coming to an end. Michael Ignatieff, a historian and former Liberal Party leader in Canada, said that in much of the West, “what defined the political community” for many years “was the unstated premise that it was white.” The loss of that comforting hum has accelerated a phenomenon that Robin DiAngelo, a lecturer and author, calls “white fragility” — the stress white people feel when they confront the knowledge that they are neither special nor the default; that whiteness is just a race like any other. Fragility leads to feelings of insecurity, defensiveness, even threat. And it can trigger a backlash against those who are perceived as outsiders.
.... a textbook example of the results of the loss of "White Privilege" is Donald Trump and his "birther" campaign. My only hope is that, in a fit of vexation, those who have bought into that "Manifest Destiny" nonsense ... don't take us all down with them ..
( taken and paraphrased from the nytimes )
4
Thomas,
Hillary lost because she was intolerable. Her ideas, her supercilious attitude, her lies: they just all became too much for many of us to take. It had nothing to do with one race of people. It was, in the end, the American people who said "no" to Hillary.
Hillary lost because she was intolerable. Her ideas, her supercilious attitude, her lies: they just all became too much for many of us to take. It had nothing to do with one race of people. It was, in the end, the American people who said "no" to Hillary.
21
With all the discussion of the white working class surge to Mr. Trump, especially in swing rust-belt states, it's easy to forget the abnormal tactical ploys which helped the Republican candidate and raise serious doubts about the robustness of American democracy: (1) The GOP dominated Congress kept its fire on Ms. Clinton for years through investigations - Benghazi and use of a private email server; (2) Fox News, right-wing talk-radio hosts, internet sites (Breitbart, etc.), tweets and Facebook posts by conspiracy groups amplified this focus, picked up by "mainstream" channels like CNN, which gave Mr. Trump's false accusations extensive coverage; (3) Russian hacks/Wikileaks continual magnification (again amplified by Fox News, etc.) of email messages (DNC, Podesta) created splits between Clinton and Sanders supporters, persuaded some of the latter not to vote at all or vote for a third party candidate; (4) Mr. Comey castigated Ms. Clinton in July even while not pressing charges, leaving her no way to respond; (5) Mr. Comey intervened again 11 days before the election creating doubt that there could be new incriminating material. His exculpation just a few days before the election came too late for undecided voters who now broke for Mr. Trump. It also mobilized Trump supporters.
This is not a popular mandate for Mr. Trump. Even with support for him by particular demographic - white working class voters - that cannot be separated from the effects of tactics.
This is not a popular mandate for Mr. Trump. Even with support for him by particular demographic - white working class voters - that cannot be separated from the effects of tactics.
3
I know that the Trump people hate to be characterized as racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic and uneducated, but the fact is, every single one of my friends and relatives who didn't graduate from college, makes less than $70K/year and has spouted off against minorities voted for Trump, and every one of my friends and relatives who graduated with at least a BA or BS, makes a decent living and doesn't spout off against minorities voted for Clinton or wrote somebody else's name on the ballot.
4
I I would like Mr. Edsall to write a column detailing what the Republicans starting from Nixon to Bush have accomplished for the middle class and poor white Americans. Tell how me many of these American have had a chance to benefit from large tax cut Repuublicans have awarded to rich American. How does gutting of regulation have helped white Americans? Why the Republicans oppose and have opposed a health care system to cover the lower middle class an the poor. The Democrats have done trouble jobs hammering these issues and hopefully this is a wake up call.
6
The problem with profiling people is it isn't always true. As a white "country girl" with some college but no degree, I hate seeing these headlines because I voted for Hillary. I cringe at the racially-charged and careless way Trump is approaching his transition. I am still struggling with this debacle that I feel endangers the peace and security of our nation.
3
It's beyond sickening to read another column attempting to explain Trump's win. He didn't win, the election was STOLEN, just as Bush/Gore was. Between egregious voter suppression, culling the voter roles, eliminating polling places,
not allowing felons who've served their time or still in jail to vote,outrageous gerrymandering, outright voter theft through lost votes and hacking and who knows what else... the election was for sure stolen. If everything was on the up and up, Hillary would have won by twenty million votes. The Democrats share in the blame.
not allowing felons who've served their time or still in jail to vote,outrageous gerrymandering, outright voter theft through lost votes and hacking and who knows what else... the election was for sure stolen. If everything was on the up and up, Hillary would have won by twenty million votes. The Democrats share in the blame.
1
In the 48 hours before the election, the liberal press gave new meaning to the phrase "overweening arrogance." I still have the shows on my DVR, they're hilarious. They were all in bed together - flaks, blow-dried talent, influence-peddlers - slavering over what sinecure they'd get in the Dynasty's dispensation. And what is more, taking back the Senate when the "decent American people" vote down ballot for anyone tainted by "that horrid little man, Trump." Good night, Irene.
9
Study demographics all you want and stride forward ever deeper into divisive identity politics. That approach is obviously working to the benefit of conservatives/Republicans. Just ask Democratic Representative Tim Ryan who is running against Nancy Pelosi for the Minority Leader position in the House:
"Under our current leadership, Democrats have been reduced to our smallest congressional minority since 1929. This should indicate to all of us that keeping our leadership team completely unchanged will simply lead to more disappointment in future elections.
Over the last 18 years, Democrats have only been in the majority of the House of Representatives for two terms, and last week’s election results set us back even further. We have lost over 60 seats since 2010. We have the fewest Democrats in state and federal offices since Reconstruction."
Perhaps Democrats might want to think about why they're losing so much power not just within the Congress and in the Executive branch, but in state legislatures, too. Hint: It's not because anyone who doesn't see things your way is a deplorable.
"Under our current leadership, Democrats have been reduced to our smallest congressional minority since 1929. This should indicate to all of us that keeping our leadership team completely unchanged will simply lead to more disappointment in future elections.
Over the last 18 years, Democrats have only been in the majority of the House of Representatives for two terms, and last week’s election results set us back even further. We have lost over 60 seats since 2010. We have the fewest Democrats in state and federal offices since Reconstruction."
Perhaps Democrats might want to think about why they're losing so much power not just within the Congress and in the Executive branch, but in state legislatures, too. Hint: It's not because anyone who doesn't see things your way is a deplorable.
15
How did it come about that these people think they have a "right to a good job", or to a good life, wherever they happen to live? I never was told that I had such rights. I didn't inherit much money or property from my parents but they did teach me to respect learning and education and to work hard. They did support me during my college education: they once gave me $500 to help out with some costs. Otherwise I worked my way through college, typically working 20 hrs/week at various jobs during the school year and full-time in the summer, in addition to my schoolwork, ultimately graduating with excellent grades. I got a few scholarships along the way. I then picked an area of work that I thought I could get a job in. Not my top choice of things I might like to do but a choice that I thought would work out OK. After all, if I didn't help myself, who was going to help me? My parents didn't have a lot of money. I moved several times around the country to pursue my work. I sacrificed a lot to keep my job, and feel great about it now. So I don't have much sympathy for slouching crybabies. Certainly not for racist intolerant slouching crybabies.
3
Dear Not So Silent White majority, how did trickle-down economics do for you under Bush? Well, here it comes again.
3
In 2008 it seemed like every other hybrid car here had an Obama-Biden bumper sticker, many more than 1. (Success has many fathers, or persons.)
In 2012 no bumper stickers were needed since the Democrat enjoyed the powers of incumbency, and the GOP guy was a happy white millionaire Mormon bishop who'd cheekily been Governor of the Kennedy State, and thought he'd make a swell president, until Superstorm Sandy and its FEMA-fears decreed otherwise.
In this election I saw very few Hillary bumper stickers, and within a 1/2 mi. radius of well-kept homes only 1 intrepid soul had a Hillary yard sign. She had the steak, but not the sizzle. She shouted, and belabored every little thing.
Overt Trump support hereabouts was the sin that dare not speak its name, needless to say. Look what happened at Mozilla.
In 2012 no bumper stickers were needed since the Democrat enjoyed the powers of incumbency, and the GOP guy was a happy white millionaire Mormon bishop who'd cheekily been Governor of the Kennedy State, and thought he'd make a swell president, until Superstorm Sandy and its FEMA-fears decreed otherwise.
In this election I saw very few Hillary bumper stickers, and within a 1/2 mi. radius of well-kept homes only 1 intrepid soul had a Hillary yard sign. She had the steak, but not the sizzle. She shouted, and belabored every little thing.
Overt Trump support hereabouts was the sin that dare not speak its name, needless to say. Look what happened at Mozilla.
6
Waiting in line at my Norman, Oklahoma polling station I saw more white men wearing shirts with their names embroidered on the chest than I have ever seen before. Usually it's elderly retirees, soccer moms and guys in suits. These were a/c repairmen, quick lube techs and oil patch service co. guys.
6
I am always puzzled when many African Americans disparage Lyndon Johnson (think of the film Selma) while praising JFK, who did very little to help the Civil Rights Movement, placing politics ahead of principle. It was Johnson who rammed through the Civil Rights Act in 1964, knowing that he was ceding the southern states and some nothern white working class voters to the Republican Party and also pushed through the Voting Rights Act the following year because in both cases it was the right thing to do. Yes, Johnson will always be remembered and rightly criticized for expanding and making official the War in Vietnam, a catastrophic error, but even that was following an initiative begun by Kennedy. The primary point is that pragatism usually trumps principle becauseit comes at a much higher price.
4
To me, the problem is the liberalism has become consumed with identity politics. I don't care about transgender bathroom issues. What the left loved about Sanders was that he talked about the economy.
I don't like Trump, but I do see that voters want to talk about the economy. They don't want to talk about headscarves.
From what I saw, between 2015 and 2016, almost ever article in the NYT was about race or gender. People want vote about trade, tariffs, quantitative easing, inflation, interest rates, health care premiums, and other fiscal issues.
Nobody got the impression that Hillary was a thinking about fiscal issues.
I don't like Trump, but I do see that voters want to talk about the economy. They don't want to talk about headscarves.
From what I saw, between 2015 and 2016, almost ever article in the NYT was about race or gender. People want vote about trade, tariffs, quantitative easing, inflation, interest rates, health care premiums, and other fiscal issues.
Nobody got the impression that Hillary was a thinking about fiscal issues.
19
The democrats threw away the working class. This isn't about racism, it's about policy. The DNC's policy is to sell out to multinational corporate interests, so the people elected a democrat with an (R) next to his name. The democrats won the election. The DNC and their funders did not. Compare trump's platform (not the liberal lies) to an 80's era democratic platform and you'll se that people haven't changed, the party has just betrayed us.
10
So obviously the answer to less anger and more opportunity for these lower educated whites is more education. Not only for better jobs but maybe this higher level of education will allow them to understand when they are being played by a con man and to ignore propaganda?
1
Democrats will be unable to change their appeal to working class white people. By nature, most Democrats are arrogant elitists. It is in their DNA. If they did not have this attitude, they would not be Democrats. Who else is so inclined to tell others what is good for them? That is not to say that the party is doomed. Hillary won the popular vote. The battleground states were close. The media will always support liberals, spreading lies about the racism of Republicans and white people, which the saps will swallow whole. And at the end of the day, the lure of free stuff is powerful.
8
Why does anybody wonder that a group which makes 70% of all voters have a lot of influence on the outcome on the election?
And why does anybody blame them for that?
Should the majority not vote?
And why does anybody blame them for that?
Should the majority not vote?
8
Where the media truly dropped the ball, was in not covering Trumps real history enough, not loudly enough - and giving him a daily, hourly media platform. While mostly only reporting on the absurd troubles she and her staff were still having over the nonprosecutable email issue.
Trump got nearly the entirety of every nights "breaking news" broadcasts, while HRC got but a few minutes. And when she got anything of length it was about the emails.
Then along came a partisan FBI director with NOTHING! Nothing! Zero! Nada!
Trump got nearly the entirety of every nights "breaking news" broadcasts, while HRC got but a few minutes. And when she got anything of length it was about the emails.
Then along came a partisan FBI director with NOTHING! Nothing! Zero! Nada!
4
I wonder how Trumps supporters including Hannity, who lambasted HRC for her pay-to play, will react to the revelations about Trumps commercial ventures in the far corners of the world?
1
Bulletin for all voters of either party, any demographic; supply side economics is voodoo. Trickle down tax cuts for the very rich don't work, unless your goal is ever greater income inequality. Not substantially raising the minimum wage makes it worse. Yet, this remains the economic philosophy of both Trump and Ryan Republicans.
These comments show we have taken our eye off the ball. As sure as night follows day, the rich will get richer.
These comments show we have taken our eye off the ball. As sure as night follows day, the rich will get richer.
4
Are there just no black people in the working class? I mean, every time we talk about the working class, really we are saying uneducated white people.
Im sure that not every human being in the United States is going to be able to go to college and become an app programmer. Not every human being was meant to sit in a cube and sell services to each other.
Im sure there are a lot if Americans out there that need good paying jobs. Can we just get them good paying jobs? Im sure a lot of their misplaced racism would end if they had a good paying job.
Im sure that not every human being in the United States is going to be able to go to college and become an app programmer. Not every human being was meant to sit in a cube and sell services to each other.
Im sure there are a lot if Americans out there that need good paying jobs. Can we just get them good paying jobs? Im sure a lot of their misplaced racism would end if they had a good paying job.
6
Ah yes, here is the line again:
"Disaffected white voters without college degrees have been the driving force in all of them."
Do analysts and the media ever talk about "Black voters without college degrees" or "Hispanic voters without college degrees"? No, Black and Hispanic voters are monolithic groups that no one bothers to segment.
Wouldn't it be interesting to see sometime?
"Disaffected white voters without college degrees have been the driving force in all of them."
Do analysts and the media ever talk about "Black voters without college degrees" or "Hispanic voters without college degrees"? No, Black and Hispanic voters are monolithic groups that no one bothers to segment.
Wouldn't it be interesting to see sometime?
10
So long as Democrats try to label anybody who is not part of the PC progressive echo chamber as deplorable or irredeemable the Democrats will lose voters. There are many white, college or graduate school educated voters who would not vote for the corrupt liar nominated by the Democratic Party, and not all of these educated people voted for Jill Stein or Gary Johnson. In fact, so long as the Democratic Party tries to appeal to people solely on the basis of the color of their skin or the language they speak, the Democratic Party will exclude large groups of voters. The Democratic Party no longer has a "Big Tent" but is a party of many small tents of discrete interest groups.
9
Why is it that articles like this never mention the two most obvious things about the election: that it's incredibly difficult for a party to secure a third term in office; and that, despite this, Clinton overall loss came from mere one percentage point margins in three states?
It was really, really close. Let's acknowledge that first. Let's absorb that. Here's another important factor. With two exceedingly disliked candidates, there's a lot of reason to think that the states they lost were effectively referenda against them. Clinton won't be on the ballot in 2020, but Trump will. How does he win Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin again without her, or Obama, to run against? When he is no longer the change candidate?
2016 is over now, and 2020 will involve dynamics we know nothing about yet. But it's already starting off on the wrong foot not to acknowledge that the improbable turnout of white voters here described nevertheless produced only the slimmest of margins. The two overwhelming factors that account for it, Clinton's candidacy and Obama's presidency, do not follow us into the unknown future.
It was really, really close. Let's acknowledge that first. Let's absorb that. Here's another important factor. With two exceedingly disliked candidates, there's a lot of reason to think that the states they lost were effectively referenda against them. Clinton won't be on the ballot in 2020, but Trump will. How does he win Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin again without her, or Obama, to run against? When he is no longer the change candidate?
2016 is over now, and 2020 will involve dynamics we know nothing about yet. But it's already starting off on the wrong foot not to acknowledge that the improbable turnout of white voters here described nevertheless produced only the slimmest of margins. The two overwhelming factors that account for it, Clinton's candidacy and Obama's presidency, do not follow us into the unknown future.
4
Edsall writes perceptively, but leaves out Alex Jones.
From the Washington Post:
"[Roger] Stone says he had thought for Stone says he had spent nearly three decades trying to figure out how to make Donald Trump president. He thought his new friend, Jones, could help.
He particularly liked the idea of Trump appearing on the Jones shows, because “they are reaching the Trump constituencies,” Stone says. “They are reaching the people who knock on the doors.”
Trump, according to Stone, wasn’t difficult to persuade. The president-elect is “an inveterate watcher of television. He has watched Infowars, Stone says. “They hit it off.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/how-alex-jones-conspiracy...
From the Washington Post:
"[Roger] Stone says he had thought for Stone says he had spent nearly three decades trying to figure out how to make Donald Trump president. He thought his new friend, Jones, could help.
He particularly liked the idea of Trump appearing on the Jones shows, because “they are reaching the Trump constituencies,” Stone says. “They are reaching the people who knock on the doors.”
Trump, according to Stone, wasn’t difficult to persuade. The president-elect is “an inveterate watcher of television. He has watched Infowars, Stone says. “They hit it off.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/how-alex-jones-conspiracy...
1
Puerto Ricans are not only Latinos, they are US citizens. Undocumented Latinos threaten them and their children. Black people are a substantial part of the working Class. For example, blacks in Detroit and Flint have always been part of the UAW working class. Undocumented immigrants disastrously lower the wage floor for US Black Citizens---especially the large proportion who are ill-prepared by k-12 public education, and are forced to compete for the "blue collar" and service jobs with hungry, desparate and hardworking "illegals." In short, 2016 is not 1960. A big part of the non-college working class are us citizens of all shades---In short, Democrats have to stop distorting their perspective with the faulty critical lens of race.
The median income for all Households in US is 55k a year. Comfortable Urbane Dems need to wake up. In short, It's the economy, Stupidos. Just because you're elite don't make you too smart. Capice?
The median income for all Households in US is 55k a year. Comfortable Urbane Dems need to wake up. In short, It's the economy, Stupidos. Just because you're elite don't make you too smart. Capice?
12
I say let them do their dasterly deeds. Step out of the way and watch, don't get in their way or soften their blows. It's all theirs now. We are out, they are in, but we know we won fair and square but for that electoral college whatever that is.
Please stop trying to find all of the false reasons why the Democrat party was so badly beaten this time. The real reason is so incredibly obvious. Democrats are terrible leaders. I knew it was all over for Democrats when in a world consumed by violence and terrorism and the two parent black family almost extinct in this country the President of the United States puts out an executive order telling us who he thinks should be able to use bathrooms in schools. REALLY!!! That's why Democrats lost. It's very simple to understand.
10
Apparently, racial identify by Whites without college degrees has become more important than economic concerns. Industrial jobs have been declining since the early 1970s and, particularly, dropped during the G.W. Bush administration. They actually increased a little during the Obama administration. Yet, tons of White, non-college educated people claimed to vote for Trump because they felt the Democrats had not helped them (when, in fact, they had).
Thus, the only reasonable conclusion is what is stated in this article, namely large numbers of Whites without college degrees favored Trump because they resent what they perceive as favoritism towards Blacks and Latinos. It's not true, of course, since wages of African-Americans and Latinos falls way below those of Whites but that's what they believe.
Essentially, I agree with the premise of the article. The Democrats need to continue to frame themselves as advocates for a global, diverse world in which advanced manufacturing and services requiring high degrees of education is the dominant driving force in our world. There is little to be gained by trying to re-create the past, as Trump is doing, and to promise outcomes that are impossible. The Democrats need to be the party of the future, now.
Thus, the only reasonable conclusion is what is stated in this article, namely large numbers of Whites without college degrees favored Trump because they resent what they perceive as favoritism towards Blacks and Latinos. It's not true, of course, since wages of African-Americans and Latinos falls way below those of Whites but that's what they believe.
Essentially, I agree with the premise of the article. The Democrats need to continue to frame themselves as advocates for a global, diverse world in which advanced manufacturing and services requiring high degrees of education is the dominant driving force in our world. There is little to be gained by trying to re-create the past, as Trump is doing, and to promise outcomes that are impossible. The Democrats need to be the party of the future, now.
2
It is so interesting that the NYT writers who analyze the electorate always end up with an us versus them response. Most often in the NYT it is the "undereducated whites" (undereducated implies inferiority) who are cast as the enemy of "progress". And for non-whites, they are the "trampled upon and abused" (which implies no control over their own destiny). Really now? I'll bet that most Americans of all colors, races, religions and genders, if they did not read your paper, would see themselves as citizens together struggling to 'pursue happiness' and not condemning one side of the other. Most communities live in harmony (of course you point out the exceptions). Why must you continually create controversy?
12
Sorry. But I'm tried of hearing about the "White Majority"--silent or otherwise.
Anyone with an iota of intelligence, or who has had enough intelligence to pick up an American History book, and actually READ it, knows that White people have been on the winning-side of this Nation ever since its foundation, and at the expense of the non-Whites whose toil built it.
Blacks people certainly know it. As does every other ethnic group that has been categorized as a "minority", simply because they are the ones who have been marginalized, and cast aside, due to the color of their skin.
They're the ones who got the wrong end of the deal.
They're the ones that had to do more with less.
They're the ones who needed programs like 'Affirmative Action' -- because without it, they'd never have the chance to escape the socioeconomic ghettos they were cast into -- without hope of ever rising above, and beyond it.
And now, with the election of Donald Trump and all his alt-right acolytes; the "Not-So-Silent-White-Majority" is ready to undo all the years of hard-fought progress made throughout the decades -- in an attempt to turn back the clock to repeal Roe v. Wade, disenfranchise the LGBT community, encourage anti-Semitism, revoke the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and bring back the Jim Crow Laws.
This country stands on the precipice of falling into a very deep and dark hole.
There is no fence, and no safety net.
Evidently, the White majority is no longer silent.
Anyone with an iota of intelligence, or who has had enough intelligence to pick up an American History book, and actually READ it, knows that White people have been on the winning-side of this Nation ever since its foundation, and at the expense of the non-Whites whose toil built it.
Blacks people certainly know it. As does every other ethnic group that has been categorized as a "minority", simply because they are the ones who have been marginalized, and cast aside, due to the color of their skin.
They're the ones who got the wrong end of the deal.
They're the ones that had to do more with less.
They're the ones who needed programs like 'Affirmative Action' -- because without it, they'd never have the chance to escape the socioeconomic ghettos they were cast into -- without hope of ever rising above, and beyond it.
And now, with the election of Donald Trump and all his alt-right acolytes; the "Not-So-Silent-White-Majority" is ready to undo all the years of hard-fought progress made throughout the decades -- in an attempt to turn back the clock to repeal Roe v. Wade, disenfranchise the LGBT community, encourage anti-Semitism, revoke the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and bring back the Jim Crow Laws.
This country stands on the precipice of falling into a very deep and dark hole.
There is no fence, and no safety net.
Evidently, the White majority is no longer silent.
4
Actually, this column didn't make a lot of sense to me. I am a 69 year old woman with a Masters degree -- and the person I wanted to see elected was Bernie Sanders. We, in the United States, have become so much rugged individuals, that we no longer live in community with each other. A poor Black, Hispanic, or whatever, kind of family is just as tragic as a poor white family. We love our kids, try to provide the best for them, all of us. Constant failure only destroys the spirit. We need to care for each other and have a government that cares for us, enables us to succeed. We don't need a handful of billionaires who gobble up all the wealth. We don't need a profit drive medical sector. We don't need better jails. Nor do we need the hand-outs of a nanny state. We need honest work that pays, education that encourages creativity and thought, time to play and laugh and celebrate. And we need to care for each other. After all, when the skin is gone -- we are all the same muscles, blood, sinews, and bones. We feel and desire the same human things. Fear and anxiety do not motivate us to greatness; they motivate us to despair.
4
As my mother used to say, "Just 'cause you got book learning, doesn't mean you've got common sense."
4
The Trump voters were eviscerated by illegal immigration (suddenly, they were losing jobs to people willing to work for 70% pay with no benefits), trade (thank you, Bill), the deregulation of banks (thanks, Bill) and the obvious prioritizing of minority concerns. Delegitimization of concerns from rural and working class whites was a central plank of the Democratic agenda. Quotas and privileges for blacks are real, as any college student can tell you. So whence the surprise?
6
[[How is it possible that the supposedly fading constituency of white working class voters played such a decisive role in the 2016 election?]]
Come on…stop with the hand wringing.
Clinton was the weak link in the chain.
She was arrogant and lazy. She went at least 269 days without a press conference, basically the end of 2015 through the end of August 2016. Time she could have spent touring the country, building her case to the American people, familiarizing herself with the mood of the electorate.
But she didn't do it because she didn't think she had to.
And then it came down to a handful of debates and seeing who got off the best zingers, then the spin and then her relying on people being repulsed by Trump.
She never made a case for herself. And she lacked the charm of her husband or of Obama that would have led people to do their homework and build that case for her.
People were comfortable with what they believed…that she was a liar. Crooked Hillary. I knew right away that that was going to be devastating. And then she wasted the last weeks of the campaign doing what the Clintons always do…trying to correct the record, trying to win on a technicality. "It depends upon what the meaning of the word 'is' is."
So that's it…all the flaws that people kept pointing out but that Hillary supporters deflected by pointing out Trump's horrors, all of those things are what sank her candidacy.
Democrat voters in swing states stated home.
End of story.
Come on…stop with the hand wringing.
Clinton was the weak link in the chain.
She was arrogant and lazy. She went at least 269 days without a press conference, basically the end of 2015 through the end of August 2016. Time she could have spent touring the country, building her case to the American people, familiarizing herself with the mood of the electorate.
But she didn't do it because she didn't think she had to.
And then it came down to a handful of debates and seeing who got off the best zingers, then the spin and then her relying on people being repulsed by Trump.
She never made a case for herself. And she lacked the charm of her husband or of Obama that would have led people to do their homework and build that case for her.
People were comfortable with what they believed…that she was a liar. Crooked Hillary. I knew right away that that was going to be devastating. And then she wasted the last weeks of the campaign doing what the Clintons always do…trying to correct the record, trying to win on a technicality. "It depends upon what the meaning of the word 'is' is."
So that's it…all the flaws that people kept pointing out but that Hillary supporters deflected by pointing out Trump's horrors, all of those things are what sank her candidacy.
Democrat voters in swing states stated home.
End of story.
5
"White tribalism or ethnocentrism — whatever you want to call it — is undeniably a powerful force."
It's just as insulting to refer to "white tribalism/ethnocentrism" as it would be to refer to "black tribalism/ethnocentrism". Haven't Times' columnists learned the key lesson from the campaign - that little is more degrading than to take away a human being's individuality and attack her self respect?
I am a white, urban Jew who favors some key Trump policies. I voted against Hillary Clinton. Those facts place me in a distinct minority among my ethnic peers. But I have 5 degrees, including two advanced degrees, and I am proud of my ability to think for myself and draw my own conclusions while withstanding peer pressure. I deeply resent insinuations of racism and/or ignorance implicit in terms like "tribalism" and "ethnocentrism". If there is widespread ignorance and bigotry in this post-election period I suggest it is most acute among those who have the intelligence to recognize the distinction between racism and mere policy disagreement, but lack the will use it.
It's just as insulting to refer to "white tribalism/ethnocentrism" as it would be to refer to "black tribalism/ethnocentrism". Haven't Times' columnists learned the key lesson from the campaign - that little is more degrading than to take away a human being's individuality and attack her self respect?
I am a white, urban Jew who favors some key Trump policies. I voted against Hillary Clinton. Those facts place me in a distinct minority among my ethnic peers. But I have 5 degrees, including two advanced degrees, and I am proud of my ability to think for myself and draw my own conclusions while withstanding peer pressure. I deeply resent insinuations of racism and/or ignorance implicit in terms like "tribalism" and "ethnocentrism". If there is widespread ignorance and bigotry in this post-election period I suggest it is most acute among those who have the intelligence to recognize the distinction between racism and mere policy disagreement, but lack the will use it.
8
Democrat loses may be a BLESSING in DISGUISE.
If problems develop with the economy and in other areas, it will be Donald Trump and the Republicans who will be blamed, not Obma andthe Democrats. They will get off the hook, so to speak.
As Oscar Wilde said: " Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes." Trump with his total lack of experience, will likely be making many mistakes in the next four years.
If problems develop with the economy and in other areas, it will be Donald Trump and the Republicans who will be blamed, not Obma andthe Democrats. They will get off the hook, so to speak.
As Oscar Wilde said: " Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes." Trump with his total lack of experience, will likely be making many mistakes in the next four years.
One commenter wrote about the Republicans and white anger, "Why would you want to alleviate the anger that helped get you elected?" I agree.
I voted for Hillary, but I sometimes wonder if the same thing applies to Democrats. We offer so many statements of support for African Americans, yet decade after decade, there is precious little change in the conditions that drive inner city black anger. Should anyone really be surprised that blacks really didn't turn out in droves for Hillary?
The Democratic Party needs to replace its emphasis on PC/identity politics and start showing meaningful solidarity with the poor and working class of all races. I don't care what your race, gender, or whatever issue is - everybody needs a family sustaining wage. Fix that, and you will fix a lot of other things.
I voted for Hillary, but I sometimes wonder if the same thing applies to Democrats. We offer so many statements of support for African Americans, yet decade after decade, there is precious little change in the conditions that drive inner city black anger. Should anyone really be surprised that blacks really didn't turn out in droves for Hillary?
The Democratic Party needs to replace its emphasis on PC/identity politics and start showing meaningful solidarity with the poor and working class of all races. I don't care what your race, gender, or whatever issue is - everybody needs a family sustaining wage. Fix that, and you will fix a lot of other things.
8
I have a difficult time believing the "white working class" is voting for economic reasons, because they keep voting against the party that has been trying to help them - and for the party that consistently opposes those efforts.
Unionization? Dems are for it, GOP has made it increasingly difficult.
National health care? Dems are for it, GOP against.
Progressive tax rates to get the wealthy to pay a fair share? Dems are for it, GOP against.
Living wage? Dems are for it, GOP against it.
Workplace safety regulations? Dems are for it, GOP against it
Wall Street regulations to protect consumers? Dems are for it, GOP against it.
Subsidies for college tuition? Dems are for it, GOP against it.
Mandatory paid maternity leave? Dems are for it, GOP against it.
The list goes on and on.
That leaves me with only one conclusion: Race resentment is their prime motivation.
Unionization? Dems are for it, GOP has made it increasingly difficult.
National health care? Dems are for it, GOP against.
Progressive tax rates to get the wealthy to pay a fair share? Dems are for it, GOP against.
Living wage? Dems are for it, GOP against it.
Workplace safety regulations? Dems are for it, GOP against it
Wall Street regulations to protect consumers? Dems are for it, GOP against it.
Subsidies for college tuition? Dems are for it, GOP against it.
Mandatory paid maternity leave? Dems are for it, GOP against it.
The list goes on and on.
That leaves me with only one conclusion: Race resentment is their prime motivation.
1
I’d be very careful about reading trendlines in Trump’s upset of Mrs. Clinton. His meteoric ascent over the past eighteen months, culminating in an Electoral College win but a popular vote loss, really represent a temporary discontinuity in our normal politics, not some tectonic shifting of basic interests, demographics and party alignments. Our politics, for some time, have been frozen and unable to take us forward productively: discontinuities, like our civil war and Trump, are how we deal with such phenomena. As soon as we’re able to fix what’s broken within the duration of those discontinuities, things return to normal.
Beyond that, the characteristics and backgrounds of the two major candidates were hardly normal enough to separate their oddness from other factors in order to analyze just those other factors.
That said, it’s true that for a long time Democrats have ignored working-class whites, still very numerous in our country. And it’s actually worse than merely ignoring one still-vast demographic cohort to focus greater attention on others many regard as higher priorities: Mrs. Clinton’s “basket of deplorables” speech may have been the single action that contributed most to her narrow loss. Democrats have developed a contempt for working whites who DON’T support them without question. Unless that changes, there will be an ongoing price to be paid.
As a Republican, I REMAIN very concerned that our outreach to Hispanics and blacks is unacceptably weak.
Beyond that, the characteristics and backgrounds of the two major candidates were hardly normal enough to separate their oddness from other factors in order to analyze just those other factors.
That said, it’s true that for a long time Democrats have ignored working-class whites, still very numerous in our country. And it’s actually worse than merely ignoring one still-vast demographic cohort to focus greater attention on others many regard as higher priorities: Mrs. Clinton’s “basket of deplorables” speech may have been the single action that contributed most to her narrow loss. Democrats have developed a contempt for working whites who DON’T support them without question. Unless that changes, there will be an ongoing price to be paid.
As a Republican, I REMAIN very concerned that our outreach to Hispanics and blacks is unacceptably weak.
15
The factor you Democrats don't get is that Trump supporters come from all races and educational levels. It's getting comical you so often refer to Trump voters as 'working class' Americans. Quite the contrary, Trump supporters are white and black, college educated and non-college educated, Christians and Jews, etc. You've got it all wrong.
42
As even SNL recognized when they messed up their lines on "Weekend Update", there's no shock that 1/3rd of the Hispanic vote voted for Trump. Puerto Ricans for example, have no dog in the "illegal immigration" fight, and have everything else in common with the white working class. The DNC has racism so embedded in it's DNA that it classifies all Hispanics the same, and is shocked when it turns out they are not.
2
Well said, s. cavalli.
3
I agree, however, I think it would be safe to say that the "working class" Americans you refer to, voted for Trump for very different reasons than the white, college educated types that voted for him as well and when all is said and done, the first group could be very disappointed in the outcome.
Want to know what I'm sick and tired of? I'm tired of uneducated white people being referred to as 'the working class.' It implies that nobody else works.
I'm educated. Highly educated, in fact. And I worked to get my education; during undergraduate school, I washed dishes to stay afloat. I wasn't born rich, and mu parents didn't pay for any of my education.
Now that I've got an education, I'm self-employed, and work longer hours than most of the 'working class.' In fact, a surprising share of the 'working class' seems to be unemployed.
Can we leave off with 'working class?' In my experience, the people who work the hardest in this country are undocumented Latino immigrants.
I'm educated. Highly educated, in fact. And I worked to get my education; during undergraduate school, I washed dishes to stay afloat. I wasn't born rich, and mu parents didn't pay for any of my education.
Now that I've got an education, I'm self-employed, and work longer hours than most of the 'working class.' In fact, a surprising share of the 'working class' seems to be unemployed.
Can we leave off with 'working class?' In my experience, the people who work the hardest in this country are undocumented Latino immigrants.
75
Nobody works harder than my wife. Nobody. 80 hour weeks are common for her, she's out the door by 6am, rarely home before 7pm. Then she works from home. Frequently, she's up in the middle of the night with calls to offices in Asia or Europe.
Other than being White, she's none of the stereotypes. She came from a "working class" home where both her parents worked, her mom worked nights as a nurse, so she cooked and cleaned while growing up, worked her way through college, grad school, to a PhD, and has ALWAYS worked harder than anyone around her.
And she didn't laze around and whine when a job disappeared--she hustled and found other work.
Ask any construction site manager or boss, even small hands-on guys who work the tools with their men: Would they rather have Latino immigrants or the two guys in Mr. Edsall's picture? Every one will say the Latino guys and NOT because they are cheaper. Because they show up, everyday, on time, sober and ready, even eager to work. I worked construction in my "wild" youth and in grad school and could always get work, because, unlike many of my fellows (in those days almost everyone was White), I showed up, everyday, on time, ready to work. And if I was sick, I called early (no cell phones then).
Even today, contractors tell me about their guys who don't make it. And somehow, they always look like those two <==.
It's not bigotry against White guys--it's actuarial, just like insurance. You go with the lower risk employees.
Other than being White, she's none of the stereotypes. She came from a "working class" home where both her parents worked, her mom worked nights as a nurse, so she cooked and cleaned while growing up, worked her way through college, grad school, to a PhD, and has ALWAYS worked harder than anyone around her.
And she didn't laze around and whine when a job disappeared--she hustled and found other work.
Ask any construction site manager or boss, even small hands-on guys who work the tools with their men: Would they rather have Latino immigrants or the two guys in Mr. Edsall's picture? Every one will say the Latino guys and NOT because they are cheaper. Because they show up, everyday, on time, sober and ready, even eager to work. I worked construction in my "wild" youth and in grad school and could always get work, because, unlike many of my fellows (in those days almost everyone was White), I showed up, everyday, on time, ready to work. And if I was sick, I called early (no cell phones then).
Even today, contractors tell me about their guys who don't make it. And somehow, they always look like those two <==.
It's not bigotry against White guys--it's actuarial, just like insurance. You go with the lower risk employees.
4
Oh, please. The people who return home at night with their muscles aching are the working class. Did I say "muscles"? I meant "bones." They are the salt of the earth: white, black, brown, yellow, man, woman, straight, gay, trans, pick whatever divisive label you require. The rest of us are just parasites, building our 401(k)'s off the sweat of their brows. The Democratic Party abandoned those folks at least a generation ago. Last week, sadly, the workers bought into a narrative that was cheaply and insincerely flung at them by a cunning and ambitious con man. But what alternative did the Democrats offer them? If liberal ideas really are 24 caret gold (as the NYT still avows, doubling down on it since the election), then shame on the liberals: they should have explained their verities better to the unwashed. Anyway, work = sweat. Get real.
3
Not the majority. Clinton voters are the majority.
24
Nonsense. I'm sick of this silly argument. You think Trump would have fought the fight he did were the election based on a simple majority?
5
Clinton voters were "the majority" because Trump's strategy was to win the electoral vote and thus actually become the President. He could have spent more money campaigning in large states where he wasn't going to win any electoral votes, but that would have gotten him more popular votes but lost the election. Which would Hillary prefer now, in hindsight?
4
You losers just can't accept that people didn't want a corrupt, decrepit harridan as their president. And, get back to me when blacks start exhibiting some diversity in their voting the way that whites do.
37
corrupt, decrepit harridan for a president? Well that's your opinion. The majority of voters thought trump was corrupt, decrepit, and displays oh so many other negative characteristics.
Corrupt? So I guess cheating workers of their fair pay, is fine with you now? Oh right, its just good business. I keep forgetting how this ridiculous excuse permeated the Trumplodites rhetoric. Excusing everything vile about Trump for the campaign promise (remember, they campaign in poetry - in his case bad third grade poetry) of all those good paying jobs suddenly rushing back here. LOL!
Oh forget the mans actual business history of breaking deals, hiring slave labor, skirting union rules, etc, etc...because for Trump its just good business. But for anyone else its corruption of the highest order.
Proving unequivocally that most of the Trump voters are daft, and voted with their emotions, and hate of a woman they did not truly investigate - beyond what Fox News, all the faux news sites, Brietbart and Limbaugh has been spewing.
For me it was never truly about Trump, who is wholly inexperienced in governing, and coalition building - but the Who and the Whats he'd surround himself with. People who diddled his Ego, and now are his alleged experts. People who have outdated, outmoded and totally racist and sexist dogma as their only guides. People who will try to take more then they give back to the US citizenry. Because they're a bunch of greedy, self-absorbed self-righteous demagogues.
Wait and see how much trouble his staff and cabinet appointees cause him. It likely wont be Trump who brings his little sandcastle down - but all the crazies he surrounds himself with.
Oh forget the mans actual business history of breaking deals, hiring slave labor, skirting union rules, etc, etc...because for Trump its just good business. But for anyone else its corruption of the highest order.
Proving unequivocally that most of the Trump voters are daft, and voted with their emotions, and hate of a woman they did not truly investigate - beyond what Fox News, all the faux news sites, Brietbart and Limbaugh has been spewing.
For me it was never truly about Trump, who is wholly inexperienced in governing, and coalition building - but the Who and the Whats he'd surround himself with. People who diddled his Ego, and now are his alleged experts. People who have outdated, outmoded and totally racist and sexist dogma as their only guides. People who will try to take more then they give back to the US citizenry. Because they're a bunch of greedy, self-absorbed self-righteous demagogues.
Wait and see how much trouble his staff and cabinet appointees cause him. It likely wont be Trump who brings his little sandcastle down - but all the crazies he surrounds himself with.
Ugh! Harridan means "a strict, bossy old woman."
1. Trump is older than Clinton.
2. Chris Rock has a joke…when he asks his assistant to get him a cup of coffee, he's not asking. He's TELLING the assistant to get the coffee, he's just doing it nicely. So, president of the United States is the boss.
3. What's wrong with strict? Obama is strict, hence, no scandals in eight years.
[[And, get back to me when blacks start exhibiting some diversity in their voting the way that whites do.]]
There is no such thing as "blacks" and "whites."
1. Trump is older than Clinton.
2. Chris Rock has a joke…when he asks his assistant to get him a cup of coffee, he's not asking. He's TELLING the assistant to get the coffee, he's just doing it nicely. So, president of the United States is the boss.
3. What's wrong with strict? Obama is strict, hence, no scandals in eight years.
[[And, get back to me when blacks start exhibiting some diversity in their voting the way that whites do.]]
There is no such thing as "blacks" and "whites."
There wouldn't have been such a sizable white majority had not minority voters been scrubbed by the hundreds of thousands in the battleground states, because NY Times and other media aside, there was plenty of election fixing going on. And needless to say, the majority voted for Clinton. And it doesn't help that the electoral college is so unbalanced that a CA voters vote is worth about 1/4 of someone from Wyoming or Montana or Nebraska.
http://www.gregpalast.com/election-stolen-heres/
http://www.gregpalast.com/election-stolen-heres/
16
So what? Delaware has fewer people than my county, yet has 2 US Senators, same as the largest states. It prevents a dictatorship.
6
Last time I looked, Clinton was leading in the popular vote.
15
Sigh. That's because Trump et al campaigned to win the electoral college - the winning way to campaign. What's the point of focusing on the popular vote numbers if the electoral college is the one that counts? His campaign was smarter.
6
The New York Times and other media keep analyzing trends along race and gender lines...the black vote, the Hispanic vote, the white vote, the male vote, the female vote, college educated, non college educated, and various permutations of those. How about looking at the vote of the lower to middle income person who may be employed but not making a satisfactory income? That's who voted for Trump. People aren't as sexist, racist or xenophobic as the media likes to argue. They just want good jobs, better jobs. It's the economy, stupid. If Trump brings better jobs, he will be reelected. If not, he won't.
29
We are all people, we are all American citizens (well, most of us)- simply we are people, but where some see people, other see lists of types of people, it really is too sad. They simply don't get it (yet).
WE are the people.
WE are the people.
4
Jobs, the wall, and ISIS/Taliban totally obliterated. No more needed, initially.
2
How is it possible that the supposedly fading constituency of white working class voters played such a decisive role in the 2016 election?
could it be that they are tired of being treated like trogdolytes or not having a voice? It seems that every group seems to have a voice but them. Even the Democrats, with the exception of far left democrats, have abandoned them. Is it any surprise, as a result, they turned to a supposed (but not really) "anti-establishment" candidate pretending to "hear" their voice? The Democrats need to remember these questions in the next election. It may enable them to re-capture this group, ironically their historic base.
could it be that they are tired of being treated like trogdolytes or not having a voice? It seems that every group seems to have a voice but them. Even the Democrats, with the exception of far left democrats, have abandoned them. Is it any surprise, as a result, they turned to a supposed (but not really) "anti-establishment" candidate pretending to "hear" their voice? The Democrats need to remember these questions in the next election. It may enable them to re-capture this group, ironically their historic base.
19
Please explain how latinos, LGBT individuals and women voting for a candidate who they feel represents minority, gay and women's rights is morally superior to a poor white man voting for someone who he believes represents his interests? The people I know who consider themselves Democrats are just as self-centered and immoral as the people I know who call themselves Republicans. They wanted Hillary to win not for the sake of minority rights but so their own 401k's would continue to grow. The people who voted for Hillary against Bernie aren't for change, their for themselves, and those "dumb poor whites" can see right through them.
33
Because GOP legislation directly attacks women's rights (equal pay, abortion), minority rights (voter ID laws, anti-gun control, health care), and LGBT rights (marriage equality, etc.)
They also attack all working-class people through anti-union legislation and are against the minimum wage, so I'm not sure what white working class voters were voting for.
They also attack all working-class people through anti-union legislation and are against the minimum wage, so I'm not sure what white working class voters were voting for.
They are NOT a majority. Hillary got more votes by far.
13
Like the Eagles got more yards passing, but choked on too many fumbles. For a pragmatist, it's academic. They lost.
5
Every so often the adults have to step back into the picture and fix the nonsense that's going on. There are many groups in this country who have shown they are not ready to take the lead in moving America forward. White men and women aren't one of them.
4
Why is it necessary to point out to the self-proclaimed best and brightest that "Vote for us you deplorables" is a campaign slogan that won't work.
32
If you look at the law in Latin America, you will find that abortion is banned or severely restricted in most of Latin America. Even Cuba has a more restrictive abortion law than the US.
So why do Hispanics vote for pro-choice Democrats?
Secondly, in case someone has not noticed, Muslims are more conservative than the average American and arguably more conservative than the average Republican. True, their conservatism comes from Allah rather than from Jehovah, but since Allah and Jehovah are the same person, this is a linguistic quibble analogous to Frege's Morning Star, Evening Star example.
So why do Muslims vote for socially liberal Democrats?
I think the prime reason is that these groups fear racism and xenophobia from the Republicans.
But Trump is not actually racist or xenophobic. True, he once claimed that Obama was born in Kenya. But just last week he said the following:
"So, Mr. President, it was a great honor being with you and I look forward to being with you many, many more times in the future. Thank you for having me."
Trump in 2020 will be a formidable opponent. Democrats, do not rest in the illusion that he will be "easy to beat once people find out what he is like."
So why do Hispanics vote for pro-choice Democrats?
Secondly, in case someone has not noticed, Muslims are more conservative than the average American and arguably more conservative than the average Republican. True, their conservatism comes from Allah rather than from Jehovah, but since Allah and Jehovah are the same person, this is a linguistic quibble analogous to Frege's Morning Star, Evening Star example.
So why do Muslims vote for socially liberal Democrats?
I think the prime reason is that these groups fear racism and xenophobia from the Republicans.
But Trump is not actually racist or xenophobic. True, he once claimed that Obama was born in Kenya. But just last week he said the following:
"So, Mr. President, it was a great honor being with you and I look forward to being with you many, many more times in the future. Thank you for having me."
Trump in 2020 will be a formidable opponent. Democrats, do not rest in the illusion that he will be "easy to beat once people find out what he is like."
14
Not so fast. 29% of Latinos voted Trump. 29% of Asians voted Trump. This much? Considering Trump's racist comments, that's dumbfounding. Maybe these minorities are a little too conservative.
1
Why do whites need so much special attention and are so angry, but everyone else is told to get off their lazy butts and get an education and a job?
Married with one child, I left my husband, moved 3,000 miles away to my original home for a better life.
Discretionary income was literally $5 for two weeks after I paid for everything and bought two weeks of transportation because no matter how broke I was I could get back and forth to work. I was paid twice a month. February was a great month. Without daycare, I gave my kid a key and crossed my fingers.
I showed up everyday and paid my bills first. I maintained an A1 credit rating. I had my job take money for savings from my meager paycheck. When I got a better paying job or came into cash I saved it.
I earned three degrees, all paid in cash, while working full-time, bought two houses. My modest car is 12 years old and runs great because I maintain it. My husband retired when his union job shipped to Mexico.
LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush jr, Obama came and went and not once did I look to any of them or vote with the hopes of hurting someone doing better than me. Never been angry. All choices mine. Proud my unbringing bore me out. My mortgage is paid on time.
I worked after school as a teen, too, and now, it's been 50 years and I'm not even 65 yet and my SSA and Medicare are endangered because people hate.
Get off your butts. Because, white skin notwithstanding, nobody promised you a rose garden.
Married with one child, I left my husband, moved 3,000 miles away to my original home for a better life.
Discretionary income was literally $5 for two weeks after I paid for everything and bought two weeks of transportation because no matter how broke I was I could get back and forth to work. I was paid twice a month. February was a great month. Without daycare, I gave my kid a key and crossed my fingers.
I showed up everyday and paid my bills first. I maintained an A1 credit rating. I had my job take money for savings from my meager paycheck. When I got a better paying job or came into cash I saved it.
I earned three degrees, all paid in cash, while working full-time, bought two houses. My modest car is 12 years old and runs great because I maintain it. My husband retired when his union job shipped to Mexico.
LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush jr, Obama came and went and not once did I look to any of them or vote with the hopes of hurting someone doing better than me. Never been angry. All choices mine. Proud my unbringing bore me out. My mortgage is paid on time.
I worked after school as a teen, too, and now, it's been 50 years and I'm not even 65 yet and my SSA and Medicare are endangered because people hate.
Get off your butts. Because, white skin notwithstanding, nobody promised you a rose garden.
50
People of many colors are angry, people of many colors are lazy, uneducated whites have been told to get of their butts and work harder many times before, and whites are at least as educated as anyone else. That's four false assumptions baked into the beginning paragraph.
I see two ways for you and whatever group you identify with to go. You can try to get people on board to cooperate and build a bigger pie, or you can try to take something away from them so you can have it. If you pick the latter method, expect vigorous resistance.
The true culprits in the .001% have been setting groups against each other since the beginning of recorded history. Try not to fall for it.
I see two ways for you and whatever group you identify with to go. You can try to get people on board to cooperate and build a bigger pie, or you can try to take something away from them so you can have it. If you pick the latter method, expect vigorous resistance.
The true culprits in the .001% have been setting groups against each other since the beginning of recorded history. Try not to fall for it.
2
Identity politics taken to their extreme, contempt for gun rights, a wealthy dismissive Democratic Party and a lousy economy. The only surprise here is that more of the "others" didn't join the lefts favorite punching bag ( low income, low education whites) in voting for Trump. People are angry and frustrated across the political divide (see Bernie Sanders). The Democrats offered more of the same brew that has gotten many people nowhere.
23
White identity politics are bad. Latino identity politics are good.
23
Racial and economic divide discussed, with not one word about the destruction of the unions by Reagan in the 1980's? "Right To Work" resulted not only in huge benefits for his wealthy corporate cronies, but the useful effect of dissolving the social bonds between working class whites and minorities. This election is the inevitable result. Unions brought together ordinary men and women who otherwise had little in common. We're still feeling the ramifications of the Reagan administration's destruction of our democracy.
