Do you REALLY want to understand Trumpers and white working-class voters? Please read this. Please.

[DetlefK]

Hunter S. Thompson wrote the novel "Hell's Angels" in 1966 after spending some time with the motorcycle gang.

https://www.thenation.com/article/this-political-theorist-predicted-the-rise-of-trumpism-his-name-was-hunter-s-thompson/

Most people read Hell’s Angels for the lurid stories of sex and drugs. But that misses the point entirely. What’s truly shocking about reading the book today is how well Thompson foresaw the retaliatory, right-wing politics that now goes by the name of Trumpism. After following the motorcycle guys around for months, Thompson concluded that the most striking thing about them was not their hedonism but their “ethic of total retaliation” against a technologically advanced and economically changing America in which they felt they’d been counted out and left behind. Thompson saw the appeal of that retaliatory ethic. He claimed that a small part of every human being longs to burn it all down, especially when faced with great and impersonal powers that seem hostile to your very existence. In the United States, a place of ever greater and more impersonal powers, the ethic of total retaliation was likely to catch on.

...

But though Thompson’s depiction of an alienated, white, masculine working-class culture—one that is fundamentally misunderstood by intellectuals—is not the only one out there, it was the first. And in some ways, it is still the best psychological study of those Americans often dismissed as “white trash” or “deplorables.”

Thompson’s Angels were mostly working-class white men who felt, not incorrectly, that they had been relegated to the sewer of American society. Their unswerving loyalty to the nation— the Angels had started as a World War II veterans group—had not paid them any rewards or won them any enduring public respect. The manual-labor skills that they had learned and cultivated were in declining demand. Though most had made it through high school, they did not have the more advanced levels of training that might lead to economic or professional security. “Their lack of education,” Thompson wrote, “rendered them completely useless in a highly technical economy.” Looking at the American future, they saw no place for themselves in it.

...

Their skills were outdated; their knowledge was insubstantial; their powers were inferior. There was no rational way to argue that they were better workers or citizens than the competition; the competition was effectively over, and Angels had lost. The standards by which they had been built had been definitively eclipsed.

...

It’s not hard to see in the demographics, the words, and the behavior of Trump supporters an ethic of total retaliation at work. These are men and women who defend their vote by saying things like: “I just wanted people to know that I’m here, that I count.” These are men and women whose scorn of “political correctness” translates into: “You can’t make me talk the way that you want me to talk, even if that way of talking is nicer and smarter and better.” These are men and women whose denials of climate change are gleeful denials of scientific expertise in a world where scientific experts have unquestioned intellectual respect and social status. These are men and women who seemed to applaud the incompetence of Trump’s campaign because competence itself is associated with membership in the elite.

Thompson would want us to see this: These are men and women who know that, by all intellectual and economic standards, they cannot win the game. So whether it be out of self-protection or an overcompensation for their own profound sense of shame, they lash out at politicians, judges, scientists, teachers, Wall Street, universities, the media, legislatures—even at elections. They are not interested in contemplating serious reforms to the system; they are either too pessimistic or too disappointed to believe that is possible. So the best they can do is adopt a position of total irreverence: to show they hate the players and the game.

...

Added by later edit:
While many commentators say Trump will have to bring back jobs or vibrancy to places like the Rust Belt if he wants to continue to have the support of people who voted for him, Thompson’s account suggests otherwise. Many if not most Trump supporters long ago gave up on the idea that any politician, even someone like Trump, can change the direction the wind is blowing. Even if he fails to bring back the jobs, Trump can maintain loyalty in another way: As long as he continues to offend and irritate elites, and as long as he refuses to play by certain rules of decorum—heaven forfend, the president-elect says ill-conceived things on Twitter!—Trump will still command loyalty. It’s the ethic, not the policy, that matters most.






--------------

- Some RW Evangelical recently said that the people want "real" jobs to come back, because "there's no pride in programming". (Programming is hard and takes lots of math-skills. Not everybody can do that. And it looks totally unimpressive from the outside.)

- The job-market gets tougher and tougher, even for those with excellent degrees.

- Increasing automatization means that low-skill jobs will one day simply die out. And the definition of "low-skill job" gets wider and wider with each day.

- I see lots of students who simply have no talent for higher education, no passion for their field of study, no motivation. They would be happier doing something else, but these "something else"-jobs no longer pay well. These students don't want those degrees, but the harsh reality is that they NEED those degrees.










