Let’s fight the last war shall we? That’s always a winning strategy.
by digby
 |
| These people aren’t taking to the streets to support Trumpism |
So it turns out that the exit polls were wrong and there were a lot more white working class people who voted than college educated whites. According to Thomas Edsall this means that the Democrats need to change radically and do it fast. Here’s the recommendation:
Let’s go back to Galston, writing on the Brookings website, presciently, in June 2016. I will quote him at some length, because in my opinion no one captures the situation better than he does:
Most working-class whites have incomes below $50,000; most whites with BAs or more have incomes above $50,000. Most working-class whites rate their financial circumstances as only fair or poor; most college educated whites rate their financial circumstances as good or excellent. Fifty-four percent of working-class whites think of themselves as working class or lower class, compared to only 18 percent of better-educated whites ….
In many respects, these two groups of white voters see the world very differently. For example, 54 percent of college-educated whites think that America’s culture and way of life have improved since the 1950s; 62 percent of white working-class Americans think that it has changed for the worse. Sixty-eight percent of working-class whites, but only 47 percent of college-educated whites, believe that the American way of life needs to be protected against foreign influences. Sixty-six percent of working-class whites, but only 43 percent of college-educated whites, say that discrimination against whites has become as big a problem as discrimination against blacks and other minorities. In a similar vein, 62 percent of working-class whites believe that discrimination against Christians has become as big a problem as discrimination against other groups, a proposition only 38 percent of college educated whites endorse.
This brings us to the issue of immigration. By a margin of 52 to 35 percent, college-educated whites affirm that today’s immigrants strengthen our country through their talent and hard work. Conversely, 61 percent of white working-class voters say that immigrants weaken us by taking jobs, housing, and health care. Seventy-one percent of working-class whites think that immigrants mostly hurt the economy by driving down wages, a belief endorsed by only 44 percent of college-educated whites. Fifty-nine percent of working-class whites believe that we should make a serious effort to deport all illegal immigrants back to their home countries; only 33 percent of college-educated whites agree. Fifty-five percent of working-class whites think we should build a wall along our border with Mexico, while 61 percent of whites with BAs or more think we should not. Majorities of working-class whites believe that we should make the entry of Syrian refugees into the United States illegal and temporarily ban the entrance of non-American Muslims into our country; about two-thirds of college-educated whites oppose each of these proposals.
Opinions on trade follow a similar pattern. By a narrow margin of 48 to 46 percent, college-educated whites endorse the view that trade agreements are mostly helpful to the United States because they open up overseas markets while 62 percent of working-class whites believe that they are harmful because they send jobs overseas and drive down wages.
It is understandable that working-class whites are more worried that they or their families will become victims of violent crime than are whites with more education. After all, they are more likely to live in neighborhoods with higher levels of social disorder and criminal behavior. It is harder to explain why they are also much more likely to believe that their families will fall victim to terrorism. To be sure, homegrown terrorist massacres of recent years have driven home the message that it can happen to anyone, anywhere. We still need to explain why working-class whites have interpreted this message in more personal terms.
The most plausible interpretation is that working-class whites are experiencing a pervasive sense of vulnerability. On every front — economic, cultural, personal security — they feel threatened and beleaguered. They seek protection against all the forces they perceive as hostile to their cherished way of life — foreign people, foreign goods, foreign ideas, aided and abetted by a government they no longer believe cares about them. Perhaps this is why fully 60 percent of them are willing to endorse a proposition that in previous periods would be viewed as extreme: the country has gotten so far off track that we need a leader who is prepared to break some rules if that is what it takes to set things right.
Ok. But Clinton won the popular vote by three million votes and lost the presidency by 70,000 in the antiquated electoral college spread across three states in a fluky election from outer space. But sure, let’s throw out the baby with the bathwater and cater to the fears of this demographic because … well, just because.
It sounds as though he’s saying that Democrats need to get on the Trump train. Maybe they could be a little less crude but that above is a recipe for a kinder and gentler anti-Muslim, law and order, nativist, white nationalist approach. And I guess if the young people and women and Hispanics and African Americans and college educated whites who currently make up the vast majority of the Democratic Party don’t like it well, too bad. Apparently, every election will always feature that 70,000 vote spread that simply cannot be overcome unless we trash our values and betray the future.
By the way — if you really want to cater to the fears and resentments of whites who voted for Trump, you’d better add guns, gays and abortion to this mix. They believe those issues are destroying their way of life just as much as the Mexicans and the Muslims along with all this “political correctness” that requires decent society to stop using the “N” word and treat women with respect. Better tell the Parkland kids to STFU, get straight and learn CPR and abstinence.
Maybe someone, somewhere could address the fact that these people are being brainwashed by rightwing propaganda day in and day out which might have something to do with the fact that they are all so goddamned afraid of everything. Until that is challenged and dealt with no amount of appeasement to their paranoia will change anything other than demoralize the existing Democratic base and turn young people apathetic. There is always something for these wingnut demagogues to turn into “the other.”
I’m sorry these white people feel so afraid of people who don’t look like them. I have a cure. Turn off Fox and Rush Limbaugh. They’ll feel safer and more secure almost immediately.
*Standard disclaimer: of course Democrats should offer policies that do benefit these people and their families. But catering to their prejudices won’t put food on their tables or give their kids a future. That’s why rich selfish Republicans do it.
.