12
Voters’ ignorance of the issues was a much more serious problem and so was their indiscriminate rejection of the “establishment” exploited by a demagogue. The perils from democracy have been evident since Ancient Athens. Socrates did not hide his contempt for its main weaknesses: not requiring proof of knowledge of the issues by politicians, and treating the opinions of all citizens as equal in value. Plato, like Socrates, was convinced of the sinister nature of democracy. His views in Crito are still thought provoking with regard to the fairness and credibility of our form of government. Could it be true that our leaders are the bullies and political tyrants Plato describes? Does democracy inexorably lead to one-sided benefits for the ruling class, such as the horrendous income inequality facing us today?
Voter turnout in the 2016 presidential elections was 55.6%, lower than in 2012 (57.4%) which was lower than in 2008 (62.3%). But far more worrisome is the quality of voting. According to Michigan U., Americans fall into three categories in their knowledge of political issues: less than 1% are well informed, roughly 50% can answer only very simple questions, and the rest know next to nothing. This problem of voter apathy and ignorance has been facing us perennially. Perhaps we will solve it in the distant future. In the interim, we should put the blame mainly on ourselves, the voters, not on the politicians whom we select.
Voter turnout in the 2016 presidential elections was 55.6%, lower than in 2012 (57.4%) which was lower than in 2008 (62.3%). But far more worrisome is the quality of voting. According to Michigan U., Americans fall into three categories in their knowledge of political issues: less than 1% are well informed, roughly 50% can answer only very simple questions, and the rest know next to nothing. This problem of voter apathy and ignorance has been facing us perennially. Perhaps we will solve it in the distant future. In the interim, we should put the blame mainly on ourselves, the voters, not on the politicians whom we select.
7
What was that comment Hillary said?
"Basket of Deplorables"?
"Basket of Deplorables"?
26
Or maybe, "There were NO classified emails!" 4 Pinocchio's, right off.
3
Please remember that the "White Majority" needed the help of a corrupt FBI director and a hostile foreign power to get their boy Trump into the White House, and even then it still looks like most people of ALL colors in this country voted for his opponent. Ms. Clinton's final WINNING margin in the election's popular vote will exceed that of Kennedy in 1960 and Nixon in 1968.
Decent people, including those fooled into voting for Trump, are still in the majority in this country. They just don't live in the right places.
Decent people, including those fooled into voting for Trump, are still in the majority in this country. They just don't live in the right places.
18
After your team loses, the grief-stricken fans say, "Was a nice game ref! Too bad ya didn't see it!" But they saw it all too well.
2
There are well educated, white, mostly male, Americans we really should be frightened of. They are the CEO's of our multinational corporations. They are the ones who make 500 times more then their employees. They are the ones who spend their time trying to find ways to do away with our jobs by either outsourcing, shipping them overseas or automation.
12
Millions and millions of "educated" white males are affected in exactly the same ways. But our education gives us flexibility and resilience that enables us to get through hard times, or reorient ourselves to new times.
And we aren't going back to the days when having a high school diploma was *the* sign of achievement. But too many people, like those that just voted for a privileged, wealthy, powerful, educated white male salesman, think every day should be 1958. Don't you see anything wrong with that?
And we aren't going back to the days when having a high school diploma was *the* sign of achievement. But too many people, like those that just voted for a privileged, wealthy, powerful, educated white male salesman, think every day should be 1958. Don't you see anything wrong with that?
7
The disgusting beauty of trump's message is that is was everything to all white people. Unfortunately there are a lot of dumb and gullible white people out there. People who think he will actually deliver on his promises. What these people failed to realize, though it was on clear display, is that trump only cares about three things: fame, power and money. If you can't deliver any of the three to him you'll never matter to him. The ironic thing about trumpkins is that der fuhrer's catastrophic reign will fall the hardest and fastest on them.
12
As a woman of color in her fifties, I studied US History, and how the election of Richard Nixon set the stage for the Watergate corruption trials. I came home from school and watched the hearings. It taught me that evil could hide behind a man who used the phrases, "forgotten Americans", who claimed to speak for the"silent majority", and who had nothing but hatred for any media he could not control. I had hoped the Nixon followers would all die off, but they all continue, even more cruel with social media, and more corrupt with ties to the dictator Putin. I only hope Trump will be forced from office before he and his GOP thugs finish destroying America.
10
Many of Nixon's followers have died off, but the techniques Nixon used still work, as we have found out recently.
I hope Trump isn't forced from office because then we get Pence. He is Trump's insurance against impeachment.
I hope Trump isn't forced from office because then we get Pence. He is Trump's insurance against impeachment.
In order to build his house of race cards, Mr. Edsall ignores one minor aspect of the Decade of the 60's and its impact on America. And, no, I'm not referring to the Beatles, the Stones and the rest of the British Invasion.
Democrats can fake amnesia about the election of 1968, but history and a lot of Americans recall vividly why Nixon won.
The rest of Edsall's treatise is flawed because of this disingenuous intellectualism.
Democrats can fake amnesia about the election of 1968, but history and a lot of Americans recall vividly why Nixon won.
The rest of Edsall's treatise is flawed because of this disingenuous intellectualism.
5
Nixon won after a particularly notable act of faux-diplomacy that amounted to treason. That part is more forgotten than the fact that Nixon was indeed a president.
8
Nixon won with less votes than Hillary has right now.
1
The problem with this analysis - and so many others like it - is that it's focused on the impact of one demographic slice, in this case white, non-college educated voters, who "made THE difference". Yes, of course they made A difference, but so did the working class women who didn't vote for Hillary, and the blacks and Hispanic working people who didn't vote for her (against the assumption that they would ALL vote or her instead of the xenophobic racist). And as all the pundits and "smart" people run around trying to figure out Hillary lost, their narrow-minded insistence on slicing up the electorate into demographic groups prevent them from seeing the truth: the middle and working class was beyond fed up with being left out of all the "prosperity" the Establishment was talking about for decades.
Sanders knew/knows that (as does Sherrod Brown from his article today), and Trump tapped into that, but Hillary and the DNC and the MSM (especially this paper) were blind to it. If the Dems want to become relevant again they'd better abandon their Third Way policies and get 100% behind working men and women of ALL demographics. To paraphrase Bill Clinton (who then promptly forgot it): It's the ECONOMICS stupid!
Sanders knew/knows that (as does Sherrod Brown from his article today), and Trump tapped into that, but Hillary and the DNC and the MSM (especially this paper) were blind to it. If the Dems want to become relevant again they'd better abandon their Third Way policies and get 100% behind working men and women of ALL demographics. To paraphrase Bill Clinton (who then promptly forgot it): It's the ECONOMICS stupid!
7
Most obviously,...there isn't a "stalemate between the two parties." The Republicans have completed the Quadfecta....huge majority advantages in Congress, State Legislatures, Governorships and now the Presidency, Supreme Court (since 1972). Democrats have entered into Stage 5 terminal political status, and respond by turning on the spin machine, and refusing corrective treatments.
5
"The election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 further strengthened the commitment of the white working class to Republican presidential candidates, especially in the North." The Reagan Democrats. What a crock. I was a member of local 219 of the Int. Printing Pressman's Union in the late 70's when they pooped on those coming behind them by accepting a 2 tiered pay scale. It was union people who helped put him in. It was the ME instead of US. It was the White Majority's fathers, uncles and older brothers.
You can train all the welders and trades people you want but if you can't pass legislation that keeps corporate taxes high on products manufactured overseas and then brought back into the country, you'll simply have a bunch of angry trained unemployed workers. Think the GOP wants that? If Carrier stays it will be because of taxpayer funded corporate welfare.
Walmart brought America to it's knees by developing China. The US trade deficit with China is almost twice as much as the trade deficit with the rest of the world combined. China imported more than it exported until the second Reagan term. Then exports quadrupled in terms of US dollars.
How do you talk to a constituency that shops at Walmart and gets its high hating and blaming other people? How do you talk to a constituency that yearns for the imagined 50s. They took their hearing protection with them when their job was outsourced and they can't hear anything.
You can train all the welders and trades people you want but if you can't pass legislation that keeps corporate taxes high on products manufactured overseas and then brought back into the country, you'll simply have a bunch of angry trained unemployed workers. Think the GOP wants that? If Carrier stays it will be because of taxpayer funded corporate welfare.
Walmart brought America to it's knees by developing China. The US trade deficit with China is almost twice as much as the trade deficit with the rest of the world combined. China imported more than it exported until the second Reagan term. Then exports quadrupled in terms of US dollars.
How do you talk to a constituency that shops at Walmart and gets its high hating and blaming other people? How do you talk to a constituency that yearns for the imagined 50s. They took their hearing protection with them when their job was outsourced and they can't hear anything.
4
It is mind boggling that the Party that represents the richest 1% of Americans--and I would argue only that 1%--can win an election. I understand pretty well how they did it, but the Democratic Party will not call them out. How can Democrats possibly take back power if they refuse to confront the single major political issue of the day and simply let Republicans get away with it? I heard nothing serious about economics in this election cycle from Democrats; what I heard from Republicans was complete nonsense--and I have a better term.
1
The Political Pendulum always swings back and forth as the
Party in Power always over-reaches.
For those who do not want to wait until the next election
why not make a heart felt appeal to the Electors to vote for
Pence or Tim Kaine ?
Party in Power always over-reaches.
For those who do not want to wait until the next election
why not make a heart felt appeal to the Electors to vote for
Pence or Tim Kaine ?
1
I, and many others, are tired of hearing the professional class drone on about demographics. "The white working class" (as if they're some species that must be studied. "Who are these people? What do they want?") "Minorities" - "millennials" "college-educated white women" - frankly, y'all have been wrong about everything this election season - and you're wrong about this obsession you have with demographics.
People's lives out here (outside the ivory towers you folks inhabit) are more nuanced than you seem able to grasp. But one thing - almost all of the "working class, the poor, and increasing numbers of certain white-collar workers, minorities, whites, women, men", - have in common is just wanting to live a decent life - one that provides them with what they need and maybe now and then what they want. That's it!
But over the yrs it's become glaringly obvious to multi-millions of us, that the gov't, the legislation they write, the actions they take are in service to corporations, Wall St, and the elite. From top to bottom it's one big rip-off, one huge exploitative trap - from over-priced real estate, student loans, the profit-driven ACA, monopolies and consolidation, legal loopholes for thee, fines and arrests for the rest - etc.
Here's the magic to getting enthusiastic votes from every demo - serve the common good - do what's right and moral. Why have a country? Is it for eternal GDP growth, or for the lives of its people - not corporations. Gotta choose.
People's lives out here (outside the ivory towers you folks inhabit) are more nuanced than you seem able to grasp. But one thing - almost all of the "working class, the poor, and increasing numbers of certain white-collar workers, minorities, whites, women, men", - have in common is just wanting to live a decent life - one that provides them with what they need and maybe now and then what they want. That's it!
But over the yrs it's become glaringly obvious to multi-millions of us, that the gov't, the legislation they write, the actions they take are in service to corporations, Wall St, and the elite. From top to bottom it's one big rip-off, one huge exploitative trap - from over-priced real estate, student loans, the profit-driven ACA, monopolies and consolidation, legal loopholes for thee, fines and arrests for the rest - etc.
Here's the magic to getting enthusiastic votes from every demo - serve the common good - do what's right and moral. Why have a country? Is it for eternal GDP growth, or for the lives of its people - not corporations. Gotta choose.
16
This white, college educated liberal says (despite the gratuitous insults) you're right. This problem has been brewing for a long time, at least from the early 80s Reagan recession that saw millions of manufacturing workers laid off, often without one minute's notice, mills torn down and jobs shifted overseas (or the non-union South). I was in Pittsburgh at the time and it was shocking, frightening, and heartbreaking to see century-old communities destroyed along with their social networks, extended families, and financial security. Those mills were replaced by K Marts and Starbucks. This, by the way, was a direct result of Reagan policies to bust the unions and deregulate industry, including financial. It worked. And it's working to this day.
But now you have elected someone who talks a good game but has no chance of making good on his rants, even if he knew how. Those mills will never reopen, Toyota will not go away, and businesses love the tax breaks of "off-shoring" (sounds so nice, doesn't it?). trump is not going to mess with any of that because his masters will be the same people and he likes it when they stay in his hotels and play on his golf courses. Hillary, on the other hand, can talk to those people with authority rather than be bullied. Being comfortable in a room with the business leaders of the country is actually one very good qualification for president. Her liberal instincts could have blunted some of their greed. No way can that happen now. Congrats.
But now you have elected someone who talks a good game but has no chance of making good on his rants, even if he knew how. Those mills will never reopen, Toyota will not go away, and businesses love the tax breaks of "off-shoring" (sounds so nice, doesn't it?). trump is not going to mess with any of that because his masters will be the same people and he likes it when they stay in his hotels and play on his golf courses. Hillary, on the other hand, can talk to those people with authority rather than be bullied. Being comfortable in a room with the business leaders of the country is actually one very good qualification for president. Her liberal instincts could have blunted some of their greed. No way can that happen now. Congrats.
4
And Obama called a Massachusetts cop "stupid" during the Massachusetts senate election 7 years ago (a Republican won). And Obama supports charter schools instead of teachers' unions. Elitism.
2
Mr. Edsall's analysis seems to only tell part of the story. First, if one were to read this article without context, one would think Trump won a landslide through this "silent majority." However, Trump's victory was essentially a victory of electoral tactics. Last I checked, Clinton had more popular votes, but lost many key states by small margins. This was not some powerful, popular uprising. The Clinton campaign misread its situation and started ambitiously putting resources into red states like Arizona and Texas instead of spreading the message in the real swing states.
Second, analyzing this purely by race and education overlooks that Trump voters are older and actually middle class, with a higher median income than the average American voter overall.
I am concerned that the Democratic Party, having lost the election because of a faulty narrative, will now immediately buy into another in a panic. The Democratic Party will become obsessed with chasing the "rural blue collar white voter," and end up dismantling the coalition it had built.
Second, analyzing this purely by race and education overlooks that Trump voters are older and actually middle class, with a higher median income than the average American voter overall.
I am concerned that the Democratic Party, having lost the election because of a faulty narrative, will now immediately buy into another in a panic. The Democratic Party will become obsessed with chasing the "rural blue collar white voter," and end up dismantling the coalition it had built.
4
With the failure of nearly every poll to correctly pick the outcome of the Presidential and Congressional races, why are the percentages and split between college-educated and non-college educated voters still being accepted as gospel? As a post-graduate educated 71 year old woman who supported Clinton, I was astounded to learn that all but two of the 22+ white college educated males I know supported Trump. A number of their college educated wives did as well, as did virtually all of the educated, very religious members of my extended family. Granted, we are all “of an age” (mid-60's or older), and many of the men are veterans, apparently an important determinant despite the fact that Trump was a draft dodger six times over. Their willingness to overlook Trump's outrageous outbursts, his lack of experience and preparation, the dangerous implications of his policies, continues to anger and befuddle me. Many of these otherwise decent people depended on Fox News (sic), Rush Limbaugh and his ilk, and other alt-right sites for their understanding of issues and events, and many willingly accepted the most vile accusations against Clinton. These "educated" Trump voters don't read the NYT, the WP, the Atlantic, Newsweek or even Time... so how to reach them? Who is exploring the willingness of the college educated whites to buy into the conspiracy disinformation or excuse the endless outrages of Trump and his coterie?
8
A lot of college educated whites are living the good life and reflexively vote for the people who they think won't threaten it by, for example, raising their taxes by ten cents. trump falls into that category. He's going to be the tool of the rich as much as any republican or Democrat would be. College educated whites are OK with that, while less educated whites are oblivious to it. (All they're really concerned with is their guns.)
4
The NYT, with all of its false editorial narrative (white privilege, check your race, triggering, and safe spaces) is a BIG reason Trump won.
5
"...‘giveaway’ means too much middle class money going to blacks and the poor.”
No! It means too much (confiscated) middle class money and incessant, counter-productive news media attention going to programs that do not address root problems, going to efforts that are enabling failure instead of success, going to lazy people (many of them white!) who don't need help, going to people who truly need help but are getting the fish instead of the fishing pole. These are the things that bother conservatives -- not skin color, as the self-serving race hustlers and clueless news media accuse.
The epitome of helping others is helping them in a way that is effective. You can throw all the love and good intentions and generosity you want, at helping others -- this may feel good and give you some tear-jerker talking points, but these are INPUTS only. When it comes to OUTCOMES, if the love and kindness and funding don't solve the problem, if it is not a sustainable outcome, then you have accomplished nothing -- except angering those from whom you took the resources to give away.
No! It means too much (confiscated) middle class money and incessant, counter-productive news media attention going to programs that do not address root problems, going to efforts that are enabling failure instead of success, going to lazy people (many of them white!) who don't need help, going to people who truly need help but are getting the fish instead of the fishing pole. These are the things that bother conservatives -- not skin color, as the self-serving race hustlers and clueless news media accuse.
The epitome of helping others is helping them in a way that is effective. You can throw all the love and good intentions and generosity you want, at helping others -- this may feel good and give you some tear-jerker talking points, but these are INPUTS only. When it comes to OUTCOMES, if the love and kindness and funding don't solve the problem, if it is not a sustainable outcome, then you have accomplished nothing -- except angering those from whom you took the resources to give away.
11
Mr. Edsall (and the New York Times) -- Many "college educated" voters supported and voted for Trump - mainly because he ran as the nominee of the Republican Party. Why do you believe earning a college degree makes you immune to voting Republican? You should get out more.
11
"This apostasy among white voters has certainly not gone unnoticed, and party strategists have long debated ..." This sentence was obviously written by a partisan Democrat, not by a neutral observer. Only a group that lost its voters would refer to the loss as "apostasy", and the "party strategists" obviously means "Democratic Party strategists".
9
@charlesbalpha:
Trump didnt get any bigger share of white vote than Romney, but his share among minorities increased. Apparently these strategists either dont know this or chose to ignore when they looked for reasons to blame the white vote for the currect disaster Hillary delivered to them.
They also ignored the open borders factor: most people are against them, but the left wing press and their strategists covertly favor them.
Trump didnt get any bigger share of white vote than Romney, but his share among minorities increased. Apparently these strategists either dont know this or chose to ignore when they looked for reasons to blame the white vote for the currect disaster Hillary delivered to them.
They also ignored the open borders factor: most people are against them, but the left wing press and their strategists covertly favor them.
8
that support is not covert but pretty out in the open.
5
Analyze why Trump won till the cows come home, and then until they hit the sack. My analysis consists of two words: "Open Borders".
17
Bi-partisan failure to enforce immigration laws for the last 30 years since the misbegotten Reagan amnesty of 1986 eventually created widespread fury. So, yes, open borders eventually led to a revolt.
3
And the missing text seems to included now. Thanks!
This is an interesting analysis. But it leaves out one very important component of the 2016 GOP victory: Sexism. After Obama's victories of 2008 and 2012, voting for a woman was just a bridge too far. None of her deficits as a candidate come close to Trump's...except one: everything she does is viewed through the aperture of "she's a woman." Consequently, she's held to a standard of perfection no male candidate has ever been held to. Never.
4
I voted for Obama both times. In 2008, I caucused for Obama because Clinton had voted for the Iraq War--cynically voted for the Iraq War; and, I went on to vote for Obama because I thought he might extricate the U.S. from the Iraq War. In 2012, I voted for Obama because I found him to be the least objectionable candidate. In 2016, in that Bernie Sanders was not the candidate of the Democrat Party, I did not vote Democrat--I did not vote for Clinton. I did not vote for Trump for reasons I should not have to explain. I did not vote for Clinton for the non-misogynist reasons stated with great clarity (and not a little bit of courage) by author Naomi Klein in the pages of this newspaper (although I strongly suspect CGTWET of Los Angeles would diagnose that I am an unconscious, sleepwalking misogynist, which misogyny somehow manifested from me being a racist upset with a black president I voted for twice). Knowing Kansas's electoral votes would go to Trump made it easy to vote for Johnson or Stein, and in the end I voted for Johnson, along with 53,648 other deluded souls in Kansas (4.7% of the vote). Had there been no third-party candidates, I most likely would not have voted for Clinton. By the way, though candidate Obama didn't have a long history in 2008, in that he was human I sort of suspected he wasn't perfect.
4
I thought that it was Hillary who kept playing the "I am a woman" card. She did this perpetually during the election and probably played a role in her defeat that few care to admit. After all, implying that a woman is more capable to run a country than a man, per se, is pretty sexist.
10
Such a nonsense. A man with Hillary Clintons history would never ever have been nominated.
2
When your prospects are shrinking and someone says that you have to share part of what's left with these other people who don't look like you, and who think you have been cheating them for centuries, what do you expect? Love and Kumbaya? Electioneers have been pitting groups against one another for generations, and everyone is surprised and upset that white people vote that they think is their own interest, and don't vote for the person who bends over backwards to satisfy everybody else. The Democrats bet on everybody else, and they lost. If Trump had been a reasonable person of good character, it would have been a blowout.
If you get your head out of the details and look at the bigger picture, you see a nation where most people don't spend a lot of time sorting out which news source is accurate, or trying to correct for the bias they see. They vote what they think will work for them, and if it works for everybody else too, that's good but I gotta feed my family and pay my mortgage. Maslow trumps Jung every time.
If you get your head out of the details and look at the bigger picture, you see a nation where most people don't spend a lot of time sorting out which news source is accurate, or trying to correct for the bias they see. They vote what they think will work for them, and if it works for everybody else too, that's good but I gotta feed my family and pay my mortgage. Maslow trumps Jung every time.
9
In troubles me how short-sighted the NE-centric Democratic party has become. Anyone living in the West Coast cities or Denver could have told you about the hallowing out of the educated in the Mid-West to the West Coast. Just about everyone you meet out here is an educated millennial coming from Ohio, Michigan or PA. With the electoral college in place, the GOP in charge of the mid-west and southern states have an easy task in hand. Keep making their states unattractive and uninviting to the educated, the liberal, the non-whites and the homosexuals. The continued population growth along the West Coast and NYC will never win against the electoral college system and it's only going to get worse.
3
This article highlights one of the greatest lessons of this election and the 1994 election.
If the white majority sees the President and Congress as paying more undue attention to the interests of self-identified minorities, there is a backlash.
So in a way, the push to advance identity politics is counterproductive. What our representatives should do--obviously--is promote policies, not racial-identity special interests.
If the white majority sees the President and Congress as paying more undue attention to the interests of self-identified minorities, there is a backlash.
So in a way, the push to advance identity politics is counterproductive. What our representatives should do--obviously--is promote policies, not racial-identity special interests.
7
@Mmm - please add gender identity special interests as well.
3
Historians, economists and sociologists will point to the period from 1945 to 1979 as being the high water mark of the American middle and working classes as well as being an aberration in America's social and economic history. Unions were strong, work was plentiful and well paid, and people moved in droves to the cities.
Then, in 1980 the US elected a president who would make eviscerating unions politically and socially acceptable and who would unabashedly appeal to the baser sentiments of those most impacted by his policies.
By the end of the 20th century globalization was an accomplished, if unaccepted, fact. Jobs moved overseas and the remaining working and middle class jobs (and pay) were in decline. Where were the people most affected? Voting for those who put them in the place they found themselves.
In 2000 the US elected a president who unabashedly admitted that his base was the now infamous top 1%. Where were the remaining 99%? Ignoring the financial, industrial and social ramifications of those for whom they voted.
All the while, a mostly Republican congress was cutting taxes for corporations and the very wealthy, money lost that could pay for re-education, needed infrastructure work that would employ thousands, as well as ensure clean air, clean water for everyone.
Elections have consequences.
Sometimes, voters do get what they vote for...
Then, in 1980 the US elected a president who would make eviscerating unions politically and socially acceptable and who would unabashedly appeal to the baser sentiments of those most impacted by his policies.
By the end of the 20th century globalization was an accomplished, if unaccepted, fact. Jobs moved overseas and the remaining working and middle class jobs (and pay) were in decline. Where were the people most affected? Voting for those who put them in the place they found themselves.
In 2000 the US elected a president who unabashedly admitted that his base was the now infamous top 1%. Where were the remaining 99%? Ignoring the financial, industrial and social ramifications of those for whom they voted.
All the while, a mostly Republican congress was cutting taxes for corporations and the very wealthy, money lost that could pay for re-education, needed infrastructure work that would employ thousands, as well as ensure clean air, clean water for everyone.
Elections have consequences.
Sometimes, voters do get what they vote for...
10
"In 2004, those with incomes under $30,000 voted Democratic by 20 points; in 2016, these voters voted Democratic by 12 points, a 40 percent decline."
This is the kind of statement that looks objective and is totally misleading. Yes, there was a 40% decline in the DIFFERENTIAL, but there was nothing like a 40% decline in the percentage of folks who voted Democratic. In fact, that decrease was probably on the order of 4-5%. Shame on you.
This is the kind of statement that looks objective and is totally misleading. Yes, there was a 40% decline in the DIFFERENTIAL, but there was nothing like a 40% decline in the percentage of folks who voted Democratic. In fact, that decrease was probably on the order of 4-5%. Shame on you.
5
Or, one might just think that a lot of what happened in 2016 was primarily about seeking change.
The Democrats held the Presidency for 8 years. There were no major crises. People get complacent and think, "Whee, let's roll the dice.". And Trump sure seems different.
It is interesting to think about the aggrieved feelings of victim hood. And how Trump has turned Reagan's joke on its head. Trump now promises that "We are the government and are here to help." And now people applaud instead of laugh.
Since Nixon, Republicans have used the politics of divisiveness - Agnew, the attack dog against the hippies and the media, Reagan using the Southern Strategy and the attack on Unions. Bush with his anti-regulation kick. Now Trump with his attack on political correctness ( the permission to not only think but act on bigotry) and on the establishment.
And it always works, until the economy goes into recession or there is some other disaster like the Iraq War. Then people are forced to look more closely at who is responsible rather than just do the typical knee jerk reaction.
The Democrats held the Presidency for 8 years. There were no major crises. People get complacent and think, "Whee, let's roll the dice.". And Trump sure seems different.
It is interesting to think about the aggrieved feelings of victim hood. And how Trump has turned Reagan's joke on its head. Trump now promises that "We are the government and are here to help." And now people applaud instead of laugh.
Since Nixon, Republicans have used the politics of divisiveness - Agnew, the attack dog against the hippies and the media, Reagan using the Southern Strategy and the attack on Unions. Bush with his anti-regulation kick. Now Trump with his attack on political correctness ( the permission to not only think but act on bigotry) and on the establishment.
And it always works, until the economy goes into recession or there is some other disaster like the Iraq War. Then people are forced to look more closely at who is responsible rather than just do the typical knee jerk reaction.
3
The dumbing down of America. They do not know the difference between the parties.
4
An inevitable result of Obama eviscerating No Child Left Behind on behalf of the standards-averse Public Teachers Unions.
8
Non-college educated whites who feel disrespected have no one else to blame but themselves. It is they who thought they were entitled to an easy life of guaranteed employment, and while the world raced past did nothing to educate or improve themselves. It won't take four years for them to realize their lives are not improving; their lives tilted into the abyss the very second they thought they could be complacent and work in a factory or auto shop like daddy. As an ex-blue collar, late to go to college white male (liberal) I have one thing to say to you rust-belt, mid west and southern sad sacks: Why don't you pick yourself up by your own bootstraps?
9
This may be a misreading of Nixon, who was a cynic domestically, which is to put it kindly. If he had been elected President in 1960, he would have signed almost any civil rights legislation put before him—so long as he got the credit and the votes that came with it—maybe what he later tried with his support of affirmative action. The Southern Strategy was almost an accident of history: it presented a better opportunity for Nixon.
1
Edsall says a 1985 study of white working-class discontent found that for these voters “Blacks constitute the explanation of their vulnerability and for almost everything that has gone wrong in their lives.” Tell us something we don’t already know with blazing certainty since the Trump election. Maybe the Democrats should just defend their decades-long struggle to raise taxes on the 1% back toward Eisenhower-era levels, easing tax burdens on the middle class and not abandoning their principles of social justice.
2
the Democrats principles of social justice, today, do not apply to white males but only tow women, Hispanics, blacks and the transgender. That is part of the problem (and the betrayal of the principal of social justice for ALL).
7
Not true. Equal rights means equal. I think many disgruntled whites think they are inherently superior to everyone else. So they are baffled when life doesn't work out the way they think it should. Success takes work and some luck. But you got to work first, starting in school.
1
Yoda, how does social justice for the groups you listed equate to social injustice for white males?
For what it's worth: the only group that will look out for anyone's economic interest is their own. So unionize already. As Trump so nicely put it. What have you got to lose.
8
Just a well done piece, as most of Mr. Edsall's writing tends to be. Well studied and researched and certainly revelatory.
American history has always been a story about race. First in the conquest of the continent, then through slavery and the civil war, finally through civil rights and the browning of America. In our desire to fulfill the psychological desire to be an egalitarian society, at least by those who run the media and large institutions, we tend to hush or downplay the perseverance of this "endowed superiority" within the white psyche. Demographic change, Mr. Obama's and now Mr. Trump's elections have thankfully brought this issue back to full view. There is a pervasive cultural assumption among white people, particularly in the vast middle of the country, that whites should always have assumed higher social standing. Most of these people do not want any harm to come to minorities, but they do feel they should come first. Many pundits like to place the emphasis on economic disillusionment as the cause of the working class migration to Republicanism, but these people are not stupid, and certainly realize that Democrats have a more beneficial policy agenda for the working class. They are casting political allegiance for another reason. I think Mr. Edall's point is that there is a fundamental racial component, which has to be addressed. Whites will become just another minority group in due time, and how that plays out is the next chapter of this American story.
American history has always been a story about race. First in the conquest of the continent, then through slavery and the civil war, finally through civil rights and the browning of America. In our desire to fulfill the psychological desire to be an egalitarian society, at least by those who run the media and large institutions, we tend to hush or downplay the perseverance of this "endowed superiority" within the white psyche. Demographic change, Mr. Obama's and now Mr. Trump's elections have thankfully brought this issue back to full view. There is a pervasive cultural assumption among white people, particularly in the vast middle of the country, that whites should always have assumed higher social standing. Most of these people do not want any harm to come to minorities, but they do feel they should come first. Many pundits like to place the emphasis on economic disillusionment as the cause of the working class migration to Republicanism, but these people are not stupid, and certainly realize that Democrats have a more beneficial policy agenda for the working class. They are casting political allegiance for another reason. I think Mr. Edall's point is that there is a fundamental racial component, which has to be addressed. Whites will become just another minority group in due time, and how that plays out is the next chapter of this American story.
2
As someone usually referred to as 'liberal,' I used to think that we could wait on the actuarial tables to do our work for us.
But I no longer believe that, especially in the face of cascading populist electoral wins in western Europe and now, the United States.
Winning elections requires a winning argument, an exciting, media-savvy candidate and a moment.
We had none of these on November 8.
But I no longer believe that, especially in the face of cascading populist electoral wins in western Europe and now, the United States.
Winning elections requires a winning argument, an exciting, media-savvy candidate and a moment.
We had none of these on November 8.
6
This NYT analysis of dem woes is totally off the mark.
It focuses only on macro trends, and still argues that approaches of diversity, tolerance, globalism, massive welfare and political correctness are the prime factors moving the electorate. They are integral to the liberal/progressive agenda, which time and time again has been proven to be toxic to the voters.
When the dem party won, they won almost solely on the basis of the individual candidate - who was so popular and charming that his agenda wasn’t an obstacle. Think of Kennedy, Clinton, Obama. But when they fielded mediocre candidates (Dukakis, Gore, Kerry), and of course the disastrous Hillary, they lost.
And the very popular Obama in effect destroyed the party which carried him to power - the dems. Why? Most likely because the party wasn’t and isn’t important to him; only his legacy. Just memorize these events, after he was awarded full power in 2008:
2009 - loses filibuster-proof senate
2010 - loses the House
2014 - loses the Senate
2016 - loses the Presidency.
And all along, gives up state level offices to GOP on massive scale.
So, who will be the leader of the dems? They need one, they need one badly, and hopefully they will get him. But in the meantime, for at least 4 years, they have no one. And no tinkering of the liberal agendsa will save the dems from getting trampled on by the experienced and popular GOP prospects on their “bench”.
It focuses only on macro trends, and still argues that approaches of diversity, tolerance, globalism, massive welfare and political correctness are the prime factors moving the electorate. They are integral to the liberal/progressive agenda, which time and time again has been proven to be toxic to the voters.
When the dem party won, they won almost solely on the basis of the individual candidate - who was so popular and charming that his agenda wasn’t an obstacle. Think of Kennedy, Clinton, Obama. But when they fielded mediocre candidates (Dukakis, Gore, Kerry), and of course the disastrous Hillary, they lost.
And the very popular Obama in effect destroyed the party which carried him to power - the dems. Why? Most likely because the party wasn’t and isn’t important to him; only his legacy. Just memorize these events, after he was awarded full power in 2008:
2009 - loses filibuster-proof senate
2010 - loses the House
2014 - loses the Senate
2016 - loses the Presidency.
And all along, gives up state level offices to GOP on massive scale.
So, who will be the leader of the dems? They need one, they need one badly, and hopefully they will get him. But in the meantime, for at least 4 years, they have no one. And no tinkering of the liberal agendsa will save the dems from getting trampled on by the experienced and popular GOP prospects on their “bench”.
7
Note to the DNC:
1. Stop dividing the electorate up by gender, skin color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.
2. Stop believing the pollsters who tell you about the coming Hispanic tidal wave that will put in power for the rest of the century.
3. Take a lesson from Bernie Sanders. He understood the anxiety most Americans feel because of yawning income inequality. He energized the voters who probably sat this election out and gave it to Trump.
1. Stop dividing the electorate up by gender, skin color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.
2. Stop believing the pollsters who tell you about the coming Hispanic tidal wave that will put in power for the rest of the century.
3. Take a lesson from Bernie Sanders. He understood the anxiety most Americans feel because of yawning income inequality. He energized the voters who probably sat this election out and gave it to Trump.
11
I have been angry at white men since they killed all the bison.
7
The problem for Democrats now is not how much farther left they will stray, but how to get those disaffected voters back from the Trump mandate. I can tell you being one of them myself, that the party has got to move more centrist--leave off outliers like Warren and Sanders, and move more to the center--folks like Tom Carper, Bill Nelson and Claire McCaskill would be a good start. This may be the only way to save the party going forward. Moving more and more to the left is a death knell.
8
Not so. Leftward is the future of the Democratic party, where the enthusiasm and the next generation is, despite what the 100,000 extra Trump votes in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin might lead some to believe. Fortunately, universal healthcare, paid family leave,living wages, social security and medicare, strong unions, and environmental protections will benefit us all.
Blah blah blah. When the Dems get the backbone to stand up to the rich and powerful and fight hard, constantly, and loudly for a substantive reduction in economic inequality--in other words, when they return to being Democrats--then the working class will vote for them. And not before.
16
I am from one of those small, all-white towns where the mills are closing and the only growth industries are dollar stores and the prison.
I get the economic frustration. I can stretch a bit and see why the people there feel it's a betrayal when the younger generation moves away to the big city.
But for Pete's sake, if these people want their concerns taken seriously and don't want to be tarred as racist rubes, they should stop encouraging the white supremacists and cockamamie conspiracy theorists.
I get the economic frustration. I can stretch a bit and see why the people there feel it's a betrayal when the younger generation moves away to the big city.
But for Pete's sake, if these people want their concerns taken seriously and don't want to be tarred as racist rubes, they should stop encouraging the white supremacists and cockamamie conspiracy theorists.
9
@di:
They werent encouraging any supremacists or cockamamie conspiracy theorists. They voted for Trump as their best hope to remove liberals from White House. They blame the left for their woes, and in most part they are correct.
They werent encouraging any supremacists or cockamamie conspiracy theorists. They voted for Trump as their best hope to remove liberals from White House. They blame the left for their woes, and in most part they are correct.
8
rimantas- It would be more possible to take your comment seriously if you provided examples to support your claim. Otherwise you are likely to be dismissed as someone who simply has an uninformed opinion.
2
I graduated from the University of California. I met more "educated" fools during those four years than in the following 40.
8
"White tribalism or ethnocentrism — whatever you want to call it — is undeniably a powerful force."
I want to call it what it is: white supremacy and racism.
I want to call it what it is: white supremacy and racism.
10
I think you are thinking of the black panthers. Don't you remember the pogrom of Koreans, by blacks, during the Rodney king riots?
2
This time they voted against Hillary-a woman.
5
The majority of white women over age 45 voted against Hillary. I don't think that gender was the main reason. It appears that supporting their "white" demographic was more important than supporting a "woman".
4
What happened to the demographic change that I kept hearing about before the election that was going to render the Repubs obsolete? Now all I'm hearing about is that the Dems abandoned the white working class. Come on, folks, stop playing these games. The white working class has been voting against its own interests at least since Nixon and his Southern strategy. And yes, it is racist at its core and Trump knew how to press that button. Always good to have a scapegoat to explain why you're not doing so well. When black men don't have jobs or take drugs it's because they're lazy and just want to have a good time. When white men do the same they want pity, and so much for "pull yourself up by your bootstraps." Face it, you're not better than anyone else and being told that you are by some jillionaire who couldn't care less about you isn't going to change your lives. The world has changed--get yourselves an education, stop having children you can't afford, and vote for the people who have actual solutions not just feel-good tropes.
12
This is just the sort of comment that makes the white working classs hate Democrats. Don't run for office. You won't get elected.
11
Theresa,
much of what you say also applies to blacks. yet you target it only to whites. Very racist. Then you wonder why so many white working class citizens do not vote for your party. be more introspective. Would you say such a thing to blacks (or any non-white)?
much of what you say also applies to blacks. yet you target it only to whites. Very racist. Then you wonder why so many white working class citizens do not vote for your party. be more introspective. Would you say such a thing to blacks (or any non-white)?
2
When you do not bother to even consider that there is a world beyond your daily environment, you cannot adapt, and you get left behind.
Too many people do take the time to realize that fact and do something about it for me to feel an ounce of sympathy for those who do not.
It is past time for the white working class to find and make use of the very bootstraps they always demand from their minority counterparts.
Too many people do take the time to realize that fact and do something about it for me to feel an ounce of sympathy for those who do not.
It is past time for the white working class to find and make use of the very bootstraps they always demand from their minority counterparts.
14
Interesting and valuable perspective. But one point: you write that in 1968, some white voters were "prompted" to vote for Nixon, as a result of the Democratic party's commitment to civil rights, the Civil Rights Law, and Voting Rights Act. However, Nixon deliberately courted those voters, using the infamous "Southern Strategy" and dog whistles. In the decades since, several Republicans have continued that strategy (remember the Reagan "welfare queens" speech?) in order to convince working-class voters to vote against their own economic interest - culminating in the 2016 election.
The Democratic Party’s commitment to civil rights prompted millions of white voters to cast ballots either for Richard Nixon, running as the Republican nominee, or for George Wallace, the segregationist Dixiecrat and former governor of Alabama, running as the nominee of the American Independent Party.
The Democratic Party’s commitment to civil rights prompted millions of white voters to cast ballots either for Richard Nixon, running as the Republican nominee, or for George Wallace, the segregationist Dixiecrat and former governor of Alabama, running as the nominee of the American Independent Party.
4
The arrogance and condescension of the comments here towards the working class - branding them as ignorant, gap-toothed racists living in the flyover -- are Exhibit A for why Trump won. He espoused positions that are in tune with America: culturally conservative and actually economically "liberal"(anti-Wall Street, anti-free trade), and won. Clinton did the opposite on both counts and lost.
Democrats have now lost the presidency, both houses of congress and (soon) the Supreme Court and the majority of the Federal judiciary. Since 2008, they have lost over 900 state offices. Republicans now hold 31 governorships and control 67 of 99 state legislative chambers, including total control in 32.
The Democrats abandoned the "working class" 30 years ago in favor of boutique identity politics. It's probably too late to reconnect now.
Democrats have now lost the presidency, both houses of congress and (soon) the Supreme Court and the majority of the Federal judiciary. Since 2008, they have lost over 900 state offices. Republicans now hold 31 governorships and control 67 of 99 state legislative chambers, including total control in 32.
The Democrats abandoned the "working class" 30 years ago in favor of boutique identity politics. It's probably too late to reconnect now.
13
I know why Kennedy got the working class vote. He worked hard staying in touch with the country. He read about eight newspapers everyday. Bobby Kennedy came to my town when he was campaigning. We never had a major Democratic Candidate stop by. He didn't just drive by and wave, he gave a speech and then greeted as many as possible. I'll never forget it. Hillary was wonderful but somehow isolated.
3
Working class white America is not going to just sit around and watch middle class and upper white America go down the tubes. If not for them they would have nothing to hope and dream.
2
Stop huffing glue. Trump won thanks to the media's fixation for money. Trump rolled in the audience and the readers. Media buyers fed. Nothing else seemed to matter. Right or wrong were kicked to the curb for low hanging fruit. Now our newly elected government will let all of us rot on the vine while Trump supporters gut us and steal what's left of our way of life. "Make America Poor," is Trump's legacy to us all . . .
2
There won't be a Democratic comeback any time soon. The Repubs have both houses of Congress, the White House, most of the state houses, and soon, the Supreme Court. They are in the position of being able to do whatever they want to for a very long time. I suppose that could change if Trump starts WW3. What a thing to wish for!
3
One thing for sure:
The "white working class" -- and that means both men and women -- were smart enough to figure out how to register to vote -- despite their supposed "ignorance" and lack of "education" -- even in states with strong voter ID laws, such as Wisconsin.
The "white working class" -- and that means both men and women -- were smart enough to figure out how to register to vote -- despite their supposed "ignorance" and lack of "education" -- even in states with strong voter ID laws, such as Wisconsin.
8
The numbers show many millions fewer Democrats voted this time. Do we know if Dems stayed home? or could it be that Republicans stayed home and the Dems filled in by voting for their guy?
seems to me, the democrats who supported Donald are the ones who needed Hillary the most.
seems to me, the democrats who supported Donald are the ones who needed Hillary the most.
If Trump ran on the same platform, but as a Democrat, he would not have won. I know many white, educated, professionals and they held their noses and voted "Republican". They didn't vote for Trump - the voted Republican!
4
Hmm, whites from Michigan blame blacks for obstacles to their personal advancement?
Sounds like these Northern States have relinquished any remaining moral high ground they've claimed since their victory in the Civil War. They now understand why Reconstruction failed and how the Democratic party became the "disenfranchised white" party. Shoe is on the other foot this time.
Sounds like these Northern States have relinquished any remaining moral high ground they've claimed since their victory in the Civil War. They now understand why Reconstruction failed and how the Democratic party became the "disenfranchised white" party. Shoe is on the other foot this time.
1
Trump speaks rust belt. We're going to bomb the sh.. out of them, we're going to get rid of Mexicans, muslims, they at last had someone who spoke their language, and of course they also believe he's going to bring back the auto plants. They lost their jobs years ago to a micro chip. Robots have completely taken over and there is no going back. Education is the only way out, not a bigot with a bully attitude.
6
Dems need to capture more of the rural vote where disenfranchised whites live. The electorial college favors rural states. For every electoral vote in Alaska represents 208,000 people, in California it takes 627,000 people. It's as if an individual Alaskan get 3 votes for every one California vote. This matters and will for sometime and its unlikely that it can be changed since rural voters must agree in large numbers to change it.
4
I would much rather $500 more for a TV set made in the U.S. than be told that I have train my replacement from India to take my job.
The left labels people as "racist" when many are simply trying to protect themselves economically. The left also peddles the myth that undocumented immigrants are doing work that no one else wants to do.
Here in uber-liberal San Francisco the University of California is requiring IT workers to train their Indian H1-B replacements. H1-B Visas are SUPPOSED to be for jobs that can't be filled by Americans.
Outsourcing of work has gone from farms, to factories, to I.T. and is continually moving up the intelligence chain while the few making money from this claim this is good for the USA.
As population increases and more people flee failing countries, the problem is only going to get worse. Unfortunately, Donald Trump will do nothing to fix this because both Republicans and Democrats are now the parties of big business and they won't allow change.
The left labels people as "racist" when many are simply trying to protect themselves economically. The left also peddles the myth that undocumented immigrants are doing work that no one else wants to do.
Here in uber-liberal San Francisco the University of California is requiring IT workers to train their Indian H1-B replacements. H1-B Visas are SUPPOSED to be for jobs that can't be filled by Americans.
Outsourcing of work has gone from farms, to factories, to I.T. and is continually moving up the intelligence chain while the few making money from this claim this is good for the USA.
As population increases and more people flee failing countries, the problem is only going to get worse. Unfortunately, Donald Trump will do nothing to fix this because both Republicans and Democrats are now the parties of big business and they won't allow change.
13
If Trump does not find a way toward reconciliation within an emerging minority majority mix, I predict that the rise of white nationalism will collapse--and do so suddenly.
1
Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Dave Thomas, David Green, Larry Ellison, Michael Dell, and Rachel Ray are all non college graduates. I grew up in New York City and no longer live there. I am a college graduate and have many years of education beyond college. Many of us get so tired of the Northeast elite telling us how to think and putting down citizens from non coastal areas. How come the Supreme Court is only made up of ivy league graduates. What is that about? Hilary was to sophisticated to campaign in Wisconsin and over 40% of eligible voters did not vote. If you educated people want to win an election get out and vote.
6
Ivy League, Schmivy League - Trump will pack the court with right-wingers, no matter where they went to law school. And that's bad news.
Trump and Ryan have "a better way" to help the struggling working class? Better than universal health care? Better than low-cost or free college tuition to provide a way out for the coal miner's daughters and sons?
We will now have to wait another 20+ years to escape the shadow of this election. And no, those coal operators won't be flying high, and no, those shuttered steel mills won't be firing up their blast furnaces.
Trump said Muslim immigrants were a "Trojan Horse"; he's the Trojan Horse and working-class Troy won't burn, but it will surely rust even more quickly with the GOP having run the table...
Trump and Ryan have "a better way" to help the struggling working class? Better than universal health care? Better than low-cost or free college tuition to provide a way out for the coal miner's daughters and sons?
We will now have to wait another 20+ years to escape the shadow of this election. And no, those coal operators won't be flying high, and no, those shuttered steel mills won't be firing up their blast furnaces.
Trump said Muslim immigrants were a "Trojan Horse"; he's the Trojan Horse and working-class Troy won't burn, but it will surely rust even more quickly with the GOP having run the table...
2
Identity politics is the categorizing of voters by race, gender, religion, and sexual behavior. You can't listen to a democratic candidate for office without hearing a list of identity groups. It's never an all inclusive group though, because they never say 'white people'. If you say 'white people' it is perceived as racist. Well, guess what-- 'white people' are still the biggest group of voters, and they are powerful enough to carry the electoral votes of the rustbelt states from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania, as we saw with horror last Tuesday night. Also, it seems that women don't 'identify' with their gender but instead with their families and communities-- Hillary barely won a majority of women in this country, despite Trump's obvious misogyny. Identity politics is killing liberalism in the USA
4
Republicans play identity politics big time They're just playing to the majority. Being white "trumps" all, even for women. The talking heads failed to see that.
1
I am a a 61 year old white male who grew up in Arkansas to parents with no college degree, although my father went to college for two years. I have watched the whole Democrat to Republican switch among white voters in the south, and I am constantly amazed that less-well-off, to poor, whites STILL flock to the Republicans in the South. I think I know southern working class whites pretty well, and 50+ years after the Civil Rights act and Voting Rights act, they still vote against their own best economic interests, based on what appears to me to be non-economic drivers such as social issues and guns (and yes that would include latent racism).
BUT, I think they are getting wise to the Republicans. President-elect Trump is NOT a republican, whatever he truly may be. He won because less-educated, working class whites, resoundingly rejected a heaping basket-full of Republicans in order to nominate him. Then they rejected an easy to reject Hillary Clinton to hands him the presidency.
It appears that southern (and "rust-belt") working class whites have perhaps figured out that the republicans aren't getting them jobs and that protecting "family values", guns and "life" aren't as important as putting food on the table and giving their kids a better way of life.
Now the question is which party will best address them , after Trump lets them down just as they have been let down before?
BUT, I think they are getting wise to the Republicans. President-elect Trump is NOT a republican, whatever he truly may be. He won because less-educated, working class whites, resoundingly rejected a heaping basket-full of Republicans in order to nominate him. Then they rejected an easy to reject Hillary Clinton to hands him the presidency.
It appears that southern (and "rust-belt") working class whites have perhaps figured out that the republicans aren't getting them jobs and that protecting "family values", guns and "life" aren't as important as putting food on the table and giving their kids a better way of life.
Now the question is which party will best address them , after Trump lets them down just as they have been let down before?
6
what democrats do will be just as important as how much trump lets them down.
2
But the Democrats won the popular vote. So, it's not that they aren't doing the right things or fighting for the right things, it's that the system is broken.
12
The price of Affirmative Action has come back to haunt the Democratic party.
8
All this talk of what is essentially the lower middle class Trump voter (not poor, not rich, resenting both) should not make us forget that Clinton lost this foremost by failing to turn out a large enough number of the constituency (blacks, latinos, millennials, etc) that had elected Obama twice. As a fan and paying supporter, I feel entitled to say that her deficiency on the enthusiasm scale with many voters if not yours truly, when combined with her long established, eminently exploitable vulnerabilities ultimately sealed her fate. As such, I am now ready to admit that a democrat less repulsive to the lower middle (not so much a woman but, worse, a wealthy globalizing technocrat) would likely have won it. Here, I'm thinking of Biden, not Bernie.
Two things should stand out about the blue collar set. First, while they have clearly been shifting right ever since Nixon, they remain a volatile element apt to swing either way, specially in presidential elections when personality has more weight among this group than policy or ideology. I don't need to travel far into PA to meet many who'd dump Trump if he fails them. As such, their support should not be casually discounted by the next democrat, something Clinton too often did. Second, they are a diminishing group and I can't help but feel, like Teixeira, that quality of a last gasp bout Trump's win. If so, the Dems must look forward, not back, and here I tend to side with Drutman even if I find him a tad too sanguine.