When Trump promised them "Make America Great Again", they heard:
"I promise you to bring back an economy where ordinary, uneducated, hard-working people are high in demand, well-paid and well-respected."

When Clinton promised them "Better Together", they heard:
"I promise you to go forward with a society where everybody is equal, where you still won't be special and where you still will be drowned out by many, many other voices."

[pnwmom]

1. And yet: if not for millions of votes lost to voter suppression, the Russians interference,

and James Comey's fist on the scale, Hillary would have won.

Why do we keep pretending that if only she'd reached out to the correct combination of voters then everything would have been different?

[DetlefK]

4. It was an avalanche of tiny problems.

Voter-suppression, neverending smear-campaigns, Comey, the fatalistic "fuck elections and fuck politicians"-attitude of the white working-class...



I just realized how Clinton could have won the Trump-voters and how the Democrats can win them back in 2020:
A complete overhaul and modernization of the US-infrastructure.
EVERYTHING.
Roads, bridges, electricity-grids, oil-pipelines, internet-cables, railway...
EVERYTHING.

1. That's the kinds of jobs these people are looking for.
2. It would create a SHIT-TON of manual-labor jobs. For many years to come.
3. The infrastructure badly needs this.
4. And the raw-material for this? Must be "Made in America" only.

[pnwmom]

5. Hillary was proposing a major infrastructure program, and with interest rates

so low, now is the perfect time to do it.

But the GOP would have fought it tooth and nail.

Watch DT do it now, with the GOP's help -- except he wants to privatize it at the same time.

[forjusticethunders]

11. It doesn't matter what the Dems propose

As long as the media is rigged against the Left and the Dems refuse to run against the rigged media. Of course, I'm not sure Clinton could have sold the "rigged media" charge the way Bernie or Trump could have and I think we all know why (hint: it has nothing to do with Wall Street or Goldman or emails or speeches)

[NewJeffCT]

23. Rigged Media

Only Republicans can sell a "rigged" media to the general public. They've been repeating that mantra for over 40 years now, so it's ingrained in the national mindset. Democrats can sell Fox News as being rigged to the general public, but they have never been diligent about repeating the mantra about biased corporate media and have given Republicans a 40 year head start. If Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush or John Kasich had won the nomination, they'd also have complained about the rigged media, though they might have called it the liberal media or similar.

if Democrats focused and repeated talking points about the Corporate Media or Right Wing Media, it will still take years to take hold because of that huge head start Republicans have had.

[mercuryblues]

28. I think the

voter suppression played the biggest role. Even with the Trussia interference, Clinton lost important states by such a narrow margin, that if voters were allowed to vote she most likely would have won.

[quakerboy]

88. A query

Is this the first time Republicans have done voter suppression?

Assuming not..

Why did it work against Hillary, but not against Barack or Willaim?

[fishwax]

93. they were empowered by a weakened Voting Rights Activists, for one thing

https://www.thenation.com/article/there-are-868-fewer-places-to-vote-in-2016-because-the-supreme-court-gutted-the-voting-rights-act/

[ananda]

36. The Reeps stole the election.

The Dems have allowed this to happen.

We are ALL complicit.

[uponit7771]

59. Fixing voter suppression, jailing James Comey and fixing hacking is harder work than believing

... our own opinions

[tenorly]

2. A man of true insight.

Bush didn't kill him for nothing.

[treestar]

25. ?

He killed himself.

[KittyWampus]

51. He might have gotten a kick out of the conspiracy theory Bush had him killed though.

[treestar]

53. lol

he would!

[Granny M]

3. Scary, because Trump doesn't have to succeed

or keep any promises to them.

They'll never admit they were wrong to vote for him, because they've completely given up on the country. They're ready to embrace the zombie apocalypse.

[annabanana]

6. ANY apocalypse

.. Many are hanging their hats on the eponymous one... Trump is expected to usher in the Second Coming

[Nay]

34. And a lot of them sense that they, personally, will do fine in the case of social

chaos because they've got stockpiles of guns, ammo, food, etc., and also have a burning desire to rape and pillage. As far as they are concerned, they are perfectly happy to show their 'superiority' by being brownshirts or even simple criminals.

[get the red out]

17. I agree

What Republican has ever done anything for them? And so many vote R time after time. Rush Limbaugh lies to them and tells them liberals are the elites who hate them, while Republicans laugh all the way to the bank.

