Great article. I only wish some of this more red state sentiment would make its way into California, where I live and appreciate so much of what the state has to offer. I think there are many non-progressives here, so hopefully these forces take root.
Why are some people unable to get it through their heads that people are capable of being extremely nice and friendly in face-to-face interactions, but support policies that are massively harmful?
Yeah. A lot of people who see the government primarily as a vehicle for their economic aspirations voted for Trump, who they thought would enable their aspirations. If a person is not repulsed by his hatred of so many different people, and even whole regions of the world, and they think their economic fortunes will rise because he seemed so devoted to making rich people richer, they may be happy to join him. It is much easier to do if you are surrounded by people who don’t care about his hatred but perhaps even share it.
His government will not be a vehicle for their economic aspirations, though. He is enriching himself instead of them. Oh, well. They’ve still got the hatred to look forward to, I guess? Unfortunately for their kids, the enjoyment of that won’t last long enough to carry them through life and all they’ll have is the diminished economic prospects.
I’m not sure whether you mean Democrats or Bernie-crats when you say progressives. But what strikes me is that any thought of racial justice (or justice for women, honestly) seems to have fallen out of the equation on left and right. That’s what I feel passionate about, as do my Dem friends in red states. But lately that feels like a third rail, as I hear about Dems somehow not doing enough for the working class, from the left. And yes, a backlash against diversity equity and inclusion from some pretty surprising places.
Great article. I only wish some of this more red state sentiment would make its way into California, where I live and appreciate so much of what the state has to offer. I think there are many non-progressives here, so hopefully these forces take root.
Why are some people unable to get it through their heads that people are capable of being extremely nice and friendly in face-to-face interactions, but support policies that are massively harmful?
Yeah. A lot of people who see the government primarily as a vehicle for their economic aspirations voted for Trump, who they thought would enable their aspirations. If a person is not repulsed by his hatred of so many different people, and even whole regions of the world, and they think their economic fortunes will rise because he seemed so devoted to making rich people richer, they may be happy to join him. It is much easier to do if you are surrounded by people who don’t care about his hatred but perhaps even share it.
His government will not be a vehicle for their economic aspirations, though. He is enriching himself instead of them. Oh, well. They’ve still got the hatred to look forward to, I guess? Unfortunately for their kids, the enjoyment of that won’t last long enough to carry them through life and all they’ll have is the diminished economic prospects.
I’m not sure whether you mean Democrats or Bernie-crats when you say progressives. But what strikes me is that any thought of racial justice (or justice for women, honestly) seems to have fallen out of the equation on left and right. That’s what I feel passionate about, as do my Dem friends in red states. But lately that feels like a third rail, as I hear about Dems somehow not doing enough for the working class, from the left. And yes, a backlash against diversity equity and inclusion from some pretty surprising places.