Two things should stand out about the blue collar set. First, while they have clearly been shifting right ever since Nixon, they remain a volatile element apt to swing either way, specially in presidential elections when personality has more weight among this group than policy or ideology. I don't need to travel far into PA to meet many who'd dump Trump if he fails them. As such, their support should not be casually discounted by the next democrat, something Clinton too often did. Second, they are a diminishing group and I can't help but feel, like Teixeira, that quality of a last gasp bout Trump's win. If so, the Dems must look forward, not back, and here I tend to side with Drutman even if I find him a tad too sanguine.
2
Black identity politics allowed.
4
R.R.
If you want to understand Black Identity politics you might like to read the National Review from the 1970s when Black Identity politics was about not understanding the rights of segregationists and our cultural imperative of civilizing South Africa through Apartheid.
America's conservative movement is not American at all it grew out of Franco's Fascism and is as American as Stalinism.
Black identity politics is no different than white identity politics except historically the oppressor and the oppressed were far different from those that practise identity politics today. Today only the oppressed dare say they are practicing identity politics. While those that use identity politics to foster hatred and division stand in the back and nudge nudge wink wink know what I mean know what I mean.
If you want to understand Black Identity politics you might like to read the National Review from the 1970s when Black Identity politics was about not understanding the rights of segregationists and our cultural imperative of civilizing South Africa through Apartheid.
America's conservative movement is not American at all it grew out of Franco's Fascism and is as American as Stalinism.
Black identity politics is no different than white identity politics except historically the oppressor and the oppressed were far different from those that practise identity politics today. Today only the oppressed dare say they are practicing identity politics. While those that use identity politics to foster hatred and division stand in the back and nudge nudge wink wink know what I mean know what I mean.
1
and Hispanic too. But not white.
3
Excellent column! While the Dems have really fumbled (that is the mildest I can call it), the GOP is in jeopardy as well. Everyone was saying it was the GOP that was exploding, but in a two party system, One cannot go without taking the other. Trump could likely be the perfect GOP "poison pill", based upon term limits, big deficit infrastructure spending, etc. May you liven interesting times!
I'm sick of reading about these White voters! They voted for DT because they either agree with his racist, misogynistic, xenophobic views or those views weren't deal breakers for them. Both of those reasons are bad but it revealed the heart of White America.
As MLK said "the arc of the universe is long but it bends toward justice." If White people want to remain on the wrong side of history, let them. They are too ignorant to know that civilizations rise and fall, and America will soon cease to be a superpower. The very people they are harassing (e.g., Blacks, Muslims, Latinos) may be the populations that comprise the next superpower.
As MLK said "the arc of the universe is long but it bends toward justice." If White people want to remain on the wrong side of history, let them. They are too ignorant to know that civilizations rise and fall, and America will soon cease to be a superpower. The very people they are harassing (e.g., Blacks, Muslims, Latinos) may be the populations that comprise the next superpower.
9
Trump was just elected because progressives are sick of hearing about white voters.
7
well put JBR. I hope the Democrats change accordingly. If not they will lose yet another election. Many whites are simply tired of trampled on by racists who blame them for all the problems of minority groups such as blacks. never mind that blacks engage in activities that put them into poverty that cannot be blamed on whites. The most important of these is the > 70% illegitimacy rate.
1
Bottom line: Clinton-era 'third way' Democrats bought into the Reaganite world of coddling banks and 80s Yuppies. They became 80s Yuppies themselves and concentrated on share prices and so forth, instead of jobs. There were things like NAFTA (signed by Bill Clinton) and the repeal of Glass-Steagall (Bill Clinton) and bad crime bills (Bill Clinton). Add Republican anti-union policies and wars and the housing and mortgage scams and stir - voila, a big mess for workers of all races. Then the people bailed out the banks. In return they got Obamacare which is okay but expensive and not as good as jobs. You need a job to afford Obamacare. Then Bernie Sanders won 22 states while Clinton and the DNC learned nothing from that. I hardly ever heard her mention jobs except to refer to her website. (What about people who can't afford computers?) I voted for her because she was the only qualified candidate and because her opponent was a horror. But the Democrats really do have to get their act together.
4
What other group, aside from whites, does the media use the term uneducated? Did we hear a breakdown of black or Hispanic voters based on their education level?
The media talks about white uneducated Americans, usually throwing in male, like they are some lower order of animal. Frankly, it is racist.
Clinton didn't lose because of whites. She lost because she failed to understand the economic anxiety that permeates America.
The media talks about white uneducated Americans, usually throwing in male, like they are some lower order of animal. Frankly, it is racist.
Clinton didn't lose because of whites. She lost because she failed to understand the economic anxiety that permeates America.
17
We are forgetting a critical fact: Romney got more votes in 2012 than Trump did in 2016. Hillary got 4 million votes less than President Obama in 2012. The problem is not the great appeal of the Republican party, whose ceiling is determined by unfavorable demographics. The problem is that Democrats did not provide a candidate their base could get excited about. Less than 500,000 votes in Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania determined the outcome. Couldn't Democrats have won with a more compelling message?
5
Or the new voter suppression laws worked.
We've been hearing about "The Emerging Democratic Majority" for 14 years now, but the only person who seems able to pull it off is Obama. And frankly, it only worked to elect him personally.
Sean Trende has an excellent piece on this failed theory yesterday, "The God that Failed"
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/11/16/the_god_that_failed...
Sean Trende has an excellent piece on this failed theory yesterday, "The God that Failed"
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/11/16/the_god_that_failed...
2
Since only about 60 percent of eligible citizens actually vote, it looks like just enough rural and small town whites were motivated to go to the polls in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, and Wisconsin to push Trump to victory. If Hillary had won just two of those, Florida/Wisconsin, or Pennsylvania/Ohio, she would have won. Enough angry whites who think Trump will bring their factory back, or racists who think Obama is Muslim, or "I don't trust a woman in the White House" guys that normally wouldn't vote actually got off the couch. I'm more disappointed in the millions in those states who didn't bother to vote. Now we all have to live with the results.
2
The white percentage this year represented 70% of the electorate. That is still gigantic. Isn't it all about turnout? The conventional wisdom that Trump couldn't win without "expanding his base" sure got blown up.
4
The outcome might just wrench what is left of America's decency and moral high ground and toss it out the window.
Bosses have always know that if you get the white working class stiff to fear and hate the darker working class stiffs, get them to believe these "other" guys are stealing their jobs and their women, then it is much easier to steal from both groups.
The takeaway I have is that America is finally exposed as the nation of racists it has always been thought to be.
The first time I ever steered a big machine I was five (of course I was sitting on the real operators lap) and I have grown up with these people. They are not bad people (one really wants to believe that) just not informed by their life's circumstances; they don't know any black people. It really was amazing how ignorant these guys were/are about the humanity of people of color.
It is past time to start telling the truth. These folks would not have come out with such zealousness about T rump if not for the drumbeat of hate from Limbaugh and his ilk on hate radio and the lies and distortions from fox propaganda network. Maybe if they had been informed about the real good job the African American in the White House was doing after the last republican disaster (2007) they would not have been so eager to flush their Country down the toilet.
Bosses have always know that if you get the white working class stiff to fear and hate the darker working class stiffs, get them to believe these "other" guys are stealing their jobs and their women, then it is much easier to steal from both groups.
The takeaway I have is that America is finally exposed as the nation of racists it has always been thought to be.
The first time I ever steered a big machine I was five (of course I was sitting on the real operators lap) and I have grown up with these people. They are not bad people (one really wants to believe that) just not informed by their life's circumstances; they don't know any black people. It really was amazing how ignorant these guys were/are about the humanity of people of color.
It is past time to start telling the truth. These folks would not have come out with such zealousness about T rump if not for the drumbeat of hate from Limbaugh and his ilk on hate radio and the lies and distortions from fox propaganda network. Maybe if they had been informed about the real good job the African American in the White House was doing after the last republican disaster (2007) they would not have been so eager to flush their Country down the toilet.
3
A picture is worth a lot and the NYT picture of the "Trump supporters" is not exactly one of well informed Americans who could understand the nuance of choosing Hillary Clinton over someone who promises any change for the better.
I live in Long Island, NY, and outside of my immediate family, I never ran across anyone who was for Hillary. My mild support of her, across a broad section of demographics, was always met with jaw dropping shock.
The takeaway, is that if it involves a convoluted sense of nuance and loyal readership of the NYT, then the national candidate is basically going to lose. If those guys in the picture are motivated to show up, Trump got his message across to them, and they certainly matter.
I live in Long Island, NY, and outside of my immediate family, I never ran across anyone who was for Hillary. My mild support of her, across a broad section of demographics, was always met with jaw dropping shock.
The takeaway, is that if it involves a convoluted sense of nuance and loyal readership of the NYT, then the national candidate is basically going to lose. If those guys in the picture are motivated to show up, Trump got his message across to them, and they certainly matter.
3
PRant, can you tell the intelligence, occupation, political affiliation or anything of substance just by looking at a photograph taken by an employee of an organization that has a self-professed bias?
How do you know that those two fellas aren't professors at Ann Arbor? Or Yale? Or Harvard?
How do know that they weren't paid by Damon Winter, the photographer, to pose for the picture with the Trump sign conveniently propped between them?
Does the room in which they are standing look as if ANY social function was or had been held there? Trump's rallies draw thousands of people. This place is clean as a whistle.
A little bit of that vaunted liberal critical thinking would be refreshing.
How do you know that those two fellas aren't professors at Ann Arbor? Or Yale? Or Harvard?
How do know that they weren't paid by Damon Winter, the photographer, to pose for the picture with the Trump sign conveniently propped between them?
Does the room in which they are standing look as if ANY social function was or had been held there? Trump's rallies draw thousands of people. This place is clean as a whistle.
A little bit of that vaunted liberal critical thinking would be refreshing.
2
Mr. Edsall, I think you have perhaps described a classic case of class conflict. The Democratic realignment with the interests of the very rich is clearly perceived by the working class. The only way to bring them back into the Demoractic sphere is an utter rejection of the past 24 years of neoliberalism and the vast wealth inequality it has fostered.
3
Some of that realignment is because of Citizens United. The Dems felt that they had to raise big money to compete with the Koch etc money.
The Democrats have abandoned the white working class by not offering any solutions to problems. I voted for Hillary Clinton, but I cannot truly say that I either liked her or saw her as offering any solutions. Her hawkishness is deplorable. Most Trump voters seem ignorant of the core GOP values, but that doesn't seem to matter anymore.
1
If only Hillary had out Bernie on the ticket, the white working class would not have felt abandoned. The two would have jointly drawn out a coalition of voters that was all inclusive, because truth be told, Bernie really understood what is ailing the nation and angering the white working class. Tim Kaine is a good Catholic boy but he did not have the kind of deep authentic understanding that Bernie offered.
2
The Trump win wasn't about black people.
It was about the tens of millions here illegally and their millions of kids.
It was about policies that are taking power away from citizens and giving that power to criminals.
And it is about new groups of people not assimilating and, gleefully, telling a fading majority group that their 'time has come.'
It was about the tens of millions here illegally and their millions of kids.
It was about policies that are taking power away from citizens and giving that power to criminals.
And it is about new groups of people not assimilating and, gleefully, telling a fading majority group that their 'time has come.'
8
We are a week out of the election and NYT's writers already back to claiming Trump was elected by uneducated white guys. One NYT writer described his encounter with a Trump supporter this way,"wearing tattered, soiled overalls, missing a bunch of teeth and was unnaturally skinny." Another this way, "into his 50s, with teeth that had seen better days." In other words, second class citizens. Now Edsall comes back to the same arrogant theme. But it's smoke and disinformation. More white women voted for Trump than Clinton regardless of their education. Twenty eight percent of Latinos voted for Trump. While small, an increased number of African Americas voted for him. But Mr Edsall narrow vision fails to see the rejection was of not just Clinton but the whole Democrat establishment. Two out of three governors are now Republican. A significant majority of state houses are controlled by Republicans. Does Mr. Edsall think all of that was accomplished by uneducated white guys? Those who supported Trump are not second Class citizen. They are not white trash. Elitist thinking will always reject those they see as lesser people, But those looked down on are not second class and now we know they vote.
8
Republicans are only in power because of the extreme gerrymandering of the districts and voter suppression. The Federal government should make it a law that all states must use "non partisan" committees to draw their districts.
An election after such a redrawing would reveal a lot better where the electorate actually stands.
Right now we are being ruled by a hostile minority.
An election after such a redrawing would reveal a lot better where the electorate actually stands.
Right now we are being ruled by a hostile minority.
3
There are no non partisans.
It's just amazing to me that so many of the commenters here are trying to justify their vote for Trump with such blindness, but I guess that's why they voted for him in the first place. Blaming the Dems for talking down to them, claiming the Dems are the ones who have engaged in identity politics, claiming they're not racist but hey, we voted for the bigoted, racist, sexist rich guy who wants to destroy our institutions.
4
If this was a healthy democracy, and a sizable majority of its citizens voted, the relatively small percentage of white uneducated voters would not have held sway like they did. The GOP is a minority party controlling ALL branches of the government. Hardly what the Founding Fathers envisioned.
5
So, Mr. Drutman think the Democrats should just abandon Americans who aren't a part of the ownership class - over 1/3 of the American people and instead pursue something he calls "multicultural cosmopolitanism?" Not that the Democrats haven't already abandoned the working people of this country - the ones who built the party. A brief survey of the Democratic platform this year shows that they have, and are currently not interested anymore seing that all boats rise, but only those for the "middle class," not those "deplorables" in the "low-educated white working class." I'm a Democrat, but it upsets me that the leadership of this party is not out there stumping for the very people who have been denied educational and career opportunities, and exploited by the business interests of this country. And now, having borrowed from the Republicans, all the ills of the country are now being attrributed to the least among us, letting the Wellesley graduates off the hook.
And BTW: white working people have more in common with black working folks, too, than they do with Wellesley graduates who have had every opportunity this country has to offer. So, I guess you Wellesley Grads better hope they never find out how much they have in common - and who's fault their low place on the food chain really is!
And BTW: white working people have more in common with black working folks, too, than they do with Wellesley graduates who have had every opportunity this country has to offer. So, I guess you Wellesley Grads better hope they never find out how much they have in common - and who's fault their low place on the food chain really is!
5
Of course poor whites have more in common with poor blacks and latinos, but don't tell them that...they hate hearing that.
As far as the Democratic party goes, it was the one pushing for free education, and better access to healthcare. These voters always vote against their own economic self interest.
As far as the Democratic party goes, it was the one pushing for free education, and better access to healthcare. These voters always vote against their own economic self interest.
2
Somehow it seemed a given to me that the American voters would have based their votes on the years of obvious, acknowledged, and serious roadblocking by Republicans of any positive legislature being passed in Congress during Barack Obama's presidency. This was clearly and openly stated as their major aim as soon as Obama won his first election: that Republicans would stonewall him - and that's what they did.
Playing on hate and fear pushed along by their huge arsenal of money,
Republicans managed to distract American voters from the truth to not only
destroy the change Obama was elected for, but to also create years of innuendo, lies and hate towards Hillary Clinton. Most people can't give you real facts as to why they "can't stand her", or why they want to "lock her up". I asked almost everyone I knew why they didn't like and/or disrespected Hillary and they could never give me a substantial reason. The truth is they were brainwashed. What's more, I did not hear elected Democrats defend either Obama or Clinton well enough throughout the
interminable mess of our 2016 Presidential Election.
Yes, we all make mistakes in our lives of course, but If anyone had taken
the time only to watch the excellent and unbiased PBS' documentary called "The Choice" based on the lives of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump they would have known which candidate was the best choice.
Playing on hate and fear pushed along by their huge arsenal of money,
Republicans managed to distract American voters from the truth to not only
destroy the change Obama was elected for, but to also create years of innuendo, lies and hate towards Hillary Clinton. Most people can't give you real facts as to why they "can't stand her", or why they want to "lock her up". I asked almost everyone I knew why they didn't like and/or disrespected Hillary and they could never give me a substantial reason. The truth is they were brainwashed. What's more, I did not hear elected Democrats defend either Obama or Clinton well enough throughout the
interminable mess of our 2016 Presidential Election.
Yes, we all make mistakes in our lives of course, but If anyone had taken
the time only to watch the excellent and unbiased PBS' documentary called "The Choice" based on the lives of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump they would have known which candidate was the best choice.
4
Of course, PBS is unbiased. Of course sixty million Americans were brainwashed. Of course Trump was the figurehead of the Republican political establishment. Of course Clinton was the champion of the downtrodden masses in Hollywood, Silicone Valley, the Hamptons, Martha's Vineyard and Omaha.
2
We need some new nomenclature for the people who brought Trump into the office of president. Given the character of the man they elected, a character that has been factually established, we should now label them the "immoral minority". A majority of citizens have voted for Mrs. Clinton to be our president. And never again can our former"moral majority" claim the title or attribution of the word "moral". Trump is an immoral person. Therefore those who voted for him are immoral--whether they "held their nose" or not when they pulled the lever. And for the 80% of the Christians who voted for him, shame on you. You now have eliminated, forever, character as being a criteria for future candidates for any office. A man who has never asked for forgiveness of God, and likely of other people, misses the minimum requirement of being a Christian--repentance.
5
Michael, you really need to look up the definition of "majority". It is embarrassing to see well-educated liberals who don't even understand simple concepts. Have someone explain to you the use of criterion and criteria. While you are at it, start working on 'specious'.
2
This information presented by Greenberg and the CRG about blaming blacks for basically everything is really troubling. Especially considering that what has actually made so many members "white working class" this vulnerable is the nature of manufacturing and global trade, not the "special status" of minorities.
Would people with these opinions feel any more secure if we cut out all safety nets and all assistance to the poorest people in the country? If we were to simply leave them to suffer, and THEN working class lives still didn't improve, would they then finally accept the truth?
Is this what we will have to do in order to dampen down this sense of racial grievance, or can it somehow be countered with dialogue and more accurate information?
Would people with these opinions feel any more secure if we cut out all safety nets and all assistance to the poorest people in the country? If we were to simply leave them to suffer, and THEN working class lives still didn't improve, would they then finally accept the truth?
Is this what we will have to do in order to dampen down this sense of racial grievance, or can it somehow be countered with dialogue and more accurate information?
4
Let's remember this election was decided by 25% of Americans since about 50% of people who could have voted didn't vote. Even if Clinton had one, these numbers are scary. We have even more unengaged, apathetic, lazy, cynical, and/or low-information voters than we thought. Add to that the Republican Party's success at disenfranchising voters. This does not bode well for our democracy.
5
Something is wrong with our system of representation when a minority of fringe voters (tea party) dominant both houses of congress and control most state governments. I don't where the tipping point is (Koch and co. $, fox news, am radio, gerrymandering, etc.) but something keeps the country from showing true representation of the majority.
3
What is really mentioned as a strong contributor to the declining sense of purpose and value of working class white America is the shrinking private sector union membership. The America so many yearn for was a Union America. No politician or party has ever looked out for the well being of the working man like a strong Union that had leverage with management.
4
I agree that classism is the underlying premise of this column but I don't blame the Times or Mr. Edsal (whose data-based analysis I always appreciate) for this.
Working class people of all backgrounds have more in common than not, and regardless of education, most of us are working class people. Bernie Sanders calls himself a social democrat for that reason. Didn't democrats at some point gather in unions and workers from the arms of the early workers party? Votes for Sanders in the primary point to a strong and unapologetic desire to embrace those roots in a modern Democratic Party.
Working class people of all backgrounds have more in common than not, and regardless of education, most of us are working class people. Bernie Sanders calls himself a social democrat for that reason. Didn't democrats at some point gather in unions and workers from the arms of the early workers party? Votes for Sanders in the primary point to a strong and unapologetic desire to embrace those roots in a modern Democratic Party.
1
While democrats ponder the lost election, coming up with the most asinine reasons, the real reason sat under their collective noses, totally ignored. The most vicious attacks on Hillary Clinton and the Democratic party can be found on the AOL commentary site. Here the level of hatred, outright lies, invective, slander is clearly presented and rigorously echos trump's rhetoric. The posts need to be read, in all their dismal grammar and borderline illiteracy before one appreciates how this election was lost.
4
I wish our media was more on the ball. To get through this entire article without mention of the driver of these demographic trends, is frustrating. The corporate plutocracy plays a long game. Put a graph of income distribution against an inverse graph of union membership against a graph of this political trend.
2
Hillary Clinton lost for the same reason George Bush lost to her husband. She and her campaign chose not to emphasize the economy which is the greatest concern for the vast middle of America. Among my middle class college educated group of friends and co-workers, a diverse group, the biggest worry is the lack of jobs that pay a middle class wage. We see our children graduating college and not being able to find a job that pays them enough to find a place to live. We see our own standard of living going backwards as expenses continue to grow while wages do not.
Secretary Clinton came from humble beginnings, but she long ago moved into the ruling class. When you are giving speeches to investment bankers and flying off to Davos to hangout with the oligarchs of the world, you stop understanding what life is like for most Americans.
For whatever reason, Clinton and her campaign did not understand why Bernie Sanders attracted an enthusiastic army of supporters. If she did, she would be President Elect and we wouldn’t be stuck with Trump.
Secretary Clinton came from humble beginnings, but she long ago moved into the ruling class. When you are giving speeches to investment bankers and flying off to Davos to hangout with the oligarchs of the world, you stop understanding what life is like for most Americans.
For whatever reason, Clinton and her campaign did not understand why Bernie Sanders attracted an enthusiastic army of supporters. If she did, she would be President Elect and we wouldn’t be stuck with Trump.
3
Don't forget the Dixiecrat exodus to the Republican party is also the driving force in the Evangelical power that now exists and drives policy.
We got the worst of them and I really do wish the Dems would win them back.
We got the worst of them and I really do wish the Dems would win them back.
4
People vote for the big lie because the democrats are not at the megaphone. They roll over too easily and negotiate all of their power away.
Tax breaks for millionaires won't help folks that earn less than $400K per year which is 98% of the population
My family does well but I have more in common with people that earn $200k less a year than my family does than those that earn more.
I am livid that we have a president that doesn't pay taxes and lives off the back of the salaried worker
Tax breaks for millionaires won't help folks that earn less than $400K per year which is 98% of the population
My family does well but I have more in common with people that earn $200k less a year than my family does than those that earn more.
I am livid that we have a president that doesn't pay taxes and lives off the back of the salaried worker
3
This problem is bigger than Clinton and Trump. Yes--even huger than Trump. A lot of good and decent people have seen their lives, their towns and their jobs drained away. There was a brief moment when we could have imposed enormous tariffs to make Chinese products more expensive than our own, but other than Trump, nobody really believes this is possible now.
Most Trump voters I've spoken to already know he won't do much for them. Probably nothing. But at least you can cast a protest vote; so the thinking goes.
My neighbor says he expects Trump to just blow the whole thing up.
Most Trump voters I've spoken to already know he won't do much for them. Probably nothing. But at least you can cast a protest vote; so the thinking goes.
My neighbor says he expects Trump to just blow the whole thing up.
5
He is not going to blow it up, he is going to use the office of the presidency to enrich himself and his family...and his already rich cronies.
He was and is a con man and all of you Trump voters just got conned.
He was and is a con man and all of you Trump voters just got conned.
3
You nailed it: A new era dawned with “Newtspeak” and Gingrich’s thesaurus of vilification against Democrats distributed to GOPAC, to the extent of banishing the adjectival form “Democratic” because it sounded too positive. Orwell was not so much wrong as a decade early with 1984. Gingrich also overthrew a decades long tradition of bipartisan Congressional orientation in favor of a GOP only Heritage Fund event, lest friendships develop across the aisle. He set up the House calendar so that most members went home every weekend rather than staying in DC and perhaps socializing across party lines. So now we have a situation where half of the Republicans (but only one-third of Democrats) would feel “displeased” if their child married a supporter of the opposite party.
3
All the Dems needed to do was to say, above all, it is the economy include as #1 in their platform a serious jobs program for all but especially the group that was most against them. Sadly, they (i.e. Hillary) fell in to the Trump Bully trap and let him dictate the debates and her image.
1
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living in society, they create for themselves, in the course of time, a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it."
--Frederic Bastiat, French writer and economist, 1850
And, now, America has arrived at that point.
--Frederic Bastiat, French writer and economist, 1850
And, now, America has arrived at that point.
5
In this election geography, not a majority of the voters won the election. It's looking as if a million and a half more voters preferred Hillary to Trump. That's three times the majority Al Gore had. The focus group analysis was interesting. Basically, it was noncollege educated whites blaming black people (and now Mexicans, Chinese, Muslims, etc) for their problems. So they vote for the Party that destroys unions, Social Security and Medicare. I can see the reason why they're not doing as well right there.
5
"Disaffected white voters without college degrees"
Puhlease! It's been repeated so often, but nonetheless, white voters without college degrees are not the only ones contributing to the malaise in America. Bigotries and biases are inherently human, whether we like it or not. So, this fact also includes people who are white and college educated. Even people who are college professors are prone to bigotries and biases.
Surely, there must be a more intelligent discussion if we are truly to move forward.
Puhlease! It's been repeated so often, but nonetheless, white voters without college degrees are not the only ones contributing to the malaise in America. Bigotries and biases are inherently human, whether we like it or not. So, this fact also includes people who are white and college educated. Even people who are college professors are prone to bigotries and biases.
Surely, there must be a more intelligent discussion if we are truly to move forward.
2
I am a middle aged white guy whose parents never attended college. Yet I'm also a tenured university professor who strongly supported Bernie Sanders, and the stories I can tell from decades in academia would be red meat to many Trump supporters. Not only are white males the one group that can be openly slandered in academia, but I have directly witnessed many tenure track faculty searches over the years in which highly accomplished male PhD's have been passed over for female and/or minority graduate students with little or no publishing or teaching experience. I don't know whether Trump's victory will shake my colleagues out of their dogmatic slumbers, so that they actually start talking and listening to those outside their hard left bubble, but they'll be licking their wounds for a long time.
5
Democrats believe that the White working class in the Red states are being fooled by the Republicans who want to pass policies for the rich. They don't understand why the poor working class would want to hire someone who wants to give huge tax cuts to rich people and corporations. And, Donald wants to relax regulations on banks which led to the last financial crisis where a lot of Red state Americans lost their houses. I could go on. The fear is these people are being radicalized by misinformation from the right-wing media outlets and that is scary.
3
The Democratic Party needs to rapidly adopt Trump's strengths while soundly rejecting his moral and ethical weaknesses. Tightening trade deals should have been front and center. Moving plants out of the country for a profit bump does need to come at a cost. Led by Wall Street, corporate executives have been humiliating workers for twenty years. They've been unceremoniously discarded and they are rightfully seething over it. The working class doesn't need retraining, it needs rebuilding.
2
Maybe the Democrats should try to be centrist again and try to bring a candidate to the forefront without so much baggage. This election should have been an easy victory for Democrats. Kaine would have won without a problem. The party needs to take more control of the primary process and choose somebody electable. That was what the super delegates were for, but that obviously didn't work.
2
As a bi-racial man who relates with the "Loving" movie as I was born soon after that time it has always been clear. It is about class not race. The more democratics double-down on identify politics the more confused columns will be written asking why?
Take care of working people, give them a chance to hope their children live better live than they did, secure health care, good infrastructure and schools. Their talents and intelligence will rise when listened too.
Take care of working people, give them a chance to hope their children live better live than they did, secure health care, good infrastructure and schools. Their talents and intelligence will rise when listened too.
1
As the Republicans have successfully shown, "divide and conquer".
The most incredible thing about this block of voters is that they are consistently voting against their best interests. the fact that they are the least educated voting block means they are the most easily manipulated by appeals their emotions (their gut if you will) and consistently reject appeals to their reason. They have been taught to reject facts which they have been convinced to believe are the product of a left wing media conspiracy. Since you cant teach old dogs new tricks we just have to wait until the old dogs die off.
5
"...special status of blacks is perceived by almost all of these individuals as a serious obstacle to their personal advancement. Indeed, discrimination against whites has become a well-assimilated and ready explanation for their status, vulnerability and failures."
Duh.
That can be easily inferred by how they have continued to vote.
You don't need a fancy study by Stanley Greenberg to understand that.
This "cohort" (seems to be the word of the year so far) refuses to vote for Democrats simply because they view them as the party of blacks and minorities.
Obamacare was enacted as much for this group as it was for minorities, but there has been a completely irrational tissue rejection of it because of how they insist on perceiving it. It's "for them", so I don't want it.
It's basically a lifelong "bite off your nose to spite your face" temper tantrum.
There is a lot of "emperors new clothes" type aversion to speaking the truth about how these "folks" vote and why.
It's mostly tribal and racial, that's just the facts.
That's why it's been near impossible to turn these people around. How can you reason with that kind of thought process?
Duh.
That can be easily inferred by how they have continued to vote.
You don't need a fancy study by Stanley Greenberg to understand that.
This "cohort" (seems to be the word of the year so far) refuses to vote for Democrats simply because they view them as the party of blacks and minorities.
Obamacare was enacted as much for this group as it was for minorities, but there has been a completely irrational tissue rejection of it because of how they insist on perceiving it. It's "for them", so I don't want it.
It's basically a lifelong "bite off your nose to spite your face" temper tantrum.
There is a lot of "emperors new clothes" type aversion to speaking the truth about how these "folks" vote and why.
It's mostly tribal and racial, that's just the facts.
That's why it's been near impossible to turn these people around. How can you reason with that kind of thought process?
2
Has anyone thought about what’s going to happen to the working class when automatic driving is widespread? The vast numbers of jobs that will be taken over by computers? There are millions of people, mostly men, who make their living driving trucks, buses, and things that go. Maybe we ought to consider that just because some massive technological “improvement” can be done, doesn’t necessarily mean it should be. Even though computers don’t need 401ks, workman’s comp, vacations, and the occasional day off to go to a funeral, this kind of a change (good for a company’s bottom line in the short term) will mean massive negative economic dislocation for the working (non-professional) stiff.
5
Looking at the chart at the bottom of this article, did the author ever consider that mainstream media costs significant amounts of money in subscription fees and that a.m. radio and the web are free? This offers a class distinction on the basis of wealth and the effects on political mindsets over a few years. As a recent article suggested in the Guardian on two politically opposite groups who exchanged favored habitual news sources, people become what they eat.
If there's one thing I may have learned from this disastrous election, it is that people in the "Flyover Nation" wherever they live, are hurting. High levels of life-wrecking opioid addiction, lack of basic health care, and little economic opportunity, while those in urban areas, mainly whites, have six-figure incomes, good health care, relatively satisfying lives, decent schools, and the like. We'd better find a way to fix this, and fast. Perhaps ending our tiresome lectures to the rest of the world about American Exceptionalism would be a healthy start.
1
So the Democrats are dithering about “whether to try to tailor an appeal to the working-class white voters.” I remember the days when the Dems actually represented the working class and won many elections because they did so. After all, most voters work at jobs to earn a living. But the Dems threw working people under the bus years ago when they decided to engage in identity politics rather than fight for economic justice. Why can’t they fight for both causes? Never mind, I know! They decided to follow the money and now they are in the same rich men’s pockets as the Republicans who have always been in those pockets. And let me remind the Democrats that it is not just white men but men and women from all ethnic and racial groups who work jobs for a living and sooner or later they too will get tired of their jobs being sent to China and tired of low pay and benefits being taken away. Who will vote for the Democrats then? Today’s Democrats don’t even have the spine to fight to protect Social Security and Medicare. So we can add losing retirement security to the loss of jobs and other benefits. But of course the Dems are afraid of angering their corporate masters. What we need is a third party to represent the majority of U.S. citizens, those who work jobs. The Democrats can merge in with the Republicans because there is hardly a dime’s worth of difference between them nowadays.
6
Surprise surprise, it is me too. I am a straight white male born in the liberal suburbs of Boston. I have a law degree and listen to NPR, I now live in Washington Heights and am a member the Met. I was reared on a strictly Democratic party line, Republicans were alien creatures. That said from an early age I grew increasingly skeptical of the Democratic agenda. I remain a Democrat and I still claim that party affiliation only because I do believe in paying taxes and a federal budget that ensures our safety, gay marriage and a woman's right to choose. But I abhor what the Democratic party has become and find the drive towards political correctness and the obsession with diversity very hard to stomach. I believe in American exceptionalism, law and order and a very strong military. And while I am not suffering, feel very strongly for my brothers and sisters in the rust belt and Appalachia who are often suffer in silence. So before you count who is on your side in future matchups realize it is not so cut and dry.
3
I have the greatest respect for President Obama, but he was utterly wrong in 2004 - unfortunately there is a liberal America and a conservative America - there is a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America - we can appear to be the United states of America but that has always been an illusion. Indeed, we ignore these racial/ethnic/political differences and resentments at our peril. Because most Americans are suffering and/or fearful, these tensions have rarely been greater. While republicans shamelessly promote racism and division, the Democratic party has based its future on the ill-founded notion that changing demographics and identity politics will bring electoral victories. 2016 proved this is not a viable strategy.
1
"2016 proved this is not a viable strategy."....And yet the Democrat candidate actually got a million more votes?
Democrats are policy wonks and misjudge the election through that lens. It was an electoral fluke/emotional election.
This was the last flash of impotent rage from the Butch and the White. It was a nosylgia for pariarchy, white power, and the old masculinity; none of that fancy elites with education, no political 'correctness' that scolds vulgar bias, no careful reasoned thinking...that's all for Losers.
Fist pounding red-faced (and necked) opinion was the motivator. Hillary Clinton was exactly the wrong candidate. She could not be angry or she'd be 'shrill.'
She could not snarl at Obama. She could not even rage at the GOP obstructions or honor the economic successes of the past 8 years. She was stuck mouthing soft platitudes.
The gusto of turn out for Trump dwarfed the petulant tepid Left which indulged in their qualms about HRC, foolishly unafraid of the fiasco we now face.
Yes- sharper policy focus is important, but HRC seemed smart to keep the moderate Republicans from abandoning her & her competence.
Breitbart succeeded in branding her as Untrusworthy & normalizing hate. Dumb teen stuff that worked when the emotional climate was dominated by adolescent butch bravado.
So the real solution is seizing state legislatures and nominating a really Butch Bubba for 2018 !
This was the last flash of impotent rage from the Butch and the White. It was a nosylgia for pariarchy, white power, and the old masculinity; none of that fancy elites with education, no political 'correctness' that scolds vulgar bias, no careful reasoned thinking...that's all for Losers.
Fist pounding red-faced (and necked) opinion was the motivator. Hillary Clinton was exactly the wrong candidate. She could not be angry or she'd be 'shrill.'
She could not snarl at Obama. She could not even rage at the GOP obstructions or honor the economic successes of the past 8 years. She was stuck mouthing soft platitudes.
The gusto of turn out for Trump dwarfed the petulant tepid Left which indulged in their qualms about HRC, foolishly unafraid of the fiasco we now face.
Yes- sharper policy focus is important, but HRC seemed smart to keep the moderate Republicans from abandoning her & her competence.
Breitbart succeeded in branding her as Untrusworthy & normalizing hate. Dumb teen stuff that worked when the emotional climate was dominated by adolescent butch bravado.
So the real solution is seizing state legislatures and nominating a really Butch Bubba for 2018 !
2
Trump now has to make good on his promise to these voters to "make America great again." We can quibble as to what that does and doesn't mean, but to a declining white working class it most certainly means more than anything else a good job at good wages and restoration of the secure middle class lifestyle that so many of them have lost.
And what have the Republicans promised them in the last 9 days? For starters, deregulation of the financial industry, massive tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, cuts in health care for those who can't afford insurance.
If Trump can create good job opportunities, then good for him and good for America. But I fear in the end that his most ardent supporters will have about as much to celebrate as the Trump University students promised successful careers in real estate.
And what have the Republicans promised them in the last 9 days? For starters, deregulation of the financial industry, massive tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, cuts in health care for those who can't afford insurance.
If Trump can create good job opportunities, then good for him and good for America. But I fear in the end that his most ardent supporters will have about as much to celebrate as the Trump University students promised successful careers in real estate.
5
According to the Census Bureau, Mr. Edsall's statistics are way off. As my link indicates, 36.2% of non-Hispanic whites have a bachelor's degree or more. That means that 63.8% of whites lack bachelor's degrees. Mr. Edsall asserts that 34% of white voters in 2016 lacked college degrees. He has apparently misread his source information. According to the Census Bureau his figure is drastically low. http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2016/demo/...
The Pew Research poll has issued preliminary analysis of voting statistics based on exit polls. They reveal that 67% of non-college educated whites voted for Trump. That margin is unprecedented and tells the whole story. Trump pretty much swept non-college whites and that's why he got elected. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/09/behind-trumps-victory-di...
The Census Bureau and Pew Research are pretty much the gold standard for population statistics and polling, respectively. Mr. Edsall relies on lesser sources. Moreover, he has misread the statistics he uses, which indicate that in 2012, 70% of all Americans lacked college degrees. (He states that the total for whites is 36%). The notion that only 1/3 of whites lack college degrees defies common sense -- the real total is 2/3. This editorial is based on drastically inaccurate statistics. Mr. Edsall had a bad day.
The Pew Research poll has issued preliminary analysis of voting statistics based on exit polls. They reveal that 67% of non-college educated whites voted for Trump. That margin is unprecedented and tells the whole story. Trump pretty much swept non-college whites and that's why he got elected. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/09/behind-trumps-victory-di...
The Census Bureau and Pew Research are pretty much the gold standard for population statistics and polling, respectively. Mr. Edsall relies on lesser sources. Moreover, he has misread the statistics he uses, which indicate that in 2012, 70% of all Americans lacked college degrees. (He states that the total for whites is 36%). The notion that only 1/3 of whites lack college degrees defies common sense -- the real total is 2/3. This editorial is based on drastically inaccurate statistics. Mr. Edsall had a bad day.
3
Mr. Edsall's statistics are not even close to correct. His reasoning based on terribly inccuarate statistics is obviously nonsensical. Because of a mathematical mistake nothing he says has anything to do with reality. Neither the Times nor its readers seem to think that is important. it seems to me that Trump voters and Trump critics are all in lala land. Myself and two others rely on facts, rather than making things up. College degree or no college degree, American voters appear to have little knowledge of the facts and little concern about what the facts are.
1
This is a quite interesting evaluation, but it fails to tell us what the white and middle class want. It also fails to tell us whether any of their goals can be satisfied.
Considering that this group seems to have left the Democratic Party after the Civil rights Acts of the 69's it seems fair to assume that there is a racial component to their demands. But the change in demographics in this country will not stop and these white workers seem to have no desire to accommodate themselves to this.
It also seems that their demands are economic demanding the return of manufacturing jobs that can not return. Some have suggested help for them such as retraining and financial assistance until new jobs can be created. But this is also denounced by them in a fit of rage.
So I would really like to know what they realistically can want. They have now achieved the whole political enchilada, control of the whole government. It is now up to them to tell us and we should listen. But if it involves racist or misogynist attitudes or the magical appearance of factories from nothing, it will be beyond what society can do for them.
Considering that this group seems to have left the Democratic Party after the Civil rights Acts of the 69's it seems fair to assume that there is a racial component to their demands. But the change in demographics in this country will not stop and these white workers seem to have no desire to accommodate themselves to this.
It also seems that their demands are economic demanding the return of manufacturing jobs that can not return. Some have suggested help for them such as retraining and financial assistance until new jobs can be created. But this is also denounced by them in a fit of rage.
So I would really like to know what they realistically can want. They have now achieved the whole political enchilada, control of the whole government. It is now up to them to tell us and we should listen. But if it involves racist or misogynist attitudes or the magical appearance of factories from nothing, it will be beyond what society can do for them.
4
So to translate this statistical presentation, white working class, poorly educated men and women got tired of being passed over in favor of an ethnic minority for jobs and promotions and jumped at the chance to vote for a bigoted demagogue who promised them a piece of the pie.
The fact that he is a demagogue and possible sexual predator is not enough negatives to vote for another candidate. I can only hope these gullible true believers are not disappointed with Trump's actual offering to them!
The fact that he is a demagogue and possible sexual predator is not enough negatives to vote for another candidate. I can only hope these gullible true believers are not disappointed with Trump's actual offering to them!
4
The chief reason Trump got so much support is because this culture worships celebrities (and wealth) and only believes in people who attain popularity in the media.
Conservatives complained about media bias for years. Guess what...those tables have turned big time!
Hillary Clinton got the most raw deal from the media (and the FBI.)
Why her wealth is held against her but Donald Trump's did not disqualify him is enigmatic.
Misogyny was an obvious factor in spite of all those who insist it wasn't.
obviously factored in.
The hypocrisy of conservatives and all those who voted for Donald Trump is truly mind blowing.
I am completely open minded. I cannot wish Trump ill because I would not want to jeopardize the US or world peace but I will never forgive a single Trump voter or the Electoral College system for the potential chaos they have wrought.
Conservatives complained about media bias for years. Guess what...those tables have turned big time!
Hillary Clinton got the most raw deal from the media (and the FBI.)
Why her wealth is held against her but Donald Trump's did not disqualify him is enigmatic.
Misogyny was an obvious factor in spite of all those who insist it wasn't.
obviously factored in.
The hypocrisy of conservatives and all those who voted for Donald Trump is truly mind blowing.
I am completely open minded. I cannot wish Trump ill because I would not want to jeopardize the US or world peace but I will never forgive a single Trump voter or the Electoral College system for the potential chaos they have wrought.
2
Excell we categorize eludes toent believable data. One issue I would add , while I am from a very small generation, coined the silent generation , born of the greatest generation, while it is proven we had a lot of post WW 2 opportunity many of us could not afford college and usually were either drafted or joined to serve less years. What is striking however is many of we white non college educated became financially very comfortable some very wealthy. Many also were in the trades and had acceptable union wages. Now as this article indicates our two parties seem of the opinion on college educated people are politically informed of what is best for their country, Many folks in college have no business being there. They go because that is what they are told is the road to wealth.
1
Two thoughts on demographics:
1) Pundits have explained: "white voters who are getting the short end of the stick were attracted to Trump because of his (vague) promises to address their economic malaise and "bring back the jobs". Why did this appeal not resonate among blacks, Hispanics and immigrants? Is it because they are are happy with the status quo? Pleased that they earn less than their white counterparts? OK with the fact that wealth among people of color has been decimated since 2008?
Perhaps we need to look elsewhere to explain why aggrieved whites flocked to Trump.
2) The one demographic that stands out and is utterly baffling to me is this: white women voted
Trump--54%
Clinton--43%
Which indicates that a significant majority of white women
1) want to further restrict abortion rights....or possibly overturn Roe vs. Wade altogether, making abortion an illegal act
2) repeal the ACA, including the provision allowing for coverage of birth control, as well as the rule that insurance companies may not charge higher premiums for women
3) had no use for Ms. Clinton's proposals for providing more generous family leave
4) support the notion that the value of a woman is measured by "desirability", especially with regard to breast size, and that unrestrained male groping is just boys-will-be-boys having some good clean fun
I have to wonder...."What's the Matter With (White) Women"?
1) Pundits have explained: "white voters who are getting the short end of the stick were attracted to Trump because of his (vague) promises to address their economic malaise and "bring back the jobs". Why did this appeal not resonate among blacks, Hispanics and immigrants? Is it because they are are happy with the status quo? Pleased that they earn less than their white counterparts? OK with the fact that wealth among people of color has been decimated since 2008?
Perhaps we need to look elsewhere to explain why aggrieved whites flocked to Trump.
2) The one demographic that stands out and is utterly baffling to me is this: white women voted
Trump--54%
Clinton--43%
Which indicates that a significant majority of white women
1) want to further restrict abortion rights....or possibly overturn Roe vs. Wade altogether, making abortion an illegal act
2) repeal the ACA, including the provision allowing for coverage of birth control, as well as the rule that insurance companies may not charge higher premiums for women
3) had no use for Ms. Clinton's proposals for providing more generous family leave
4) support the notion that the value of a woman is measured by "desirability", especially with regard to breast size, and that unrestrained male groping is just boys-will-be-boys having some good clean fun
I have to wonder...."What's the Matter With (White) Women"?
4
The demo information listed here by Mr. Edsall completely ignores the Jill Stein and Gary Johnson factor. Together they won approximately 4.3 percent of the vote - a popular vote won by Hillary Clinton. (Ralph Nader received approximately 2.7 percent in 2000.)
IMO it's very premature to give Mr. Trump a sweeping mandate with some income levels of white people (who were the vast majority of Johnson/Stein voters based on exit polls) and set off a panic button in the Democratic Party when it's unknown how those voters would have voted in a two-party race. Would some have voted for Mr. Trump? Would some have voted for Mrs. Clinton (and possibly tipped the Electoral College with 2-3 states changing results)? Would some have stayed home?
And how can the Democratic Party appeal to "working-class whites" when the Republican Party has taken a wrecking ball to the foundation of Democratic Party support: unions? Is Paul Ryan, et al. with a Senate and House majority going to have a memory lapse and decide unions are great for America? No. Are Republicans going to continue to enforce the idea that they didn't have an active role in the decimation of unions in working class America? Yes. Will many people in working class America continue to believe the Republicans? We'll see. At some point con men always over-tip their hands.
IMO it's very premature to give Mr. Trump a sweeping mandate with some income levels of white people (who were the vast majority of Johnson/Stein voters based on exit polls) and set off a panic button in the Democratic Party when it's unknown how those voters would have voted in a two-party race. Would some have voted for Mr. Trump? Would some have voted for Mrs. Clinton (and possibly tipped the Electoral College with 2-3 states changing results)? Would some have stayed home?
And how can the Democratic Party appeal to "working-class whites" when the Republican Party has taken a wrecking ball to the foundation of Democratic Party support: unions? Is Paul Ryan, et al. with a Senate and House majority going to have a memory lapse and decide unions are great for America? No. Are Republicans going to continue to enforce the idea that they didn't have an active role in the decimation of unions in working class America? Yes. Will many people in working class America continue to believe the Republicans? We'll see. At some point con men always over-tip their hands.
The reason the group was called "silent" was because pollsters failed to notice their existence, not because of anything their fault.
My personal theory is that the "silent" issue was abortion. For once, the millions of Americans who oppose abortion had an anti-establishment candidate who was willing to make a deal in exchange for votes, and he was running against a candidate who once hid abortion funding in a health plan hoping to trick conservatives into voting for it. The last I heard. nearly half of Americans oppose Roe vs Wade, which pretty much matches the voting results.
Edsall's article doesn't even mention the issue.
My personal theory is that the "silent" issue was abortion. For once, the millions of Americans who oppose abortion had an anti-establishment candidate who was willing to make a deal in exchange for votes, and he was running against a candidate who once hid abortion funding in a health plan hoping to trick conservatives into voting for it. The last I heard. nearly half of Americans oppose Roe vs Wade, which pretty much matches the voting results.
Edsall's article doesn't even mention the issue.
2
The demo information listed here by Mr. Edsall completely ignores the Jill Stein and Gary Johnson factor. Together they won approximately 4.3 percent of the vote - a popular vote won by Hillary Clinton. (Ralph Nader received approximately 2.7 percent in 2000.)
IMO it's very premature to give Mr. Trump a sweeping mandate with some income levels of white people (who were the vast majority of Johnson/Stein voters based on exit polls) and set off a panic button in the Democratic Party when it's unknown how those voters would have voted in a two-party race. Would some have voted for Mr. Trump? Would some have voted for Mrs. Clinton (and possibly tipped the Electoral College with 2-3 states changing results)? Would some have stayed home?
And how can the Democratic Party appeal to "working-class whites" when the Republican Party has taken a wrecking ball to the foundation of Democratic Party support: unions? Is Paul Ryan, et al. with a Senate and House majority going to have a memory lapse and decide unions are great for America? No. Are Republicans going to continue to enforce the idea that they didn't have an active role in the decimation of unions in working class America? Yes. Will many people in working class America continue to believe the Republicans? We'll see. At some point con men always over-tip their hands.
IMO it's very premature to give Mr. Trump a sweeping mandate with some income levels of white people (who were the vast majority of Johnson/Stein voters based on exit polls) and set off a panic button in the Democratic Party when it's unknown how those voters would have voted in a two-party race. Would some have voted for Mr. Trump? Would some have voted for Mrs. Clinton (and possibly tipped the Electoral College with 2-3 states changing results)? Would some have stayed home?
And how can the Democratic Party appeal to "working-class whites" when the Republican Party has taken a wrecking ball to the foundation of Democratic Party support: unions? Is Paul Ryan, et al. with a Senate and House majority going to have a memory lapse and decide unions are great for America? No. Are Republicans going to continue to enforce the idea that they didn't have an active role in the decimation of unions in working class America? Yes. Will many people in working class America continue to believe the Republicans? We'll see. At some point con men always over-tip their hands.
7
You do not mention that Hate Radio has been a huge part of feeding the white male population endless messages of victimization in exchange for enriching people like Rush Limbaugh. My dad's WWII generation did not grow up accepting or believing that being whipped was some preferred way to think of oneself. Conservative male values have changed drastically since then.
Education being was mocked as "elitist" did nothing to help people get retraining. Wasting people's time in inventing enemies made Trump a possible savior. Even he cannot revive industries he has falsely promised to resurrect.
This population has been a cash cow for unscrupulous snake oil types for decades.
Education being was mocked as "elitist" did nothing to help people get retraining. Wasting people's time in inventing enemies made Trump a possible savior. Even he cannot revive industries he has falsely promised to resurrect.
This population has been a cash cow for unscrupulous snake oil types for decades.
6
As a social scientist I agree with Drutman. One of the reasons Obama won the first time was that some proportion of the Middle Class whites, most of whom voted for Trump this time, saw that supply side stupidity as the Republican strategy did nothing for them. So it will be hopefully in 2018 and more certain in 2020. This time, however, the Republican Party with all the "eliminate government" Tea Party House and Senate members, will be much more draconian and long lasting. If Ryan's wish that Medicare be abolished with his silly voucher replacement and retirees paying 10s of thousands a year for health care if they can afford it at all, and the decisions out of SCOTUS eliminate abortion rights, finally eliminate the last vestige of voting rights, environmental protections, birth control etc., then is not clear how these guys will vote, and maybe by then any semblance of America will be lost anyway.