[brush]

41. Right. They'll keep voting for trump, especially if the repugs finally approve . . .

Last edited Mon Dec 19, 2016, 12:30 PM - Edit history (1)

infrastructure funds that they denied Obama. Game over then as the economy will boom.

The glaring thing that stuck out to me in the OP is that all of the so-called grievances the white working class trump voters have, are the same things people of color have been living with for forever.

Unfortunately the dynamics of race in this country works hard to make sure they don't feel their commonality of grievance with POCs who are a big part of the base of the Dem party. We've all said many times that these people should be voting with us and not against their own economic interests, and of course that's true.

The thing that stops them however is our country's huge weakness, the poison divisiveness of white supremacy, best illustrated by LBJ's quote from back in the day:

"If you can convince the lowest white man that he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket."

The repugs have done that and keep doing it. Trump's campaign is a perfect example of that. You want to feel for these people but is it even possible to get them to stop falling for the okey doke the right keeps fooling them with?

[Granny M]

48. Great quote from LBJ

Standard operating procedure for these thieving republicans, and they keep falling for it and voting against their best interests.

[uponit7771]

60. +1, ... or embrace Russia as long as their lives aren't affected

[TexasProgresive]

7. K&R

Cultural dichotomies seem to be a constant undercurrent in our nation. In the beginning the more industrialized north and the agricultural south. In university cities town and gown or Cutters v Frats ("Breaking Away&quot , educated v. uneducated, urban v. rural, the established v. those who have no future.

If our party would return to its roots and live up to its name, Democratic, it will be once again the party of the people (demos). I believe that our party does stand up for all the people but perception is the name of the game. Somehow there needs to be a way to value those who have been left behind by the cyber revolution.

I don't see a return to heavy industry jobs but perhaps the skills of these men and women could find a place in hand crafted specialty items. I think there is a real pleasure in the making, the use and even the touch of a well thought out finely crafted tool.

This devaluing those who were formerly the backbone of our societies will lead to destruction. We were given a preview in Brexit. It may be ironic that the first salvo fired to end the dominance of capitalism may be the election of the uber capitalist, Donald Trump. When he fails to deliver the potential is for a complete upending of what we have come to know and love/hate. It will not be pretty.

I am not prone to making predictions, but I don't see this ending well without a miracle.

[dembotoz]

8. Interesting

[Stellar]

9. Trump will steal us all blind while his supporters....

are waiting for the horse drawn carriage to come back.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026178841

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. Thank you for posting. Bookmarked, recommended, kicked. . . nt

[HAB911]

12. ordinary, uneducated, hard-working people - TOTAL BULLSHIT

They are too prideful to pick my fruits and vegetables in the field? fuck 'em

I know that doesn't help, but fuck 'em

[treestar]

26. Yep.

[IMG][/IMG]

[uponit7771]

61. Plus, the avg Twitler voter made more money than avg HRC voter

[quakerboy]

89. Have we tried offering a living wage to do that?

I'm guessing that if you offered, say, the guys who spend their lives working to death and lung disease in the coal mines, the opportunity to work in the fields instead, at a similar rate of pay, you'd get takers.


And just for curiosity, are you actually a farmer with fruits and vegetables to be picked?

[HAB911]

92. Not personally, but I can read

While all the delicate snowflakes whine about no jobs,
http://money.cnn.com/2016/09/29/news/economy/american-farm-workers/

http://business.time.com/2012/09/21/bitter-harvest-u-s-farmers-blame-billion-dollar-losses-on-immigration-laws/

https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-06-06/crops-rot-while-trump-led-immigration-backlash-idles-farm-lobby

http://www.agweb.com/article/farmers-brace-for-labor-shortage-under-new-immigration-policy-associated-press/

http://www.wsj.com/articles/on-u-s-farms-fewer-hands-for-the-harvest-1439371802

http://www.voanews.com/a/us-farmers-depend-on-illegal-immigrants-100541644/162082.html

https://mic.com/articles/8272/alabama-illegal-immigrant-crackdown-destroys-farm-business

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/alabama-immigration-law-causing-produce-to-rot-in-the-fields/

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/georgias-new-immigration-law-leading-to-crops-rotting-in-farmers-fields/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/14/alabama-immigration-law-workers

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/06/georgias-harsh-immigration-law-costs-millions-in-unharvested-crops/240774/

[kcr]

13. No thanks

This article showed that the whole argument is really You'd Better Do What the Bullies Want. It's attractive to other bullies and bully wannabes who think the only way to win is to appease them or become them.