4
I have lived for many years in both red and blue America. I learned long ago to give the answer I don't know. Some people asked me "How did it happen here?" I told them what I believe happened.
I learned English and literature at a school that was part of the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal. I hated school but I loved English and literature more. I had excellent teachers who loved the English language and British and North American literature and history.
Yesterday I revisited Noam Chomsky and his comments on the death of William F. Buckley Jr. with a video of part of the Chomsky appearance on Firing Line.
Buckley was not a conservative. Buckley never was a conservative he was a fascist like his father and his siblings.
William F. Buckley jr the godfather of American conservatism was not a conservative he was a fascist who believed in segregation, white supremacy and he was a sophist and a master of Newspeak. This is not the time to discuss Chomsky's politics but Chomsky knows language and he does speak English the way I learned it.
When the media accepted Buckley as an intellectual and accepted Buckley's Newspeak as a valid medium of expression Tuesday November 8 2016 became inevitable.
America was not designed to be a fascist nation the language Mr Buckley created destroyed America's ability to continue its evolutionary course. The GOP is unAmerican, Red and Blue America no longer share a language and culture. Fascists do not speak or understand American.
I learned English and literature at a school that was part of the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal. I hated school but I loved English and literature more. I had excellent teachers who loved the English language and British and North American literature and history.
Yesterday I revisited Noam Chomsky and his comments on the death of William F. Buckley Jr. with a video of part of the Chomsky appearance on Firing Line.
Buckley was not a conservative. Buckley never was a conservative he was a fascist like his father and his siblings.
William F. Buckley jr the godfather of American conservatism was not a conservative he was a fascist who believed in segregation, white supremacy and he was a sophist and a master of Newspeak. This is not the time to discuss Chomsky's politics but Chomsky knows language and he does speak English the way I learned it.
When the media accepted Buckley as an intellectual and accepted Buckley's Newspeak as a valid medium of expression Tuesday November 8 2016 became inevitable.
America was not designed to be a fascist nation the language Mr Buckley created destroyed America's ability to continue its evolutionary course. The GOP is unAmerican, Red and Blue America no longer share a language and culture. Fascists do not speak or understand American.
5
Apart from Florida (where Cuban American antipathy to Clinton may have tipped he scales) the story of the 2016 election is the defection of Rust Belt working class whites from the Democratic coalition.
These folks have long felt socially disconnected from a Democratic Party of liberal elites, rootless cosmopolitans and minorities, and in 2016 decided to ignore the instructions of Democratic leaders and union bosses, in no small measure due to their perception that Democrats had not protected them economically.
Their perception may be wrong (they certainly benefit from the social safety net Democrats have put in place) but it's how they see things nonetheless.
With Democratic voters heavily concentrated in the northeast and west, Republican legislative and Electoral College ascendancy may last a while.
These folks have long felt socially disconnected from a Democratic Party of liberal elites, rootless cosmopolitans and minorities, and in 2016 decided to ignore the instructions of Democratic leaders and union bosses, in no small measure due to their perception that Democrats had not protected them economically.
Their perception may be wrong (they certainly benefit from the social safety net Democrats have put in place) but it's how they see things nonetheless.
With Democratic voters heavily concentrated in the northeast and west, Republican legislative and Electoral College ascendancy may last a while.
The title to this piece is completely misleading. The white voters, especially the uneducated white voters as established by the statistics in the piece are not a majority. I do not believe that they are a piece of the puzzle that Democrats can acquire to win elections. The Democrats put forth the most progressive platform in recent memory, and yet, uneducated white people would not vote for it. This tells me that they are uninterested in learning what is best for them, and more interested in disparaging and blaming others for their plight. What needs to change is the electoral college. It gives an outsized voice to a minority of voters who happen to be situated in battleground states. We need to keep reminding ourselves that by the time the electors meet on December 19th, Hillary Clinton most likely will have a 2 million vote lead in the popular vote. What needs to be revamped is our election process rather than trying to reach out to a minority of voters who aren't willing to recognize who's actually trying to help them.
3
The political right, who have an agenda laid out by Hayek and Rand, have used race and class resentment to divide poor black and white Americans to advance their own political philosophy. that philosophy says their is NO social compact and that only dog-eat-dog competition is the natural order of man. The Republicans are neo-liberal to the core. Trump ran way to the left of the neo-liberal Republican establishment but will he govern that way? In fact, on economic issues he ran to the left of Sec Clinton. Trump has promised massive government expansion on behalf of the working class. I'm not holding my breath.
The question for the Democrats is how do they overcome racial resentment and break with their own neo-liberals like the Clintons.
The question for the Democrats is how do they overcome racial resentment and break with their own neo-liberals like the Clintons.
2
Well written and argued post-Morten autopsy of the democratic party in the aftermath of Hillary Clinton's defeat.
There is another line of reasoning that could explain democrats/Hillary's defeat.
For the first time ever, the American electorate had a real choice for president. Had the winner of the GOP primary be one of the 15 republican-born candidates, except for Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton would probably be president today.
Donald Trump was the first candidate which made proposals totally outside mainstream republican/democratic platforms. Americans could vote for the freest candidate ever.
George Carlin used to quip that choosing between a democrat and a republican candidate was the equivalent of supermarket cashiers asking customers: paper or plastic?
In 2016 American voters no longer had to choose between paper or plastic.
Who knows? with Donald Trump, American voters could have found the so-called third way in politics. Tony Blair's sponsored political movement in which the development of business is balanced with the needs of society.
There is another line of reasoning that could explain democrats/Hillary's defeat.
For the first time ever, the American electorate had a real choice for president. Had the winner of the GOP primary be one of the 15 republican-born candidates, except for Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton would probably be president today.
Donald Trump was the first candidate which made proposals totally outside mainstream republican/democratic platforms. Americans could vote for the freest candidate ever.
George Carlin used to quip that choosing between a democrat and a republican candidate was the equivalent of supermarket cashiers asking customers: paper or plastic?
In 2016 American voters no longer had to choose between paper or plastic.
Who knows? with Donald Trump, American voters could have found the so-called third way in politics. Tony Blair's sponsored political movement in which the development of business is balanced with the needs of society.
1
It is ok to hate...constructively. Intolerance of intolerance is a good thing.
White voters--excepting the rich and bigoted--bought into Trump promises that will not be. Coal is not coming back until there is clean coal technology. Manufacturing jobs are not coming back unless wages are suppressed to imacceptable levels. Investment in productivity enhancing measures will seek out new, technologically more demanding opportunities with tougher job requirements. Congressional gridlock may temporarily be resolved by providing a platform that rewards climate deniers, bigots and the rich industrialist lovers of tax breaks for the wealthy, CO2 and methane. But there are only so many lies we can tell ourselves. When whites see that nothing is being done for them and things get worse while the rich get richer self preservation will kick in and the ugliness that propelled Trump to victory will be relegated. And media can be an important catalyst if it will only tell the true story of this impending trail of tears...
White voters--excepting the rich and bigoted--bought into Trump promises that will not be. Coal is not coming back until there is clean coal technology. Manufacturing jobs are not coming back unless wages are suppressed to imacceptable levels. Investment in productivity enhancing measures will seek out new, technologically more demanding opportunities with tougher job requirements. Congressional gridlock may temporarily be resolved by providing a platform that rewards climate deniers, bigots and the rich industrialist lovers of tax breaks for the wealthy, CO2 and methane. But there are only so many lies we can tell ourselves. When whites see that nothing is being done for them and things get worse while the rich get richer self preservation will kick in and the ugliness that propelled Trump to victory will be relegated. And media can be an important catalyst if it will only tell the true story of this impending trail of tears...
1
Will Trump address white working class resentment by raising the position of the white working class or lowering the position of the Hispanic and non-white working class? His promise to raise the white working class by bringing back manufacturing is largely vacuous, since most manufacturing jobs have been lost to robots, not to outsourcing.
And in any event, manufacturing jobs without unionization, which Republicans adamantly oppose, will never be the middle class jobs of decades past. Major minimum wage increases, which could substantially advance the interests of the white (and non-white) working class, are also opposed by Republicans.
On the other hand, there is every reason to expect Trump to address white working class resentment by repressing the non-white working class. His attacks on non-European immigrants, on Muslims, on Black Lives Matter are well-directed to restoring the white working class sense of its own entitled superiority.
The real problem is that the white working class was raised to believe that being white and having a high school diploma would guarantee a middle class life. That malady can't be cured by any economic prescription.
politicsbyeccehomo.wordpress.com
And in any event, manufacturing jobs without unionization, which Republicans adamantly oppose, will never be the middle class jobs of decades past. Major minimum wage increases, which could substantially advance the interests of the white (and non-white) working class, are also opposed by Republicans.
On the other hand, there is every reason to expect Trump to address white working class resentment by repressing the non-white working class. His attacks on non-European immigrants, on Muslims, on Black Lives Matter are well-directed to restoring the white working class sense of its own entitled superiority.
The real problem is that the white working class was raised to believe that being white and having a high school diploma would guarantee a middle class life. That malady can't be cured by any economic prescription.
politicsbyeccehomo.wordpress.com
2
White tribalism or ethnocentrism - whatever you want to call it (I'm thinking there's a few other choice terms the author would have preferred himself) is the context for every attempt at stereotyping the motivations of the 'under-educated' white male. Yet, regardless of the times this 'explanation' is given, (or when addressing the white male directly, the lesson is taught) we never seem to get it- the result being that people like Teixeira and pollsters alike tend to be poor prognosticators.
Why so, I wonder? Am I, as a member of this class, simply unaware of my biases and privilege, am I a closeted bigot? When I choose the presidential candidate who seems to understand that I need my government to be working for my best interests as a citizen of the United States, and less so the people of the rest of the world, I consider each candidates stance on issues like illegal immigration, a touchy subject indeed. This is not any form tribalism, except that one tribe I ascribe to, the United States. Perhaps I'm not 'evolved' or 'awoke' to understand your smug attitude towards such a crazy notion as putting this country's citizens first, but I can't see how that conforms to any sort of racism that is often touted as my apparently sole motivation.
Maybe, instead of paneling experts or watching from your observation towers the movements and habits of the creature often known as the 'uneducated white male', you should do some ground level investigations. We might surprise you.
Why so, I wonder? Am I, as a member of this class, simply unaware of my biases and privilege, am I a closeted bigot? When I choose the presidential candidate who seems to understand that I need my government to be working for my best interests as a citizen of the United States, and less so the people of the rest of the world, I consider each candidates stance on issues like illegal immigration, a touchy subject indeed. This is not any form tribalism, except that one tribe I ascribe to, the United States. Perhaps I'm not 'evolved' or 'awoke' to understand your smug attitude towards such a crazy notion as putting this country's citizens first, but I can't see how that conforms to any sort of racism that is often touted as my apparently sole motivation.
Maybe, instead of paneling experts or watching from your observation towers the movements and habits of the creature often known as the 'uneducated white male', you should do some ground level investigations. We might surprise you.
1
Many people are very tired of the victimization/demographic syndrome. As we worked for decades in major corporations we watched "affirmative action" where so many purple people were hired/promoted/worked who were not qualified or not at least qualified as someone else. Once employed it was impossible to fire people who could not perform the job/career they were hired for. Automation is replacing many jobs: factories: driving, etc. get used to it as it does not matter a minimum wage hike of a dollar or two for a job that will not be available in a year or two. Many engineers (petroleum) were laid off in the southwest; they wanted their industry (oil) back so they did not vote democratic. I know many multi-degreed women all over this country that voted against socialism, liberal judges, illegal immigration, and many other reasons. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
2
Mr. Edsall writes that Trump's rust belt voters "were situated in a way that allowed them to exercise far more influence in the Electoral College than their overall numbers would suggest." Change "suggest" to "justify" and he's one hundred percent correct. We need to get rid of the undemocratic Electoral College, as Mr. Trump, for example, has said both before and after his election. In the absence of a Constitutional amendment, we can use the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which ten states and the District of Columbia have already signed. Its implementation is subject to the same obstacle as an amendment, the desire of many in low-population states to maintain their undemocratic advantage. But one or the other measure must be put in place if we're to have anything like one-person-one-vote in this country.
2
The most disturbing part of post-election analysis is the undeniable racism that infects a large segment of the American population. Seeing it so visibly this election cycle is sickening, but when it was latent made it no less objectionable. We've known for years that the GOP has appealed to that racism sub rosa, but Trump seems to have kept all the previous voters whose racism was implicit and added the explicit white nationalists and others who had given up on the Republican Party for playing nice rather than openly embracing racist views.
While Democrats have always hoped to change hearts, they realistically pursued changing laws and advocated policies that might improve the lives of people and thus defuse the explosive power of race in society. But sadly, most of those policies -- at least since 1992 -- have reflected a blindness toward the lives of working class Americans. The cornerstone of Hillary's policy was to help working class Americans in declining industries go to college, as though this would magically solve all problems. But to a white, 50-year-old unemployed miner, whose last experience in a classroom was 35 years ago and whose interest then was largely beer, women, guns and cars, the thought of going back to college is complete fantasy. Democrats need to rethink this one, because without realistic solutions, this problem will only worsen.
While Democrats have always hoped to change hearts, they realistically pursued changing laws and advocated policies that might improve the lives of people and thus defuse the explosive power of race in society. But sadly, most of those policies -- at least since 1992 -- have reflected a blindness toward the lives of working class Americans. The cornerstone of Hillary's policy was to help working class Americans in declining industries go to college, as though this would magically solve all problems. But to a white, 50-year-old unemployed miner, whose last experience in a classroom was 35 years ago and whose interest then was largely beer, women, guns and cars, the thought of going back to college is complete fantasy. Democrats need to rethink this one, because without realistic solutions, this problem will only worsen.
3
lots of data, but not a lot of conclusions.
the author cites a 1985 study of non-college educated white males to posit they are racist.
I guarantee you that if obama could have gotten the economy moving again, a vast majority of white voters would have had a more sympathetic view of hillary.
Despite this administration's rhetoric, the economy is anemic. we've seen the lowest level of growth following a recession... EVER.
most of the aggregate job gains are in government employment, service sector and part-time. that is no way to grow the economy, and it represents an intentional or incidental attack on the private sector through onerous regulations and obamacare.
plainly stated: the past 8 years have been absolutely miserable for millions of low-wage workers (not just white) and they showed up to vote out what they saw as a continuation of the misery promised by hillary.
the author cites a 1985 study of non-college educated white males to posit they are racist.
I guarantee you that if obama could have gotten the economy moving again, a vast majority of white voters would have had a more sympathetic view of hillary.
Despite this administration's rhetoric, the economy is anemic. we've seen the lowest level of growth following a recession... EVER.
most of the aggregate job gains are in government employment, service sector and part-time. that is no way to grow the economy, and it represents an intentional or incidental attack on the private sector through onerous regulations and obamacare.
plainly stated: the past 8 years have been absolutely miserable for millions of low-wage workers (not just white) and they showed up to vote out what they saw as a continuation of the misery promised by hillary.
2
I feel that it is precisely the obsession with demographics and identity that is dividing the citizens of this country, and continuing to look at each other exclusively through those narrow lenses will only lead to more animosity. From the "red" and "blue" states to all this slicing and dicing by color and class and gender and geography to the speculation, post-Trump, of the effects on one's identity group--we are still creating and falling for the very divisiveness that Trump used so effectively as a marketing tool. The Democrats need to wake up and appeal beyond these labels. I can only hope that the election of this man will bring Democrats and others who did not choose him together to stand for the rule of law, the constitution, and the freedom Americans hold dear. It’s not just about me or mine, but us and ours.
Edsal's framing of the issues seem to display a few problems:
First, he couches the Democratic Party's losses as being due to "strategy" and the relevant experts whose wise advice we need to heed as "strategists." Consider for a moment what it is like to be the target of such perspectives. You have just been described in terms where the aim is to manipulate you, not respect you or serve your interests. That is a foundation for more usury, not for reestablishing trust.
A second but rather subtle point concerns Edsal's and others' parsing of the polls. Two issues: Who is being blamed? And what is causing racial animosity? A careful reading displays only an indirect blame on minorities. What the working class resented was not simply a focus on uplifting the lives of minorities. They resented the fact that it was at their expense. Everyone was losing jobs, but only minorities were being helped, from what those not being helped could tell. The proper locus of the blame here is on the politicians that made these decisions, not on the minorities being helped. Unfortunately an easily predicted outcome is resentment, which fuels rather than reforms racist views.
The lesson here is that it is always problematic (not just strategically, but ethically) to help one group at another's expense, especially when those who are paying cannot easily afford the loss. Thus suggests seeking ways to make racial reform pay, ways that respect everyone's interests and unify rather than divide us.
First, he couches the Democratic Party's losses as being due to "strategy" and the relevant experts whose wise advice we need to heed as "strategists." Consider for a moment what it is like to be the target of such perspectives. You have just been described in terms where the aim is to manipulate you, not respect you or serve your interests. That is a foundation for more usury, not for reestablishing trust.
A second but rather subtle point concerns Edsal's and others' parsing of the polls. Two issues: Who is being blamed? And what is causing racial animosity? A careful reading displays only an indirect blame on minorities. What the working class resented was not simply a focus on uplifting the lives of minorities. They resented the fact that it was at their expense. Everyone was losing jobs, but only minorities were being helped, from what those not being helped could tell. The proper locus of the blame here is on the politicians that made these decisions, not on the minorities being helped. Unfortunately an easily predicted outcome is resentment, which fuels rather than reforms racist views.
The lesson here is that it is always problematic (not just strategically, but ethically) to help one group at another's expense, especially when those who are paying cannot easily afford the loss. Thus suggests seeking ways to make racial reform pay, ways that respect everyone's interests and unify rather than divide us.
2
This meme, increasingly absurd on its face, is repeated so often people will eventually believe it. We know too well the relevant chapter from the Republican handbook. Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth. Trump won the presidency because rural low-to-moderate-income white men voted for him in unusual numbers. The corollary is, Clinton lost the election because she did not connect with those same voters. This neglects several factors, primary among them systematic and massive voter suppression accomplished by "cleansing" the voter rolls. For those who think this is a "conspiracy theory" the numbers are publicly available, as are the organizations, funded by Republicans, that organized the "cleansing" along with state election officials who cooperated. It's not hard to find any of that information except that finding it makes everybody uncomfortable, including Democrats. The "rural low-to-moderate-income white men" meme also neglects an unpleasant truth most in the American media prefer not to notice, and indeed to deny, particularly when Clinton herself mentions it. Some in the Democratic Party join in, anxious to move ahead and fearful of being called "conspiracy nuts." Is any label worse? Whatever one thinks of the pollsters, many of them clearly measured a 2 to 3 point fall in Clinton's numbers within 48 hours of James Comey's first letter. She was finished. That's the other corollary: deny the truth often enough and the truth becomes a lie.
3
Given the average person's short memory span & lack of knowledge about recent history, here's something to think about.
For more than 100 years before Reagan, the GDP and median working income rose at virtually the same rate. They almost perfectly align on graphs. Hence the phrase, "A rising tide lifts all boats." But, in 1981, Reagan kicked over the remnants of Keynesian economics and installed the heterodox Austrian school Supply-side economics. He also virtually emasculated the trade union power. In Reagan's very first year, the two graph lines began to diverge. GDP continued to rise at an increasing rate, but workers' median income became flat. Since then (until last year) median income has remained flat or even decreased while GDP soared. Virtually all that new money the country as a whole was producing was quietly shunted to the top 1%, now the top .001%. The joke became "A rising tide lifts all yachts."
After 35 years of Reaganomics and rigged tax laws, we have arrived at a time when what used to be thriving middle and working class people are in ever-more-dire straits. Trump's campaign meme was to blame the elites in Congress and the Obama administration, trusting that memories rarely go back past the current president. In a sense he was right - both party elites had ignored the plight of the downtrodden. But, this didn't start with Obama or Hillary or Dem and GOP Brahmans. It began the day Ronald Reagan took office and has simply continued unchecked.
For more than 100 years before Reagan, the GDP and median working income rose at virtually the same rate. They almost perfectly align on graphs. Hence the phrase, "A rising tide lifts all boats." But, in 1981, Reagan kicked over the remnants of Keynesian economics and installed the heterodox Austrian school Supply-side economics. He also virtually emasculated the trade union power. In Reagan's very first year, the two graph lines began to diverge. GDP continued to rise at an increasing rate, but workers' median income became flat. Since then (until last year) median income has remained flat or even decreased while GDP soared. Virtually all that new money the country as a whole was producing was quietly shunted to the top 1%, now the top .001%. The joke became "A rising tide lifts all yachts."
After 35 years of Reaganomics and rigged tax laws, we have arrived at a time when what used to be thriving middle and working class people are in ever-more-dire straits. Trump's campaign meme was to blame the elites in Congress and the Obama administration, trusting that memories rarely go back past the current president. In a sense he was right - both party elites had ignored the plight of the downtrodden. But, this didn't start with Obama or Hillary or Dem and GOP Brahmans. It began the day Ronald Reagan took office and has simply continued unchecked.
3
The last paragraph gets to the potentially most damaging aspect of President-elect Trump's campaign, candidacy, and tenure in office: The perverse symbiotic relationship between President-elect Trump and the fringes of white America.
President-elect Trump feeds, thrives, and lives off of any positive feedback, regardless of who it is that is offering it to him. President-elect Trump will almost certainly continue to dangle the dangerous red meat to his most vocal and ardent supporters as a way to ensure that the positive feedback continues to flow forth. He can't live without it (and he needs people on Twitter to feed his theories so that he can continue to say "People are saying . . . it isn't me that is saying it . . . people are saying).
In return for the feedback fuel, President-elect Trump offers his fringe supporters the belief that they have found a national voice and platform for their dangerous ideas. So long as they feel they are being heard, the amped up feedback fuel will continue to spew forth. Terrifyingly, it seems as if this feedback loop knows no bounds.
One can only hope that the majority of our society sees through the dangerous rhetoric and doesn't give the most vocal of his supporters the impression that passion and volume equate to majority beliefs. I have to believe that we are better as a people than the worst of Trump's supporters and that they are not representative of us as a whole, despite the outcome of a complicated election.
President-elect Trump feeds, thrives, and lives off of any positive feedback, regardless of who it is that is offering it to him. President-elect Trump will almost certainly continue to dangle the dangerous red meat to his most vocal and ardent supporters as a way to ensure that the positive feedback continues to flow forth. He can't live without it (and he needs people on Twitter to feed his theories so that he can continue to say "People are saying . . . it isn't me that is saying it . . . people are saying).
In return for the feedback fuel, President-elect Trump offers his fringe supporters the belief that they have found a national voice and platform for their dangerous ideas. So long as they feel they are being heard, the amped up feedback fuel will continue to spew forth. Terrifyingly, it seems as if this feedback loop knows no bounds.
One can only hope that the majority of our society sees through the dangerous rhetoric and doesn't give the most vocal of his supporters the impression that passion and volume equate to majority beliefs. I have to believe that we are better as a people than the worst of Trump's supporters and that they are not representative of us as a whole, despite the outcome of a complicated election.
3
Working people.
For once, for 8 years, America felt like a country all people could take pride in under President Obama. No one could complain that they were left out.
I have worked with the working class where Whites and African Americans work shoulder to shoulder with respect.
I have worked with the business elite who are hateful white bigots biding their time until President Obama was gone.
I have heard the mindless haters who blame everyone else for their problems, hateful white bigots biding their time until President Obama was gone.
A hateful faction has won the electoral college vote, not the vote of the people I care about. They will put more Americans in jail, they will ostracize African Americans with the police, spew hate at Muslims and LGBTQ's and harass Latino's.
While watching most sporting events on TV, I notice that each camera shot of the crows is filled with white faces, but on the field, the faces are those of America. African Americans, Whites, Latinos, Women, Muslims, and surely some gay's. The people on the field represent the America I want to be a part of, all races working together equally.
For once, for 8 years, America felt like a country all people could take pride in under President Obama. No one could complain that they were left out.
I have worked with the working class where Whites and African Americans work shoulder to shoulder with respect.
I have worked with the business elite who are hateful white bigots biding their time until President Obama was gone.
I have heard the mindless haters who blame everyone else for their problems, hateful white bigots biding their time until President Obama was gone.
A hateful faction has won the electoral college vote, not the vote of the people I care about. They will put more Americans in jail, they will ostracize African Americans with the police, spew hate at Muslims and LGBTQ's and harass Latino's.
While watching most sporting events on TV, I notice that each camera shot of the crows is filled with white faces, but on the field, the faces are those of America. African Americans, Whites, Latinos, Women, Muslims, and surely some gay's. The people on the field represent the America I want to be a part of, all races working together equally.
2
There are a number of elephants in the room here. First and foremost, there is the economic dynamic of globalization, which is not an Act of God (as Tom Friedman would have us believe), but the result of specific policies based on the never ending search for cheaper labor and the free international flow of capital. Bill Clinton's real betrayal of the white working class (and their fellow black workers along with them) was his flip on NAFTA and his embrace of globalization. Second, racism, always present in this country, as is anti-Semitism in Europe, has been exploited by the forces of reaction in times of of economic upheaval at least since the Progressive and Populist eras at the end of the 19th Century. Good times can lead to good will. Bad times lead to the search for scapegoats. We've had 20 plus years of Rush LImbaugh, Fox News, et al, blaming the the poor and the victims of discrimination for being poor and victims of discrimination. Third, in six of the last seven presidential cycles -- 1992, 1996, 2000, 2008, 2012, and now 2016 -- the GOP candidate received less votes than his Democratic counterpart -- a consistent rejection of GOP trickle down economic policies. Yet, in 2016, at least, voter suppression was a factor in turning key battleground states Red and giving Trump the victory via the Electoral College. But, let the globalist Democrats deny all this, and become the new Me Too party, blaming it all on black people.
1
The triumph of Trump is the triumph of kitsch. Not the kitsch of plastic pink flamingoes or alabaster BVM's, but the self congratulatory "second tear" kitsch of Milan Kundera. The maudlin and smarmy acceptance of a participation trophy for our own narcissistic pathos. It is the triumph of the lowest common denominator. Trump is something that at first blush offers itself as alive and having substance, that which appears to provoke us into participation, but reveals itself as only that which flatters, comforts and distracts us. In the end it's entertainment egged on by voyeurism and boredom. This is Morris Berman's Twilight of American Culture. The natural result of the self-centered dumbing down of a society that has walked away from its life and into Reality TV.
2
By 2032, it might not matter. No point in such speculation just as there was not any real analysis in 2016 by journalist, a reference to 16 years from now is just silly. Trump will undoubtedly have some success in the first two years as his supporters will see it. He will start building the wall, deport Hispanics by the millions, cut taxes, cut social programs, and be applauded by those who were too stupid to understand how they would be affected. To speculat, Trump may well gain House seats in2018 because his programs will not yet have crushed the supporters enough to make them see the light. The authors do not understand, it seems, how utterly stupid these people are, and everyone fails to understand the role of the South in engendering hate, fear, anti-intellectualism and, above all, racial attitudes that have not changed since 1789. we are done for as a nation of unity and that might not be a bad thing; we must establish regions that are diverse and do everything possible to do in the fascists in the South and West. In order todo so, we must not succumb to the false calls for unity by Obama, Clinton and especially the terrible obtuse Sanders, who helped Trump win by his ego trip running in a primary for a party he never belonged to and abandoned as quickly as he could after losing. Democrats need to insist on a rule requiring that people running in the primary are actually Democrats rather than frauds.
2
I'm with Kilgore in opposition to Drutman where the Democratic Party is concerned. The Constitution requires the federal government to work for the good of all Americans. Every single one of us. Drutman's ideas would leave our former blue collar manufacturing class to fend for itself. That would be immoral and wrong.
Furthermore, Drutman's plan was already implemented by Barack Obama, with disastrous results. The very people his administration ignored believed they would also be ignored by his anointed successor Mrs. Clinton, so the voted for Trump.
Globalism does not require the United States to ship its manufacturing jobs elsewhere. Germany exports many manufactured goods, all of which are made by highly paid union members who also have good benefits. Further, half the seats on Germany's corporate boards are reserved for labor. We could do that here. It would simply require our CEO class coming out of Ivy League business schools to stop thinking of corporate executivism as license to steal.
Our country's greatest years were when its middle and working classes were strongest. In my view, restoring the position of those two classes must be the top priority of the Democratic Party going forward.
Furthermore, Drutman's plan was already implemented by Barack Obama, with disastrous results. The very people his administration ignored believed they would also be ignored by his anointed successor Mrs. Clinton, so the voted for Trump.
Globalism does not require the United States to ship its manufacturing jobs elsewhere. Germany exports many manufactured goods, all of which are made by highly paid union members who also have good benefits. Further, half the seats on Germany's corporate boards are reserved for labor. We could do that here. It would simply require our CEO class coming out of Ivy League business schools to stop thinking of corporate executivism as license to steal.
Our country's greatest years were when its middle and working classes were strongest. In my view, restoring the position of those two classes must be the top priority of the Democratic Party going forward.
1
Mr. Edsall's analysis is very helpful, as usual. The prevailing narrative from Reagan through Bush 43 (1980 to 2008) was a dramatic shift in income and wealth from labor (the 99%) to capital (the 1%)--a "Rightward Shift" if you will.
The statistics are stark:
The top 1% had 24% of the wealth in 1979, now they have 42%.
The bottom 50% had 3% of the wealth in 1989, now they have 1%.
The top 1% had 10% of the income in 1979, now they have 22%.
President Obama began the push back to the Left, arguing an after-tax strategy was the way to address the problem, rather than an anti-globalist pre-tax strategy. His tax hikes on the rich increased the average tax rate on the top 1% from 29% in 2012 to 34% today. This shifted the top 1% share of after-tax income down from 15% in 2012 to 12% in 2013, reducing after-tax inequality.
This small shift back to the Left was of course anathema to the conservatives, who have tried all manner of attempts to discredit and dismiss his approach and him personally.
Trump has said he will push back to the Left pre-tax, arguing that protectionism, immigration reduction, and stimulus will help American workers. However, after-tax he will continue with Republican orthodoxy, with tax cuts for the rich and deregulation.
American workers took him at his word and believed the pre-tax strategy over the after-tax strategy. Economic theory suggests they made a mistake, as the after-tax strategy is more efficient. But time will tell.
The statistics are stark:
The top 1% had 24% of the wealth in 1979, now they have 42%.
The bottom 50% had 3% of the wealth in 1989, now they have 1%.
The top 1% had 10% of the income in 1979, now they have 22%.
President Obama began the push back to the Left, arguing an after-tax strategy was the way to address the problem, rather than an anti-globalist pre-tax strategy. His tax hikes on the rich increased the average tax rate on the top 1% from 29% in 2012 to 34% today. This shifted the top 1% share of after-tax income down from 15% in 2012 to 12% in 2013, reducing after-tax inequality.
This small shift back to the Left was of course anathema to the conservatives, who have tried all manner of attempts to discredit and dismiss his approach and him personally.
Trump has said he will push back to the Left pre-tax, arguing that protectionism, immigration reduction, and stimulus will help American workers. However, after-tax he will continue with Republican orthodoxy, with tax cuts for the rich and deregulation.
American workers took him at his word and believed the pre-tax strategy over the after-tax strategy. Economic theory suggests they made a mistake, as the after-tax strategy is more efficient. But time will tell.
Economics has nothing to do with the results of this election, or of the other the right wing waves since 1968. The answer to the question posed by Mr Edsall is contained in a quotation form the middle of his article:
“Blacks constitute the explanation of [whites'] vulnerability and for almost everything that has gone wrong in their lives.”
This
special status of blacks is perceived by almost all of these individuals as a serious obstacle to their personal advancement. Indeed, discrimination against whites has become a well-assimilated and ready explanation for their status, vulnerability and failures.
This virulent racism, nothing more, explains white flight towards the GOP. That's why it won't matter how Trump performs. As long as he appears to keep the blacks, Latinos, gays and women in their places (easily done by his continuing his campaign rhetoric and appointing mostly old white guys to key positions), the white majority will be pleased. That these attitudes have virtually no basis in reality makes them nearly impossible to counter. The only answer is massive minority (the only reason Obama won) and young person voter turnout. The former is now little more than a pipe dream, after all the voter suppression statutes passed by the states immediately after the Supreme Court ruled the Voting Rights Act of 1965 unconstitutional. And young people always seem to be too busy to vote in large numbers.
“Blacks constitute the explanation of [whites'] vulnerability and for almost everything that has gone wrong in their lives.”
This
special status of blacks is perceived by almost all of these individuals as a serious obstacle to their personal advancement. Indeed, discrimination against whites has become a well-assimilated and ready explanation for their status, vulnerability and failures.
This virulent racism, nothing more, explains white flight towards the GOP. That's why it won't matter how Trump performs. As long as he appears to keep the blacks, Latinos, gays and women in their places (easily done by his continuing his campaign rhetoric and appointing mostly old white guys to key positions), the white majority will be pleased. That these attitudes have virtually no basis in reality makes them nearly impossible to counter. The only answer is massive minority (the only reason Obama won) and young person voter turnout. The former is now little more than a pipe dream, after all the voter suppression statutes passed by the states immediately after the Supreme Court ruled the Voting Rights Act of 1965 unconstitutional. And young people always seem to be too busy to vote in large numbers.
3
There is a familiar elision in Edsall's piece, one rife in commentary on the last election. The voters supporting Trump may very well suffer racial anxieties, but the majority, by those I've talked to or heard quoted in the news, don't vote on these. The grounding cause of their votes for Trump is their poverty, and the racial anxiety is thus a symptom and not a cause of their support of Trump. Also, Edsall's article overlooks globalism. More than racial inclusion and, more exactly, preferential treatment in American institutions based on race, outsourcing has created a situation of entrenched poverty for many lower-income, un-college educated whites, i.e., there are fewer factory jobs available, and service industry jobs pay poorly and usually deny benefits. Finally, to stipulate that a block of voters with real problems is merely trying to hearken back to a past that can never be retrieved is too simple; certainly by evoking the patina of America's heyday in his campaign, Trump appealed to them, but assuming that the current incarnation of American capital imperialism is the only possible one - i.e., America can never again, at least in part, host its own manufacturing engine, producing those gratuitous material goods for itself that others now do for us, more cheaply - derives of its own kind of confirmation bias, at least as unuseful to the Experiment as that of poor whites viewing a changing world as proof of conspiracy or so-called reverse racism.
Democrats who explicitly defended working class interests got branded as socialists or tax-and-spenders and lost, and their policies were condemned as exemplifying class warfare (which, of course, was true). Democrats who triangulated won elections and got policies enacted. Many of these policies helped all members of the working class but were pictured as helping minorities.
The white working class risks being represented by neither party because it has erroneous conceptions of its interests. It thinks that on a level playing field, one not tilted towards immigrants and minorities, it would win the way it used to. What it does not recognize is that the level playing field on which it used to win was leveled by unions, Democrats, and big government as a counterbalance to big business. With these levelers gone, the playing field tilts towards the rich. Organized groups can resist this tilt for their members but not for the working class as a whole, so they are seen as tilting the field against workers who stand alone and independent, ready to make it on their own.
Much of the white working class knows that the system is rigged against them. Bernie had an approach to unrig the system that might work if pushed through. Trump channeled their rage and frustration without having any idea of how to unrig the system, since the only thing he knows how to do is to turn its rigging and corruption to his own advantage.
The white working class risks being represented by neither party because it has erroneous conceptions of its interests. It thinks that on a level playing field, one not tilted towards immigrants and minorities, it would win the way it used to. What it does not recognize is that the level playing field on which it used to win was leveled by unions, Democrats, and big government as a counterbalance to big business. With these levelers gone, the playing field tilts towards the rich. Organized groups can resist this tilt for their members but not for the working class as a whole, so they are seen as tilting the field against workers who stand alone and independent, ready to make it on their own.
Much of the white working class knows that the system is rigged against them. Bernie had an approach to unrig the system that might work if pushed through. Trump channeled their rage and frustration without having any idea of how to unrig the system, since the only thing he knows how to do is to turn its rigging and corruption to his own advantage.
Reply to Socrates,
In his column today, http://tinyurl.com/j9av4oq, Nicholas Kristof wrote this:
"3. I WILL avoid demonizing people who don’t agree with me about this election, recognizing that it’s as wrong to stereotype Trump supporters as anybody else. I will avoid Hitler metaphors, recognizing that they stop conversations and rarely persuade. I’ll remind myself that no side has a monopoly on truth and that many Trump supporters are good people who want the best for the country. The left already has gotten into trouble for condescending to working-class people, and insulting all Trump supporters as racists simply magnifies that problem."
Good advice. Many Americans voted for Trump DESPITE his racist and misogynist remarks, not because of them. http://tinyurl.com/gu65rta Characterizing them all as racist is a form of bigotry. It casts you as a provocateur, stirring up hatred and division. You become part of the problem, not the solution.
Please rethink your approach, with an eye to bringing people together, not tearing them apart.
In his column today, http://tinyurl.com/j9av4oq, Nicholas Kristof wrote this:
"3. I WILL avoid demonizing people who don’t agree with me about this election, recognizing that it’s as wrong to stereotype Trump supporters as anybody else. I will avoid Hitler metaphors, recognizing that they stop conversations and rarely persuade. I’ll remind myself that no side has a monopoly on truth and that many Trump supporters are good people who want the best for the country. The left already has gotten into trouble for condescending to working-class people, and insulting all Trump supporters as racists simply magnifies that problem."
Good advice. Many Americans voted for Trump DESPITE his racist and misogynist remarks, not because of them. http://tinyurl.com/gu65rta Characterizing them all as racist is a form of bigotry. It casts you as a provocateur, stirring up hatred and division. You become part of the problem, not the solution.
Please rethink your approach, with an eye to bringing people together, not tearing them apart.
3
The fact that they voted for him "despite his racist and misogynistic remarks" IS the problem. They are OK with racism and misogyny...and that is what is truly troubling. How can ANYONE in this day and age be Ok with these things? You better bet it makes look upon them with disdain. I want no part of any person or party that runs campaigns like this...so why do they? Where is their morality?
If you're going to continually segment voters by race, ethnicity and gender, than " working class whites" are as legitimate as any other interest group. Good for them for realizing that
9
One of the biggest mistakes of so many the punditry made in 2016 was to think the Electoral College favored the Democratic candidate. A bit of history and a bit of civics would have revealed the opposite Even the Republicans believed the falsehood and were gearing up to challenge as ""rigged" an election outcome giving Trump a majority or at least a plurality in the popular vote but Clinton a majority in the Electoral College. The opposite occurred and how the Republicans love the Electoral College now. The Electoral College was enshrined in the Constitution at a time when democracy - that is, one person/one vote majority rules was out of favor - had never in fact been in favor. For many decades now the Electoral College and states' rights have allowed minority rule at all levels of government. It does not help that a lot of people just do not vote. Not all members of Mr. Edsall's Not-So Silent White Majority are ignorant bigots but I am not so keen on reaching out to those who are.
7
Sorry, Mr. Edsall, but your analysis displays the effectiveness of Republican propaganda, even on educated people such as yourself. Specifically, since when is healthcare reform not a crucial issue for the working class? Employer provided healthcare is becoming unaffordable, local gov'ts are cutting back on generous benefits to their workers, and now the call is for private businesses to do the same.
The reason Republicans have succeeded is because they lie. They have promised easy solutions to difficult problems, such as controlling the rising costs of healthcare and supporting seniors. Their solution is privatization (gov't is the problem, not the solution), and they fooled a whole bunch of suckers who have been insulated from the harsh realities of gov't run for the benefit of big business ala Herbert Hoover (The business of America is business), by progressive programs that not only brought electricity and water to rural areas, but have provided a safety net and made such economic necessities such as orphanages, institutions to warehouse those with special needs, children being raised by grandparents so parents could find work in other parts of the country, children dropping out of college to help support their families in times of crisis, spinster children forgoing their own lives to care for elderly parents - obsolete.
Trump will give the wealthy tax brakes and give them carte blanche to make a buck at the expense of the people. The wall with Mexico will have tolls.
The reason Republicans have succeeded is because they lie. They have promised easy solutions to difficult problems, such as controlling the rising costs of healthcare and supporting seniors. Their solution is privatization (gov't is the problem, not the solution), and they fooled a whole bunch of suckers who have been insulated from the harsh realities of gov't run for the benefit of big business ala Herbert Hoover (The business of America is business), by progressive programs that not only brought electricity and water to rural areas, but have provided a safety net and made such economic necessities such as orphanages, institutions to warehouse those with special needs, children being raised by grandparents so parents could find work in other parts of the country, children dropping out of college to help support their families in times of crisis, spinster children forgoing their own lives to care for elderly parents - obsolete.
Trump will give the wealthy tax brakes and give them carte blanche to make a buck at the expense of the people. The wall with Mexico will have tolls.
12
I am reminded, DebbieR. of Obama's pledges regarding our health care plans and keep our doctors if we liked them.
Then, we found our, that Jonathan Gruber counted on the lack of intelligence of The Voter and misled him time and again to get Obamacare passed. I won't take up Nancy Pelosi's "You have to pass the bill to find out what is in it," as that might be too much of an embarrassment for yo.
I am also reminded or Obama's selling of the Iran nuclear agreement where it was nothing but propaganda from the White House and the State Department, a great deal of which was found to be patently false and deliberately misleading.
Like you, I do not like propaganda, but I am distrustful of it no matter what party is the one that is propagandizing.
Are you prepared to see the depths of deception that we have been forced to endure over the past eight years?
If not, then it is time for you to look very carefully at your political character as it is displaying all of the signs of hypocrisy.
Then, we found our, that Jonathan Gruber counted on the lack of intelligence of The Voter and misled him time and again to get Obamacare passed. I won't take up Nancy Pelosi's "You have to pass the bill to find out what is in it," as that might be too much of an embarrassment for yo.
I am also reminded or Obama's selling of the Iran nuclear agreement where it was nothing but propaganda from the White House and the State Department, a great deal of which was found to be patently false and deliberately misleading.
Like you, I do not like propaganda, but I am distrustful of it no matter what party is the one that is propagandizing.
Are you prepared to see the depths of deception that we have been forced to endure over the past eight years?
If not, then it is time for you to look very carefully at your political character as it is displaying all of the signs of hypocrisy.
Democrats run for office on the basis of identity politics. When 90% of African Americans vote for a candidate its perfectly fine. When white voters choose a candidate 60/40 they are suddenly racist ill informed voters. The democrats lost because many people are tired of being called racists for disagreeing with Obama or supporting the police, gay haters for being opposed to gay marriage, and old fashioned because they believe men and woman should use different bathrooms.
Many NYT readers and Editorial Board members assume that everyone in the world agrees with them and if they don't they must be stupid or a "deplorable" The local elections should really scare democrats - other than in a few big cities and states like NY, Illinois, and California the majority of people vote Republican.
Many NYT readers and Editorial Board members assume that everyone in the world agrees with them and if they don't they must be stupid or a "deplorable" The local elections should really scare democrats - other than in a few big cities and states like NY, Illinois, and California the majority of people vote Republican.
10
Actually, the "majority" voted with the Democrats. Hillary is up about 1 million votes now. What we have now is rule by a hostile minority.
1
The argument has been made that if Joe Biden would have run he would have mitigated the losses of the white vote alluded to in the article. Interesting the strategic location of these white voters who turned counties in the rust belt into a sea red against the urban blue. Ultimately though the Democrats won a significant popular vote victory. Based on the landslide in California. Too bad the election was decided with a distinct advantage to the type of vote that the Trump election produced. Hillary Clinton besides her other problems, for which she deserved criticism, she was represented as a liberal elitist who was determined to overthrow white peoples dominant position in the country.
2
Well for one thing, she is a liberal elitist, and she eschewed the white vote, white catholic vote in particular. Who's sorry now?
Guessing the Dems are bad at math.
Guessing the Dems are bad at math.
1
The Not-So-Silent White Majority - this does not include ALL WHITE PEOPLE - do not paint us all with one brush.
Many of us voted for HC and would have voted for Bernie is he had won the nomination.
Not all white people voted for trump and not all of us are college educated but we work, pay taxes that support social services and keep up with current events and social issues.
Racism, hate, misogyny and intolerance of women, LGBT and non whites are traits you'll see in ALL RACES - including Blacks & Asians!
Take a good look at yourself before pointing and speaking.
Many of us voted for HC and would have voted for Bernie is he had won the nomination.
Not all white people voted for trump and not all of us are college educated but we work, pay taxes that support social services and keep up with current events and social issues.
Racism, hate, misogyny and intolerance of women, LGBT and non whites are traits you'll see in ALL RACES - including Blacks & Asians!
Take a good look at yourself before pointing and speaking.
16
Two extreme political ideology based groups like liberals & conservatives(?)never let US voters out off their sucking mentality like family run political empires. They act like plaintiff & defendant lawyers,delay & delay for own pockets. Without ending every tax loopholes,gun & OPIOD drug sale loopholes & banning politicians,top level government officials & foreign leaders taking corporate lobbying jobs in US,the 20 Trillions deficit grave they have created for highest tax rate paying class of citizens will continue to get much deeper for them. No one ever have vision ya will to do so as greedy elements have taken over US socioeconomic mindsets as granted rights for their own wealth creations while dumping 80% plus Mainstreeters living on paychecks towards deficit grave. Don't be so happy about DJT voters about your win as it will readers away pretty soon before you awake from your dreams. God bless US all.
Texas, Texas, Texas (and Arizona)
1
White entitlement is a hard thing to give up. But in the face of an expanding multi-culturalism that is reducing white influence, this election seemed to be a pushback on the inevitable. As a white male, I do not want any group (ethnic or not) to have sway over my life. There can be rational and inclusive policies that have fairness at their root, even if one group cannot have its way.
As any artist knows, if you mix all the colors together, you do not get white, but a very dark mix. A more realistic and inclusive outlook will come when we all mix together to form a "more perfect union." So be it.
As any artist knows, if you mix all the colors together, you do not get white, but a very dark mix. A more realistic and inclusive outlook will come when we all mix together to form a "more perfect union." So be it.
4
Reducing white influence? We own everything. We design everything, we finance everything, we invent everything, we run everything, and most of all we pay for everything.
1
The poor, older, low information, white, working class voter and now staunch Trumpite has become a real bore as stereotypes go.
Where were all of these fine upstanding Americans while blacks and other minorities have suffered in poverty, and women still can't earn the same salary as men?
They were in their nicely paid manufacturing jobs, unionized with benefits that most workers now can only imagine. Many of them were low information, or more accurately, ill-educated, white, and male, and they thought is was just fine for women to stay home out of the workplace and thought is was a crime that blacks should be affirmatively actioned into upward mobility.
Most of them thought the Vietnam War was okay, that going to Iraq was gonna teach them Europeans that the US didn't need them or their freedom fries neither. Most of them voted republican over and over and over.
Now the right listens to right wing radio crackpots like Limbag or the boggle minded heads on Fox and some probably think Brietbart and fake news on the Internet is just fine.
And now they have an appropriate leader in the lunatic elect, Mr. T.
And the rest of us can just go to ... or get used to their hell. If that were even possible.
Where were all of these fine upstanding Americans while blacks and other minorities have suffered in poverty, and women still can't earn the same salary as men?
They were in their nicely paid manufacturing jobs, unionized with benefits that most workers now can only imagine. Many of them were low information, or more accurately, ill-educated, white, and male, and they thought is was just fine for women to stay home out of the workplace and thought is was a crime that blacks should be affirmatively actioned into upward mobility.
Most of them thought the Vietnam War was okay, that going to Iraq was gonna teach them Europeans that the US didn't need them or their freedom fries neither. Most of them voted republican over and over and over.
Now the right listens to right wing radio crackpots like Limbag or the boggle minded heads on Fox and some probably think Brietbart and fake news on the Internet is just fine.
And now they have an appropriate leader in the lunatic elect, Mr. T.
And the rest of us can just go to ... or get used to their hell. If that were even possible.
14
It isn't just whites without college. A good many white Democrats are not Bernie Sander Progressives. Indeed, a good many still question whether the Progressives are Democrats or more truly Socialists. The equally pressing question, in the wake of HRC's loss, is what remains of the Democratic Party? Has the political division created by Bernie's movement effectively dissolved it? Plainly, centrist-oriented Dems are not Bernie-progressive.
26
How many country club, gated-community Americans are being truthful when they recite "One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all?"
And just what have those angry white voters without college degrees managed to "do" for themselves over these past elections? Almost nothing. Sadly, they don't get it!
4
while a little harsh, i see your point. as i've observed in "rust belt" states their elections have been more to punish anyone who seems to be in better economic positions (public employees, for one) or the scapegoats blamed for the rest of their troubles. of course, they are told by their Republican leadership that these are the causes of their troubles, so - to your point, what do they do except to keep choosing punishment over progress?
1
Well now maybe I'll pay less taxes on my six-figure income.
1
Some see the election results as an indictment of our democratic system. I see them as an indictment of our educational system.
6
So do you see blacks and Hispanics as more educated than whites? So who is really leaning on uneducated voters?
1
Trump won by having more than just white votes. That is hard for some to accept. hillary is not like by many Democrats and they voted for Trump. Taking action to remove as many illegal aliens as possible will do a lot to improve things in this country. Obviously half the country did not want hillary crowned as the president and they voted last week.
3
Of some of the more accurate observers of American society, I would not include Mr. Edsall.
Most of this opinion piece is canned "wisdom" repeated ad nauseum everywhere throughout the numerous internet propaganda outlets.....
What seems to be happening in America is exactly what Marshall Macluhan described all those years ago.....The Electronic Media is creating a universal community and simultanously causing many fractured disconnected communites inside the Overarching Electronic Community.
30-40 years ago....we refered to "americans". NO longer. If you lack a hyphen in your electronic identity.....such as latino-american, black-american, gay-american, asian-american, even irish-american and jewish-american......then you're cut off.....you're not "cool".
When the electronic media goes so far as to use the term "anglo", they are using a synonym for "american"....as in "an american with no hyphen....ie....not cool).
1790 census.....Americans were described as 75% "white"(ie..american citizen") and 25% "non-white"(ie slave or indian or foreigner)....
2010 census.....America remains 75% "white" and 25% "non-white"......The only reality that has changed is that today that 25% "non-white" now enjoys the same rights and priveledges of citizenship as the "white" population.
Would somebody in the Media please start observing this????
Most of this opinion piece is canned "wisdom" repeated ad nauseum everywhere throughout the numerous internet propaganda outlets.....
What seems to be happening in America is exactly what Marshall Macluhan described all those years ago.....The Electronic Media is creating a universal community and simultanously causing many fractured disconnected communites inside the Overarching Electronic Community.
30-40 years ago....we refered to "americans". NO longer. If you lack a hyphen in your electronic identity.....such as latino-american, black-american, gay-american, asian-american, even irish-american and jewish-american......then you're cut off.....you're not "cool".
When the electronic media goes so far as to use the term "anglo", they are using a synonym for "american"....as in "an american with no hyphen....ie....not cool).
1790 census.....Americans were described as 75% "white"(ie..american citizen") and 25% "non-white"(ie slave or indian or foreigner)....
2010 census.....America remains 75% "white" and 25% "non-white"......The only reality that has changed is that today that 25% "non-white" now enjoys the same rights and priveledges of citizenship as the "white" population.
Would somebody in the Media please start observing this????
1
I was hoping that with the election over, all this "black vs white" bating from the liberal media would go away.
I guess not, it must be like a drug habit they can't kick to the liberal media .
I guess not, it must be like a drug habit they can't kick to the liberal media .
15
The decline of the family is likely also a reason for white middle class angst. It's easier to blame others for your problems when you are lonely, divorced, kids are gone, sitting in your suburban home, nearing retirement. Several middle-aged women I know are like this.
Many people are BASKET CASES when it comes to managing their money, and time, and priorities. LIVE A LITTLE SIMPLER PEOPLE. But the only people that seem to tout this these days live in Brooklyn and shop at Whole Foods. I can live on $3,000 a year, not including housing, but try telling that to most people wrapped up in Capitalist striving and success.
Many people are BASKET CASES when it comes to managing their money, and time, and priorities. LIVE A LITTLE SIMPLER PEOPLE. But the only people that seem to tout this these days live in Brooklyn and shop at Whole Foods. I can live on $3,000 a year, not including housing, but try telling that to most people wrapped up in Capitalist striving and success.
2
The term "working class" needs to be revised. Doctors, lawyers, engineers, business people and even teachers all seem to work. Don't they? Many times they work much longer hours than the so-called "working class." The term might unconsciously lead people to believe that the professionals, who some might call "elites" don't work like we, the unwashed common working people.
8
Thank you for observation on the competing racial and ethnic commitments. I am a second generation American and I find the third decouples from them and is drawn to other identities that result in loyalties and resentments.
The change and hope for it may cause them to vote for the "man in baseball cap" or in the case of Minnesota the professional wrestler, however, in both cases it is a rather light vetting of the potential for change.
However, a man in a suit wearing a baseball cap appeals and nothing like a body slam imagery, both allow a group to identify with the hope for something.
The demographic change, towards 1st and 2nd generation Americans, may well be a stronger force and more cohesive IF and WHEN the baseball cap guy fails to deliver. It is more near and dear; I still remember my great grandmother dairy farming in Northern Minnesota.
The change and hope for it may cause them to vote for the "man in baseball cap" or in the case of Minnesota the professional wrestler, however, in both cases it is a rather light vetting of the potential for change.
However, a man in a suit wearing a baseball cap appeals and nothing like a body slam imagery, both allow a group to identify with the hope for something.
The demographic change, towards 1st and 2nd generation Americans, may well be a stronger force and more cohesive IF and WHEN the baseball cap guy fails to deliver. It is more near and dear; I still remember my great grandmother dairy farming in Northern Minnesota.
1
The Democrats were on the wrong side of trade and bore the consequences in the Rust Belt states. The unions are flat on their backs and do not organize and mobilize. Clinton was a flawed candidate with no message of hope, and clearly in bed with the Wall Street and rich.
In my own state of Virginia, the Democratic Party focuses on cultural issues and virtually nothing on economic issues and thus the Republicans control the legislature and 9 of 11 Congressional seats.
In my own state of Virginia, the Democratic Party focuses on cultural issues and virtually nothing on economic issues and thus the Republicans control the legislature and 9 of 11 Congressional seats.
6
RE: "Wall Street and rich" - I hate to agree (becuz it's ugly, but true - even tho it's ugly and true of R's as well). What made me really groan was to see Sanders and Warren (even tho I was a Hillary supporter), standing right behind D's Senate "leader" Chuck Schumer - the neon sign for Wall Street support. sigh...
Trump did not win the election , Hillary lost it. Trump got fewer votes than Romney or McCain yet won. Hillary got 6 million fewer votes than Obama and of course lost.
It is now obvious that the wrong person "won" the Dbbie Wasserman Shultz primary. Hillary should have been out campaigning for Bernie to bring in her diminished 80% share of the African American vote for him.
Bernie was the only honest & trustworthy candidate and 6 million people who formerly voted for Obama saw that along with many more who could pinch their nose tight enough to vote for her. Don`t blame the uninformed, non-college educated whites , blame the Debbie Wasserman Shultz DNC for torpedoing the right candidate , Bernie.
It is now obvious that the wrong person "won" the Dbbie Wasserman Shultz primary. Hillary should have been out campaigning for Bernie to bring in her diminished 80% share of the African American vote for him.
Bernie was the only honest & trustworthy candidate and 6 million people who formerly voted for Obama saw that along with many more who could pinch their nose tight enough to vote for her. Don`t blame the uninformed, non-college educated whites , blame the Debbie Wasserman Shultz DNC for torpedoing the right candidate , Bernie.
18
Bernie Sanders would have been cast as a non practicing Jew who is a socialist. The "values" voters would have rejected him as well. People have voted against their self interest many times before. The big lie would have been that he would lead us to a communist state. Our public educational system has produced many citizens unable to compete in the global economy. The lost generation believes Trump is going to transform rural America. When 40 percent of the Republican voters believed that Obama is a Muslim non citizen, global warming is a hoax, evolution and creationism are competing theories and that Fox news and Bible is all the information need, America is entering a dark age. This is our Sputnik moment and may be the last wake up call.
In 2012 Obama could campaign in the upper midwest on the strength of saving blue collar jobs through the very tangible auto-bailout. But additional blue collar manufacturing jobs did not materialize in the intervening years due to globalization and technology advances. As a result, Clinton faced a serious headwind. If Trump fails in his promise to bring back those manufacturing jobs, he will face a similar headwind for re-election--if not a gale force.
3
White racists have had their say. This time. What they need to realize if that this will be their very Last Hurrah. They did manage to come out of their caves and vote for another neanderthal just to spite President Obama and all the progress this nation has been making. This white vote would not have elected the Demagogue if the same amount of Dems who came out for Barack in '08 and '12 had voted. This is an anomaly, and now that we Progressives have been hit with this enormous wake-up call we will never take apathy at the polls for granted. We will be there from Day One protesting every monstrous law the Demagogue tries to pass. We not stop until this ugly Orange stain is removed from office. We will never let this happen again.
DD
Manhattan
DD
Manhattan
2
So whites are racists if they don't agree with your opinion. Great deductive powers--
3
Dear Mr. R. Tumbler:
No, you're completely off the beam. Figures. If you vote for a racist sexist Demagogue you identify with one, ergo: you own it and will be to blame when it all collapses around you.
DD
Manhattan
No, you're completely off the beam. Figures. If you vote for a racist sexist Demagogue you identify with one, ergo: you own it and will be to blame when it all collapses around you.
DD
Manhattan
A woman in Boston has a good point. The condescending attidude of not having a college degree. My father ran successful retail shops and paid in cash for University and I can't afford his lifestyle or the lifestyle of most small business owners most of whom did not go to college. For all one's liberalism, when was the last time a liberal or democrat donated the cost of their Rolex of Louis Vuitton bag in meals to those in need? Because secretly, your wealth is vaidation that you're good and figured out how to succeed financially, so let the government take care of the less fortunate as long as it doesn't come directly from me other than from my taxes. When you surround yourself with like minded individuals, you fail to see how Trump won. Seek first to understand, then be understood.
46
Charitable giving by Democrats is considerably higher than that by Republicans. Trump, for example, has been shown to give very little to genuine charitable activities. Moreover, private donation of a sum or a few sums does nothing to address long-term poverty. What does do that are good government policies on such matters as minimum wage, good schools, college loan programs, etc. Many of us liberals, including the President and the First Lady, came from families that did not have a great deal of means and took the opportunities offered by various government programs and scholarships offered by generous universities to achieve an education that put them in the professional class. These were programs created largely by Democrats, who continue to try to create them when they are not voted out by people who buy an illusion created by those who are trying, instead, to take advantage of them. The educated person, no matter the source of the education, compares claims with facts and, one hopes, attempts to align personal choices with the common good.
Following your advice, having sought to understand, by point:
1) Ditto for my father. Mine came of age during the Great Depression, no college, started his own successful small business and died well-off, but ever frugal middle-class. No college for me, but once married (both working, my mom never did), I barely reached the level of my father’s ‘lifestyle.' And he was the most Republican person I (a forever liberal) ever met. 2) I have never in my life had anybody insult me for not having gone to college, even what I read here. I guess I don’t insult easy. We’re entitled to our path and everybody knows it. In my view, any ‘condescending’ liberals are not so much tied to college as how smart (informed) you turned out to be, regardless of education. College-educated has never insured rich or successful (enough?), as I understand you’re telling me is the case with you. Most of my college-educated friends ended up in teaching professions, not exactly a ritzy ‘lifestyle.' They didn’t care, because success wasn’t about money in the bank. They've struggled, too, but were happy, anyway. 3) Your question? Most likely as I type, and then some. For you to insinuate that rich liberals clutch their handbags while shunning charitable giving is entirely ludicrous and has no basis in reality or evidence. Show me where Trump donated the price of a Rolex to people in need, please. Or is he a liberal, in your view? I seek to understand. Did I? Be I understood?
1) Ditto for my father. Mine came of age during the Great Depression, no college, started his own successful small business and died well-off, but ever frugal middle-class. No college for me, but once married (both working, my mom never did), I barely reached the level of my father’s ‘lifestyle.' And he was the most Republican person I (a forever liberal) ever met. 2) I have never in my life had anybody insult me for not having gone to college, even what I read here. I guess I don’t insult easy. We’re entitled to our path and everybody knows it. In my view, any ‘condescending’ liberals are not so much tied to college as how smart (informed) you turned out to be, regardless of education. College-educated has never insured rich or successful (enough?), as I understand you’re telling me is the case with you. Most of my college-educated friends ended up in teaching professions, not exactly a ritzy ‘lifestyle.' They didn’t care, because success wasn’t about money in the bank. They've struggled, too, but were happy, anyway. 3) Your question? Most likely as I type, and then some. For you to insinuate that rich liberals clutch their handbags while shunning charitable giving is entirely ludicrous and has no basis in reality or evidence. Show me where Trump donated the price of a Rolex to people in need, please. Or is he a liberal, in your view? I seek to understand. Did I? Be I understood?
A road can be traveled in two directions.
The impression the Democrats give, at least in Congress, is that they are only interested in helping illegal immigrants. Syrian Refugees, Muslims. - in short every demographic but white people
If you receive that message from Democrats, why would any white person vote for them. When people are having a hard time getting and keeping employment - the Democrats only seem to want to help minorities.
With that attitude coming from the Democrats, why would any white person vote for them?
If you receive that message from Democrats, why would any white person vote for them. When people are having a hard time getting and keeping employment - the Democrats only seem to want to help minorities.
With that attitude coming from the Democrats, why would any white person vote for them?
3
The future always comes. It is disruptive. It is sometimes ugly. It changes everything, always. The future is hard. The future isn't always fair. The future overwrites the past. The future cannot be reversed. The halcyon past was once a disruptive, displacing, distorting, painful future. Complain if you must, but adapt. The future ALWAYS comes.
2
If the Trump presidency turns out to be the brazen kleptocracy it promises, that white working class majority may finally find its limit with the dynamic of 1968.
I can envision the curtain being pulled away, the unlovely machinery revealed. With Ivanka leveraging deals, Jered looting the Treasury, and the two sons running interference between the Russian mob and the White House, down-on-their-luck white guys may realize they've been had. Suckered.
But, on the other hand, Trump can always blame Hillary and "the blacks." It has worked before.
I can envision the curtain being pulled away, the unlovely machinery revealed. With Ivanka leveraging deals, Jered looting the Treasury, and the two sons running interference between the Russian mob and the White House, down-on-their-luck white guys may realize they've been had. Suckered.
But, on the other hand, Trump can always blame Hillary and "the blacks." It has worked before.
4
What's left out of this, and virtually all articles in the Times, is the remarkable effectiveness of Republican voter supression in many of the states, especially NC and WI. The purging of voter rolls, cutbacks in voting locations and times, and outrageous id requirements (e.g., allowing gun permits but not student ID as acceptable id) pushed by racist Chris Kobach are NEVER mentioned in the Times as affecting vote-outcomes-but they were essential.
2
The Dems brought us identity politics. And, to their surprise, they learned that everyone has, or sees the need to have, an identity group. And that those who have been pushed, by the Dems, into the only remaining category -- the dreaded white category -- will vote accordingly.
2
Trump got more of the black and Hispanic vote than Romney did in 2012. The point is that Trump did much better than expected with many demographic groups and that tells me that the Democratic Party has wandered away from its traditional base - TRUE progressives - and that these former base voters now know that. If the Dem establishment doesn't get the hint, you might as well consign them to the political graveyard. As it is, this country will look much starker in four years.
2
Plato of course reviewed all of this several thousands of years ago and it is nothing new. Plato reviewed human nature and "The Republic" and knew that human nature would make Democracy difficult.
We are selfish he said and in a Democracy corruption and selfishness would ensue due to our nature.
So the selfishness, racism, class warfare, xenophobia,and the drive for security and comfort are reviewed here over the last 60 years or so.
Nothing new to be found here; but a nice little summary.
Plato's solution by the way, which was to find a group of noble persons, who can control their greed and egos and tendencies toward corruption and place those persons into the leadership.
Good luck with that; finding an honest person.
We are selfish he said and in a Democracy corruption and selfishness would ensue due to our nature.
So the selfishness, racism, class warfare, xenophobia,and the drive for security and comfort are reviewed here over the last 60 years or so.
Nothing new to be found here; but a nice little summary.
Plato's solution by the way, which was to find a group of noble persons, who can control their greed and egos and tendencies toward corruption and place those persons into the leadership.
Good luck with that; finding an honest person.
4
Having been raised in an area with more than its share of under-educated whites, I think that for many, it is far less compelling to pick up a book or a newspaper than it is to, say, look at a cartoon. Donald Trump is that cartoon. A crass and violent one at that.
4
During the campaign Democrats accused Republicans of practicing "identity politics"..... as if the Democrats didn't. What a joke. The perception that the Democrats favor Blacks, Hispanics, and every new minority group that comes down the pike, does not come out of thin air. I spent 30 years as a college Professor in several universities, I can tell you that affirmative action, a policy favored by the Democratic Party, became in practice, discrimination against whites, especially white males. Two wrongs do not make a right.
3
If it all boils down to racism and bigotry, why did Trump get almost 30% of the Latino vote?
Don't white people without a college degree understand that they're inferior because they lack a college degree?
Don't white people without a college degree understand that they're inferior because they lack a college degree?
6
Is the concept of white backlash, exploited ruthlessly by a demagogue , too complicated for the punditocracy? See any relationship to the ocean of lies peddled daily from Faux News and Hate Radio, along with social media? With months of stolen e-mails dribbled daily into an election by a criminal hiding in an embassy? Any problem with Russian intelligence operatives subverting US elections? How about misusing the FBI to peddle Republican innuendos?
Can we just stop pretending that this is remotely a democracy? Or that the Trump-enabling, fact-free, "white majority" even cares.
Can we just stop pretending that this is remotely a democracy? Or that the Trump-enabling, fact-free, "white majority" even cares.
4
Reality,
I know Red America. Most are kind, generous and compassionate human beings. For many I was the first Jew they had ever met. The tragedy of America is the dividers poisoned all the water. The media went along with William F Buckley Jr when he started to call himself a conservative. Buckley was a fascist who supported segregation into the 1970s, he was a white supremacist to his core he supported apartheid in South Africa and believed it was our job to bring our culture and values to those not blessed with our insight.
I know what America's founders believed. Aaron Burr believed in Women's suffrage and all men were created equal. The Irish philosopher Edmund Burke championed Indian self rule.
American conservatism is as antiAmerican as Stalinism it is Franco Fascism in the the most powerful nation that ever was and I am in despair.
I know Red America. Most are kind, generous and compassionate human beings. For many I was the first Jew they had ever met. The tragedy of America is the dividers poisoned all the water. The media went along with William F Buckley Jr when he started to call himself a conservative. Buckley was a fascist who supported segregation into the 1970s, he was a white supremacist to his core he supported apartheid in South Africa and believed it was our job to bring our culture and values to those not blessed with our insight.
I know what America's founders believed. Aaron Burr believed in Women's suffrage and all men were created equal. The Irish philosopher Edmund Burke championed Indian self rule.
American conservatism is as antiAmerican as Stalinism it is Franco Fascism in the the most powerful nation that ever was and I am in despair.
2
I know so many young people who felt they were making protests by not voting, voting for their dogs, or voting for Johnson and Stein. These actions are also what propelled Trump into office. Most of these 18-35 year olds were college educated, employed and felt both candidates were flawed. Did they even realize how their refusing to choose a viable candidate that was the least objectionable would cause the dismantling of our country?
They can demonstrate all they want. But they have no one to blame but themselves. I voted for her.
They can demonstrate all they want. But they have no one to blame but themselves. I voted for her.
8
I remember when Susan Sarandon said essentially, let it all crash and bring on the "revolution" - I thought, 'yeah fine, you will take your wealth and wait it out with the other beautiful-people on a warm beach somewhere else'. SO, Susan, what do you say now to these young people you influenced?
1
Really great article on the history of white flight from the Democratic party. I would suggest that the Democrats cannot succeed without the support of the white lower middle class. Further, Democratic policy has supported this group of folks even as they deserted the Democrats for emotional appeals, a source of frustration and even anger (myself included) among liberals. Democratic frustration with this group is simple--"they [Republicans] cut taxes for the rich, and you vote for them. Why?" Democrats need to continue to design programs and support efforts to shore up both the middle class and the poor, which are not necessarily contradictory, but they also need to do a better job letting people know which party is really acting for them, and understanding what emotional issues are driving lower middle class flight from their own best interest.
73
Hate Radio, Hate TV, and Hate memes on the Internet are driving them away from their own best interest. It is called Propaganda. Those stoking the flames of Hate are rich and their wealth depends on the ratings of their programs. Hate sells. Thus, the people who listen to Hate Propaganda all day long are miserable. No wonder.
1
Roger, I agree with you. The Democratic Party has a communication and branding problem. They allow the Party to be branded and defined by the Republican opposition, and the Republicans continue to do that successfully, as this election has illustrated.
It's not as logical as you make it appear. This vote was a vote condoning racism, sexism, bigotry in all it stripes. And most of the Trump voters are in denial about their fear of the Other.
One word: Gerrymandering
In every other real democracy in the world its outlawed and illegal, here its a science.
It's literally rigging the system.
In every other real democracy in the world its outlawed and illegal, here its a science.
It's literally rigging the system.
5
Look, Trump wrote “The Art of the Deal”, right? Does he need the State Department? Does he need advisors? Are you kidding? He’s got Trump. This is the guy who wrote the BOOK on hornswoggling who ever’s across the table. Did anyone read this out there? Sound like the guy you want haggling and trading tales of derring-do with Mr. Macho himself, Valdi Pootin? Why, they’ll probably retire to a hot tub somewhere in Crimea River where hot chicks will abound and bound and get down and massage these guys’ egos to a fare thee well (might even have to create a Trump Pump to fill that HOT TUB, baby!).
No press around! That’s for sure. Just mano a mano, dueling for dollars. And The Donald’s lips will be sealed, won’t they! Nary a National Secret to pass HIS tight lips!
Aren’t you scared yet, West Virginia coal miners? Holy Rollers with your thumping’ Bibles?
Good Byeble America. Hello the soon to be richest human being ever in the history of mankind. The deals he’ll make are the ones we aren’t going to learn about until it’s too late.
Right Vladi?
No press around! That’s for sure. Just mano a mano, dueling for dollars. And The Donald’s lips will be sealed, won’t they! Nary a National Secret to pass HIS tight lips!
Aren’t you scared yet, West Virginia coal miners? Holy Rollers with your thumping’ Bibles?
Good Byeble America. Hello the soon to be richest human being ever in the history of mankind. The deals he’ll make are the ones we aren’t going to learn about until it’s too late.
Right Vladi?
2
Beyond all the philosophizing and the tossing about of decidedly "soft" and anecdotal data is the unmistakeable and undeniable fact that close to 45% of eligible voters did NOT vote. Whatever their reasons, THESE are the people who decided the outcome of the most recent election. Although it is an overused cliche, when you don't vote, then other people decide your future in ways that you may not like very much. Too busy, distracted, or cynical to vote? Fine, let's have a conversation in four years.
3
Ironically, having a timeout on immigration may direct voters back to the Democratic Party. Take away the threat of being overrun in their own country and people tend to shift their focus to economics and inequality. It worked for Franklin Roosevelt.
3
And yet surprisingly those who feel the most overrun live far from any border.
The achilles heel of the Republican party are the New Deal safety net programs ---if they start a concerted attack on say Medicare or Social Security, that will be their Waterloo.
3
I am confused,
Is this the same silent white majority that is so quick to treat poverty in minority populations as self-inflicted cultural and moral flaws?
Is this the same group that told minorities to "pull themselves up from the bootstraps" and to get off the "Democrat welfare plantation"?
So why can't we tell this group to "suck it up" like they arrogantly told communities of color who, by the way, were the first victims of Reagan's trickle-down economics, Clinton's Neoliberalism and the Bushes' GOP-Libertarian free market-unfettered capitalism?
Why must everyone cater to their economic insecurities and associated problems when they failed to heed the very advice that they cavalierly gave to poverty-stricken minorities?
The Story of the Silent White Majority should be a lesson to anyone who thinks he or she can dismiss or ignore large segments of a nation's population because those problems do not directly affect them...
Eventually the same forces of destruction in one community will spread to the next
Now we must devise innovative economic policies to address the institutionalized poverty and near-poverty
But we can't because the silent white majority lashed out in anger and empowered the very people responsible for their economic oppression.................
Is this the same silent white majority that is so quick to treat poverty in minority populations as self-inflicted cultural and moral flaws?
Is this the same group that told minorities to "pull themselves up from the bootstraps" and to get off the "Democrat welfare plantation"?
So why can't we tell this group to "suck it up" like they arrogantly told communities of color who, by the way, were the first victims of Reagan's trickle-down economics, Clinton's Neoliberalism and the Bushes' GOP-Libertarian free market-unfettered capitalism?
Why must everyone cater to their economic insecurities and associated problems when they failed to heed the very advice that they cavalierly gave to poverty-stricken minorities?
The Story of the Silent White Majority should be a lesson to anyone who thinks he or she can dismiss or ignore large segments of a nation's population because those problems do not directly affect them...
Eventually the same forces of destruction in one community will spread to the next
Now we must devise innovative economic policies to address the institutionalized poverty and near-poverty
But we can't because the silent white majority lashed out in anger and empowered the very people responsible for their economic oppression.................
3
This may be a trend, but a party without a platform, without an agenda and without a unified policy who when surprised upon waking up their candidate, even though they didn't want the guy, can't stand the guy, have found a voter base which is base-less. Call them whatever you want, they have little in common, other than the fact that their own personal opinion, is the only fact they are interested in.
There is no demographic for this, except maybe ratings for certain TV shows that might reveal a mood or this trend, and there is no poll that has proven effective. Mr. Edsall, attaching The Silent Majority to the Duck Dynasty is 20th Century thought which will not translate now, unless maybe you're on TV?
There is no demographic for this, except maybe ratings for certain TV shows that might reveal a mood or this trend, and there is no poll that has proven effective. Mr. Edsall, attaching The Silent Majority to the Duck Dynasty is 20th Century thought which will not translate now, unless maybe you're on TV?
1
Please don't attribute race politics to Americans. The Democratic Party's strategy of identity politics has fomented unnatural divisions among the electorate based on ethnicity, race, sexuality and gender for over a decade.
Identity politics then dictated democratic policy. As harsh as it seems, Americans have more pressing concerns than which restrooms transgenders use. In fact, while the Democratic Party has been pursuing its liberal social agenda for the past 8 years, millions of Americans have been fretting about jobs, lost wages, etc.
Because democrats have only viewed Americans through the prism of identity, and mistakenly written off large swaths of Americans who don't fall within that spectrum, they badly missed the concerns of all those key voters whose electoral votes were necessary to win.
It would be a mistake for democrats to continue their "with us or against us" identity politics and heed misguided counsel to double down on the belief that the "country is changing demographically and they don't need white voters". They need all voters irrespective of identity.
Identity politics then dictated democratic policy. As harsh as it seems, Americans have more pressing concerns than which restrooms transgenders use. In fact, while the Democratic Party has been pursuing its liberal social agenda for the past 8 years, millions of Americans have been fretting about jobs, lost wages, etc.
Because democrats have only viewed Americans through the prism of identity, and mistakenly written off large swaths of Americans who don't fall within that spectrum, they badly missed the concerns of all those key voters whose electoral votes were necessary to win.
It would be a mistake for democrats to continue their "with us or against us" identity politics and heed misguided counsel to double down on the belief that the "country is changing demographically and they don't need white voters". They need all voters irrespective of identity.
6
Let’s see if I understand this correctly: "Lee Drutman, a senior scholar at the New America Foundation, argued in a Nov. 11 essay in Foreign Policy that the Democrats need to give up on appeals to working class whites.”
In other words, appeals to the identity politics of African-Americans and Latinos should remain intact, but the Democrats should make no appeal to the white American majority in this country. This is democracy?
Isn’t this precisely the type of reverse discrimination and anti-white bigotry that helped fuel Mr. Trump’s election?
In other words, appeals to the identity politics of African-Americans and Latinos should remain intact, but the Democrats should make no appeal to the white American majority in this country. This is democracy?
Isn’t this precisely the type of reverse discrimination and anti-white bigotry that helped fuel Mr. Trump’s election?
4
Several days ago I presented an Orwellian scenario in which (present or future) US Census Bureau would have national databases of the quality of those in little Sweden - SES and health variables galore - that included the vote cast be each person with SS number.
Suppose that information were available for the recent election. Would we discover to some peoples' surprise, not mine, that there were many more "whites" than those covered by the cliche "white no college)? I think so and base my opinion on reading 100s of NYT comments presumably by college-educated white males - anonymous - who never mentioned Trump but wrote as if they fully support him. One who gave his first name and spoke for his family and friends was John from Cologne.
The above comment is, as some readers will recognize, really a condemnation of the USCB's continued focus on "race". White in USCB terms includes all those people from the Middle East that Donald Trump wants to ban from the US - Syrians, Iranians, Kurds, Iraquis, Turks and many more.
Read Toni Morrison's "Mourning For Whiteness" in the November 21 New Yorker and you will understand where I am coming from and where the country should be going.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen US SE
Suppose that information were available for the recent election. Would we discover to some peoples' surprise, not mine, that there were many more "whites" than those covered by the cliche "white no college)? I think so and base my opinion on reading 100s of NYT comments presumably by college-educated white males - anonymous - who never mentioned Trump but wrote as if they fully support him. One who gave his first name and spoke for his family and friends was John from Cologne.
The above comment is, as some readers will recognize, really a condemnation of the USCB's continued focus on "race". White in USCB terms includes all those people from the Middle East that Donald Trump wants to ban from the US - Syrians, Iranians, Kurds, Iraquis, Turks and many more.
Read Toni Morrison's "Mourning For Whiteness" in the November 21 New Yorker and you will understand where I am coming from and where the country should be going.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen US SE
The screaming and punishing white majority is not going to change. They will always find blame elsewhere. Fortunately opponents of this madness are everywhere along the ideological spectrum. Given these differences, though, forming a coalition will be very difficult. But it must be done. I cannot stomach the idea of working with Paul Ryan and his voucher proposals but it must be done. If Democrats align themselves with Trump populists on even just one or two proposals they are only feeding the tiger. It will do more harm. Saving our democracy takes priority.
"The Democratic Party’s commitment to civil rights prompted millions of white voters to cast ballots for either Richard Nixon...or for George Wallace..."
Let me fix that for you.
"The Democratic Party's commitment to race-based favoritism through Affirmative Action though the Civil Rights Act had expressly prohibited it prompted millions of white voters to cast ballots..."
There. I'm sure it was just an editorial oversight.
Let me fix that for you.
"The Democratic Party's commitment to race-based favoritism through Affirmative Action though the Civil Rights Act had expressly prohibited it prompted millions of white voters to cast ballots..."
There. I'm sure it was just an editorial oversight.
2
The missed story all election season was the voter. It is still being missed. Why do journalists look for answers to only other journalists or demographic data collators? They have only one vote like the rest of us. I'm watching television right now and Mika Brzezinski is asking Kristin Welker to explain something. Huh?
3
I do blame the NYT and its efforts, across both editorial and news divisions, to make Sanders an fringe candidate with support among young and idealistic ( naive) voters. Although I am a Sanders supporter ( hey he was my Mayor) I thought Clinton was uniquely unquslified to face Trump. If Cruz had been the nominee Clinton would have been better perhaps but it was obvious to me that Clinton was hated much more in the flyover than the Mainstream Democrats know. This is a bad disconnect. People might not have much education bu they know when they are being condescended to
4
Why on earth would middle-class whites vote Republican when that party wants to cut Social Security and Medicare, cut the FHA and the GSEs, cut money for education, pass "right-to-work" laws and cut the minimum wage, and move away from progressive income and wealth taxes and toward regressive consumption taxes? It makes no sense. They are not the party of the middle class. They want a hereditary aristocracy that would control everything.
3
"white voters without college degrees have been the driving force in all of them."...This may be why Republicans in states like NC appear so interested in lowering the support for higher ed institutions
So, if Democratcs want to appeal to this group of white voters they've been losing since Johnson is to turn their backs on blacks, Hispanics, the LBGT community, etc.? What's wrong with that picture!
"Clinton’s first two years in office, however, were dominated by the issues of gays in the military, health care reform and his attempt make good on his vow to pick a cabinet that “looks like America.”
The changed agenda proved disastrous for Democratic members of the House and Senate."
Gee, Democrats, all that sand must really get in your eyes and between your teeth. Why not pull your heads out of it and take a look around you?
Sure, the factors mentioned above helped drive the massive Democratic loss in 1994, but the most important factor, which it's hard to see with all that sand in your eyes, was the "Assault Weapons" Ban, which was universally acknowledged at the time to have lost Congress for the Democrats (Even Clinton himself, in his State of the Union speech, admitted this, when he praised those who had voted for it, then lost their seats).
After 1994, the Democrats consciously avoided guns for twenty years, right up until... 2016, when Ms. Clinton began pushing gun control as a platform plank, and, with a Supreme Court vacancy in the offing and the potential for important gun control rulings coming, the Democrats lost again.
When will these people learn that fire is hot and you don't touch the woodstove? It's guns, Democrats. GUNS, GUNS, GUNS, GUNS, GUNS.
Leave the people's guns alone, and you will have a chance at re-election.
Threaten to take them away (or be perceived to do so), and you will lose.
I'll wait for my million dollar consulting check.
The changed agenda proved disastrous for Democratic members of the House and Senate."
Gee, Democrats, all that sand must really get in your eyes and between your teeth. Why not pull your heads out of it and take a look around you?
Sure, the factors mentioned above helped drive the massive Democratic loss in 1994, but the most important factor, which it's hard to see with all that sand in your eyes, was the "Assault Weapons" Ban, which was universally acknowledged at the time to have lost Congress for the Democrats (Even Clinton himself, in his State of the Union speech, admitted this, when he praised those who had voted for it, then lost their seats).
After 1994, the Democrats consciously avoided guns for twenty years, right up until... 2016, when Ms. Clinton began pushing gun control as a platform plank, and, with a Supreme Court vacancy in the offing and the potential for important gun control rulings coming, the Democrats lost again.
When will these people learn that fire is hot and you don't touch the woodstove? It's guns, Democrats. GUNS, GUNS, GUNS, GUNS, GUNS.
Leave the people's guns alone, and you will have a chance at re-election.
Threaten to take them away (or be perceived to do so), and you will lose.
I'll wait for my million dollar consulting check.
2
Frankly, I'm one ticked-off white liberal! Despite his chant of Mexicans are rapists, Trump won 29% of the Latino vote. Despite his chant of vetting Muslims, 29% of Asians voted for him. One in 5 Jewish voters. Two in 5 women. Wake up NYT! He earned votes across the board. I'm going to lay low now with my support of immigrants. I'm going to go hang out with the black people. I'm just sayin'.
1
Thomas Edsall does not mention the main factor in the enduring white working class alliance with the GOP: right wing media. Talk radio, sports radio, Fox News, Infowars, etc. Those media outlets ALONE are the lifeblood of the GOP. They perpetuate the myth that middle class money is spent on minority handouts. They perpetuated myths about Obama's birthplace, his religion, and Soros' nefarious influence on everything. It's quite spectacular. Unless Democrats and the Left figure out how to counter this, we will see the GOP influence continue forever. I personally find this dangerous given the state of climate change and the destruction of corporate capitalism.
4
In the 1970s documentary film "Harlan County USA" you see miners in unions organizing against corporations for better pay and safety. They were mostly Democrats then. The Democrats lost them, starting with Reagan and building on that over time. Why? One answer is that the GOP destroyed unions -- and then persuaded the victims of that destruction to blame "liberals." Diabolical, but exactly the MO they use over and over -- accuse the opposition of doing something that you did yourself.
8
"White tribalism or ethnocentrism — whatever you want to call it — is undeniably a powerful force."
Why not call it what it is? That is caste feeling. "Race," "ethnicity" and even "religion" in America are euphemisms for caste, a characteristic of all "settlor societies" -- e.g. US, other countries in this hemisphere, India (the caste system being the product of Indo-Aryan invasions). The US is distinctive in that the the ideology of the "upper caste" includes anti-caste doctrines (civil equality etc) and "white" has been a very plastic, expansive term.
Why not call it what it is? That is caste feeling. "Race," "ethnicity" and even "religion" in America are euphemisms for caste, a characteristic of all "settlor societies" -- e.g. US, other countries in this hemisphere, India (the caste system being the product of Indo-Aryan invasions). The US is distinctive in that the the ideology of the "upper caste" includes anti-caste doctrines (civil equality etc) and "white" has been a very plastic, expansive term.
Please don't tell me that the United States of AmeriKa is not a class-based society. It is. It always has been. We have a 400-year history to prove it.
1
More pablum to incite division and hate. I'm a Trump voter, and of course know many others who voted for him.
None of us are racist, most of us just want the country to move forward in a positive direction for all Americans.
None of us are racist, most of us just want the country to move forward in a positive direction for all Americans.
46
Eric, you must know full well that your statement "None of us are racist" is simply false. You cannot be unaware of factually televised instances of blatant racism on the part of many Trump supporters. It is much to your credit that you do not identify with those kinds of people. However to deny that they exist is total nonsense.
It is certainly not moving forward to threaten to:
pull out of NATO
default on US Treasury bonds
start a trade war with several nations
worsen a "trickle down" income tax system
appoint a blatant anti-Semite racist top advisor
etc., etc.
Such threats cannot benefit "all Americans.
It is certainly not moving forward to threaten to:
pull out of NATO
default on US Treasury bonds
start a trade war with several nations
worsen a "trickle down" income tax system
appoint a blatant anti-Semite racist top advisor
etc., etc.
Such threats cannot benefit "all Americans.
2
To Eric, in Florida
Well, Eric, looks like you set sail on the wrong boat. Haven't you looked at the economic data regarding wages and jobs lately? Did you also not note that every time the Democrats are in charge, the economy does better; when the Republicans take over the economy does poorly? You did not notice that when President Obama took over the economy was on the edge of world collapse and he guided it back from the brink? Now the Republicans are in charge of everything and they want to give your grandfather's Social Security and Medicare to Wall Street.
Well, Eric, looks like you set sail on the wrong boat. Haven't you looked at the economic data regarding wages and jobs lately? Did you also not note that every time the Democrats are in charge, the economy does better; when the Republicans take over the economy does poorly? You did not notice that when President Obama took over the economy was on the edge of world collapse and he guided it back from the brink? Now the Republicans are in charge of everything and they want to give your grandfather's Social Security and Medicare to Wall Street.
1
"None of us are racist, most of us just want the country to move forward in a positive direction for all Americans."
Then why didn't you oust the Republican House and Senate incumbents who have obstructed EVERYTHING President Obama has proposed to move the country forward?
Then why didn't you oust the Republican House and Senate incumbents who have obstructed EVERYTHING President Obama has proposed to move the country forward?
1
Its naive to think that college is the only bar. It is naive to think that one party, either party, can cram their issues down the throat of the other party for 8 years and never have it come back to them. Compromise has to happen in a manner that does not alienate over half the population. When you can't get your way as President you have to compromise rather than use executive power. But the largest mistake is to continue to see the USA through race-colored glasses. That's nonsense, an idea that has run its course and "come home to roost".
2
A huge number of middle class republicans have consistently voted against their best interests, but the democratic party has also forgotten about the base of their party who feel the party has lost its way. This election cycle exposed us to the discontent and the desire for change in the country which the democrats ignored. A huge number of democrats and independents looking for change found it hard to relate to the choice of HRC. Both the media and the democratic party drastically misread the tea leaves.
Gee the media wants a country where race does not matter, yet when it comes to white men then it matters. As a white man, I am just tired of being told I am a racist, homophobe, hate women. I am just tired of being told what to do and what to think by the media, government and educators. Just leave us alone. I do not care if you are a minority, a woman, gay, transgender, want an abortion just shut up an leave me alone.
6
Yes, a lot of white, rural, socially conservative, fill-in-the-blank-with-your-own-adjectives people voted ignorantly against their own economic interests again.
But what isn't discussed enough is that Hillary lost this election because a lot of former Obama/Democratic supporters voted against their interests by not going to the polls AT ALL. I'm talking you, inner city Wisconsinites and Michiganers (are those the right designations?). I'm talking you, Pennsylvanians. The final vote totals are shaping up to indicate that many fewer ultimately voted in this election than in 2012/2008; the Republicans are missing around a million voters but the Democrats are missing around 4-5 million. And they didn't all vote for Johnson or Stein.
Yes, some white working class voters who voted for Obama went for Trump, but a lot of inner city African American and other minority voters went for no one at all. I am open to the arguments that there was intimidation, problems due to reduced numbers of polling places, effects due to new voting ID laws, particularly in Wisconsin--all the Republican voter suppression tactics . But still, show up to vote and let them try to deny you.
Democrats win when turnout is overwhelming. Yes, they ran an underwhelming candidate. But still, it appears that voting against your own interests, even through apathy, is hardly confined to rural whites.
But what isn't discussed enough is that Hillary lost this election because a lot of former Obama/Democratic supporters voted against their interests by not going to the polls AT ALL. I'm talking you, inner city Wisconsinites and Michiganers (are those the right designations?). I'm talking you, Pennsylvanians. The final vote totals are shaping up to indicate that many fewer ultimately voted in this election than in 2012/2008; the Republicans are missing around a million voters but the Democrats are missing around 4-5 million. And they didn't all vote for Johnson or Stein.
Yes, some white working class voters who voted for Obama went for Trump, but a lot of inner city African American and other minority voters went for no one at all. I am open to the arguments that there was intimidation, problems due to reduced numbers of polling places, effects due to new voting ID laws, particularly in Wisconsin--all the Republican voter suppression tactics . But still, show up to vote and let them try to deny you.
Democrats win when turnout is overwhelming. Yes, they ran an underwhelming candidate. But still, it appears that voting against your own interests, even through apathy, is hardly confined to rural whites.
3
There seem to be a couple of salient sections of quoted material missing throughout the article. Perhaps the Times could could repost it complete.
1
According to Teixeira's analysis in the early 2000's TX and AZ should be purple-going-blue by now yet they are redder than ever,
It will be interesting to see where the non college educated white man takes his anger when Trump lets him down.
If we know anything about conservative messaging and framing, Democrats will get all the blame for Trump's deficits and lack of campaign promise fulfillment.
As for the 1992-1994 time frame, back then it was widely determined you could not have welfare reform without health care reform and it was Alan Greenspan who killed the middle class tax cut promised by Clinton when he said there would be no interest rate relief until the massive Reagan/Bush deficits were brought into line.
It will be interesting to see where the non college educated white man takes his anger when Trump lets him down.
If we know anything about conservative messaging and framing, Democrats will get all the blame for Trump's deficits and lack of campaign promise fulfillment.
As for the 1992-1994 time frame, back then it was widely determined you could not have welfare reform without health care reform and it was Alan Greenspan who killed the middle class tax cut promised by Clinton when he said there would be no interest rate relief until the massive Reagan/Bush deficits were brought into line.
1
It's not enough to look at the demographics; we have to look at the candidates and the campaign. Any time I heard Clinton speak, it was all about tolerance of people of color, ethnicity, sexual difference... there was never anything about the white working class plurality. She clearly and blatantly wrote off this biggest chunk of the electorate.
Clinton was praised by the talking heads, and handed a victory she never achieved, because of her vaunted 'ground game' and organization... which failed totally and miserably, producing pathetically shrunken voter turnouts where they should have been strong. This cost not only Clinton the White House, but the Democrats the Senate.
Donald Trump did not win this race, and not just in the sense that he came second in the popular vote. The Democrats lost it, starting with their standard-bearer. They lost through a breathtaking sense of entitlement; through arrogance and through complacency.
Dan Kravitz
Clinton was praised by the talking heads, and handed a victory she never achieved, because of her vaunted 'ground game' and organization... which failed totally and miserably, producing pathetically shrunken voter turnouts where they should have been strong. This cost not only Clinton the White House, but the Democrats the Senate.
Donald Trump did not win this race, and not just in the sense that he came second in the popular vote. The Democrats lost it, starting with their standard-bearer. They lost through a breathtaking sense of entitlement; through arrogance and through complacency.
Dan Kravitz
4
In all in all of this, it needs to be remembered that she got (at least) a million more votes than he did. That is a vital piece of information that must be front and center in trying to interpret these complex patterns.
3
A teacher colleague in West Virginia held a mock election using only the platforms with no names or parties associated. The Democratic platform won overwhelmingly and this was a county that voted for Trump and the Republicans in a landslide. Of course this is anecdotal, but it suggests the policies of the Democrats are still favored over those of Republicans in rural and working class America.
2
Just remember THEY are not the Majority. Trump did not win the popular vote. George W. Bush did not win the popular vote. Those of us who did not vote for Trump do not want the Democrats to lie down and surrender to his policies. We are tired of being bullied and pushed against the wall. From Mitch McConnel and Paul Ryan on down, we are sick of their bullying tactics. We are sick of people who want to drown the US government in a bathtub and take the rest of us down with them. Just because the mean hearted and non-thinking people were duped and are duped over and over again does not mean the the majority of citizens of the USA are in favor of selling out to hate, fear and mob rule.
3
Everybody is equal. Until this becomes truly so, there will be all sorts of issues.
In the meantime, I keep hearing about the uneducated whites, being demonized or getting their revenge.
All I know is that when the blacks were at the bottom, these whites did not give a hoot about them. Now that they are in the same boat of sinking toward the bottom, suddenly they do not like it (and I am not black).
It is "rich" when people ask others to pull themselves by their bootstraps but are very willing to give themselves a pass when they are the ones coming up short.
There is always "education" so that you can become a worthwhile contributing member of society. Doing something constructive rather than fussing about your condition is always a better approach.
In the meantime, I keep hearing about the uneducated whites, being demonized or getting their revenge.
All I know is that when the blacks were at the bottom, these whites did not give a hoot about them. Now that they are in the same boat of sinking toward the bottom, suddenly they do not like it (and I am not black).
It is "rich" when people ask others to pull themselves by their bootstraps but are very willing to give themselves a pass when they are the ones coming up short.
There is always "education" so that you can become a worthwhile contributing member of society. Doing something constructive rather than fussing about your condition is always a better approach.
1
You have made the case for free junior college education and beyond for all high school grads .
35
The GOP persistently portrays anything that is done for minorities, the poor, or people who are middle and working class but in need of government assistance for whatever reason, as welfare. They tell us that resources are limited. Yet what they don't tell us (and what we don't hear from the Democrats or other opposing voices) is that there are plenty of giveaways to corporations and the upper classes in terms of tax breaks, government assistance, favorable treatments, and even deals for irresponsible behavior.
The problem with being anything but rich in America is that whatever we do is put under a microscope because we don't have the money to hide what is going wrong in our lives. So when a poor person's child comes to school hungry or hurt or complains about no one being home the first reaction is to call CPS. If it happens to a child that is not poor CPS is not called and the public never learns about it. If a poor person steals because they are hungry or their family is hungry, or they are squatting in a vacant house it makes the news. A rich person who steals far more often gets away with it because they have money to pay lawyers.
What we see happening in America is the disappearance of any hope of improving our lot in life. It's being replaced with a very real fear of losing everything because we have no real social safety net. Neither party has done anything to fix it. However, the GOP message resonates and that is what gets the votes.
The problem with being anything but rich in America is that whatever we do is put under a microscope because we don't have the money to hide what is going wrong in our lives. So when a poor person's child comes to school hungry or hurt or complains about no one being home the first reaction is to call CPS. If it happens to a child that is not poor CPS is not called and the public never learns about it. If a poor person steals because they are hungry or their family is hungry, or they are squatting in a vacant house it makes the news. A rich person who steals far more often gets away with it because they have money to pay lawyers.
What we see happening in America is the disappearance of any hope of improving our lot in life. It's being replaced with a very real fear of losing everything because we have no real social safety net. Neither party has done anything to fix it. However, the GOP message resonates and that is what gets the votes.
6
Liberals abandoned the working classes to instead focus endlessly on identity and racial politics that inevitably turn into attacks on heterosexual white males, who are tired of hearing how it is they and their "privilege" who are the cause of any and all social ills in America and, in fact, the entire world.
The Left comes off as insufferable snobs and scolds who seem clueless that their smug sense of superiority and endless moralizing had the opposite effect - they made even politically moderate people support and sympathize with Trump and his followers, the very people who the Left denigrates as "racists" and "xenophobes", without any recognition that they might, just might, have legitimate grievances and worries concerning their marginalization and economic conditions.
Enter Trump, stage Right.
The Left comes off as insufferable snobs and scolds who seem clueless that their smug sense of superiority and endless moralizing had the opposite effect - they made even politically moderate people support and sympathize with Trump and his followers, the very people who the Left denigrates as "racists" and "xenophobes", without any recognition that they might, just might, have legitimate grievances and worries concerning their marginalization and economic conditions.
Enter Trump, stage Right.
34
A republican troll fishing for the ignorant fools who know nothing for what Republicans have stood for since Reagan - money for a select few and who cares about everybody else. I love the attitude of uneducated whites blaming Democrats for their woes while Republican office holders and lobbyists get rich off their government connections. Let's look at the facts please and you can decide for yourself who the hell knows what they are talking about. We live in a mixed economy with at least 85% privatized employment and government employing the rest at the federal, state and local levels. So when Whites can't get good jobs do you think maybe the problem comes from the 85% private sector or the public sector? Do Democrats own the private sector? do they run the corporations? Are they the ones who want to outsource jobs? Is it they who give the orders, carry out the executive policies to off shore jobs. Guess what boys, its the Republicans who have moved your cheese. Black and minority unemployment is over three times as high as White unemployment. Didn't know that or just don't know about a lot of things? Maybe you avoid serious analysis or maybe you are just a paid troll, paid to spew nonsense without any facts to back up ridiculous statements. The joke is on the people who voted for Trump. He took from them what Republican's could never steal before, their integrity. Soon, when nothing comes their way, they will realize they were conned and there will be metrics to prove it.
Racism and xenophobia is never okay for a decent society.
The pendulum swings, which means that no movement, group or party will have permanent control. Back in the 90s some on the Right were proclaiming that the eternal conservative revolution had arrived. That was, of course, nonsense as are such claims today.
As to the percents in the recent vote, many educated Republicans, who voted for Clinton or a 3rd party candidate, never voted for a non-Republican in their lives. It is highly likely that they will never do so again. Trump may have drawn in a segment of the resentful and desperate who bought into his grand, but empty, promises to fix everything. He also repelled another group of voters who were considering whether or not he was actually qualified to do the job and decided that he was not. IMHO if the GOP candidate had been another the numbers would have looked vastly different.
The main body of Trump supporters will be disappointed (that Carrier plant where he promised to save their jobs will still close) when his grand promises prove to be empty words. Their brand of conservatism, which wants to keep change at bay and/or make things as they used to be, is a loosing cause. The world is changing; they too must change or face an increasingly bleak future. In the mean time, they have voted for a party whose policies do not have their best interests at heart. Time will tell if they learn their lesson or simply keep seeking another savior.
As to the percents in the recent vote, many educated Republicans, who voted for Clinton or a 3rd party candidate, never voted for a non-Republican in their lives. It is highly likely that they will never do so again. Trump may have drawn in a segment of the resentful and desperate who bought into his grand, but empty, promises to fix everything. He also repelled another group of voters who were considering whether or not he was actually qualified to do the job and decided that he was not. IMHO if the GOP candidate had been another the numbers would have looked vastly different.
The main body of Trump supporters will be disappointed (that Carrier plant where he promised to save their jobs will still close) when his grand promises prove to be empty words. Their brand of conservatism, which wants to keep change at bay and/or make things as they used to be, is a loosing cause. The world is changing; they too must change or face an increasingly bleak future. In the mean time, they have voted for a party whose policies do not have their best interests at heart. Time will tell if they learn their lesson or simply keep seeking another savior.