[KittyWampus]

54. I don't think that's a valid conclusion. I agree they're bullies. But it seems to me the conclusion

is they need to be given something constructive to do.

But instead, they're give FOX News and Rush to inflame their discontent and anger and fear.

And when Democrats try to get job building legislation through, the Republicans kill it.

Because Republicans benefit from making uneducated white people miserable and then harassing that unhappiness.

[kcr]

66. If you agree they're bullies, then how is my point not valid?

If the OP was a post about giving bullies something constructive to do, then you would have a point. But the OP doesn't even start from the premise that these people are bullies to begin with. That's number one.

Number two, giving bullies something to do is not the same thing as getting them to vote for Dems. They can be the happiest, most constructive bullies in the world. How does that translate to them voting Dem if they're still bullies? See, I don't think so. The only thing that gets them to vote any differently is if they aren't bullies in the first place. It's a fools errand, in other words.

[KittyWampus]

67. You implied we need to do what bullies want. Have a good week!

[Dustlawyer]

14. The biker community is somewhat more diversified now.

Sure there are still factions that hew to the stereotypical biker idea, but most do not. They work their jobs and raise families and ride with their brothers.

Because of law enforcement attacks like the one in Waco/Twin Peaks on this traditionally unsympathetic groups, the bike CLUBS (not gangs) have joined together. You have 1% clubs like the Mongols, Outlaws, and Hell's Angels working with the Guardians of the Children and religious clubs. Law Enforcement wants to profile anyone riding a motorcycle and think they can keep public support because bikers have such a bad image.

These guys do feel left out, by and large, even though many make 6 figure salaries. Many do support Trump because they are tired of the corruption in Washington. They have fallen for the RW media propaganda like many other blue collar and white collar whites.

Our society is leaving everyone behind that isn't already filthy rich. Our political parties have sold out to the big money and to get our support back we need to get rid of the corruption in our campaign finance system!

[radical noodle]

37. I have a few biker friends

Very few, admittedly. In all cases, one person in the family has found good employment and they live fairly comfortably. But part of this does speak of them, as in they hate political correctness in any form because the rules seem to change from day to day. They would prefer a lifestyle more like the wild west where you just shoot the bad guy and go on. They liked that Trump said things that they'd say themselves. The primary reason they refused to support Hillary was that they want NO additional regulations on guns. They don't hunt, but they want their guns and they want them on demand.

[Dustlawyer]

49. You have to be careful with generalizations.

Many I know do hunt, and several I know are Democrats that supported Hillary or Bernie. I will acknowledge that the majority did support Trump, but bikers are not monolithic. One in Seattle is very active in the Democratic Party and has a lot of respect in the national biker community. He has joined with me to explain why the Trumpster is pulling a con on his own supporters. Now that he has named his cabinet, many of them are starting to realize they were duped.

I don't hear them bragging anymore, I hear anger and confusion as to what he is doing nominating other Plutocrats, especially the Goldman Saks guys. This has them wound up more than anything, thought the Russian connections have them worried as well. Many of these guys are veterans and take threats to our sovereignty seriously. Most are still in the denial stage that Trump had anything to do with it. Should some real connection be made tying Trump to Putin, he will lose a lot of them.

Most learned their Republican views while in the military, others from their brothers in their club. Right now they are fed up with the establishment and thought Trump would shake that up.

[radical noodle]

50. I didn't mean it as a generalization

I was speaking about the biker friends I have... and only about them. Sorry that wasn't clearer!

[smirkymonkey]

15. +1000

[The Wizard]

16. Hillary failed to connect with

the white working class on a visceral level. Trump gave them baseball hats. Baseball hats are part of the working class uniform in the south and the rust belt. It's not all that complicated. Of course Russian influence, news for profit, Comey and we're still a nation filled with fearful bigots ensured we got the worst of any candidate in history, The Siberian Candidate, Herr Twitler to lead us into a toxic future.

[BREMPRO]

18. Nail on head. Ding! n/t

[barbtries]

19. i've wondered if trump's actual goal

is retaliatory. he needs to feed off the adoration of his cultists and it drives him absolutely crazy that he is not universally adored. so he'll show us all.
i can't fathom otherwise what drives him. clearly he has no interest in actually governing. a friend says oh it's easy, it's all about the money, and yeah, i agree...but the choices he's making are so destructive that i really wonder if it's not even more than that.