6
The majority of those who bothered to vote brought the rest of us Mr Trump and to point the finger anywhere else is delusional.
In every instance majority rules and in this case the majoprity of those who bothered or felt the need to vote put their choice into the most politically and militarily powerful position in the world.
As citizens living in a free nation we may not realize the importance of voting until that right is lost.
In every instance majority rules and in this case the majoprity of those who bothered or felt the need to vote put their choice into the most politically and militarily powerful position in the world.
As citizens living in a free nation we may not realize the importance of voting until that right is lost.
3
Whites of different classes fear competition from Asians (too hard working and too smart) and from Latinos (too hard working and willing to work for low pay) but not as much competition from African Americans except for government or quasi-government jobs. Factory, mining and railroad jobs have largely disappeared. The stereotype about blacks is that they are unworthy takers with widespread drug abuse, children rearing without contributing fathers, and dependence on welfare and disability instead of work. Ironically this stereotype is now also applied to lower class whites by higher class whites. Without a great increase in jobs for people with modest education and poor work history, it is hard to see a solution. What good is increased minimum wage laws without jobs that pay much more than the minimum wage?
3
" What good is increased minimum wage laws without jobs that pay much more than the minimum wage?"
The more the liberal / progressives call for an increased minimum wage, the greater the incentive for companies to replace increasingly more expensive no-skill / low-skill minimum wage workers with increasingly less expensive and more efficient automation. The end result will be more unemployed former minimum wage workers.
The more the liberal / progressives call for an increased minimum wage, the greater the incentive for companies to replace increasingly more expensive no-skill / low-skill minimum wage workers with increasingly less expensive and more efficient automation. The end result will be more unemployed former minimum wage workers.
1
I feel that it is precisely the obsession with demographics and identity that is dividing the citizens of this country, and continuing to look at each other exclusively through those narrow lenses will only lead to more animosity. From the "red" and "blue" states to all this slicing and dicing by color and class and geography to the speculation, post-Trump, of the effects on one's identity group--we are still creating and falling for the very divisiveness that Trump used so effectively as a marketing tool. The Democrats need to wake up and appeal beyond these labels. I can only hope that the election of this man will bring Democrats and others who did not choose him together to stand for the rule of law, the constitution, and the freedom Americans hold dear. Sometimes, it's not just about me or mine, but us and ours.
8
We live in a country where many historically damaged people kill each other for reasons ranging from a 'dis' to a rap lyric and we expect law enforcement alone to provide the security necessary for society to grow. Worse, when violence persists, we cherry pick a virtual hand full of isolated incidents nationally to stereotype and lay blame on an entire profession, while ignoring even the most blatant fraudulent examples, including the signature event and template of the organizations like BLM, the alleged police murder of a 'gentle giant' in Ferguson Mo.. 'Why' is irrelevant especially as viewed in the context of it's result, especially in places like Chicago; it's effect on media credibility and a Trump consequence on us all.
4
Are working class whites deserting the Democratic Party for economic reasons, or because they don't like government programs that benefit people of color? The white working class is hurt by decisions made in corporate boardrooms around the world, not by the policies of the Democratic Party. If the bottom has fallen out of the old American manufacturing system, it is because companies have relocated their manufacturing to low-wage countries and have automated their factories, greatly reducing the demand for highly-paid hourly workers. The Republicans can do nothing about these trends (most of the leaders don't want to, anyhow). But, they can demagogue against government programs designed to help poor people and immigrants as a way of diverting white anger away from the real causes of white working class pain.
5
The superiority of parliamentary government is it teaches coalitions. Instead, we have groups that make their points singly but do not link up with other groups who share similar but not identical views. That weakens everyone's power.
If groups of women, immigrants, enlightened men, and people of color formed a coalition, each respecting the values they don't exactly share, it would be impossible for this kind of take-over by the deplorables.
If groups of women, immigrants, enlightened men, and people of color formed a coalition, each respecting the values they don't exactly share, it would be impossible for this kind of take-over by the deplorables.
The big jumps in white working class Trump/GOP voting is no big mystery. One, because of Republicanobstruction of Obama's a stimulus aspirations, the long term deterioration of these voters' economic situation received too little short-term amelioration via job and income growth. Two, Trump scapegoating of Hispanic, Black and (more subtly) female economic competitors was especially forceful, in Part because tightly entwined with encitements against cosmopolitan smoothness. (A variant of reason "one" suffices to explain the small.lipsticks on Hispanic and Black.voting --that and the rep k placement of Obama with a candidate without his visceral. Appeal to.minorities.)
In the race to either blame, or credit, the non college educated white working class, the media and the Democratic Party is missing an equally relevant question.
That is, why did the non college educated black working class respond in such a different manner? Were they conditioned to vote democratic regardless, did they let racial politics trump economic considerations, or what?
The media's ignorance of this obvious conundrum again speaks poorly of this much maligned (and rightfully so) institution.
That is, why did the non college educated black working class respond in such a different manner? Were they conditioned to vote democratic regardless, did they let racial politics trump economic considerations, or what?
The media's ignorance of this obvious conundrum again speaks poorly of this much maligned (and rightfully so) institution.
2
McCain/Palin won 57% of the white vote in 2008. Romney/Ryan won 59% of the white vote in 2012. Trump/Pence won 58% of the white vote in 2016.
Obama/Biden won a majority of the popular vote in 2008 by 10 million voters and in 2012 by 5 million voters. In addition to winning the popular vote majority Obama/Biden won a majority in the Electoral College. The first tandem to do both so since Eisenhower/Nixon. Clinton/Kaine won a minority of the popular vote by 2 million voters but lost the Electoral College.
What happened in 2016 was that most of the Obama/Biden coalition silently stayed home and of the fewer who turned out some went to Trump. The aging shrinking white majority won control of Congress in 2010- 2016 midterm elections.
The white American majority clearly convincingly and loudly let us know how much they despised the Kenyan Luo Arab Muslim socialist usurper occupying "their" White House with his dusky family. Making America righteous white again is doomed dying nostalgia as they are having too few babies.
A majority of the single parent poorly educated welfare dependent families are still white. While the proportion of blacks in that category is higher there are 5x as many white people. And the black proportion is stable and shrinking the white portion is growing. Indeed, the white portion is identical to that of blacks when the black family was dismissed as "a tangled web of pathology that would benefit from a period of benign neglect."
Obama/Biden won a majority of the popular vote in 2008 by 10 million voters and in 2012 by 5 million voters. In addition to winning the popular vote majority Obama/Biden won a majority in the Electoral College. The first tandem to do both so since Eisenhower/Nixon. Clinton/Kaine won a minority of the popular vote by 2 million voters but lost the Electoral College.
What happened in 2016 was that most of the Obama/Biden coalition silently stayed home and of the fewer who turned out some went to Trump. The aging shrinking white majority won control of Congress in 2010- 2016 midterm elections.
The white American majority clearly convincingly and loudly let us know how much they despised the Kenyan Luo Arab Muslim socialist usurper occupying "their" White House with his dusky family. Making America righteous white again is doomed dying nostalgia as they are having too few babies.
A majority of the single parent poorly educated welfare dependent families are still white. While the proportion of blacks in that category is higher there are 5x as many white people. And the black proportion is stable and shrinking the white portion is growing. Indeed, the white portion is identical to that of blacks when the black family was dismissed as "a tangled web of pathology that would benefit from a period of benign neglect."
1
The politics of elections is endlessly fascinating, to politicians. The slicing and dicing of voters for the purpose of predicting or actually winning an election is of less interest to we the people. Why Trump was elected really isn't as important as is why more of us aren't doing better?
It would be nice to see an Administration and a Congress pass a comprehensive bill - about anything - that's good for the vast majority of Americans. Years of incrementalism and divisionist politics has only eroded our faith in our government, our standing in the world and our confidence in our future. That's truly unAmerican.
It would be nice to see an Administration and a Congress pass a comprehensive bill - about anything - that's good for the vast majority of Americans. Years of incrementalism and divisionist politics has only eroded our faith in our government, our standing in the world and our confidence in our future. That's truly unAmerican.
3
Thomas Edsall hits another home run. He represents the best in journalism. His columns include thoughts and opinions from many sources. One that struck me here is from Greenberg "special status of blacks is perceived by almost all of these individuals as a serious obstacle to their personal advancement. Indeed, discrimination against whites has become a well-assimilated and ready explanation for their status, vulnerability and failures." What is missing is some comment about how ineffective most liberals are in addressing issues related to minorities. Their public statements are often little more than self-realization, affirming that they care. If the correlation between these public displays and actual outcomes were made available, the backlash against elite democrats would disappear.
5
In a scenario this complicated, many things can be true at once, and so I'll add this to the mix. Uneducated white voters, like many others, don't like supporting wimps. Hillary totally wimped out about the email. All she had to do is say in the beginning "I was the boss at the State Department, and the email policy was whatever I say it was. You're welcome to ask me about why I implemented that policy, but not to question my authority to do so." Problem solved, Madame President.
Now Obama's going to wimp out and allow the Senate Republicans to steal his right and duty to nominate the next Supreme Court justice, instead of asking the Supreme Court to rule on the issue, thereby forcing them to accept his right to send nominees until the Senate approves one of them no matter how long it takes, or set a terrible precedent. But he isn't; he's just letting it happen the way the Republicans want without fighting back.
Newsflash: Wimps get beat up.
Now Obama's going to wimp out and allow the Senate Republicans to steal his right and duty to nominate the next Supreme Court justice, instead of asking the Supreme Court to rule on the issue, thereby forcing them to accept his right to send nominees until the Senate approves one of them no matter how long it takes, or set a terrible precedent. But he isn't; he's just letting it happen the way the Republicans want without fighting back.
Newsflash: Wimps get beat up.
4
Dear Political Analysts,
It wasn't whites. It wasn't blacks. It wasn't educated vs. not so much.
It was the profit driven media that escorted Mr. Trump to the presidency.
Mr. Trump dominated the airwaves and the clicks by whatever means necessary. He drove profits. The media ate it up. The media is laser locked to book ratings and profits to the exclusion of all else. Minute by minute and day by day.
In football they call this statistic "time of possession".
He was engaging. On purpose. This is important. It is why he won.
15
Insightful. But no way to change?
A question about the meaning of the Trump election keeps nagging at me. And it seems this column somewhat validates it. Yet, at the same time it seems much too simplistic. Namely, was Trump's motto "Make America Great Again" meant to literally or figuratively be translated to mean "Make America White Again?" For example, an economically well off Trump supporter upon being questioned why she supported Trump shyly stated that she was all in for Trump because during a recent visits to Florida she encountered a huge demographic of ethnic diversity and she did not like feeling in the minority. And she believes that no one else except Trump can prevent that from continuing to happen. So, underlying all the brouhaha is it possible that more of our citizens feel that way than anyone thought or could imagine? It also occurred to me that if there's a powerful undercurrent of people who feel that way; who feel a need for increased nationalism and populism that would mean that the Democratic Party, with it's tendency to embrace diversity in all it's forms will be up a tree with out a paddle so to speak.
4
You'd think it was only white working class people who lost their jobs and incomes due to relocating factories elsewhere. This is not the case.
Minorities also lost out. If anything they were most likely the first losers.
Also, blacks are losing out on educational opportunities to other minorities.
They are quickly being out numbered by other minority groups, if they already haven't in certain parts of the country. The competition for jobs, education, medical and housing has never been so fierce as it is today. Poor Americans are seeing immigrants making their lives more difficult because they actually are. Those higher up in the strata don't ever experience this grief and patronize their fellow US born as being less than. But at the same time propping up diversity and all that kumbaya'ism. The ultra-liberal Dems better get their heads out of their PC loftiness. By supporting only the newly landed Syrians and not paying any attention to the children of Detroit sends a strong message.
Minorities also lost out. If anything they were most likely the first losers.
Also, blacks are losing out on educational opportunities to other minorities.
They are quickly being out numbered by other minority groups, if they already haven't in certain parts of the country. The competition for jobs, education, medical and housing has never been so fierce as it is today. Poor Americans are seeing immigrants making their lives more difficult because they actually are. Those higher up in the strata don't ever experience this grief and patronize their fellow US born as being less than. But at the same time propping up diversity and all that kumbaya'ism. The ultra-liberal Dems better get their heads out of their PC loftiness. By supporting only the newly landed Syrians and not paying any attention to the children of Detroit sends a strong message.
17
Thank you for this well-spoken summary of the problem.
The US needs to take care of its own working class first. Ahead of illegal immigrants, ahead of Middle Eastern immigrants.
The Democratic Party still doesn't get this, and until they do, they will keep on losing elections.
The US needs to take care of its own working class first. Ahead of illegal immigrants, ahead of Middle Eastern immigrants.
The Democratic Party still doesn't get this, and until they do, they will keep on losing elections.
4
Unfortunately, and what is missing here, is that government has been taken over in its entirety by the 1/4%. Voting may change the emperor's clothes, but not who he is.
And at present the McConnell-Ryan very shortly the Supreme Court apparatus is devoted to paralysis of government-by-and-for-the-people and instead furthers disgust for democracy while advancing control by the 1/4%.
The forlorn remaining hope is that Trump will actually have the stomach to drive some reforms, and will not simply delegate government to a Pence-McConnell-Ryan triumvirate supported by a stacked ideological Supreme Court.
And at present the McConnell-Ryan very shortly the Supreme Court apparatus is devoted to paralysis of government-by-and-for-the-people and instead furthers disgust for democracy while advancing control by the 1/4%.
The forlorn remaining hope is that Trump will actually have the stomach to drive some reforms, and will not simply delegate government to a Pence-McConnell-Ryan triumvirate supported by a stacked ideological Supreme Court.
2
Over the past couple decades, the Democrats have put identity politics and the core of their party platform. Did no one foresee that the intentional Balkanization of the American electorate would yield a powerful white, male, Christian, etc. identity bloc? You can't expect to use identity as a weapon and then cry foul when it's turned back on you.
I think Bill Maher and a very few strategists are beginning to grasp the solution - abandon the idea of political correctness as the predominant animus driving the Democratic coalition. Playing the game of identity politics while alienating the majority of the country is a losing proposition. If you want to win and stop the madness that is Donald Trump in 2018 (assuming he hasn't been drummed out of office due to his own colossal ignorance by then), start reaching out to all Americans, and drop the single minded focus on privilege checking and identity policing. After two years of Trump's bonanza for his wealthy cronies and sycophants, I can almost guarantee plenty of the working class coalition he bamboozled into following him will be willing to listen.
I think Bill Maher and a very few strategists are beginning to grasp the solution - abandon the idea of political correctness as the predominant animus driving the Democratic coalition. Playing the game of identity politics while alienating the majority of the country is a losing proposition. If you want to win and stop the madness that is Donald Trump in 2018 (assuming he hasn't been drummed out of office due to his own colossal ignorance by then), start reaching out to all Americans, and drop the single minded focus on privilege checking and identity policing. After two years of Trump's bonanza for his wealthy cronies and sycophants, I can almost guarantee plenty of the working class coalition he bamboozled into following him will be willing to listen.
21
Focus on two issues only. Big money corruption of politics and government. The proper functioning of the private economy: competition, innovation, investment, worker education and training. Apart from nuclear war, everything else is secondary.
They won the majority of votes. The minority of voters were located in areas with high electoral votes...and 20-30% of those electoral votes were based on African American populations. Groups that voted diametrically opposite the white majority.
The reckoning for the anti Black hatred and resentment of the white working class will be rewarded in the most fair and equitable way...electoral irrelevance in our lifetimes as well as the free market washing their economic base away.
I can go into the racism that attracted so many whites into unions, but that would just make me angry.
The reckoning for the anti Black hatred and resentment of the white working class will be rewarded in the most fair and equitable way...electoral irrelevance in our lifetimes as well as the free market washing their economic base away.
I can go into the racism that attracted so many whites into unions, but that would just make me angry.
Interesting to see the evolution presented this way, but it is rehash of old news; where is the new insight? I find it lacking, so I will propose my own: moneyball. What I mean by this, is the Democrat Party's apparent decision post-Bush/Gore, to invest heavily into analytics as applied to political theory. Especially after Obama's election, we saw (and into even the very last days of this campaign) elevated smugness among the Democrats for being *the* tech savvy party, and (obviously) unjustified confidence that their 'metrics' were better than those of the Republican side. This approach failed for three reasons.
First, correlation/causation: Obama didn't win because of analytics; that was a false conclusion drawn from the superficial correlation of having applied moneyball concepts, and Obama winning. It merely strengthened the standing of the 'tech hipster' mentality within the party, and laid the groundwork for epic failure this time time around.
Second, I question the methodology. I have been working with Kalman filters, Bayesian estimators, and statistical analysis of performance for the better part of my 30+ years in aerospace/IT, and misunderstanding exists even among those well-versed in these areas. An estimate to umpteen digits tells you nothing without proper knowledge of its uncertainty.
Finally, application of analytics has led to the white working class justifiably feeling ignored; they apparently weren't 'worth' focus according to the metrics. Guess again.
First, correlation/causation: Obama didn't win because of analytics; that was a false conclusion drawn from the superficial correlation of having applied moneyball concepts, and Obama winning. It merely strengthened the standing of the 'tech hipster' mentality within the party, and laid the groundwork for epic failure this time time around.
Second, I question the methodology. I have been working with Kalman filters, Bayesian estimators, and statistical analysis of performance for the better part of my 30+ years in aerospace/IT, and misunderstanding exists even among those well-versed in these areas. An estimate to umpteen digits tells you nothing without proper knowledge of its uncertainty.
Finally, application of analytics has led to the white working class justifiably feeling ignored; they apparently weren't 'worth' focus according to the metrics. Guess again.
1
The scholars on whom Professor Edsall relies imply that American politics has become a zero/sum game. The party that appeals to lower-income whites automatically loses minorities and upscale whites. I find this unpersuasive.
A political agenda that specifically emphasized the commonality of interests between ethnic minorities and working class whites could have bridged this political divide . A strong social safety net (including affordable healthcare), higher minimum wages and job training programs would benefit both groups, since blacks and Hispanics disproportionately belong to the same economic class as low-income whites. Although minorities experience more conflicts with the police than other groups, moreover, working class whites also have their share of run-ins with authorities.
But Hillary Clinton tended to divide her proposals into a laundry list that focused separately on each segment of her potential constituency, without emphasizing how all of them would benefit from the entire program. This approach enabled Donald Trump to persuade whites that only his empty promises of re-industrialization could save their economic futures.
Trump thrives on the zero/sum approach to politics. Unfortunately for his supporters, they will learn soon enough that their portion of the spoils of victory equal zero, while the sum will accrue to the economic elite. The favorite verse of that old Bible scholar, Trump, begins, "To them that hath it shall be given..."
A political agenda that specifically emphasized the commonality of interests between ethnic minorities and working class whites could have bridged this political divide . A strong social safety net (including affordable healthcare), higher minimum wages and job training programs would benefit both groups, since blacks and Hispanics disproportionately belong to the same economic class as low-income whites. Although minorities experience more conflicts with the police than other groups, moreover, working class whites also have their share of run-ins with authorities.
But Hillary Clinton tended to divide her proposals into a laundry list that focused separately on each segment of her potential constituency, without emphasizing how all of them would benefit from the entire program. This approach enabled Donald Trump to persuade whites that only his empty promises of re-industrialization could save their economic futures.
Trump thrives on the zero/sum approach to politics. Unfortunately for his supporters, they will learn soon enough that their portion of the spoils of victory equal zero, while the sum will accrue to the economic elite. The favorite verse of that old Bible scholar, Trump, begins, "To them that hath it shall be given..."
Many interests are represented in our government but some or more favored than others. The system is now skewed to allow for a conservative white minority to govern an ever growing pluralistic and most likely center left majority. If the House was not gerrymandered to favor Republicans (in many states more Democrats voted for congress than Republicans yet still Republicans maintained a caucus majority) and the Senate did not skew conservative by giving majority white yet sparsely populated states the same voting power as densely populated Democratic leaning ones (see for example that all the residents of the two Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Kansas have fewer residents than the entire state of California yet each individual state is allocated two senators giving have three times the voting power in the Senate) Congress would look very different. And if we got rid of the Electoral College Clinton would be president today as she received the popular vote. Yes white working class voters played an important role in the election's results but they were aided by unfair structural issues that dilute Democratic voting power giving certain interests more weight than others.
The almost cavalier way in which deeply enriched American racism is discussed is frightening but not surprising. It perpetuates one the the myths of race that gets mentioned in the article itself, that blacks are somehow favored by government while white interests are ignored.
Why not inform your white readers what all those favors actually look like? Double digit unemployment, always twice the rate for whites. Similar drug use, but racialized drug policy. The result, a million incarcerated for low level offenses. Housing discrimination, job discrimination, underfunded schools, identical resumes that suddenly get treated differently when the reviewers thinks on is from a black person.
Government has certainly racialized many of its policies, but they have hardly 'favored' blacks. Care for any water from Flint? Or what neighborhoods are more likely to have a sold waste dump near by? How about pulmonary disorder rates in Harlem from the uptown sewage treatment plant that serves downtown high rises? Or how about average life expectancy rates that can be predicted by zip code?
At some level white workers look at their black working class counterpart and know that 'there for the grace of God go I'. We are their buffer from an even harsher life and always have been. But racism blinds and they instead follow empty promises from set of elites to another. This isn't tribalism or ethnocentrism, it's racism. Divide and conquer and Trump will be no different than the others.
Why not inform your white readers what all those favors actually look like? Double digit unemployment, always twice the rate for whites. Similar drug use, but racialized drug policy. The result, a million incarcerated for low level offenses. Housing discrimination, job discrimination, underfunded schools, identical resumes that suddenly get treated differently when the reviewers thinks on is from a black person.
Government has certainly racialized many of its policies, but they have hardly 'favored' blacks. Care for any water from Flint? Or what neighborhoods are more likely to have a sold waste dump near by? How about pulmonary disorder rates in Harlem from the uptown sewage treatment plant that serves downtown high rises? Or how about average life expectancy rates that can be predicted by zip code?
At some level white workers look at their black working class counterpart and know that 'there for the grace of God go I'. We are their buffer from an even harsher life and always have been. But racism blinds and they instead follow empty promises from set of elites to another. This isn't tribalism or ethnocentrism, it's racism. Divide and conquer and Trump will be no different than the others.
2
As a former journalist specializing in education for many years, and living, I believe the education scene aptly illustrates the frustration of middle America. College tuitions are in the stratosphere, even at state schools. As every state has prioritized keeping and attracting top students, scholarships are now issued based on grades and test scores, with no consideration of financial need or general worthiness. The result? Most scholarships go to children of the well to do or minorities. There are none for middle Americans who are worthy but can't knock the top out. The vocational training programs so desperately needed are mostly gone, eliminated in favor of AP and IB programs that serve, again, mostly the moneyed elite. Yet only one third of Americans are getting a college education. Good luck to the rest!
Good data showed most Trump voters are not especially ignorant or poor. It's the economic segregation and fear for their children that has them at the boiling point. It's in their face every day. Kids from well to do families get the best teachers and are segregated in elite enclaves, then get the college scholarships and brag about how hard their kids worked to earn these things. Teachers who assigned outside the "gifted" programs are quickly burning out, as remedial and problem students have been lumped in with the average to pay for all the high end stuff. Parents know exactly what's going down and they're mad as hell.
Good data showed most Trump voters are not especially ignorant or poor. It's the economic segregation and fear for their children that has them at the boiling point. It's in their face every day. Kids from well to do families get the best teachers and are segregated in elite enclaves, then get the college scholarships and brag about how hard their kids worked to earn these things. Teachers who assigned outside the "gifted" programs are quickly burning out, as remedial and problem students have been lumped in with the average to pay for all the high end stuff. Parents know exactly what's going down and they're mad as hell.
2
Since 11/9 we have heard endless pleas to understand the economic pain of the dispossessed, disappearing white middle class, particularly in the rust belt. Mr. Edsall's piece suggests that the white working class dyspepsia goes back to Richard Nixon's heyday of the 1970s.
Though it is important to try understanding the hurt of declining economic opportunity, let's not beat ourselves up too brutally. A strain of racism has pervaded white America since the founding of the State. It must be confronted. No Trump administration will relieve the indigestion of bigoted resentment. It will also pay to remember how well we'd like fearing death by police shooting every time we slip behind the steering wheels of our cars.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
Though it is important to try understanding the hurt of declining economic opportunity, let's not beat ourselves up too brutally. A strain of racism has pervaded white America since the founding of the State. It must be confronted. No Trump administration will relieve the indigestion of bigoted resentment. It will also pay to remember how well we'd like fearing death by police shooting every time we slip behind the steering wheels of our cars.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
1
As a human it is excruciatingly painful to see how people hurt one another, as well as themselves, with this slavish adherence to capitalism. The wealthy reap the rewards of the lower economic classes fighting among themselves on the basis of hate of the "other". The majority could actually run the show if they could see that the true enemy is the wealthy class, not the people around them that work to increase the wealthy's profit margin. Possibly an explanation of why the wealthy work to destroy liberal education that promotes critical thinking, and promotes a widget maker education system.
Man o' man, the chattering class still doesn't get it. College educated doesn't only mean a bachelor's in liberal arts and masters in journalism, law or finance. Or some other degree that diverts money from the working class. For instance, the money saved on labor by moving manufacturing overseas doesn't cut salaries of integrated marketers (former journalists), consultants and lawyers. It increases those salaries, bigly.
Democrats have done a good job pushing out the college educated with practical degrees such as nursing, teaching, engineering and science, too. Sure I voted for Hillary, but that's because I'm from Chicagoland and can't help myself voting democrat. I work in the environmental business. In the US alone it's a $300 billion a year industry and ranges from waste management (i.e. garbage collection) to environmental nonprofits ghostwriting clean power policy. As an engineer with college degrees stored in the basement somewhere, I've always seemed to have more in common with garbage collectors than fellows at NRDC. Even though I may have more college degrees.
Most importantly, democrat elites abandoned public school teachers. Obama and his billionaire best friends forever foundations (BBFFFs) spent the better part of 8 years busting teacher unions in an attempt to cut salaries and privatize education. The perfect example is Alice Walton's foundation working Chicago Public Schools to Walmartify education. Hillary's tied to Alice and Walmart, hugely.
Democrats have done a good job pushing out the college educated with practical degrees such as nursing, teaching, engineering and science, too. Sure I voted for Hillary, but that's because I'm from Chicagoland and can't help myself voting democrat. I work in the environmental business. In the US alone it's a $300 billion a year industry and ranges from waste management (i.e. garbage collection) to environmental nonprofits ghostwriting clean power policy. As an engineer with college degrees stored in the basement somewhere, I've always seemed to have more in common with garbage collectors than fellows at NRDC. Even though I may have more college degrees.
Most importantly, democrat elites abandoned public school teachers. Obama and his billionaire best friends forever foundations (BBFFFs) spent the better part of 8 years busting teacher unions in an attempt to cut salaries and privatize education. The perfect example is Alice Walton's foundation working Chicago Public Schools to Walmartify education. Hillary's tied to Alice and Walmart, hugely.
5
Affirmative action was always supposed to be a finite initiative -- the point was always to have a period of time wherein minorities were given preference in hiring and admissions decisions to level a playing field distorted by history. It was never intended to be forever, but that is what has happened. Affirmative action always had victims, and now those victims have spoken. Instead of leveling the playing field, working class white males see affirmative action as turning the tables, which makes them angry. I do not blame them. But the fact is America is not, and never has been, a zero-sum game.
I am a huge fan of the "Harry Smith," the colloquial name for the Anthology of American Folk Music, first released in the mid-50s. It ignited the folk music boom that lead directly to Bob Dylan's Nobel prize. [My uncle (by marriage) Ric von Schmidt once told me that, when Dylan showed up on his door in Cambridge in 1960 or so, "He knew the Harry Smith backwards and forwards, but that was all he knew."] Over and over, Mr. Smith paired black artists and white artists singing about the same things with a slightly different vocabulary and emphasis. The message is clear: this person is not your enemy, they are sitting in the same leaky boat right next to you. The guy who owns the boat, who plays races against each other, is the enemy.
True dat.
I am a huge fan of the "Harry Smith," the colloquial name for the Anthology of American Folk Music, first released in the mid-50s. It ignited the folk music boom that lead directly to Bob Dylan's Nobel prize. [My uncle (by marriage) Ric von Schmidt once told me that, when Dylan showed up on his door in Cambridge in 1960 or so, "He knew the Harry Smith backwards and forwards, but that was all he knew."] Over and over, Mr. Smith paired black artists and white artists singing about the same things with a slightly different vocabulary and emphasis. The message is clear: this person is not your enemy, they are sitting in the same leaky boat right next to you. The guy who owns the boat, who plays races against each other, is the enemy.
True dat.
3
But America IS, and for the foreseeable future, a zero-sum game.
There are no jobs for tens of millions of low skilled workers and to continue to import one million more every year as we have done for 40+ years is the cause of the decline in jobs and salaries.
That the Left does not understand or care that the law of supply and demand applies to labor as it does to goods is what cost them this election.
There are no jobs for tens of millions of low skilled workers and to continue to import one million more every year as we have done for 40+ years is the cause of the decline in jobs and salaries.
That the Left does not understand or care that the law of supply and demand applies to labor as it does to goods is what cost them this election.
Over and over, the media, the Dem strategists, the ‘elites’, keep missing what they missed. At least half of the Trump voters have no real life problems with the economy. Those voters had a median income of $67k during the primaries. Aside from diehard republican partisans, the bulk of Trump support was a combination of non-college educated white men and women who wanted Trump to be a middle finger to those they feel inferior to, and college educated white males with serious gender prejudices. What was the uniting force for those differing groups? Right wing AM radio. Most people have an idea what Fox News is about. Televised Fox News is the tip of an iceberg. The greatest danger has been Fox Radio and it’s many imitators just beneath the surface. Limbaugh, technically not Fox and the progenitor of Fox et al., alone has 20 million listeners, more than six times Fox News TV on a really good day. Then there’s Hannity, Ingraham, etc., etc. There are radios tuned into these propagandists in trucks, cars and homes everyday by the tens of millions. I listen in long enough to get a sampling. I actually interact with aficionados of this agitprop radio and hear them parrot the memes, slogans, and endless streams of lies. My biggest critique of HRC’s campaign was not creating opportunities for the public to see her human qualities. For many she was simply an evil scarecrow.
1
The change in voting patterns you describe coincides with the destruction of unions and the consequential destruction of defined benefit pension plans, surges in health care costs, outsourcing of otherwise protected manufacturing jobs and the increase in automation. Unions protected employee benefits and wages and fought against outsourcing and automation. Beginning with Reagan and the firing of the air traffic controllers it became fashionable to destroy unions and strip the benefits they fought for from employees. Now, although you refer to the "white working class," it is better described as out-of-work or under-empoyed workers. New jobs are in the service industry, don't carry health care benefits much less pension benefits, and pay minimum wages at best. And even where jobs call for skilled or educated workers, they are now being converted to "contractors." As "contractors" employees get no benefits at all and are not covered by many employment and labor laws. This is a continuing march, orchestrated by the Republicans, to reduce American employees to penury. And by caving to Republican demands the Democrats have not done enough to object to and prevent this march. I think Democrats acceptance of Republican efforts and failure to educate voters about the reality of the effect of those actions explains why the voters grasp at straws and lies offered by the Republicans. And in many ways the Democrats are complicit in this fraud. So the revolt continues.
1
It is time to start telling the truth to those in the working class that struggle to make ends meet. Stop telling them you are going to bring back jobs that aren't coming back. Get the point across that people need to be trained and prepared for the jobs the Information Age will have even though automation will take over most of the drudge work. We will still need skilled technicians to maintain all that automation. We still need trained plumbers, electricians, carpenters, mechanics, etc to keep our society humming. We need to revitalize training in these fields at the high school level with advanced trade schools following high school. We place too much emphasis on a "college education" without emphasis on relevance. We have too many college graduates without marketable skills. The military was and still is a way to get skilled training and work experience. However, who is going to encourage their kids to join the Military or National Guard when we keep deploying them on never ending tours to the Middle East to fight some one else's war? Concentrate on developing programs to help the struggling working class to adapt in a changing world. Most of all we need to move away from the rhetoric that blames others for the struggle of the working class. It must be made abundantly clear that graduating high school is the starting point of a lifetime of training and continuing education needed to keep yourself employable.
3
Dr. Lawrence Rosenthal Chair and Lead Researcher of the Berkeley Center for Right-Wing Studies says that college-educated white
women, not the "white working class" were decisive in the election of Donald Trump, whose alleged offenses against women far exceed those supposedly committed by Clarence Thomas about whom the middle-class Feminist movement has been obsessed since 1991.
So why did white college educated women vote for patriarchs like
Spence and Trump, who have vowed to end Planned Parenthood
and appoint judges who will overturn Roe vs.Wade resulting in
thousands of women seeking dangerous methods of birth control?
One theory is that they have" inner misogynistic" attitudes. I have
another one. Trump won the vote of this demographic when he
raised the specter of the Brown rapist. Juan Horton.He then ran
photos of a blonde who'd been murdered by a Hispanic man.These
college educated white women, and white women elsewhere fall for
this sinister patriarchal strategy everytime. The appeal seems to
be " vote for us and we will spare you a fate worse than death,"when they are more likely to be accosted,sexually, by a male member of
their ethnic group. It's the old protection racket come to politics.
women, not the "white working class" were decisive in the election of Donald Trump, whose alleged offenses against women far exceed those supposedly committed by Clarence Thomas about whom the middle-class Feminist movement has been obsessed since 1991.
So why did white college educated women vote for patriarchs like
Spence and Trump, who have vowed to end Planned Parenthood
and appoint judges who will overturn Roe vs.Wade resulting in
thousands of women seeking dangerous methods of birth control?
One theory is that they have" inner misogynistic" attitudes. I have
another one. Trump won the vote of this demographic when he
raised the specter of the Brown rapist. Juan Horton.He then ran
photos of a blonde who'd been murdered by a Hispanic man.These
college educated white women, and white women elsewhere fall for
this sinister patriarchal strategy everytime. The appeal seems to
be " vote for us and we will spare you a fate worse than death,"when they are more likely to be accosted,sexually, by a male member of
their ethnic group. It's the old protection racket come to politics.
1
A couple thoughts:
1. All of those white, uneducated voters who now sit back and expect Trump to miraculously hand them a good job are likely the same people who would lecture black and brown Americans to take responsibility for themselves, "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" and make something of themselves instead of waiting for handouts. Meanwhile, these white voters -- many of them already collecting government benefits and taking no steps to better themselves -- are going to be surprised two or three years from now when no jobs materialize.
2. I started to think Hillary was in trouble this fall when I began to hear support for Trump coming from white, college-educated, well-off people. These are the folks who rightly felt embarrassed to disclose their racism and interest in segregation in mixed company, but finally found a way to express their feelings in secret at the ballot box. It was that, plus their greed in wanting even more personal tax breaks at the expense of infrastructure, education and other important initiatives. Manhattanites may have voted 90% for Hillary, but about 40 miles east in Suffolk County, Trump won by 20 percentage points. Closer-in Nassau County may have gone for Hillary, but the wealthy, largely white neighborhoods all went for Trump. The news media missed the impact of these educated white "secret voters" and the pundits pretty much continue to ignore the influence of this group.
1. All of those white, uneducated voters who now sit back and expect Trump to miraculously hand them a good job are likely the same people who would lecture black and brown Americans to take responsibility for themselves, "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" and make something of themselves instead of waiting for handouts. Meanwhile, these white voters -- many of them already collecting government benefits and taking no steps to better themselves -- are going to be surprised two or three years from now when no jobs materialize.
2. I started to think Hillary was in trouble this fall when I began to hear support for Trump coming from white, college-educated, well-off people. These are the folks who rightly felt embarrassed to disclose their racism and interest in segregation in mixed company, but finally found a way to express their feelings in secret at the ballot box. It was that, plus their greed in wanting even more personal tax breaks at the expense of infrastructure, education and other important initiatives. Manhattanites may have voted 90% for Hillary, but about 40 miles east in Suffolk County, Trump won by 20 percentage points. Closer-in Nassau County may have gone for Hillary, but the wealthy, largely white neighborhoods all went for Trump. The news media missed the impact of these educated white "secret voters" and the pundits pretty much continue to ignore the influence of this group.
The Dems need to articulate a strong pro-working class set of policies without pandering to specifically white grievances. They need to be the party that will consistently say that all poor, working-, and middle-class people are harmed by the current political economy that creates massive income and wealth inequalities, while at the same time insisting that working towards justice for the very real historical and present wrongs systemically committed against black and brown people is not at odds with creating more economic opportunity for uneducated whites. That might not flip the white vote in 2018 or 2020 but hopefully somewhere down the line, when the Republicans inevitably fail to deliver on Trump's promises, these voters will come to understand that class solidarity will accomplish more than racial solidarity.
1
Excellent, educational article.
And, let's be real. The past 8 years have been, on balance, a success, and, with additional tweaking, would resolve a lot of the issues addressed by Edsall and accompanying thoughtful comments.
Democrats would do well to turn their focus from institutional issues to micro-economic initiatives by, for example, loosening community banking and generating networked "cottage industries" that broadly-speaking encourage apprenticeships and facilitate supply chains.
Also, the US has not done and does not do enough to promote Made in USA, and yes, whilst the per unit costs may be higher than say, China, smart budgeting and taxation would and could easily compensate.
Democrats, far more sensible than Republicans, have four years to turn around a situation and ideology that really should not be given an opportunity to gain traction. By all means, work with Trump & Co, but when the time is right, stiff him.
And, let's be real. The past 8 years have been, on balance, a success, and, with additional tweaking, would resolve a lot of the issues addressed by Edsall and accompanying thoughtful comments.
Democrats would do well to turn their focus from institutional issues to micro-economic initiatives by, for example, loosening community banking and generating networked "cottage industries" that broadly-speaking encourage apprenticeships and facilitate supply chains.
Also, the US has not done and does not do enough to promote Made in USA, and yes, whilst the per unit costs may be higher than say, China, smart budgeting and taxation would and could easily compensate.
Democrats, far more sensible than Republicans, have four years to turn around a situation and ideology that really should not be given an opportunity to gain traction. By all means, work with Trump & Co, but when the time is right, stiff him.
Identity politics is toxic. It has created the white nationalist and men's human rights movements.
It also serves the divide-and-conquer, and convenient political distraction purposes of the elite. Elite kids are not subjected to quotas and racial and sexual set-asides because they "deserve" the opportunities they can inherit from mommy and daddy (beach houses, fancy "public" schools in the suburbs and private schools in the city, extra tutoring, sports travel teams, 529 plans, legacy admissions to top universities, family networking for jobs, trust funds). The feminist movement, of course, primarily benefits white, upper-class women. So, naturally, Mr. Edsall, the elites have every incentive to vote Democratic -- that is now the natural party of the New Aristocracy, opposed to social and economic mobility because it hurts their dynastic interests. The very last people New Aristocracy Democrats want to help are working people -- working people who are not poor are American Kulaks who might compete with the less-talented offspring of the self-proclaimed "meritocrats."
But "no hay mal que dura cien anos." I've been to Catholic Masses in agricultural California. The churches are packed to the rafters. Sooner or later the elite scorn for Catholics, quietly traditional families, workforce housing, and working class striving is going to be noticed by even more than 30% of the Latino population. And then it will be game-over for the New Aristocracy.
It also serves the divide-and-conquer, and convenient political distraction purposes of the elite. Elite kids are not subjected to quotas and racial and sexual set-asides because they "deserve" the opportunities they can inherit from mommy and daddy (beach houses, fancy "public" schools in the suburbs and private schools in the city, extra tutoring, sports travel teams, 529 plans, legacy admissions to top universities, family networking for jobs, trust funds). The feminist movement, of course, primarily benefits white, upper-class women. So, naturally, Mr. Edsall, the elites have every incentive to vote Democratic -- that is now the natural party of the New Aristocracy, opposed to social and economic mobility because it hurts their dynastic interests. The very last people New Aristocracy Democrats want to help are working people -- working people who are not poor are American Kulaks who might compete with the less-talented offspring of the self-proclaimed "meritocrats."
But "no hay mal que dura cien anos." I've been to Catholic Masses in agricultural California. The churches are packed to the rafters. Sooner or later the elite scorn for Catholics, quietly traditional families, workforce housing, and working class striving is going to be noticed by even more than 30% of the Latino population. And then it will be game-over for the New Aristocracy.
8
Spot on. The Guardian pointed out that the majority of the Podesta emails were about nepotism and favors - people asking for faculty positions, government jobs and emeritus appointments because they gave Hill and Bill money. I was on an email chain started by a wealthy MD in which he and his friends all wanted to know how Trump won when they gave their money to Hill. The guy who started the chain is a foreigner with no training who is a fraud and who uses his connections, dishonesty and minority status to obtain government grants. Like most men, he's also a mysoginist and constantly talks about the looks of his female employees and not their performance. The Dems, like the author of this article, are all running around finger pointing because the truth is that those "poor uneducated whites" aren't any less ethical than their wealthy Hillary-voting counterparts, they're just more honest about the fact they are voting strictly in their own self-interest and not for anyone or anything else. When a latino votes for minority rights or a woman votes for woman's rights how is that different than a white person voting for white rights? Because those poor rust belt whites have it so much better than their southern black or western latino counterparts? It doesn't seem they feel that way and economics suggest otherwise.
What makes people so 'fickle' in switching political allegiance, especially when faced with a demagogue telling them sweet (and not so sweet) lies they feel comfortable with? And why would they, in this case predominantly 'white folks left behind', want to claim unjust treatment while complacent with the status quo? Could it be that we forgot that 'rights' imply 'obligations' as well, translated into a responsibility to keep up with the only stable factor, 'change'? I know, a difficult if not impossible task for those knowledge-deficient, when a globalized economy, automation and robotics are upon them, and when the perception of government's role is that of neglect of the 'forgotten' jobless laborers who, in the not too distant past, contributed mightily in producing wealth for the country. It is as if we would dismiss "coal", and then oil, as the motors of today's technology and the betterment of everybody; the issue here is not that we shouldn't help those employed by the coal industry, but we cannot, should not return, as demagogue Trump promised, to 'coal pollution' (bad for climate change) when there are cleaner alternatives (gas, for starters) out there. What the democratic party must do, to regain relevance, is demonstrate to the 'little guy/gal that it has their best interest in mind; not by clever propaganda nor bombastic harangue, but by dedicated 'ant's work' in the community at hand. The 'white folks' (really?) need to be satisfied they are being forgotten.
Dems have to stop talking about immigration like it is an unquestionable virtue, and start making a distinction between legal and illegal immigration and supportive only of measured and purposed legal immigration. 2016 is not 1900; the frontier closed in 1900. Now, foreseeably the press of immigrants is not going to lessen, and to yield to it means the political end for those politicians who do (Dems), whether out of nostalgic idealism or selling out to the needs of business for cheap labor.
Secondly: fair, progressive taxation and an end to military adventures to save or change regimes can make available plenty of revenue to create the thriving, comfortable society that we want.
Secondly: fair, progressive taxation and an end to military adventures to save or change regimes can make available plenty of revenue to create the thriving, comfortable society that we want.
15
1) In 2004, those with incomes under $30,000 voted Democratic by 20 points; in 2016, these voters voted Democratic by 12 points, a 40 percent decline.
-- You lost the youth vote. Allowing for differences in cost of living, even educated young adults were slow to break the $30,000 mark once 2008 hit. The uneducated fared even worse. They remember the catastrophe quite well. For those too young, there was as obvious an impression all the same.
2) Household incomes from $100,000 to $200,000 voted Republican in 2004 by 15 points. In 2016, they voted Republican by one point.
-- George W. Bush hallowed out the affluent middle-class through outsourcing and deficit spending. Tax cuts just didn't cut it. What upside there was didn't compensate for the quality of life change. They lost the uptick in 2008 anyway. They remember too.
3) Voters making more than $200,000 in 2004 voted Republican by 28 points; in 2016, they also voted Republican by 1 point.
-- Household incomes above $200,000 can mean a lot of things. Assuming the higher wealth suggested here, there's probably an element of "I got me mine" happening. It's much easier to turn philanthropist when your mortgage is paid and fears about college concern the kid rather than the cost.
-- You lost the youth vote. Allowing for differences in cost of living, even educated young adults were slow to break the $30,000 mark once 2008 hit. The uneducated fared even worse. They remember the catastrophe quite well. For those too young, there was as obvious an impression all the same.
2) Household incomes from $100,000 to $200,000 voted Republican in 2004 by 15 points. In 2016, they voted Republican by one point.
-- George W. Bush hallowed out the affluent middle-class through outsourcing and deficit spending. Tax cuts just didn't cut it. What upside there was didn't compensate for the quality of life change. They lost the uptick in 2008 anyway. They remember too.
3) Voters making more than $200,000 in 2004 voted Republican by 28 points; in 2016, they also voted Republican by 1 point.
-- Household incomes above $200,000 can mean a lot of things. Assuming the higher wealth suggested here, there's probably an element of "I got me mine" happening. It's much easier to turn philanthropist when your mortgage is paid and fears about college concern the kid rather than the cost.
1
Only 2 or 3 times (historians can't quite agree on the number) in 213 years did the electoral college system result in the popular candidate not winning the presidential election. It has now happened twice-- in just 16 years--both times to the winning democratic candidate. Parsing the demographics, annihilating HRC as the candidate, blaming Debbie Wassermann Schultz, emails or Benghazi-- cannot change these disturbing facts. What was once an anomaly is now a trend. This trend is what 100% of the energy of fair-minded Americans should be on. Disenfranchisement at this level cannot be ignored or excused. If it goes on, all the GOP will need to do to continue winning is toss in a little voter suppression, add a dash of FBI malfeasance, encourage a little foreign government engagement, and allow international hacking to go unchallenged-- and voila-- they will be able to rig most if not all presidential elections to support their minority viewpoints. That folks, is a recipe for disaster. Nothing is more important than fixing our voting system at every level-- with EC reform the most important change. I for one do not want my state-- the 6th largest economy in the world which is a net tax donor to all the poor sad/angry folks in Ohio or West Virginia-- to be completely marginalized. Twice has been too many times. Forever? No way.
3
The Democrats and Trump (it was not necessarily the GOP) made their choice of who to target in this election and Trump made a better choice given the composition of the electorate at this point.
As to all these comments about deplorables vs college educated voters, as a university professor I see no substantial difference. Surely college educated folks are much better groomed and presentable. But substance? American students are so poorly prepared in mathematics and critical thinking that some of these deplorables likely outsmart them in practical calculations any time of the day.
As to all these comments about deplorables vs college educated voters, as a university professor I see no substantial difference. Surely college educated folks are much better groomed and presentable. But substance? American students are so poorly prepared in mathematics and critical thinking that some of these deplorables likely outsmart them in practical calculations any time of the day.
5
It would appear that little has changed in America since the angry white supremacist Confederates lost the Civil War in 1865 or since Lyndon B. Johnson said this in 1964:
"If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."
The understandable problem and mystery for Democrats is this:
How do you communicate intelligently and reasonably with a Deplorable who essentially still thinks the way LBJ characterized them ?
Sure, one has to start by not calling them 'deplorable', but it's very trying to communicate with a White Lives Matter mindset when the historical record clearly shows Non-White Lives Don't Matter.
At least Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by 1.4 million votes.
The multi-colored majority is still Democratic in the endless fight against the right-wing, white supremacist tyranny of the minority.
Down with the Confederacy, America.
They remain on the wrong angry side of history, human decency and America.
"If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."
The understandable problem and mystery for Democrats is this:
How do you communicate intelligently and reasonably with a Deplorable who essentially still thinks the way LBJ characterized them ?
Sure, one has to start by not calling them 'deplorable', but it's very trying to communicate with a White Lives Matter mindset when the historical record clearly shows Non-White Lives Don't Matter.
At least Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by 1.4 million votes.
The multi-colored majority is still Democratic in the endless fight against the right-wing, white supremacist tyranny of the minority.
Down with the Confederacy, America.
They remain on the wrong angry side of history, human decency and America.
178
Reply to Socrates,
In his column today, http://tinyurl.com/j9av4oq, Nicholas Kristof wrote this:
"3. I WILL avoid demonizing people who don’t agree with me about this election, recognizing that it’s as wrong to stereotype Trump supporters as anybody else. I will avoid Hitler metaphors, recognizing that they stop conversations and rarely persuade. I’ll remind myself that no side has a monopoly on truth and that many Trump supporters are good people who want the best for the country. The left already has gotten into trouble for condescending to working-class people, and insulting all Trump supporters as racists simply magnifies that problem."
Good advice. Many Americans voted for Trump DESPITE his racist and misogynist remarks, not because of them. http://tinyurl.com/gu65rta Characterizing them all as racist is a form of bigotry. It casts you as a provocateur, stirring up hatred and division. You become part of the problem, not the solution.
In his column today, http://tinyurl.com/j9av4oq, Nicholas Kristof wrote this:
"3. I WILL avoid demonizing people who don’t agree with me about this election, recognizing that it’s as wrong to stereotype Trump supporters as anybody else. I will avoid Hitler metaphors, recognizing that they stop conversations and rarely persuade. I’ll remind myself that no side has a monopoly on truth and that many Trump supporters are good people who want the best for the country. The left already has gotten into trouble for condescending to working-class people, and insulting all Trump supporters as racists simply magnifies that problem."
Good advice. Many Americans voted for Trump DESPITE his racist and misogynist remarks, not because of them. http://tinyurl.com/gu65rta Characterizing them all as racist is a form of bigotry. It casts you as a provocateur, stirring up hatred and division. You become part of the problem, not the solution.
"Non-white lives don't matter"? Tally up the trillions and trillions of dollars provided by gov't to lift up non-white lives since the 60's, then take a drive through Ohio. See the progress we've made since LBJ. Many blacks are also becoming frustrated with gov't failure, especially Dem gov't failure, and are lining up with their white worker brothers for change. The understandable problem for Democrats is: how do we communicate with an electorate that has soundly rejected our idealism for a perceived buffoon. Recent comments from Sen Elizabeth Warren and Sen Sherrod Brown will give you an answer. They lost big time, they know it and they're scrambling.
"Sure, one has to start by not calling them 'deplorable'..."
I respectfully disagree with this portion of your comment. Bigots who believe in the superiority of the White race because of an accident of nature are deplorable people. (all men and women are not created equal) As you point out, reasoning with those who refuse to accept the deplorable nature of what they say and do will probably not happen.
I respectfully disagree with this portion of your comment. Bigots who believe in the superiority of the White race because of an accident of nature are deplorable people. (all men and women are not created equal) As you point out, reasoning with those who refuse to accept the deplorable nature of what they say and do will probably not happen.
2
The NYT only sees race and gender. Most of us are not so venal.
Shame on the NYT for constantly seeking to divide us.
Shame on the NYT for constantly seeking to divide us.
24
A big part of their influence comes from where they are located. Whole states of them were neglected, taken for granted by Hillary. Obama won them, Bill won them, so she assumed she'd win them.
Then she did not do the work to earn them that was done by Obama and Bill.
This at a time when their problems have continued to get worse, and they've been getting no effective help. This is in part a response to the Christmas Present of ending extended unemployment benefits on Dec 31, while over 10% were in U-6 unemployment in those states.
Trump told them wild lies he can't keep. Hillary just took them for granted, did not even go there. So what happened? It was closer than that deserves.
Then she did not do the work to earn them that was done by Obama and Bill.
This at a time when their problems have continued to get worse, and they've been getting no effective help. This is in part a response to the Christmas Present of ending extended unemployment benefits on Dec 31, while over 10% were in U-6 unemployment in those states.
Trump told them wild lies he can't keep. Hillary just took them for granted, did not even go there. So what happened? It was closer than that deserves.
9
When did Iowa and Wisconsin become part of the rust belt? Perhaps SE Wisconsin around Kenosha and Davenport IA, but these states are largely agricultural and very different from Detroit, Youngstown, Akron, etc. I have lived in IA and WI and now live in upstate New York, which is a rust belt area--Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Binghamton, Elmira......
6
I believe (& desperately hope) that Trump's inevitable betrayal of his constituents -as they lost supports such as ACA, Medicaid & Medicare- will show them that the Democrats are their better choice in 2018.
1
It seems Trump's real campaign slogan was " Make America White Again" -- and America was ok with that.
9
One-word solution: UNION!
2
We are the majority and we have made ourselves heard.
Libs kept pushing this anti-white agenda, vilifying us and finally got a real push back.
Like a bully who never expects retaliation.
Remember.
You brought this on yourselves, now own it.
Libs kept pushing this anti-white agenda, vilifying us and finally got a real push back.
Like a bully who never expects retaliation.
Remember.
You brought this on yourselves, now own it.
21
"Disaffected white voters without college degrees have been the driving force in all of them."
I never understand this phrase, as the Times peddles it constantly throughout its coverage with a negative connotation. Unfortunately, a majority of the country does not have a college degree and we have rural whites who have the same voting power as anyone who reads this paper. Same goes for African Americans who are lowly educated and vote D in droves.
I like to think of such corrections as a reminder to the Ivory Tower who really controls this country, and it is not snooty, educated types - because they're a minority. If you step on someone long enough, they tend to fight back and come out to vote. I find nothing wrong with someone who is not educated, wants a job and holds certain values.
Maybe we should try 'tolerance', the same tolerance which Republicans had when Obama won - no one protested or whined. Now we've triggered an entire generation of entitled snowflakes to the streets.
I never understand this phrase, as the Times peddles it constantly throughout its coverage with a negative connotation. Unfortunately, a majority of the country does not have a college degree and we have rural whites who have the same voting power as anyone who reads this paper. Same goes for African Americans who are lowly educated and vote D in droves.
I like to think of such corrections as a reminder to the Ivory Tower who really controls this country, and it is not snooty, educated types - because they're a minority. If you step on someone long enough, they tend to fight back and come out to vote. I find nothing wrong with someone who is not educated, wants a job and holds certain values.
Maybe we should try 'tolerance', the same tolerance which Republicans had when Obama won - no one protested or whined. Now we've triggered an entire generation of entitled snowflakes to the streets.
23
No! McConnell and others wanted to stop Obama's program, and gleefully joined in the "birther" lie, led by Trump!
1
Not a word about Bernie? He understood the pain of this silent white majority. It was not just college educated white Kids who were drawn to Bernie, their parents grandparents also resonated with bernie's vision. But democrat establishment folks would not give Bernie credit for running a campaign without big money influence and for repeatedly drawing huge huge crowds at rallies. The democrats sitting in DC barely looked at Bernie except as "this old guy did not get the memo that it's Hillary's turn in 2016!" And if you didn't fall in line with Hillary you were plain misogynists. Such ignorance.
12
Simple answer: They played a decisive role because the Electoral College is rigged in favor of small rural States. No other reason.
5
We should remember that President Obama won twice by appealing to this same group of less educated white voters and had successfully drawn a much higher percentage of votes. There is no doubt that tribalism and racism had played roles in the 2016 election; however, Trump and Breitbart values do not fully define this group unless Democrats give up and left this group to the influence of the GOP. It is important to realize that the interests of the under-privileged and the privileged are not as misaligned for Democrats as in the GOP world. Some of the richest Democratic supporters, including Warren Buffett, argue for increasing tax for the rich and increasing social safety net. The Democratic ideals of protecting the least advantage of the society can still attract a substantial fraction of these underprivileged white voters; Sanders, Warren, and Biden are still potent messengers that can move this group. In fact, Democrats wouldn't have lost this election if any of these three would have run. While Clinton meant well, she had compromised too many times and lacked the authenticity to appeal. Running Clinton instead of Sanders is a clear mistake in the hindsight. Today, our task is to convince this group, especially the young ones, that the future is not a zero sum game and we are stronger together, white and non-white, rich and poor. Democrats must envision a future where the social gap shrinks and everyone's life improves.
1
They got what they wanted. Let's see how it works out for them. Trickle down economics. Rich people get richer. No ACA, no Social Security no Medicare, and no disability. But you can always go to a rally and yell profanities.
10
Disability is safe. That would be Republican suicide. You'd be surprised how many people (particularly white) get on disability for something temporary and stay on for life, all while bad mouthing people "on welfare". For every "welfare queen" with a nice car, there's a guy on "disability" chopping wood and riding a motorcycle.
The Republicans have done a great job of convincing working and middle class people to vote against their own financial best interests. They have accomplished this by providing scapegoats in the form of blacks and immigrants. They have also claimed a bogus " moral high ground " and bogus issues of religious liberty. The Dems on the other hand have in fact ignored this group by seeming to focus solely on minority rights with little or no concern about jobs. Let's hope the Dems succeed in refocusing their efforts.
5
As long as the market determines education, we will always have an underbelly of ignoramuses to contend with. Our priorities are askew; education is a stepchild in our venal society. What sane, educated society produced a Trump presidency? We opened ourselves to a possible dictatorship. How smart are we? We cluck that college educated people make better choices and get better jobs, yet we keep education unaffordable to most of our citizens. Way to go, America.
12
We are in a period of transition where 'traditional jobs' are disappearing, and the promise of the benefits from a college education are not being fulfilled because of a reduction in the demand for human labor; all caused by a sudden payoff in 'intelligent machine productivity' that's rippling through world economies.
There are new jobs, but those jobs are also transient (relative to past career opportunities). This effect is compounded by advances in transportation and communications that have created a new virtual world of commerce that defies and transcends national boundaries.
Corporations the size of small countries have become the worlds 1st global citizens. They now provide the fabric for a web of virtual, 'proxy nations' specializing in commerce involving the production and marketing of a broad and growing array of goods and services.
The paradigm of human labor is changing as the value of labor competes with both the 'intelligent machines', and the worlds vast pool of low wage, educated talent. Societies/cultures with a 'strong work ethic' (from birth), and strong competition for 'being the best'; societies/cultures do not rest on their laurels are dominating the labor markets in high end jobs.........and country of origin has no relevance to their value to the companies that they serve.
We are not going to 'make America greater' by walling off talent or closing our markets to people who out think and out work us.
There are new jobs, but those jobs are also transient (relative to past career opportunities). This effect is compounded by advances in transportation and communications that have created a new virtual world of commerce that defies and transcends national boundaries.
Corporations the size of small countries have become the worlds 1st global citizens. They now provide the fabric for a web of virtual, 'proxy nations' specializing in commerce involving the production and marketing of a broad and growing array of goods and services.
The paradigm of human labor is changing as the value of labor competes with both the 'intelligent machines', and the worlds vast pool of low wage, educated talent. Societies/cultures with a 'strong work ethic' (from birth), and strong competition for 'being the best'; societies/cultures do not rest on their laurels are dominating the labor markets in high end jobs.........and country of origin has no relevance to their value to the companies that they serve.
We are not going to 'make America greater' by walling off talent or closing our markets to people who out think and out work us.
4
As a lifelong Democrat, I have little in common with white Christian working class males and have little interest in catering to them. It may be similar to the US on the eve of the Civil War: Northeners and Southeners had little in common with each other. Moreover, the Democrats are starting to remind me of the Whigs, a party whose fissures had been exposed by the 1850s. The Democrats may not be able to survive as constituted. Democrats from the coasts have little in common with West Virginia Dems, e.g. Harry Reid vs Joe Manchin. Things will change soon in any event. Georgia and Arizona may go blue soon and the margin of victory in Texas was closer than in 2012.
Oh, the times they are a changing!
Oh, the times they are a changing!
4
As a lifelong Democrat, I have little in common with white Christian working class males and have little interest in catering to them.
Hillary Clinton could not have put it any better herself.
Hillary Clinton could not have put it any better herself.
Economics and social groupings are interconnected in many ways. How an issue is presented can confuse the two. Echo chambers on the left lead to confusion. "Black lives matter" means "we all have accepted that white lives matter, but it is also important to note that black lives matter as much, we are all people." But that is not what some whites hear. They hear, "you whites are all privileged and many of you are racists, shame on you." So those whites react and vote for Trump. Stop shaming the poor whites and join with them in a real popular movement for dignity for all! It might take a lot of work -- changing the rhetoric, calling for meetings, finding the issues that really matter -- workplace (wage) fairness, health care for all, good housing, and excellent schools. Let the Dems and Republicans compete for leading this coalition.
12
Having lived through the 1960's in a midwestern city torn by riots, I wish to correct Mr. Edsall's recollection of events. It was a breakdown of law and order which ushered out Mr. Humphrey.
It's interesting to observe in the Times writing the overarching condescension towards white men who haven't attended college.
It's interesting to observe in the Times writing the overarching condescension towards white men who haven't attended college.
18
Yes, Trump won the white non-college educated majority, but the numbers in this article reveal that if he had only gotten those votes he would have lost. Trump won because people crossed party and ideological lines in the hopes that a drastic change in government leadership would lead to a drastic change in the conditions of their lives. In the aftermath of the election many people admitted to voting for Trump across the spectrum of these demographic charts and graphs. And other people (mostly Dems) admitted that they did not vote because they were disgusted by the choices. I can actually respect a person who voted for Trump, whatever their reason, more than someone not voting because they don't like the options and absolving themselves of their civic duty while the rest of us make the hard choices.
And just as far too much time was spent prior to the election demeaning and dismissing these voters, now the focus is on analyzing and over interpreting these same people in the hopes of finding a statistic that explains how President Trump happened. Well that's the problem. Rich or poor, black or white, educated or not, none of use live in charts and graphs. You want to understand people, talk to them about the things that matter, and stop reducing us to a numerical equation.
BTW, I'm black, female, educated, and middle class but I grew up poor in the South Bronx. I'm one of the not-so-silent minorities.
And just as far too much time was spent prior to the election demeaning and dismissing these voters, now the focus is on analyzing and over interpreting these same people in the hopes of finding a statistic that explains how President Trump happened. Well that's the problem. Rich or poor, black or white, educated or not, none of use live in charts and graphs. You want to understand people, talk to them about the things that matter, and stop reducing us to a numerical equation.
BTW, I'm black, female, educated, and middle class but I grew up poor in the South Bronx. I'm one of the not-so-silent minorities.
26
One thing many American men and women can agree on is that women must be kept in their place - barefoot, pregnant and either at home or bringing in the bacon. It's tradition.
3
It would seem that 54% of women would agree with you.
Edsall is surprised that white working-class people vote against Democrats but the reasons have been obvious to many people. Inequality has continued to increase during the Clinton and Obama administrations, and these administrations are seen as responsible for the trade deals which are rightly blamed for the loss of jobs. Democrats' policy of favoring immigration makes them the party to blame for undesirable economic and societal effects of illegal immigration. These are the things that were important in the rust belt, not Trump's somewhat more obvious black/white racism. If Democrats expect to win elections before whites are completely submerged in the population, they will have to rethink their economic approach. Working-class whites have been desperately searching for politicians who they think might be on their side; that they settled on Trump shows how badly Democrats are representing their economic aspirations.
39
Flat out wrong. The Clinton years were fantastic for a wide swath of Americans. GW (the first non-elected president i US history) destroyed the economy by invading countries with no funding; allowing foxes to guard the economic henhouse; and implementing ineffective tax cuts that grossly benefited the rich. And then ignored the bubbling and burbling which were the seeds of the Great Recession. Obama had to catch the baby, he did not give birth to it. Yes the recovery has been slow, yest Obama had flaws, but the GOP added lots of fuel to the slow burn, and di nothing to help the country improve. They know that, they have admitted it was their plan. Trump-- you have been had.
1
You neglected to mention the administrations from 2000-2008. I agree the Dem's campaign was not good. But good paying jobs for high school jobs are becoming more scarce all the time. Lest we forget how many of those rust belt states are now completely controlled by one party? Jobs are created mostly on the local and regional level so it's not always the President's fault.
The Times reported today that Democrats in Congress are hoping to align with Trump on major domestic policy initiatives in order to win back the white working class. I devoutly would like to see that happen, but I have to wonder if it's not too late, decades too late. http://tinyurl.com/jlga36g
For one thing, liberals would have to abandon their contempt of working-class whites, would have to stop patronizing them by asking why they vote against their own interests, would have to stop denouncing them as racists. I don’t think any of that is likely, because liberals enjoy their class hatred too much. It makes them feel smug and morally superior.
If things don’t break in the favor of working class whites under Trump, then I expect we will see the emergence of a militant third party, hostile to constitutional democracy, and driven by the use of violence to autocratic solutions for their problems.
For one thing, liberals would have to abandon their contempt of working-class whites, would have to stop patronizing them by asking why they vote against their own interests, would have to stop denouncing them as racists. I don’t think any of that is likely, because liberals enjoy their class hatred too much. It makes them feel smug and morally superior.
If things don’t break in the favor of working class whites under Trump, then I expect we will see the emergence of a militant third party, hostile to constitutional democracy, and driven by the use of violence to autocratic solutions for their problems.
28
Do you also believe that the Right needs to abandon their contempt for: women who work outside the home, blacks, Latinos, Asian-Americans and LGBT people? Do you believe people who espouse obviously racist views—like calling Michelle Obama an "ape in heels"—should be denounced? It seems that both sides need to do better.
But here is the rub, and the reason why this whole dynamic is not easily dismantled: working class whites, as a group, do actually vote against their own interests and the are, in fact, often racist. Pretending something otherwise is not helpful.
Ronald Reagan, who was beloved by this voting sector, launched his presidency with twin symbolic gestures: speaking in Philadelphia, MS, site of a racist atrocity, and busting PATCO, the union for air traffic controllers. Against this paragon of the common man, Mondale - who was actually for working people and not by any means a patronizing bicoastal elitist - had no chance.
Ronald Reagan, who was beloved by this voting sector, launched his presidency with twin symbolic gestures: speaking in Philadelphia, MS, site of a racist atrocity, and busting PATCO, the union for air traffic controllers. Against this paragon of the common man, Mondale - who was actually for working people and not by any means a patronizing bicoastal elitist - had no chance.
Go look at the results, Passing Shot. One in every 5 Jewish Americans, 2 in every 5 women, 29% of Asians, and 29% of Latinos voted for Trump. The Democrats gave up the working class and supported identified groups of people. Yet, a pretty surprising number of immigrants and minorities voted for Trump. Maybe the Muslim American couldn't vote for a woman. Maybe the Latino Catholic couldn't vote for a pro-choice candidate.
1
It looks to me like these white men are doing some recruiting. A surprising number of black and Hispanic men voted for Trump.
Why is this? Well, if they are in the same economic situation, there interests are similar. They would like better jobs, and they don't see the Democrats as helpful to factory workers and tradesmen. They are not wildly keen on saving the planet, gay marriage, or feminism either. In fact, bluie-collar black and Hispanic men are more likely to be sexist and macho than white men in general.
Affirmative action is pretty much a dead issue in the blue-collar world. Blue-collar working men are much more likely to feel solidarity with each other, and be hostile towards affluent professionals and government officials.
Why is this? Well, if they are in the same economic situation, there interests are similar. They would like better jobs, and they don't see the Democrats as helpful to factory workers and tradesmen. They are not wildly keen on saving the planet, gay marriage, or feminism either. In fact, bluie-collar black and Hispanic men are more likely to be sexist and macho than white men in general.
Affirmative action is pretty much a dead issue in the blue-collar world. Blue-collar working men are much more likely to feel solidarity with each other, and be hostile towards affluent professionals and government officials.
41
It was Romney and Bain Corp among others who made fortunes exporting factories to China and all of Trump's products are imported. Even his steaks come from Canada!
54
@Jonathan
You write, "It looks to me like these white men are doing some recruiting. A surprising number of black and Hispanic men voted for Trump." And you ask, "Why is this?"
I think your own answer to that question is spot on. The folks in the real world, which exists outside progressive bubble, see a common enemy in the left, which in their view persists in tilting at windmills while real problems not only remain unsolved but are generally ignored...
You write, "It looks to me like these white men are doing some recruiting. A surprising number of black and Hispanic men voted for Trump." And you ask, "Why is this?"
I think your own answer to that question is spot on. The folks in the real world, which exists outside progressive bubble, see a common enemy in the left, which in their view persists in tilting at windmills while real problems not only remain unsolved but are generally ignored...
"The CRG study was equally brutal. 'These voters have a whole set of middle-class economic problems today, and their party is not helping them. Instead it is helping blacks, Hispanics and the poor. They feel betrayed.'
Neither party has adequately addressed the loss of jobs, unions, and protections that kept the working class employed. America today is a land of "shareholders"--mega corporations dictate trade and employment levels, following their noses to reap the most profits even it means using inversions and offsharing as a means to evade taxes.
The biggest unknown quantity resides in the Trump idea to dramatically lower corporate tax rates in an effort to lure business back home. Will that work, or will companies do what they have been used to doing for the past two decades--reward shareholders and themselves, content to keep production overseas due to labor costs.
My instinct says the workers who believe Trump is going to 1) bring their jobs back and 2) reverse societal trends that have them believing minorities and immigrants are cheating them out of a rosy future may be very disappointed.
The GOP agenda dovetails with Trump's in too many areas that affect the worker class: tax reform with the largest cuts accruing to the already wealthy; a huge increase in the deficit, making Paul Ryan even more eager to privatize Medicare and Social Security and 3) no increase in the minimum wage, which Trump never supported and the GOP Congress most assuredly does not.
Neither party has adequately addressed the loss of jobs, unions, and protections that kept the working class employed. America today is a land of "shareholders"--mega corporations dictate trade and employment levels, following their noses to reap the most profits even it means using inversions and offsharing as a means to evade taxes.
The biggest unknown quantity resides in the Trump idea to dramatically lower corporate tax rates in an effort to lure business back home. Will that work, or will companies do what they have been used to doing for the past two decades--reward shareholders and themselves, content to keep production overseas due to labor costs.
My instinct says the workers who believe Trump is going to 1) bring their jobs back and 2) reverse societal trends that have them believing minorities and immigrants are cheating them out of a rosy future may be very disappointed.
The GOP agenda dovetails with Trump's in too many areas that affect the worker class: tax reform with the largest cuts accruing to the already wealthy; a huge increase in the deficit, making Paul Ryan even more eager to privatize Medicare and Social Security and 3) no increase in the minimum wage, which Trump never supported and the GOP Congress most assuredly does not.
49
Agreed. The Republican party has also worked to usurp unions' bargaining power (e.g., Scott Walker). Mitt Romney, in his run for President, belied how out of touch he was with the working class.
Christine, You are so right. And what has Trump said in the last few days other than that his transition is going beautifully? He told his fellow diners at the 21 Club that they would soon be getting that big tax cut he promised!
And then he has the corrupt white supremacist in the WH as his closest advisor to pull the wool over the eyes of his base to make them believe he's looking out for them, or actually to just keep whipping up the white supremacy meme and blaming immigrants and Muslims for their problems. It's all a con job and it was never about helping anybody. It's all about whipping up hatred and resentment for Drumpf to increase his brand, enrich himself, and feed his pathological narcissism.
They won't be the majority for long, that's why they voted for Trump. Last gasp.
4
klm:
Hope you are not already gasping. The majority will hold for the lives of these voters.
Hope you are not already gasping. The majority will hold for the lives of these voters.
2
Not true. Whites will always be the majority because "white" will always be redefined to ensure that,. ijn 1860, "White" did not include Irish and other catholics. Now it does. It's just a question of time until it includes most of the people now called "Latino" or "Asian." And if that's not good enough, it will eventually include "black." They are already "of color" (not to be confused with "colored") and it's just a question of time until they are a "darker shade of white." In this country, not having a brain gets you a college diploma. See Wizard of Oz. Being a "darker shade of white" is not even that heavy a lift.
2
To quote Nigel Farage, "who's laughing now"? Trump's strategy to ignore voters of color worked like a charm. Since voters of color support such groups like illegal aliens and Black Lies Matter Trump knew that it was better to concentrate his resources on getting out the White vote and voila, it worked.
5
Angry. Ignorant. Intolerant.
Bad combination to be on - fry your brain. For the rest of us we have to endure what that combo causes to society. That toll is far higher than we know.
Bad combination to be on - fry your brain. For the rest of us we have to endure what that combo causes to society. That toll is far higher than we know.
5
mogwai:
Consider that comments such as yours are what cost your candidate the election. Ask yourself whose brain is fried?
Consider that comments such as yours are what cost your candidate the election. Ask yourself whose brain is fried?
3
The overall white share of the electorate is growing, not shrinking. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States was 77.1 percent white in 2015, up from 72.4 percent in 2010. The Census Bureau projects the United States will continue to grow whiter as long as current immigration trends continue.
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/00
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/00
9
You need to look at the "White Alone" category further down in the census totals, which shows the white population declining. The figures you cite include Hispanics, whose population is growing and replacing non-Hispanic whites.
That "last gasp" has been heard for a while now.
1
Exactly. The NY Times however, as well as many other media outlets, have invested very heavily in a very specific "demographics is destiny" narrative that has proven to be false.
3
The Democratic party has become the party of racial divisiveness.It has purposely stoked racial animosity to motivate more Black Americans to vote.
This has severely damage the country and incited what Edsall terms "tribalism".
When Chief Justice Roberts wrote in a decision that" the way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race", many Democrats nonsensically labelled his opinion as "racist".
The goal should be to unite Americans not divide them by "tribes" based on race,religion, gender, and sexual orientation.
This has severely damage the country and incited what Edsall terms "tribalism".
When Chief Justice Roberts wrote in a decision that" the way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race", many Democrats nonsensically labelled his opinion as "racist".
The goal should be to unite Americans not divide them by "tribes" based on race,religion, gender, and sexual orientation.
42
And white academia, with their white privilege, social justice, safe spaces, and trigger warnings have created a white ethnic group. Surprising.
Let's stop focusing solely on race. Google Ste Kinney-Fields' electoral map projections. If only whites voted, All 6 New England states plus New York on the east coast, and the west coast states of California, Oregon and Washington, plus Hawaii, would have gone to Hillary. Kinney-Fields also had Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa going blue, but the projection was done on October 23 and relied on polls of Wisconsin and Iowa white voters that were clearly wrong. The rest of the country went red in a whites only election. So if you want to predict how a white person will vote, the obvious first question is: "Where do you live?" Lumping all white voters together masks the critical fact that we live in 2 different countries, red and blue, that hold vastly divergent views on how best to live our lives.
12
If you say that the white Republican coalition of the undereducated has remained strong, well, that's no endorsement at all. No wonder they vote against their own self-interests. They're not stupid, they've just been kept ignorant. Republican goal met!
12
When Obama won a majority of uneducated voters (while Romney, the majority) few were claiming theirs was "no endorsement." When the uneducated vote for a republican, they are suddenly ignoramuses.
3
We all know who the republican party represents and why. The question was voter turnout after two terms of a democratic president and a hyped up republican base. Given those dynamics Trump won by razors edge with help from the FBI and the Russians , which all of these analysis of the Dems lost seem to suddenly to have forgotten. If these folks think a republican elite who sleeps in gold plated tower will do anything for them, they are in for a predictable surprise.
32
You geniuses were so correct in pre election predictions that you expect me to believe you now?! Ha! The Donald was elected because we were fed up with the policians who have lied to us since 1776, which includes just about all of them. So when Mit comes along and says "don't vote for Donald " he is really procuring more votes for him because the people are saying " He may be bad but at least he's up front about it but it's more than we can say for you, Mit" . It's not rocket science. Quit obsessing about the trees and maybe you'll be able to see the forest.
24
Oh, so you voted for Trump because he'sso honest... Are you interested in this nice bridge I have to sell you?
1
The media and the democrats obsession with race and ethnicity have pushed whites to form their own racial/ethnic interest group. The balkanization of the U.S. is no longer theoretical.
71
If we are balkanized, maybe we need to do what the unstable Yugoslavia did -- break itself up into Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo. The U.S. no longer works as a unified nation. We need to break ourselves up into smaller, more unified countries. We in New York City do not want to be in a nation with people in Oklahoma and Kansas, and they do not want to be in a nation with us.
We should not have to have a bloody civil war to separate peacefully into our separate, smaller nations. Let's start a movement to break up the United States, which has served its purpose and outlived its usefulness.
We should not have to have a bloody civil war to separate peacefully into our separate, smaller nations. Let's start a movement to break up the United States, which has served its purpose and outlived its usefulness.
I'm looking for a job. Every application I fill out asks my race, whether I'm Hispanic, whether I'm a veteran or disabled. Nope. I am a US citizen, that is my special interest group, since they don't ask if you're female or old. I'm educated, but those resume dates just indicate how old I am. After two masters degrees, how much retraining should I be indulging in? Of what kind? Nice to have these questions in my face every time. Hope they help these slice and dice folks get jobs, but I doubt it.
1
Wrong. I am white and voted for Clinton as I always for for the democratic party. I identify as an American, not as a white lady. Millions of white people voted for HRC. She won the election, with a majority of votes of all ethnic groups.
Great analysis, Mr. Edsall.
Poor and middle class whites have been the scorned and ridiculed by liberals in this country for decades now, starting with Bill Clinton and his DLC democrats, choosing to stand with their rich friends and mock them as backwards and "racist".
I am glad these people have finally had their say against this established position, even if it resulted in President Trump.
If Bernie Saunders was hadn't been sabotaged by the establishment he would have walked the election.
Hopefully poor and working class people of all tribes, ethnicities, races, etc. will seize the moment to stand up together against the ruling class.
Poor and middle class whites have been the scorned and ridiculed by liberals in this country for decades now, starting with Bill Clinton and his DLC democrats, choosing to stand with their rich friends and mock them as backwards and "racist".
I am glad these people have finally had their say against this established position, even if it resulted in President Trump.
If Bernie Saunders was hadn't been sabotaged by the establishment he would have walked the election.
Hopefully poor and working class people of all tribes, ethnicities, races, etc. will seize the moment to stand up together against the ruling class.
62
Reply to Chris,
If you think Sanders could have won this election, you haven’t been paying attention. As Edsall shows, the vote for Trump was a vote against liberal Democrats—of whatever stripe. It was also a vote against constitutional democracy, and for an autocratic solution to job loss and related problems. If you think these people would have voted for a socialist Jew from Brooklyn, affecting the look and rumpled suits of a hippy academic, then you have your head in the sand.
If you think Sanders could have won this election, you haven’t been paying attention. As Edsall shows, the vote for Trump was a vote against liberal Democrats—of whatever stripe. It was also a vote against constitutional democracy, and for an autocratic solution to job loss and related problems. If you think these people would have voted for a socialist Jew from Brooklyn, affecting the look and rumpled suits of a hippy academic, then you have your head in the sand.
12
it was the republicans thats sold the whites starting with nixon in the opening up of china and your cooperation that ship jobs overseas. you want someone to blame look in the mirror when Trump sells your mandate for a few pieces of silver.
Bernie Sanders was not sabotaged by the establishment, he was "sabotaged" by the voters who didn't buy his fantasy platform. Voters saw through this demagogue and said NO. However, thanks in part to him and his faithful, we now have Trump.
1
I wonder if somewhere in this someone could a) tell us how many of these voters are actually part of white supremacist movements and how many turned a blind eye to vote to that aspect of their candidate in the hopes for change and b) what the odds are that voter turnout and choices had something to do with the fact that we had the first woman candidate running for the presidency....following 8 years of our first African American president.
5
The result of this election was predictable to anyone that looked in the right places. One of those places was air time comandeered by any and all means. Trump dominated the press and the air waves by deliberately doing whatever had to done to spike ratings. Billions in fee advertising.
Then there was that "change" thing. You could see this coming in the primary maps. The voting between Clinton and Sanders was clearly delineated along the Mason Dixon line. With the exception of a few urban areas the north went to Sanders and the South to Clinton.
The professionals ignored the meaning and the message of that fact. A lot of Sanders supporters could see this coming. They screamed it. But it's hard to be heard in an echo chamber that is rigged for a coronation.
http://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/national-results-map
Then there was that "change" thing. You could see this coming in the primary maps. The voting between Clinton and Sanders was clearly delineated along the Mason Dixon line. With the exception of a few urban areas the north went to Sanders and the South to Clinton.
The professionals ignored the meaning and the message of that fact. A lot of Sanders supporters could see this coming. They screamed it. But it's hard to be heard in an echo chamber that is rigged for a coronation.
http://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/national-results-map
94
California buried Bernie Sanders in the primary. The Mason Dixon line had nothing to do with us. Even very progressive San Francisco rejected Sanders decisively. Sanders was pandering to people's frustrations. He could never have delivered on his platform of idealistic progressive talking points. We share those ideals but rejected Sanders as the person to get us there. His one big accomplishment though was to help elect Donald Trump.
"Bacon's Rebellion demonstrated that poor whites and poor blacks could be united in a cause. This was a great fear of the ruling class -- what would prevent the poor from uniting to fight them? This fear hastened the transition to racial slavery."
That transition to slavery was enabled by the acquiescence of "poor whites" who for a few pennies more and a promise that "at least you are not black" superiority. It was that same belief in superiority of "poor whites" that gave the Confederacy an army manned by 90% non-slave holding poor whites. Today's poor white racists are joined by "technically educated" college graduates who muster their courage by identifying the confederate battle flag as a symbol of "the fabulous accomplishments of our country,”. Failure to recognize that the Confederates were traitors who fought against our country, that their flag was always displayed at lynchings, and by white supremacists is a profound educational corruption and a persistent blight on the mass media. Revisionism of the history of slavery, the Confederate rebellion, and racism has empowered Republican since 1964. The wealth beaten from the Black slaves has never been acknowledged.
As long as whites can consider their plight as still superior to that of their Black co-workers, they will be suckered into voting against their own best interests.
Black, Hispanic, Muslim, and all women will fall victim to opportunists until white male workers recognize their common cause.
That transition to slavery was enabled by the acquiescence of "poor whites" who for a few pennies more and a promise that "at least you are not black" superiority. It was that same belief in superiority of "poor whites" that gave the Confederacy an army manned by 90% non-slave holding poor whites. Today's poor white racists are joined by "technically educated" college graduates who muster their courage by identifying the confederate battle flag as a symbol of "the fabulous accomplishments of our country,”. Failure to recognize that the Confederates were traitors who fought against our country, that their flag was always displayed at lynchings, and by white supremacists is a profound educational corruption and a persistent blight on the mass media. Revisionism of the history of slavery, the Confederate rebellion, and racism has empowered Republican since 1964. The wealth beaten from the Black slaves has never been acknowledged.
As long as whites can consider their plight as still superior to that of their Black co-workers, they will be suckered into voting against their own best interests.
Black, Hispanic, Muslim, and all women will fall victim to opportunists until white male workers recognize their common cause.
54
the other fact regarding bacon's rebellion is that both sides black and white were both indentured in one form or another. the white person's time of servitude had a finite end, not so much for the black person. the democratic party will prevail in the long run, but the white power structure will rule government for decades till the supreme court justices are all replaced. will not happen in my lifetime however it will happen. time cleanses everything.
A sadly typical example of a Yankees almost willful determination to misunderstand the origins and mindset of the Confederacy. Most of the poor whites you see as being duped (in the same manner, I suppose, that young men are duped into dying for the old in all wars) into fighting would not have given a care about slavery or Africans. There were as many individual reasons to be involved as there were soldiers, but mostly they showed up to fight because the Yankees were coming to their land to push them around, not the other way around. Doesn't matter how right or wrong you may judge my actions to be, if you force your way onto my land or into my house I will fight you until I win or cannot fight anymore. And I will resent you for it forever after. It's been very sad to see this type of arrogant misunderstanding of the facts on the ground lead directly to the dangers we all now face. Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.
So therefore racial 'wedge' issues are pummeled at us daily by the media, including the NYT. Separated we are weakened, united we are strong.
The political agenda has strongly been in the separation camp.
If the lower classes stopped fighting amongst themselves, paused long enough and looked up at the ruling class, things may quickly get very uncomfortable for the smug, moneyed class.
This is and always has been the feudal agenda.
Keep the peons distracted and fighting over the scraps.
The political agenda has strongly been in the separation camp.
If the lower classes stopped fighting amongst themselves, paused long enough and looked up at the ruling class, things may quickly get very uncomfortable for the smug, moneyed class.
This is and always has been the feudal agenda.
Keep the peons distracted and fighting over the scraps.
2
The Republican party has a much easier job than the Democrats. All the Republicans have to do is show its base that the population is becoming more brown, foreign sounding and culturally diverse. That's enough to capture a large enough percentage of white voters to keep the GOP in control in the Deep South and much of the Midwest and Mountain states.
The Democratic party, on the other hand, has to show its base that it is progressive and diverse enough to capture the West Coast and Northeast, but not SO progressive and diverse that it scares off moderate white voters in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin.
It's an uphill battle for the Dems, especially in terms of trying to win back Congress. But the presidential race is pretty much a toss-up every four years. Since 1960, the Dems have won 7 presidential races and the GOP has won 8. If you count only the popular vote, the Dems have a 9-6 edge.
The one constant is that progress always win.
The Democratic party, on the other hand, has to show its base that it is progressive and diverse enough to capture the West Coast and Northeast, but not SO progressive and diverse that it scares off moderate white voters in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin.
It's an uphill battle for the Dems, especially in terms of trying to win back Congress. But the presidential race is pretty much a toss-up every four years. Since 1960, the Dems have won 7 presidential races and the GOP has won 8. If you count only the popular vote, the Dems have a 9-6 edge.
The one constant is that progress always win.
17
Go look at the stats, friend. This guy called Mexicans rapists and called for the need stop Muslim immigration. YET, nearly one-third of each group (Latinos and Asians) voted for him. Are you kidding me? Seriously? Frankly, I'm one ticked-off white liberal due to such a high number of votes for him by these two groups of minorities. I might hold back on my support. Maybe a Catholic Latina just can't vote for a pro-choice candidate. Maybe a Muslim man just can't vote for a woman. Broaden your perspective. He won with a plurality of votes
1
The sad story is, the folks living in the states with the most dire economic straits are represented by Republicans who refused to work with President Obama. Go figure.
7
The Democrats are the party of the illegal immigrant, at the expense of the American worker and taxpayer.
This is why, under the Obama years, the Democrat Party has been decimated. They have only 5 statehouses. They have 15 governors. They have no national bench, to the point where they pine for Michele Obama in 2020.
This is why, under the Obama years, the Democrat Party has been decimated. They have only 5 statehouses. They have 15 governors. They have no national bench, to the point where they pine for Michele Obama in 2020.
13
If the RNC and DNC keep nominating family members of once popular elected officials, it will demonstrate a profound ignorance of the kind of insider, rehashed, politics that is turning off voters by the millions.
1
I guess you missed the part where Obama deported more illegal immigrants than any other president. And your precious Republican party has done more to encourage and protect illegal immigration and decrease taxes only for the top earners than the Democrats. Keep dreaming.
2
Passing: I see you like to have "fun with numbers". Obama is the first president to call "turning caught illegals away at the border" a deportation. It's not. It's a big lie.
1
There there were actually many educated and affluent people who voted for Donald Trump
18
You can't write an analysis on data alone. Talk to middle class workers who were replaced by H -1b workers. Ask them about President Obama's stubborn refusal to address the transfer of middle class jobs overseas through the use of the visa program. Talk to the middle class couple, late 50s, who buy their own insurance and aren't eligible for subsidies. Ask them how they can afford $1500 a month in premiums. The Democrats offered these people nothing. The Republicans may do the same. it's rotten all around.
47
The President does not determine the number of H1b workers, it is Congress. Write your Senator and Representative and/or tell your country club or your yard maintenance company to stop importing workers!
2
Mr. Edsall: I am sick and tired of the label "whites without college degrees". In most cases this so called class of people are very good hard working Americans. In most cases they never had the opportunity like you to even contemplate going to college. Maybe they didn't even want to go to college and chose to be a carpenter or a plumber. Why do you look down upon that thought process?
Let me simplify this election for you and I don't simply write about this, I actually do this for a living. 1) Hillary was a very poor candidate and her only strong base was the elite and the folks on the hard left 2) Trump took the time to talk to everyone and found a large segment of the population that under represented which no different than the under represented African American population had came out in record numbers to vote for Obama. Its that simple.
Let me simplify this election for you and I don't simply write about this, I actually do this for a living. 1) Hillary was a very poor candidate and her only strong base was the elite and the folks on the hard left 2) Trump took the time to talk to everyone and found a large segment of the population that under represented which no different than the under represented African American population had came out in record numbers to vote for Obama. Its that simple.
22
I agree!!!! Having a college degree doesn't indicate that someone is more intelligent (neither does more money!). It is disrespectful and actually shows a lack of deep thought and openness towards others, something we sorely need in today's society.
3
As a New Yorker, I'm always amused by democrats who look down upon uneducated voters. Plenty of democratic constituency groups in New York are made up of this very demographic. Wouldn't think to look down upon them here any more than I would anywhere else. Where would democrats be without them?
5
Brilliant strategy by the GOP: Bust the unions of these uneducated workers (starting with Reagan) and drive them to desperation. We all know what desperate people do, they lash out. In their desperation, and because they are uneducated and a new generation, they don't know that the GOP put them there by taking away decent pay and full benefits. The GOP then convinces them that they will benefit from GOP policies, but because they are uneducated, they don't read the policies and don't know that this is a lie. Big corporations, and small ones, get cheap workers for a few more years and the desperation grows.
7
Republicans didn't win. Trump did. He won the votes of the working class.
As I explained 16 years ago during the Florida recount after the 2000 election, the reason George W. Bush was desperately hoping to win the Electoral College 271–267 was not that he had lost the nonwhite vote 77–21, but that he had won the white vote merely 54–42.
If Bush had earned 57 percent of whites, he would have captured the Electoral College 371–167.
But what if adding three more points among whites had cost Bush, say, eight points among nonwhites? Bush still would have won 310–228.
I asked in 2000:
"So where could Bush have picked up an additional 3 percent of the white vote? The most obvious source: white union families."
How?
"Immigration should be the perfect issue for the GOP to use to split the rank and file from their Democratic bosses. Since union efforts cost Bush Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin (at a minimum), you’d think that the GOP would be hot to win back the Reagan Democrats. Don’t count on it, though. It’s just so much more fashionable to continue to chase futilely after Hispanics."
But my arithmetic was terribly out of fashion in the GOP for most of the 21st century. After all, working-class Americans in the North were the traditional enemy. It was much more appealing to Republican strategists to fantasize about bribing Latino newcomers by letting in more of their relatives than to work out a modus vivendi among white-collar and blue-collar Americans.
http://takimag.com/article/the_sailer_strategy_steve_sailer/print#ixzz4Q...
If Bush had earned 57 percent of whites, he would have captured the Electoral College 371–167.
But what if adding three more points among whites had cost Bush, say, eight points among nonwhites? Bush still would have won 310–228.
I asked in 2000:
"So where could Bush have picked up an additional 3 percent of the white vote? The most obvious source: white union families."
How?
"Immigration should be the perfect issue for the GOP to use to split the rank and file from their Democratic bosses. Since union efforts cost Bush Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin (at a minimum), you’d think that the GOP would be hot to win back the Reagan Democrats. Don’t count on it, though. It’s just so much more fashionable to continue to chase futilely after Hispanics."
But my arithmetic was terribly out of fashion in the GOP for most of the 21st century. After all, working-class Americans in the North were the traditional enemy. It was much more appealing to Republican strategists to fantasize about bribing Latino newcomers by letting in more of their relatives than to work out a modus vivendi among white-collar and blue-collar Americans.
http://takimag.com/article/the_sailer_strategy_steve_sailer/print#ixzz4Q...
2
This is going to get worse. There are no jobs for the uneducated, and none are coming. Let's intern all the Muslims, every single one of them. Let's make abortion illegal. Let's bring back Jim Crow. Let's cut federal taxes to zero. Let's throw up trade barriers to the rest of the world. Will that somehow give the white working class Trump voter 21st century job skills?
17
Maybe Muslims are conservative, and just can't bring themselves to vote for a woman. Maybe Latino Catholics are pro-life, and just can't vote for a pro-choice candidate. I can't believe Trump won, but he did, and a lot of the votes for him came from minorities. Democrats must stop with the identity politics. It didn't work.
The "working class" isn't just white and calling Trump voters working class misses the point that a lot of them are older, retired and reasonably prosperous. It may be hard to accept that they were motivated by the appeals to racism and the other "deplorables," but, based on the Trump supporters I know, I think that was definitely part of it.
People do things for a lot of different reasons and it's a mistake to generalize too broadly. Some people believed Clinton was going to take away their guns. Others hated Clinton for a lot of different reasons going back to the cookie days. Some had always voted Republican and just couldn't bring themselves to change. And don't forget the role of the media, both mainstream and alt-right. When you put it all together, you end up with a candidate who won razor-thin margins in swing states and who lost the popular vote.
People do things for a lot of different reasons and it's a mistake to generalize too broadly. Some people believed Clinton was going to take away their guns. Others hated Clinton for a lot of different reasons going back to the cookie days. Some had always voted Republican and just couldn't bring themselves to change. And don't forget the role of the media, both mainstream and alt-right. When you put it all together, you end up with a candidate who won razor-thin margins in swing states and who lost the popular vote.
15
The Democrats keep waiting for that demographic wave of Latinos to bring them to power. They have a nasty surprise coming with that because Latinos are a socially conservative lot. When they get a little more prosperity under their belts they will not be voting for the party whose main agenda item is to push for Transgender bathrooms. That's how the Dems are viewed now.
57
Nonsense... such lazy thinking .
I fear any analysis of this last election that fails to take into account the impact Democratic voter suppression through Voter ID laws, caging and gerrymandering will be doomed. As of today Mrs. Clinton has 1,000,000 more votes than Mr. Trump and the Democrats in Congress represent more people than the Republicans.
9
Have you thought of a media life?
Focusing on actually important data, developments and events, seems to completely elude those who have selected the media life.
Focusing on actually important data, developments and events, seems to completely elude those who have selected the media life.
1
So whites resent the "special status" of minorities. And that resentment in strong in lily-white counties where it's hard to find a minority.
Chalk up another win for the conservative disinformation machine.
Chalk up another win for the conservative disinformation machine.
15
Even people from lily-white counties must confront quotas and preferences when they try for college admission or public sector jobs. I'm sure they notice.
These quotas and preferences have historical justification, but they will still grate on today's young who weren't participants in the historic discrimination. Making people pay for the sins of their fathers unto the third generation does not promote social harmony.
These quotas and preferences have historical justification, but they will still grate on today's young who weren't participants in the historic discrimination. Making people pay for the sins of their fathers unto the third generation does not promote social harmony.
Trump won despite carrying an enormous amount of baggage. A better Trump -- a European style nationalist populist who was thoughtful and articulate and scandal free -- would have appealed to many educated whites in addition to the white working class, and would have utterly crushed Hillary.
If the Republicans have any sense they will realize that this is their future. The Democrats have securely bought the loyalty of minority groups with the promise of open-ended racial preferences, so to survive the Republicans will have to become the White Party, just as the Democrats are now the Black Party.
If liberals don't like this, well maybe they shouldn't have been so enthusiastic about promoting identity politics, and worked to unite the country when they had the chance.
If the Republicans have any sense they will realize that this is their future. The Democrats have securely bought the loyalty of minority groups with the promise of open-ended racial preferences, so to survive the Republicans will have to become the White Party, just as the Democrats are now the Black Party.
If liberals don't like this, well maybe they shouldn't have been so enthusiastic about promoting identity politics, and worked to unite the country when they had the chance.
26
I'm so glad to finally see someone call the Democratic Party the "Black Party." What you left out is also the LBGT party, the Jewish party, the women party, the Latino party et al. In other words, the Democratic Party is the party of the people you don't like. And comparing how a minority votes to how a majority votes reveals an ignorance of how political power works in this country.
2
Some focus on the early 1990s as a time of increasing division is noted in numerous recent essays, including this one with cartographic focus: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/11/04/us/politics/growing-divide... .
Could anyone conceive a modern equivalent of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address for our underlying divisions? He was fighting a conventional war. This is not a conventional war: we are locked in a chronic, bitter struggle. There is no cure: we are living with a chronic illness of the sort where the body appears to attack itself. Can we (at least partially) remit without a major external threat that causes national chaos? Does it take a 9/11 to get us to cooperate?
I shudder to think what political battles loom for 2020, a time when major geopolitical redistricting will be on the table. That activity has been called "the nastiest form of politics there is": http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/10/the-league-of/309084/ .
Could anyone conceive a modern equivalent of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address for our underlying divisions? He was fighting a conventional war. This is not a conventional war: we are locked in a chronic, bitter struggle. There is no cure: we are living with a chronic illness of the sort where the body appears to attack itself. Can we (at least partially) remit without a major external threat that causes national chaos? Does it take a 9/11 to get us to cooperate?
I shudder to think what political battles loom for 2020, a time when major geopolitical redistricting will be on the table. That activity has been called "the nastiest form of politics there is": http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/10/the-league-of/309084/ .
Let's look at this revisionist history another way--in 1968 the Democratic party was a shambles.The growing unpopularity of the Viet Nam war and an insurgent primary campaign of Eugene McCartney forced Lyndon Johnson to go on TV and announce that he would not seek or accept his party's nomination for president. Robert Kennedy, the Democrats last best hope for the presidency, was assassinated in June 1968. Riots that exploded all over Chicago ruined what should have been a moment of triumph for Hubert Humphrey as he accepted the Democratic presidential nomination against Richard Nixon. Needless to say, Middle America was not too thrilled by the chaos that invaded their living rooms on TV every night. Middle America wanted law and order which Richard Nixon promised to deliver. That's why Nixon won in the end.
13
Nixon also promised to end the war that the Democrats (Kennedy and Johnson) had started.
3
Stop blaming poor uneducated whites.
Wasn't it only 51% of college educated white women who voted for Hillary?
That is both shocking and horrifying (and to me, inexplicable).
That tells us more about our country than any pasting of poor uneducated whites.
Wasn't it only 51% of college educated white women who voted for Hillary?
That is both shocking and horrifying (and to me, inexplicable).
That tells us more about our country than any pasting of poor uneducated whites.
94
When you say, "poor uneducated whites" are you referring to poor uneducated white men? Is "men" the default status in your thought process? Just checking.
1
This is so frustrating because Democrats do fight for the working man. Democrats do want to raise the minimum wage. They do want to help working people with healthcare and education costs, and redistribute income from executives getting paid 300 times a worker's salary. They do want to pass laws that favor workers. It's Republicans who obstruct Democrats from passing these laws. These voters are being mislead by the party that pushes trickle down economics.
859
Democrats also want to continue to allow in another one million more immigrants every year, on top of the 40 million over the past five decades, AND another 100,000 H1B visa workers, on top of the 650,000 already here, AND encourage even more illegal immigration, on top of the 12 million already here.
The US has no need of these - or any more - low skilled workers and there is no getting around the law of supply and demand.
The US has no need of these - or any more - low skilled workers and there is no getting around the law of supply and demand.
4
Agree. Wasn't it the Dems that saved the auto industry and tried to push a massive infrastructure rebulid that would have put hundreds of thousands to work but was thwarted by the republicans? But we were complacent as democrats and that is our failure.
Unfortunately millions voted for a man (and their own interests) who, outside of NY, was known only for his ghost-written books and fake reality TV shows and who so far has been told 'no' by his party leaders and has back-pedaled on many of the 'promises' that got him elected.
Unfortunately millions voted for a man (and their own interests) who, outside of NY, was known only for his ghost-written books and fake reality TV shows and who so far has been told 'no' by his party leaders and has back-pedaled on many of the 'promises' that got him elected.
1
Really? How many of those excutives went to jail for tanking the economy in 2008? How fast have CEO's salaries risen since? And what has happened to the propects of blue collar workers? What did the democratic party do about this? I'm a Democratic voter, but I see they all but abandoned working people. Granted, they were obstucted every step of the way, but they(we) just haven't worked hard enough. Hillary's comment about the "basket of deplorables" was telling in more ways than one: the disdain that democrats held for people who felt marginalized, and the willingness to lable people rather than their behavior. This cannot continue if democrats want to lead the country. We must be willing to address everyones concerns, even if those concerns are rooted in racial bias. Because that is the only way to change that bias. We must bring the country back together. Perhaps the next four years will give us the motivation.