[lastlib]

20. I recall a magazine article I read after Reagan got elected.....

...and the quote I remember from it was, "Reagan was elected because he had the alpha waves of a turnip, not in spite of it."

I'm convinced we are witnessing the "dumbification" of America--and it may well be our undoing as a nation.

[noel711]

21. If Trump voters were only from that demographic, Hillary would have won.

This is a good perspective into the roots of many Trump voters, but it's not all his voters.

I know college graduates with good jobs, good finances, good futures... voted for Trump.
I know just regular, nice 'guys' who voted Trump.
I know educated ethnic minorities who bought it..

Much of his appeal boils down to lack of critical thinking..
the comfort level of many middle class folks.. leads them to believe and trust
in FOX news, and mainstream media. Trump was the headline for over a year,
24/7... those who adore the Kardashians, who live celebrity culture.... think it's the way to go.

Sad but true..

[progressoid]

22. Yup. n/t

[underpants]

24. Marking for later read

[Achilleaze]

27. A good read

[MFM008]

29. They had no sympathy for us

By voting for the maggot.

So no.

[BeyondGeography]

30. Precious snowflakes come in all shapes and sizes

Some are more dangerous to themselves, and us, than others though, I'll give you that.

[BumRushDaShow]

31. Here is where I disagree

"they lash out at..."

The above and the list that follows, is not who this group has "lashed out at". The "who" happens to be the least among us in this country - POC, immigrants, and anyone who does not look, think, or believe like them. And their means for doing this is through electing those who agree with attacking, suppressing, and marginalizing anyone NOT THEM.

[7962]

32. No you dont "NEED" that degree. You can make good money in trade work.

Many jobs are unfilled because everyone is in search of that "degree" that may or may not get them a good job. There are still plenty of jobs that cant be outsourced and are well paying. Do a google search for stories about company heads lamenting the shortage of skilled technical workers.
Most of the wealthiest people I know dont have college degrees. What they DID have was the training to work in a trade and eventually open their own business. you cant outsource auto repair, construction, real estate, plumbing, HVAC, etc.
And much of this training can be done at the local technical school in 1 or 2 yrs, and not cost an arm and a leg. And in some areas, local businesses will pay for all or part of that training

[forjusticethunders]

33. Votech has been gutted in this country so people have no idea the trades can be so lucrative

Also, you don't need a degree for a LOT of IT technician jobs, though a degree gives you a leg up in that field. But you could get all your basic certs in a year.

[brush]

44. Good info. This should be a part of the DEM platform and used in stump speeches

College is not for everybody.

[Cosmocat]

58. YEP!

business school, tech or trade schools, forms of certifications ...

[7962]

68. I agree nt

[uponit7771]

62. WHO .... doesn't 'need' that degree?! You see the UE rate for non degree PoC? Come on people

... PoC get a degree to match the non degree whites in this country and yes it is racism .... FACTS.... bear this out with the MIT resume name study

[7962]

69. You dont need the degree regardless of your color. Read my post

What you need is training in a good field that pays well. And as I noted, many of these fields dont require a degree, because there isnt even one to get. I dont see many colleges offering degrees in auto repair, plumbing, roofing, etc. You really think a non-white person needs a degree in something else to get hired as an A/C repairman? No. But keep pushing that kid to college where he very may well waste his time and a ton of money.
The problem is that almost ALL high schools only encourage college and never bring up the alternatives for people who arent college material, like myself.

[KT2000]

83. so true

my nephew can only find older men to work in his shop. They do transmission work for large equipment.
A local man is doing very well with a business that offers small remodels and handyman house repair type jobs.
Our small town has several opening for auto repair.
Manufacturing is moving out of the US but like you say - there are many jobs that cannot be outsourced.

[7962]

84. I bet there are many people like you with personal experience like this.

In my town, a good example is one of the small engine repair shops. if you take a mower or chainsaw in there, expect it to be there 3 weeks. They are THAT busy; year round.
And as you mention, transmission work is NOT cheap! There are so many areas that pay well & only require the ability to do the work.
I noticed the "Dirty Jobs" guy Mike Rowe has been speaking out on this lately. And the guy who played Cliff on "Cheers" had a show that put the spotlight on trade jobs. We need more of that.