The Democrats are making a big mistake if they think they can rely solely on demographic data to formulate campaign strategies. Demographics can change, as Matt Bai points out on Yahoo. Many people get more conservative and pragmatic as they grow older. Many from my generation who grew long hair and swore to tear down the system in their 20s ended up as middle class professionals later on, with spouses, kids, a home in the suburbs, and a couple SUVs.
Democrats have to start talking to people outside the base, and that includes white working class voters. As Howard Dean made the point the other day: we can't just talk to people in New York and California.
Democrats have to start talking to people outside the base, and that includes white working class voters. As Howard Dean made the point the other day: we can't just talk to people in New York and California.
149
But the question is this: do you have to pander to racism?
Howard Dean needs to get his own radio station perch and be on 24/7 in the midwest, south, and wild west. That is how he can win hearts and minds. It is called Propaganda. It is what Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, and many Hate Spewing so-called "Christian" radio stations and TV stations do. I was shocked when I tuned into some of them while I was driving across the country a few times. For 30 years Limbaugh and the right wing "Christian" stations have spewed Hate. No wonder the people listening to them are unhappy. And now, on the internet. Shocking. I, as a Christian, cannot believe that this kind of hate mongering has gone on as long as it has, but it continues. They use the word "liberal" like they used to use the word "satan."
1
I don't think you have to pander to racism. And I think the number of racists who voted for Trump is being exaggerated by the media. Instead, they were voters who are so angry and frustrated that they were willing to overlook Trump's racist, sexist, and xenophobic warts. For example, 12 counties in Michigan that voted for Obama voted for Trump this time around. This doesn't sound like racism on a large scale.
I agree with the analysis regarding the election. Consider this: what will be provided to the white non college educated people that elected them? Infrastructure jobs will only last as long as the money does. So there won't be the careers these folks are truly looking for. And removing illegal immigrants will provide jobs: housekeepers, day laborers, farm workers. Low pay and hardly career path opportunities. So in a sense Republicans will not be as motivated to help. Why would you want to alleviate the anger that helped get you elected? And remember: in the next election in 2 years they won't have Hillary to vote against. So just maybe they will have to decide if retraining for a new career with government assistance is better than being left in the cage to peck at the other chickens.
166
What government assistance? What retraining? You make it sound as if these things exist on a scale that could actually address the problems. Even if they did the crucial factor surely is that jobs have to go where people are, rather than vice versa. The US is a rich country bot not so rich that all the real estate in the central 30 states can be written off and everyone can be accommodated on the coasts. A colleague at work inherited his mother's middle class house in Detroit, and it was worth less than nothing. There was nothing wrong with it- but nobody wanted to move to Detroit, or to stay there.
Detroit is a city with good transport connections. If this can happen to Detroit spare a thought for the smaller cities in other states. It's not just jobs, it's family histories, connections, social networks, and capital assets that are being wiped out.
Detroit is a city with good transport connections. If this can happen to Detroit spare a thought for the smaller cities in other states. It's not just jobs, it's family histories, connections, social networks, and capital assets that are being wiped out.
2
No, they will be pointing to yet more groups to denigrate and feel superior to. Roman Catholics? (the KKK in the north was anti-Catholic); Jews? Hmm, that's started already with tapping Bannon.
Retrain the lower half of the IQ lottery all you like. There won't be jobs for any of them. We are automating quickly and paradigm shifting much too slowly.
Excellent analysis from the most rational and articulate writer whose work is published by the NYT.
I think there are three other factors at play here.
First, the white majority votes. For whatever their belief in the political parties' platforms, the segment buys into the reality that in this country, the vote does matter. While each individual vote may amount to the same impact as a drop of water in the sea, when most of the people of a given segment participate, they move the needle. White people vote at a higher rate of participation than do other electoral segments.
Second, the democratic and intellectual elites of our nation's political bell curve have demonized and mocked the white working class and middle class, especially those without college degrees. You will never convince a person to vote for your position if the person believe you mock either themselves or their tribe. All you do is antagonize the person and cause them to dig in their heels.
Third, the nation has substituted the use of mass media propaganda that emphasizes micro cultures for the teaching of civics and history that emphasizes the institutions that bind us as a people. We now have an amazingly ignorant population on matters that matter. Mass media, whether mainstream or not conflate opinion with news and present the result as edutainment.
For better or for worse, the forces of mobocracy unleashed by Andrew Jackson & fanned later by Reagan and Trump are the new factors in our polity.
I think there are three other factors at play here.
First, the white majority votes. For whatever their belief in the political parties' platforms, the segment buys into the reality that in this country, the vote does matter. While each individual vote may amount to the same impact as a drop of water in the sea, when most of the people of a given segment participate, they move the needle. White people vote at a higher rate of participation than do other electoral segments.
Second, the democratic and intellectual elites of our nation's political bell curve have demonized and mocked the white working class and middle class, especially those without college degrees. You will never convince a person to vote for your position if the person believe you mock either themselves or their tribe. All you do is antagonize the person and cause them to dig in their heels.
Third, the nation has substituted the use of mass media propaganda that emphasizes micro cultures for the teaching of civics and history that emphasizes the institutions that bind us as a people. We now have an amazingly ignorant population on matters that matter. Mass media, whether mainstream or not conflate opinion with news and present the result as edutainment.
For better or for worse, the forces of mobocracy unleashed by Andrew Jackson & fanned later by Reagan and Trump are the new factors in our polity.
7
Mr. Edsall has a command of statististical data. I wish in his analysis he would speak to the fact that while Clinton won the popular vote, she probably lost the election in the electoral college because of voter suppression in the key swing states. Through the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, huge lines to vote at urban polling stations and short lines at rural ones, the purging of tens of thousands of votes in swing states by unchallenged Republican cross checking, and uncounted provisional votes, Trump likely "won." That's the story that a reporter of Edsall's skills and integrity should be analyzing.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/page5/investigative_reporter_greg_palast_...
http://www.truthdig.com/report/page5/investigative_reporter_greg_palast_...
5
Through the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, huge lines to vote at urban polling stations and short lines at rural ones, the purging of tens of thousands of votes in swing states by unchallenged Republican cross checking, and uncounted provisional votes, Trump likely "won."
==================
I actually took the time to read the story you linked.
Greg Palast claims voter suppression and purging of voting lists gave the election to Trump, but by the end of the story he admits that he really has no proof. He admits that he has to go back through voting statistics and information in several states try to back up the conclusion he has already reached.
He can't name a single real person who was *prevented* from voting in the election. Kind of pathetic
==================
I actually took the time to read the story you linked.
Greg Palast claims voter suppression and purging of voting lists gave the election to Trump, but by the end of the story he admits that he really has no proof. He admits that he has to go back through voting statistics and information in several states try to back up the conclusion he has already reached.
He can't name a single real person who was *prevented* from voting in the election. Kind of pathetic
Let face the reality of it, politics and elections in America since 1968 are all about race. Make white people believe that you are on " their side" and have no tolerance for preferential ( equal treatment ) of minorities, programs that end segregation discrimination and promote equal opportunities and they will vote for you. How insane is it that lower middle class and poor white working class people consistently think their meager tax dollars are spent in democratic party giveaways and support the party that favors huge tax cuts for the millionaires! You have had lower middle class and poor white Americans seething at the changes in society, in their position of power and preference in society since Nixon and it will not end until this bloc of voters dies out and people of color , minorities and immigrants vote en mass.
5
as the world spins and time marches on the population of the world and this nation is changing. as a resident of the west coast i had no idea of the amount of struggle going on elsewhere in this nation. out here everything is so darn expensive most of us go along to get along. sure as a state we got troubles like unfunded pension obligations that are constantly being pushed down the road. seems to me that is the way this country overall faces it's pressing problems. do it now pay later
sure the leaders create noise to keep presses rolling. sure leaders will play bait and switch in the middle of a sentence. sure the revenues flowing to w d c never add up. hey it is called capitalism and it lives on it's own existence.
it is called life. try to make it nice for all and quit worrying all the time about things out of one's control. this article accurately describes how we all got to where we are. it is now our job to figure out the best possible solutions because our leaders have no answers in the long run except send more money to us because they are stealing it from us. yeah makes sense to me.
sure the leaders create noise to keep presses rolling. sure leaders will play bait and switch in the middle of a sentence. sure the revenues flowing to w d c never add up. hey it is called capitalism and it lives on it's own existence.
it is called life. try to make it nice for all and quit worrying all the time about things out of one's control. this article accurately describes how we all got to where we are. it is now our job to figure out the best possible solutions because our leaders have no answers in the long run except send more money to us because they are stealing it from us. yeah makes sense to me.
6
sure as a state we got troubles like unfunded pension obligations that are constantly being pushed down the road.
=====================
California has all sorts of problems it won't admit to. Adjusted for the cost of living, California has the highest poverty rate in the nation. A third of all Americans who live on welfare live in California.
California's roads and highways are falling apart, and the state policy is "road starvation" - i.e. the state refuses to build roads and eventually traffic will get so bad people will be forced to use public transportation
Glad I left 9 years ago
=====================
California has all sorts of problems it won't admit to. Adjusted for the cost of living, California has the highest poverty rate in the nation. A third of all Americans who live on welfare live in California.
California's roads and highways are falling apart, and the state policy is "road starvation" - i.e. the state refuses to build roads and eventually traffic will get so bad people will be forced to use public transportation
Glad I left 9 years ago
"The bankers got bailed out and we got sold out," goes the phrase.
White working class people are not stupid. Especially in the rust belt states that elected Trump, they face stagnant or declining pay and less opportunity than their parents. They vote on pocketbook, kitchen table issues -- jobs and pay. Abortion, gays, guns, etc. are intended as distractions and that worked.
White workers know that the increased profits of business are going to the owners, who did not earn most of the increase. Bigger profits result from automation, done by engineers, and by outsourcing. Outsourcing is done by owners but American workers do not think it helps them, and they resent it.
Neither Democrats nor Republicans have done anything much to help. One thing that would help temporarily is a large scale infrastructure program. Neither Bush nor Obama nor Hillary argued for real jobs.
Trump, was willing to lie and claim he will bring back good jobs. Hillary was honest, which hurt her with the voters. However, her husband Bill is responsible for most of the reduction in taxes on high income people because he cut tax rates on capital gains a lot. Hardhats, rednecks and blue collars understand the general idea.
The Democrats need to loudly support dramatic job programs and higher taxes on unearned income like capital gains and inheritance. Watch Comedy Party Platform on YouTube (2 min 9 sec). Thanks. [email protected]
White working class people are not stupid. Especially in the rust belt states that elected Trump, they face stagnant or declining pay and less opportunity than their parents. They vote on pocketbook, kitchen table issues -- jobs and pay. Abortion, gays, guns, etc. are intended as distractions and that worked.
White workers know that the increased profits of business are going to the owners, who did not earn most of the increase. Bigger profits result from automation, done by engineers, and by outsourcing. Outsourcing is done by owners but American workers do not think it helps them, and they resent it.
Neither Democrats nor Republicans have done anything much to help. One thing that would help temporarily is a large scale infrastructure program. Neither Bush nor Obama nor Hillary argued for real jobs.
Trump, was willing to lie and claim he will bring back good jobs. Hillary was honest, which hurt her with the voters. However, her husband Bill is responsible for most of the reduction in taxes on high income people because he cut tax rates on capital gains a lot. Hardhats, rednecks and blue collars understand the general idea.
The Democrats need to loudly support dramatic job programs and higher taxes on unearned income like capital gains and inheritance. Watch Comedy Party Platform on YouTube (2 min 9 sec). Thanks. [email protected]
6
The stats on white non-college graduate voters don't tell the whole story. President Obama came into office promising a comprehensive program that would have helped those voters. But he was immediately confronted by a hostile Republican Congressional caucus that promised to block every presidential initiative -- and they did. Obamacare was passed during the two-year period when Democrats controlled Congress with not a single Republican vote. After that period, Republicans were able to block every initiative. It was a disgusting display of power -- and it worked.
39
Richard: You forgot to mention one important concept re ACA. President Obama extended his hand to the RepubliCON's and instead of Medicare or Medicaid for all, they said they would vote for it if he included the Insurance Companies that would fail without it. So he conceded them. He allowed insurance companies to insure the people, gave the people subsidies, and expanded the role of Medicare and Medicaid. This major compromise was not voted on by the RepubliCons. States that had RepubliCon governors (like Florida) did not expand Medicare/Medicaid so many people are without healthcare that they could get for free, and are angry about the costs of their health care, which is excessive. It was a cruel joke on the American People, President Obama, and the Democrats.
1
After reading this compilation of analysis of why the Dems lost the under/uneducated white voter I have reached the conclusion they will never get them back.(or it is highly unlikely) My reasoning is this. Someone who is already under/uneducated will probably not spend any time researching what happened to them and why they feel the way they do. The daily double is they will spawn children who will be raised under the same conditions. The silver lining, the dems can quit wasting time, effort and money chasing this group around and concentrate on the future of the country, which is the educated individual be they white, brown, black, green or blue.
7
Much has been said about uneducated/undereducated white voters abandoning the democrats but I have not seen anything about the even less well educated blacks and hispanics remaining loyal to the democrats.
---
Wrenching indeed. And when the whites finally lose their supremacy, then things will fall apart. It will be like the Germans in retreat on the eastern front, burn everything leave nothing for the Russians.
Again a lot of these white Trump supporters are well off economically
I know a lot of them.
“The world is simply a futile craving, a grotesquely bad drama, an immense marketplace or Darwinian amphitheater in which life-forms seek to crush the breath out of each other.”
Terry Eagleton
Wrenching indeed. And when the whites finally lose their supremacy, then things will fall apart. It will be like the Germans in retreat on the eastern front, burn everything leave nothing for the Russians.
Again a lot of these white Trump supporters are well off economically
I know a lot of them.
“The world is simply a futile craving, a grotesquely bad drama, an immense marketplace or Darwinian amphitheater in which life-forms seek to crush the breath out of each other.”
Terry Eagleton
2
The negative attributions that are often made by whites about Latinos and, especially, African Americans are actually true of the people who are making them. Here we have a demographic that simply expects well paying jobs to be created for them. No need to go to college or even complete high school. No need to learn new skills. No need to relocate. In other words, no need to change in order to better their situation. When things don't work out the way they expect them to, they find other people to blame: the liberals; the "minorities;" the media; etc.
Their solution? Clinging to their racial identity as a badge of unearned superiority. Continuing to put their faith in a party that systematically marginalizes them and consistently acts against their best economic interests. We'll see how well the Trump Administration and the GOP address their concerns. If history is any guide, they are once again doomed to disappointment.
Their solution? Clinging to their racial identity as a badge of unearned superiority. Continuing to put their faith in a party that systematically marginalizes them and consistently acts against their best economic interests. We'll see how well the Trump Administration and the GOP address their concerns. If history is any guide, they are once again doomed to disappointment.
9
There was an industrial revolution that began in the early 1800s with Eli Whitney and the cotton gin and that was made possible by coal and steam and parts that were identical and could be assembled into products that were often a system like a cotton gin or rifle.
Steam was introduced in manufacturing and in things like mine pumps only about 35 years earlier,
Thus began the modern industrial era which phased in and lasted into the period of electronics vs. electrical, fractional horsepower motors and solenoids (the little motor that runs you hard drive or DVD), semiconductors and software, and the wide use of plastic to replace formed metal parts.
There was also a huge virtuous economic cycle due to newly discovered product needs and capabilities which received impulses from both WWI (cars, trucks and aircraft) and WWII (rocket science and radar). Added to this were a whole country that became united behind WWII and government programs that fueled an unprecedented virtuous cycle that lasted from the 50s through to the early 2000s. Thank Franklin Roosevelt who got the country and government into trying new things.
During this time whole kinds of products disappeared such as the typewriter and automotive engine carburetor and the factories and local wealth they provided. So much of this was due to immutable obsolescence.
The only countermeasure that can revive the wealth and health of so many of these places is a new virtuous cycle.
There's more to be told.
Steam was introduced in manufacturing and in things like mine pumps only about 35 years earlier,
Thus began the modern industrial era which phased in and lasted into the period of electronics vs. electrical, fractional horsepower motors and solenoids (the little motor that runs you hard drive or DVD), semiconductors and software, and the wide use of plastic to replace formed metal parts.
There was also a huge virtuous economic cycle due to newly discovered product needs and capabilities which received impulses from both WWI (cars, trucks and aircraft) and WWII (rocket science and radar). Added to this were a whole country that became united behind WWII and government programs that fueled an unprecedented virtuous cycle that lasted from the 50s through to the early 2000s. Thank Franklin Roosevelt who got the country and government into trying new things.
During this time whole kinds of products disappeared such as the typewriter and automotive engine carburetor and the factories and local wealth they provided. So much of this was due to immutable obsolescence.
The only countermeasure that can revive the wealth and health of so many of these places is a new virtuous cycle.
There's more to be told.
3
Future of American politics 2016?
The big problem for America politically is that no political party in America can really win, not to mention stand for progress because America as a whole cannot stand to see truth, cannot risk truth because such will both divide Americans and cut into pet view of reality. Americans are more and more like people at a dinner table with false conversation so as to not stir up conflict.
Whether you want to speak of the right wing and its relentless religion against science or the left wing with its lard of social theory over hard science which points to probable differences between races, ethnic groups, men and women acuity of intelligence in America is strongly discouraged. The average voter is a person who is presented choices by political parties but is almost entirely ignorant of the machinery of American life in almost every regard not to mention political/power functioning which makes the concept of being able to make an intelligent decision an absurdity in the first place.
It appears more and more truth, acuity of vision must be held from body politic along the theory that the public sphere must be polite, safe so as not to sow discord, but this just obscures over all functioning, transparency of Economic/Cultural/Political Machine America creating not only a separation between those people in the know and those who are just average voters, but an environment which compromises education, training to comprehend, run America in future.
The big problem for America politically is that no political party in America can really win, not to mention stand for progress because America as a whole cannot stand to see truth, cannot risk truth because such will both divide Americans and cut into pet view of reality. Americans are more and more like people at a dinner table with false conversation so as to not stir up conflict.
Whether you want to speak of the right wing and its relentless religion against science or the left wing with its lard of social theory over hard science which points to probable differences between races, ethnic groups, men and women acuity of intelligence in America is strongly discouraged. The average voter is a person who is presented choices by political parties but is almost entirely ignorant of the machinery of American life in almost every regard not to mention political/power functioning which makes the concept of being able to make an intelligent decision an absurdity in the first place.
It appears more and more truth, acuity of vision must be held from body politic along the theory that the public sphere must be polite, safe so as not to sow discord, but this just obscures over all functioning, transparency of Economic/Cultural/Political Machine America creating not only a separation between those people in the know and those who are just average voters, but an environment which compromises education, training to comprehend, run America in future.
This is all well and good, but overlooks a large part of what just happened. The Democratic party insiders, and their press supporters, put forth the candidate of their choice with no care about electability or appeal to independents. Leaks showed the bias against Sanders, CNN leaked debate questions to Hillary, and the "corruption" label she wore became a tattoo. So yes, let's discuss race and demographics, but next how about some reflections on Democratic ethics? I propose voters view corruption, in the candidate and the press, as worse than indecency and ineptitude.
12
I am not a statistician, but understood the negativity of HRC. Travel in rural America and it was obvious to me voters were looking for a change. As a life long democrat, I was looking for change. My resolve was to become an independent voter in the future as the democrats have lost their way. Looking back at the NYT ads showing HRC with an 90% plus chance of winning shows us how the rift in the country for a change was totally misread.
3
I agree that Americans voted (or didn't vote at all) according to the size of their pocketbooks more than any other single criteria. I do not agree that the inevitability is an even more stratified wealthy democratic party as Drutman characterizes as even more globalist, envirionmentalist and championing for minorities leaving the bottom half unserved by either party. All that is required is a consideration of all pocketbooks regardless of who holds them and put more in those that have been pickpocketed to serve the interests of a few, mostly republican, interests.
We now have a father kicks the mother who kicks the children who kick the dog mentality among the bottom half, simply replace family hierarchy with identity. The failure of the democratic party was a failure by leadership, to address first and foremost the one issue pertinent to everyone: pocketbooks.
Obama was a big disappointment: ACA they can't afford, lowered unemployment padded with low pay jobs from hell, student loan debt for jobs that won't materialize or pay off that debt. These are not minority issues, they are pocketbook issues.
Trump even if capable is saddled with leadership that will not ever address pocketbook issues everyone has. This leaves a wide open prospect for a democratic party if it delivers on pocket book issues. It really is that simple.
We now have a father kicks the mother who kicks the children who kick the dog mentality among the bottom half, simply replace family hierarchy with identity. The failure of the democratic party was a failure by leadership, to address first and foremost the one issue pertinent to everyone: pocketbooks.
Obama was a big disappointment: ACA they can't afford, lowered unemployment padded with low pay jobs from hell, student loan debt for jobs that won't materialize or pay off that debt. These are not minority issues, they are pocketbook issues.
Trump even if capable is saddled with leadership that will not ever address pocketbook issues everyone has. This leaves a wide open prospect for a democratic party if it delivers on pocket book issues. It really is that simple.
6
If Democrats want to win back the loyalty of these white voters they need to lower their emphasis on progressive social issues. People are tired of constantly hearing about the problems of gays and lesbians and the transgenders. People in these rural areas are offended by the idea that boys may be allowed to use their girls' restrooms. They are tired of hearing about the need for diversity and inclusion and sensitivities. They fear that their freedom of speech is being threatened by political correctness.These social issues have merit but they only affect a small percentage of the population and should not dominate over issues that affect the majority.
9
If a President Trump can eliminate "political correctness" once and for all we will all be better off for it.
Um, no? I'm not going to stop advocating for the rights of marginalized people because it might offend some people in rural areas. You either believe in equality or you don't.
I also reject the notion that there's some zero-sum game where if you pay attention to or discuss LGBT issues you don't have time for anything else. You're right that LGBT issues are discussed to a disproportionate degree than, say, the economic issues that a huge percent of Americans face. But do you know why? It's because the LGBT community organized the heck out of itself to advance its causes. Why don't working class people do the same? Why do they wait for a hugely consequential election to express themselves, and then vote out of frustration and rage in a way that benefits absolutely no one but the same people keeping them down? Stop blaming democrats, stop blaming any political party. If these people want change they're going to have to demand it themselves.
I also reject the notion that there's some zero-sum game where if you pay attention to or discuss LGBT issues you don't have time for anything else. You're right that LGBT issues are discussed to a disproportionate degree than, say, the economic issues that a huge percent of Americans face. But do you know why? It's because the LGBT community organized the heck out of itself to advance its causes. Why don't working class people do the same? Why do they wait for a hugely consequential election to express themselves, and then vote out of frustration and rage in a way that benefits absolutely no one but the same people keeping them down? Stop blaming democrats, stop blaming any political party. If these people want change they're going to have to demand it themselves.
Is it possible that Mr. Edsall and the researchers he quotes are overthinking this? Perhaps the driving narrative of this election is not as granular as the academicians would have us believe and the results speak to a simpler explanation.
For the past two years the 24/7 media outlets, esp. those on the right and alt-right, have succeeded, with the help of the candidates themselves, in framing a very binary narrative: strong alpha-male leader stoking fear and division and making grand, but ambiguous promises vs. a shrewish Mom-type from a political dynasty that has been savaged by the GOP for decades.
It's only natural that most people would choose the former, regardless of any empirical variable, like the candidates views on actual policies…
For the past two years the 24/7 media outlets, esp. those on the right and alt-right, have succeeded, with the help of the candidates themselves, in framing a very binary narrative: strong alpha-male leader stoking fear and division and making grand, but ambiguous promises vs. a shrewish Mom-type from a political dynasty that has been savaged by the GOP for decades.
It's only natural that most people would choose the former, regardless of any empirical variable, like the candidates views on actual policies…
8
Does anyone else get the sense that this analytical focus on racial categories by political theorists and party strategists misses the point entirely? The driver of the woes of the working class, the underemployed and the unemployed regardless of race or educational attainment is and has been the relentless drive of capitalism to reduce the costs of production - the most manageable of which is labor. Globalism has simply been a phase in that process. Enabled by both technological advances in the transportation of goods and long distance control, firms were able to move to where the cost of labor was far cheaper than in the United States. The approaching threat to the jobs of working people (and not simply blue collar workers) is far more formidable - a wave of automaton that by some reputable estimates will render the jobs of 40% of workers obsolete within the next couple of decades. Falling back on the faith that capitalist creative destruction will spin off new and better remunerative work is wishful thinking. The party that will be successful is not the one that can cobble together some majority of minority groups (we're all minorities now) but rather the one that can devise a new social contract that deals with the problem of how to distribute the fruits of our enormous productive capacity in a world where human labor (read jobs) is ever less necessary.
17
There is much truth to what you say. But what is so exasperating to Democrats is that their party has been trying to address these very issues but gets roundly (and yes, rudely) rejected by the very people it has been trying to help. Job creation has been disproportionately in what economists term the "non-traded sector"-- you can't outsource most service jobs like those in food service or healthcare. So Democrats have been trying to promote unionization (and hence higher wages) in those job categories; Republicans have been trying to crush unions. Democrats have been pushing for significantly higher minimum wages (which helps push wages up for other workers as well); Republicans have fought against minimum wages laws. Through ACA Democrats have required more employers to provide health care coverage and provided a non-employer based option; Republicans have fought that tooth and nail. Democrats have tried to create jobs through investment in infrastructure; Republicans obstructed that. When a demographic block consistently votes against its own economic interests, isn't it rational to conclude that economic interest is not what motivating their votes?
2
In the 1930s William F Buckley Sr. was proud to call himself a Franco Fascist. His children were proud fascists and the entire Buckley clan were proud to throw their support both financially and with their writing skills behind Joseph Raymond McCarthy.
When fascism became a dirty word William F Buckley Jr stopped calling himself a fascist and started calling himself a conservative. He still supported Franco, he still supported apartheid and he still supported segregation well into the 1970s but he was no longer a fascist he was a conservative.
Fascism is a legitimate political belief but in America it is not conservative. The press has not done its job in protecting our language. I understand why the white working class is angry and frustrated but until we understand that a common language is vital to fix the problems real conservatives like Barack Obama will never be able to compete with fascists for the soul of America.
Real liberals like myself are totally isolated because the solutions to our problems lie somewhere in between conservative and liberal. The space between conservative and fascist has led us to Donald Trump, Paul Ryan and Ted Cruz it is a reality that only exists between the ears of rogues and scoundrels.
When fascism became a dirty word William F Buckley Jr stopped calling himself a fascist and started calling himself a conservative. He still supported Franco, he still supported apartheid and he still supported segregation well into the 1970s but he was no longer a fascist he was a conservative.
Fascism is a legitimate political belief but in America it is not conservative. The press has not done its job in protecting our language. I understand why the white working class is angry and frustrated but until we understand that a common language is vital to fix the problems real conservatives like Barack Obama will never be able to compete with fascists for the soul of America.
Real liberals like myself are totally isolated because the solutions to our problems lie somewhere in between conservative and liberal. The space between conservative and fascist has led us to Donald Trump, Paul Ryan and Ted Cruz it is a reality that only exists between the ears of rogues and scoundrels.
3
As always, it is a pleasure to read Mr. Edsall's well researched views.
The Democrat party has moved away from addressing working class' issues to spearheading culture wars. Where were they when 5 million jobs were being lost since 2000 after China was accorded most favored nation under WTO? Instead, they were leading, in your face, agitation for marriage equality for 2%-3% of the population.
No wonder why the (white, heterosexual) working class feels abandoned.
The Democrat party has moved away from addressing working class' issues to spearheading culture wars. Where were they when 5 million jobs were being lost since 2000 after China was accorded most favored nation under WTO? Instead, they were leading, in your face, agitation for marriage equality for 2%-3% of the population.
No wonder why the (white, heterosexual) working class feels abandoned.
12
I was shocked to learn that, "This year, the number of international students in United States colleges surpassed one million for the first time." Candidates speak of "immigration" as problematic, but never mention colleges. They have gotten complacent and bought off by the colleges. These Asian students are here for a life, not just for a college education. Who is going to protect the American job base for our kids? Who will reign in the predatory, multi-billion dollar college industry? Liberals seem to have abandoned those that put them in office. Their turn toward globalization lost them the election. It is a full scale abandonment, that they tried to hide until after the election. Hopefully they will wise up in the future. Hurting young people for the benefit of college administrators is not the answer to our problems.
9
It is easy to sympathize with white middle class workers but harder to espouse their perceived solutions to their problems: elevate their cause over blacks, Latinos and the even more disadvanted, cut off global trade, and return to the 1950s. This is especially true when the real problem in the long run is technology. It's not clear that there is, in fact, any solution for workers who are not as effective as machines, as truck drivers are about to discover. Trump's success stemmed from his cynical willingness to pretend there is a solution. The only question is how long he can keep up the pretense. Grim.
8
I'm tired of all this talk about less educated whites who voted for Trump. It is so condescending. Neither me nor my husband are college graduates, but I am a successful small business owner and my husband is a manager at a large financial institution in Boston. College isn't the only kind of education one can utilize to make educated decisions.
309
The distinction is mainly a matter of income. Trump gained votes with respect to Romney in 2012 among lower-income people and lost among higher-income people. The better-educated are generally not the ones who have suffered from the flight of jobs in manufacturing.
5
No college and successful? That was then, this is now. However, there is student loan debt, which will narrow the poverty gap, white or black. A new stratum has emerged, the educated poor. Bernie, where are you?
And you think it was an "educated decision" to vote for Donald Trump?
5
Non-college whites have felt deeply disrespected by Democrats and elite Republicans for years. This is the simple explanation for Trump. If Democrats want them back they need to show respect and that starts with a candidate who does not refer to them as "deplorables" in a Wall-Street-suite-full of investment bankers. Democrats need to understand that working class white people have no issues with immigrants in their communities when immigrants are a small minority, but when immigrant levels reach a critical mass those communities no longer feel like home and they feel dispossessed.
The feelings of white dispossession and disrespect are real. If Democrats want to reclaim working class whites they need to address them as strongly as they have the institutional racism that afflicted this country for centuries.
The feelings of white dispossession and disrespect are real. If Democrats want to reclaim working class whites they need to address them as strongly as they have the institutional racism that afflicted this country for centuries.
238
Two things to ad:
1. The wall street suite full of deplorables is intended as a mashup, not a fact.
2. There is no equivalency between the past and present real prejudice and real acts of violence against blacks and minorities in this country and how working class whites feel today. But if this election taught us anything it's that reality matters less than feelings.
1. The wall street suite full of deplorables is intended as a mashup, not a fact.
2. There is no equivalency between the past and present real prejudice and real acts of violence against blacks and minorities in this country and how working class whites feel today. But if this election taught us anything it's that reality matters less than feelings.
2
The Democratic strategy overall turned out not to be very effective or intelligent. Funny coming from the "most intelligent and advanced party" huh? Yes you can bet that cramming Democratic Liberal issues down the throats of conservatives for 8 years was not a great plan. The worm has turned, its karma or what goes around comes around. A very stupid rationalization was that the only reason the conservatives and Republicans opposed things like gay marriage, transgender bathrooms, Obama-care and a porous border was because they didn't like the fact that Obama was black.
3
Let me understand. When Blacks exhibit the same traits then it is because they are "black" and do not know any better. They should pull themselves by their bootstraps and stop asking for equal opportunity. But when these uneducated whites feel left out and disrespected, somehow we should apologize and make sure they are brought back into the fold.
You cannot have it both ways.
You cannot have it both ways.
6
I, and many others, are tired of hearing the professional class drone on about demographics. "The white working class" (as if they're some species that must be studied. "Who are these people? What do they want?") "Minorities" - "millennials" "college-educated white women" - frankly, y'all have been wrong about everything this election season - and you're wrong about this obsession you have with demographics.
People's lives out here (outside the ivory towers you folks inhabit) are more nuanced than you seem able to grasp. But one thing - almost all of the "working class, the poor, and increasing numbers of certain white-collar workers, minorities, whites, women, men", - have in common is just wanting to live a decent life - one that provides them with what they need and maybe now and then what they want. That's it!
But over the yrs it's become glaringly obvious to multi-millions of us, that the gov't, the legislation they write, the actions they take are in service to corporations, Wall St, and the elite. From top to bottom it's one big rip-off, one huge exploitative trap - from over-priced real estate, student loans, the profit-driven ACA, monopolies and consolidation, legal loopholes for thee, fines and arrests for the rest - etc.
Here's the magic to getting enthusiastic votes from every demo - serve the common good - do what's right and moral. Why have a country? Is it for eternal GDP growth, or for the lives of its people - not corporations. Gotta choose.
People's lives out here (outside the ivory towers you folks inhabit) are more nuanced than you seem able to grasp. But one thing - almost all of the "working class, the poor, and increasing numbers of certain white-collar workers, minorities, whites, women, men", - have in common is just wanting to live a decent life - one that provides them with what they need and maybe now and then what they want. That's it!
But over the yrs it's become glaringly obvious to multi-millions of us, that the gov't, the legislation they write, the actions they take are in service to corporations, Wall St, and the elite. From top to bottom it's one big rip-off, one huge exploitative trap - from over-priced real estate, student loans, the profit-driven ACA, monopolies and consolidation, legal loopholes for thee, fines and arrests for the rest - etc.
Here's the magic to getting enthusiastic votes from every demo - serve the common good - do what's right and moral. Why have a country? Is it for eternal GDP growth, or for the lives of its people - not corporations. Gotta choose.
674
Perhaps you failed to notice that the Democrats tried mightily to do exactly the things you mentioned, but were stymied by a Republican dominated congress.
When President Obama used the Executive powers to initiate changes, the Republicans cried fowl. When he nominated a fair minded and respected jurist to the Supreme Court, one who might have helped the reverse the outrageous "Citizens United" decision that allowed corporations to wield outsized influence in our elections, they refused to hold hearings. A violation of their constitutional obligation.
Obama is leaving office and the country with better jobs growth than ANY Republican president. He hauled our nation back from a black hole of financial meltdown caused by Republicans. He did this in spite of receiving NO cooperation from Republican congress.
And now we have the Liar in Chief, a man driven by ego and testosterone, thanks to his racist appeal to the prejudiced, and a 30 year smear campaign against the Clintons.
Open your eyes.
When President Obama used the Executive powers to initiate changes, the Republicans cried fowl. When he nominated a fair minded and respected jurist to the Supreme Court, one who might have helped the reverse the outrageous "Citizens United" decision that allowed corporations to wield outsized influence in our elections, they refused to hold hearings. A violation of their constitutional obligation.
Obama is leaving office and the country with better jobs growth than ANY Republican president. He hauled our nation back from a black hole of financial meltdown caused by Republicans. He did this in spite of receiving NO cooperation from Republican congress.
And now we have the Liar in Chief, a man driven by ego and testosterone, thanks to his racist appeal to the prejudiced, and a 30 year smear campaign against the Clintons.
Open your eyes.
6
I don' t think they have to choose between people and business. I think we have to stop believing that higher profits should drive the decisions of business. Higher profits serve only a small percentage of the society. If profit were moderated, I believe business leaders could make decisions within their companies benefiting larger groups of people. Also paying taxes has to be looked upon as a moral responsibility to the society in which a business thrives. The community does support the business.
6
"... is just wanting to live a decent life.." If this were true, why did they vote for Trump, and why do they continue to re-elect Republican legislators who do nothing to improve their lives? HRC and Democratic legislators actually have a commitment to programs that promote socioeconomic mobility and economic equity, Republicans do not.
This is why the question keeps getting asked, because it clearly is not a careful calculated policy analysis for these voters.
This is why the question keeps getting asked, because it clearly is not a careful calculated policy analysis for these voters.
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This is simply the Republican Machine working at it’s finest. The legislators gerrymander themselves into intractable power. The legislators, mostly bigots who believe in white male privilege - but some bound in almost theological fervor to “starve the beast” - dangle shiny objects in front of the poor voters “left behind in the economy”. Those shiny objects are bigotry in every form to make the white voters feel superior, repeal of Roe v Wade, round up the Muslims, immigration reform and the promise of an increased standard of living (The Big Lie) by “taking back America”. Oh, by the way, there will be tax reform and the money will “trickle down” and fund those new “great” jobs (with full healthcare benefits). “Believe me – it will happen so fast your head will spin”
The poor voters fall for the Big Lie, again, (or perhaps they are simply motivated by bigotry) and as we saw with the incompetence of the previous Republican Eras, the legislators drive the Economy over the fiscal cliff. The promised increase in their standard of living never materializes….no jobs. The Big Lie is perpetrated yet again.
And then we start the process all over again with yet more shiny objects dangled in the faces of these poor people. And again they are duped and again vote against their economic interest. This is a new version of the movie “Groundhog Day”, this time starring Donald Trump
The poor voters fall for the Big Lie, again, (or perhaps they are simply motivated by bigotry) and as we saw with the incompetence of the previous Republican Eras, the legislators drive the Economy over the fiscal cliff. The promised increase in their standard of living never materializes….no jobs. The Big Lie is perpetrated yet again.
And then we start the process all over again with yet more shiny objects dangled in the faces of these poor people. And again they are duped and again vote against their economic interest. This is a new version of the movie “Groundhog Day”, this time starring Donald Trump
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"The poor voters fall for the Big Lie..." because they are afraid of the future, which they cannot avoid.
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Don't forget that the Republicans do everything they can to gut public education, resulting in repeating generations of people who lack skills in critical thinking. Add to that a propaganda machine that tells them what they want to hear all day long, and you have the emergence of a white supremacist dictatorship.
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I am so tired of hearing about how misunderstood these people are. I am tired of seeing the direction of my Country being determined by stupid bigoted people. These people are desperate because they live in states and counties run by republicans who continue the faith based con on them.
And over and over these folks buy into it.
And over and over these folks buy into it.
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As a black woman it feels as if there is no way for blacks and browns to win. You are seen as either lazy, welfare dependent and a drain on taxpayers or the undeserving recipent of a college education or job taken from a white person.
Hundreds of years of slavery, lynchings, Jim Crow, segregation and redlining are dismissed as nothing, while a few people blocking a street protesting extrajudicial police killings are treated as the greatest threat civilization has ever faced and proof that black people are virulently racist.
I'm exhausted. I'm a working person too. I pay a significant amount of income tax. I've never lived in the inner city. I don't know anyone in Chicago. I don't know anyone actually involved in the Black Lives Matter movement. I am tired of thousand word explorations about the nuanced motives of white Trump voters who themselves seem incapable of nuanced thought. I can care about violence in Miami and the plight of Syrian refugees at the same time. I can care about the safey of law enforcement officers and police brutality at the same time. I just want to be seen as an individual and treated like a human being. But, apparently that is too much to ask because from "the silent majority."
Hundreds of years of slavery, lynchings, Jim Crow, segregation and redlining are dismissed as nothing, while a few people blocking a street protesting extrajudicial police killings are treated as the greatest threat civilization has ever faced and proof that black people are virulently racist.
I'm exhausted. I'm a working person too. I pay a significant amount of income tax. I've never lived in the inner city. I don't know anyone in Chicago. I don't know anyone actually involved in the Black Lives Matter movement. I am tired of thousand word explorations about the nuanced motives of white Trump voters who themselves seem incapable of nuanced thought. I can care about violence in Miami and the plight of Syrian refugees at the same time. I can care about the safey of law enforcement officers and police brutality at the same time. I just want to be seen as an individual and treated like a human being. But, apparently that is too much to ask because from "the silent majority."
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Gail, I am white, and I feel there is no way for an educated, fair-minded person to win. In my opinion, a large part of the problem is the Electoral College, which magnifies the votes of mostly white, rural states, and takes votes away from others. The President selects the Supreme Court, so that's two branches of government. The House of Representatives is gerrymandered. And the Senate again gives disproportionate representation to rural states.
The silent majority is neither. But they become a majority because our entire system cheats in their favor.
The silent majority is neither. But they become a majority because our entire system cheats in their favor.
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Gail: Don't just get mad or stew. Get organized. There's political strength only in organized numbers for any party.
Your complaint "I just want to be treated as an individual and treated like a human being" is the source of frustration for any voter who votes outside of an organized political voting bloc, as an individual. But you can expect equal treatment as an individual only under the law, where only your rights are considered. But in a political election where voter appeals are to group interests, you need strength in voting numbers, in organized group power.
If blacks were politically powerless against perceived hostility from a white "silent" majority, Obama would never have been elected President twice. In fact the silent majority is an aggregation of different voting blocs of opposing interests, religious conservatives, racists, libertarians, blue-collar workers, business employees, and some non-white minorities.
Note well that a large part of the silent majority, composed of many white voting bloc interests, discontented white workers and regional union interests, voted this time for Democratic Congressional reps as well as last time for Obama twice.
Join a political party working group, especially Republican ones which want more minority input. It not Republican, then join any local party action voter groups that welcomes you.
Your complaint "I just want to be treated as an individual and treated like a human being" is the source of frustration for any voter who votes outside of an organized political voting bloc, as an individual. But you can expect equal treatment as an individual only under the law, where only your rights are considered. But in a political election where voter appeals are to group interests, you need strength in voting numbers, in organized group power.
If blacks were politically powerless against perceived hostility from a white "silent" majority, Obama would never have been elected President twice. In fact the silent majority is an aggregation of different voting blocs of opposing interests, religious conservatives, racists, libertarians, blue-collar workers, business employees, and some non-white minorities.
Note well that a large part of the silent majority, composed of many white voting bloc interests, discontented white workers and regional union interests, voted this time for Democratic Congressional reps as well as last time for Obama twice.
Join a political party working group, especially Republican ones which want more minority input. It not Republican, then join any local party action voter groups that welcomes you.
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I just asked a related question. Why did the black non college educated working class respond so differently from the white non college educated working class? Even the Dems are talking about their mistake in ignoring the working class. One would expect the working class, regardless of color, to respond to their dire economic situation in a similar manner.
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Somebody you never heard of taking it upon himself to define a future political party that intentionally ignores a huge part of the population, and the interests that just carried Trump to victory...
That's just the kind of critical thinking that cost Democrats the election
That's just the kind of critical thinking that cost Democrats the election
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Democrats are in denial.
They can't seem to get past their current obsession with calling half the country deplorables.
They can't seem to get past their current obsession with calling half the country deplorables.
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I think Drutman may be right (I don't get that he likes the situation, and neither do I). Democrats will become the party of globalism, the disenfranchised, protecting the environment, the cosmopolitan elite, the rights of minorities and LGBT, and woman's reproductive rights, identity politics, polital correctness, interventionist foreign policy. There's no turning back for the democrats as far as the working class; they have demonized those people.
The Republicans will become the party of working class people, plus Christian values, Patriotism, law and order, serving your country, rugged individualism, family values, plus bizarrely, isolation and no wars.
There should be no party of (currently, the Republicans): trickle down, supply side, cutting taxes plus big spending. I hope that goes away when nobody votes for it; it has 1% of people who benefit and all others lose .
For me, I wish there was this party (taking my favorites from both columns): protecting the environment, the rights of minorities and LGBT, and woman's reproductive rights, working class people, family values (not incompatible with the rights of minorities and LGBT), and woman's reproductive rights, isolation and no wars, Patriotism, law and order, serving your country, rugged individualism.
Here are things I don't want from both columns: interventionist foreign policy, the cosmopolitan elite, globalism, trickle down, supply side, racism, identity politcs
The Republicans will become the party of working class people, plus Christian values, Patriotism, law and order, serving your country, rugged individualism, family values, plus bizarrely, isolation and no wars.
There should be no party of (currently, the Republicans): trickle down, supply side, cutting taxes plus big spending. I hope that goes away when nobody votes for it; it has 1% of people who benefit and all others lose .
For me, I wish there was this party (taking my favorites from both columns): protecting the environment, the rights of minorities and LGBT, and woman's reproductive rights, working class people, family values (not incompatible with the rights of minorities and LGBT), and woman's reproductive rights, isolation and no wars, Patriotism, law and order, serving your country, rugged individualism.
Here are things I don't want from both columns: interventionist foreign policy, the cosmopolitan elite, globalism, trickle down, supply side, racism, identity politcs
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Nice review but what have working class whites received from Republican economic policies in the past 35 years and their votes for the Republican party? Stagnant or declining wages if they have a job at all. If Republicans fail in the next four years, the pendulum may finally swing the other way. As to who voted, I refer you to Wisconsin where voter turnout was at a 20 year low and even an even lower percentage of Democratic voters. If Wisconsin voters had turned out in numbers equal to 2012, Trump would have lost Wisconsin by a signficant margin.
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If Sanders had been the candidate, Wisconsin voters would have turned out. The Dems need to notice things like the electoral college does not favor their slice n dice strategy, whites are still the majority, and everyone not in the one percent is sick of the Dems' bait switch, enough to try the Republicans bait and switch for four, even with a stupid narcissist and christian sharia fool at the top of the ticket
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So tell me, Blue State, why is an angry OLD white guy on the left better than an angry OLD white guy on the right? The answer is obvious to anyone who is not a socially conscious guy.
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What a lot of people don't seem to understand is that in this election a large number of voters, including working and middle-class people of all races, either voted against the status quo (including the Republican version) by voting for Trump, whose main promise was to shake things up for both parties. Lots more voted with their feet by just staying home because they're sick and tired of Washington's failed politics and couldn't bring themselves to vote for either Clinton (more of the same) or Trump (a crazy con man). Educated or not, I don't think either was an irrational choice. Both parties have failed us. There is a reason voter participation in the US is among the lowest in the world.
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I know young white men who got through high school and that was all call themselves minorities. They in turn think that African Americans run the world. It is my experience that no African American can deprive a white person of a job or a home or the right to vote but white people can surely deprive a black of a job, a home the right to vote and do it regularly. White people have always controlled America and currently control America. So if you are a white person who believes you've got the raw end of anything its a white power structure that is behind it if anything is.
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Try not to see everything in terms of race. So many poor whites live in this country and are barely getting by. They care desperately about money and are not focused on their "superior" position or what you might call their "privilege". Poor whites are just as humble as poor blacks. Affluent blacks like Obama are all too eager to flaunt their success and this has especially irritated those who have had their standard of livings decline over recent generations. Jealousy and alienation by poor white people have led to the rise of Trump. Please open your mind and don't assume that "all whites" control America. It is only a small group of the elite. Black or white, it is the wealthy and powerful elite that call the shots in America.
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Ask a middle aged white guy who got passed over for a promotion due to an affirmative action program, how he feels about "white privilege"?
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Women have the same problems, NB. Why didn't more minority voters come out to fight the system and elect the first female for President? Because she is white? She fought for minority communities, and white poor, children and families, all her life but apparently that wasn't enough for some men and women who think a woman's place is barefoot, pregnant and either at home starving or working three jobs.
People need to wake up and realize that the world is the way it is because the male-dominator societal model has created it. It can be undone and we can have a balanced world - if people will just get over the bibilical and other religious ideas that simply amount to suppression of women and peons.
People need to wake up and realize that the world is the way it is because the male-dominator societal model has created it. It can be undone and we can have a balanced world - if people will just get over the bibilical and other religious ideas that simply amount to suppression of women and peons.
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From a June essay I wrote:
Economist Jared Bernstein has a very thoughtful piece in WaPo in which he analyzes why there is anger among the U.S. electorate. In a piece that takes an honest look at the economic indicators that affect the middle and working classes the most, Bernstein gets at the heart of the issues facing both the electorate and the establishments of both major parties: while the economic data that is being passed on to the public is positive, the nuance of it isn’t being conveyed:
“In other words, for every statistic you can find, I can find one that tells if not a different story, a more nuanced one. Yes, the jobless rate is 5 percent, but theunderemployment rate, juiced by 6 million part-timers who want full-time jobs, is a considerably less comfortable 9.7 percent. No question, wages are rising, but the major source of real income growth over the past year has been low inflation. Paychecks aren’t growing so fast as much as prices have been growing a lot more slowly.
Then there’s the geographical dimension to all of this. According to recent research by the Economic Innovation Group (I co-chair their advisory board), business and job growth have been a lot more concentrated in big cities than in non-urban areas. See http://wp.me/p2KJ3H-2hl
It wasn't only unhappy whites. Anyone who was not only paying attention to the talking heads got a sense of voter sentiment. This outcome was entirely predictable. My post-election assessment: http://wp.me/p2KJ3H-2ry
Economist Jared Bernstein has a very thoughtful piece in WaPo in which he analyzes why there is anger among the U.S. electorate. In a piece that takes an honest look at the economic indicators that affect the middle and working classes the most, Bernstein gets at the heart of the issues facing both the electorate and the establishments of both major parties: while the economic data that is being passed on to the public is positive, the nuance of it isn’t being conveyed:
“In other words, for every statistic you can find, I can find one that tells if not a different story, a more nuanced one. Yes, the jobless rate is 5 percent, but theunderemployment rate, juiced by 6 million part-timers who want full-time jobs, is a considerably less comfortable 9.7 percent. No question, wages are rising, but the major source of real income growth over the past year has been low inflation. Paychecks aren’t growing so fast as much as prices have been growing a lot more slowly.
Then there’s the geographical dimension to all of this. According to recent research by the Economic Innovation Group (I co-chair their advisory board), business and job growth have been a lot more concentrated in big cities than in non-urban areas. See http://wp.me/p2KJ3H-2hl
It wasn't only unhappy whites. Anyone who was not only paying attention to the talking heads got a sense of voter sentiment. This outcome was entirely predictable. My post-election assessment: http://wp.me/p2KJ3H-2ry
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And research also shows that more than 40% of those not in the workplace are in daily pain, too overweight, hooked on Opioids or otherwise unfit to work.
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Well said and outstanding post-election assessment (in your attached, Blog).
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The Democrats have rearranged the deck chairs on the Titanic and offered Bernie Sanders a more prominent role in party politics. Happy now??
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