[littlemissmartypants]

35. Time to organize.

Interesting article.
Thanks for the post DetlefK.

[we can do it]

38. Blame minorities for their own short comings.

Refusing to look at what is actually happening. Relying on only "newz that fits their views".
Continually voting against their own best interest.
They don't get a pass from me.

[NBachers]

39. By all means, let's try to connect with the "Them Ivry Leaguers can't tell me whot to do" population

[Land Shark]

40. Yes! It goes like this

1. Large population of disaffected working class people, should vote Dem.
2. Dems become increasingly corporate and don't explain causes of misery to these folks.
3. Over the years, the only voice continually "explaining" the misery are right wing voices claiming affirmative action, foreign immigration etc are to blame. Eventually, most settle on that false narrative because being bewildered is unsustainable.
4. These folks as a class now have on their political tombstone "deplorable and irredeemable racist, sexist, xenophobic homophobe."
5. Working class highly resents this label that, while it has some substantial evidentiary support, doesn't fairly describe the genesis of their anger or what they are all about AT BOTTOM.

And dems can get them back by reconnecting to working class roots. It doesn't require appeals to racism to do so, but it does require a populist understanding.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

42. According to Thompson these people would kill you or give you a serious beating if they could.

At the end of Hell’s Angels, having spent months with the motorcycle guys, Thompson finally gets stomped by them. For some offense he doesn’t understand (and which he probably didn’t commit), Thompson gets punched, bloodied, kicked in the face and in the ribs, spat at and pissed on. He limps off to a hospital in the dead of night, alone and afraid. Only in that moment does Thompson realize that as a journalist (and therefore a member of the elite), he could not possibly be a true friend of the Angels. Wear leather and ride a motorcycle though he might, Thompson stood on the side of intellectual and cultural authority. And that finally made him, despite his months of good-timing with the Angels, subject to their retaliatory impulses. The ethic of retaliation is total, Thompson comes to realize. There is nothing partial about it. It ends with violence.

...


Let us take Thompson’s cautions seriously, then, so that this time we Berkeley types are not naive about what we face. Otherwise, we’re all liable to get stomped.

I am under no illusion that the Deplorables wouldn't do us physical harm, if they could.

[Land Shark]

86. I live work and socialize witb "deplorables"

And deplorables is fightin' words that make it worse, the only question is what happens without it. My guess is the same but less. Living in the second reddest state i have little choice but to get along.

[Maru Kitteh]

65. Get them back? The Deplorables can sit and spin on the cosmic utensil until they rot, TYVM.

You think the party hasn't explained the causes of misery?

You think these people listen? You think they give a flying fuck about the hard truth, the unmovable realities of automation, changing energy infrastructure and global trade?

The fact is that henceforth they WILL have to do something a little more complicated than waking up while being white to earn respect and a comfortable living. It certainly doesn't have to be a four year degree, but it will require some manner of effort.

So yeah, you march right out there, oh precious and enlightened with your tired, meaningless, dead-horse campaign buzzwords and you go ahead and explain to them the causes of misery.

That'll fix EVERYTHING.

Oh, and please do post it to YouTube. We wanna see how it goes.

[colsohlibgal]

43. Lots Of Truth From The Good Doc

I saw a lot of that in the recent Town Hall on Chris Hayes show. It is not all the Trump voters but it describes a large percentage of them.

HRC is going to win the popular vote by close to 3 million votes. So her loss had more to do with the Electoral College scam and hanky panky with the vote in key states.

But Thompson has nailed a big percentage of Trumpsters. Hunter got it, his compilations of his political writings over the years is illuminating, insightful, and funny.

Too bad he isn't still around, he would have gone after this fraud with gusto.

[JTFrog]

45. We are at the point of no return it seems. Like the opening scene of Idocracy.

And then where are we headed? Will we become a world of idiots?

I don't think we should cater or pander to the Trumpers when we know what the outcome will be.

It's all a moot point now. The scale has already been tipped.

[jalan48]

46. These are racist criminals. Men who choose to live "outside the law" and fund their existence

through criminal activity. Would we say the same thing about the Mafia?

[ismnotwasm]

47. Now THIS is interesting

If I read that book it was years ago--anecdotally, I was raised in proximity to Gypsy Jokers--they were violent, pimps, drug dealings etc. but had a powerful and admirable "brotherhood" ethos. Not HA's, of course, but at the time, a number of them would have been of that generation.

My Biker Trump voting BIL is racist as fuck, yet does a Christmas Run every year for needy children, and helps his community whenever need arises. He hated Hillary because he believes RW lies--he's the type that makes 'ape' jokes about the Obama's. He always finds a job, but he has had his struggles. Another Biker, far younger generation, I know, told me flat out that Hillary 'should be shot' before taking the presidency--this sentiment prevailed in a number of rougher, youngish and white types I know Another biker couple, who are friends of mine--went for Bernie, in a damn near fanatical way, also hate Hillary, and are deeply into conspiracy--much like JPR types. Yet they went and lent their support to Standing Rock. Still, they are fairly well off and white and in rural Arizona.

To extrapolate Hunters book to today's politics is a great way to introduce what's going on. Now I have another book to add to my reading list.

[yodermon]

55. your post reminds me of the movie "Crash"

the 2016 election version update, lol.

[ismnotwasm]

72. Heh!

[uponit7771]

63. +1, "Still, they are fairly well off and white and in rural Arizona. " this is what's not making ...

... sense to me the "we're white and oppressed" intimations by these articles.

Most of the people who voted for twitler were well off

[ismnotwasm]

73. They are actually on a tropical vacation as I speak

Must be nice...

[onecaliberal]

52. Shitler isn't offending elites, he's attacking those people who voted for him with his actions.

the rhetoric he spews bears no relationship to his actions.

[ellie]

56. I understand what you are saying

but I am having trouble empathizing with these people. Because of their election temper tantrum, the world may not exist in four years.

It is the epitome of white privilege for these people to think they are special when there is no indication that they are special. No jobs? What about the trades? Plumbing, heating, carpentry, etc.? No one is owed anything. They were left behind by technology? Welcome to the club! So have many people. You adapt, you overcome. It is just so much whiny victim-hood from these white working class, salt of the earth types, I can't stand it.

[uponit7771]

64. +1, I'm really sick of hearing how non PoC in America have it bad... fuck, we have it worse always

... I've never understand the whoa is whites articles.

If blacks or Hispanics did something similar these articles would be in supportin of rounding us up and internment camps and shit

[Raggaemon]

57. "white working-class" ?

How come there's so much emphasis on working-class white's, do they represent a more pure slice of life in America, is there some type of gold standard that places those working-class people higher up in the caste system, are their hopes and aspirations radically different from other working-class Americans?

I have a hard time understanding how this works, most working-class folks want good paying jobs, a decent place to live, food in the fridge, and a feeling of relative stability, how come its the white one's everybody seems to feel they have to cater to above the rest?

Is there an expectation, is there a feeling of privilege, that these folks are somehow most deserving?

Feeling left out and marginalized are things large numbers of "racial minorities", women and disabled workers have known for centuries, even when they were/are educated.

By the way ... who coined the phrase, "racial resentment", and how come it's typically used to explain the anger and frustrations felt by white's?

[haele]

70. That's because during the 50's, 60's, and 70's, that class was the majority voters.

Post WWII Union Jobs and Agricultural work, where a semi-skilled labor job plus the GI Bill could get you a nice house, a car, and put your kids through college while the wife could stay at home or work part-time for pin money.
Where you could be land-rich on the family homestead and bank-account poor, and not really feel poor except for not being able to buy "things" all the time like the doctor's kid at school could do. Where "working hard" at two menial jobs could actually pay rent and provide food for the family.
Back then, minority vote suppression meant the white working class had some power, if they chose to use it. They also had the minor privilege of getting more positive attention and respect than a minority constituent; they automatically had the attention of policy makers and people running for office. White Working Class was "Real America", Leave it to Beaver style. "How does it play in Peoria?" was the default unit of measure for policy.

The children who grew up in this class, the 40 - 50 year olds, are the ones who now feel left out. And they are still the majority of people who vote. So yeah, unfair as it is that they still want to live in some mythical Eisenhower past, with all of its attendant recessions and social stratification, they're going to be a target for votes. Until the White Working Class drops down to less than 50% of the population - probably in about 20 years. Of course, with voter suppression and racial-bias policing causing minorities to disproportionately lose their voting rights to whites that commit the same crimes at the same rates, it might be slowed down some; so we'll have to deal with 30 more years of national policy focused on this TV-land Pleasantville White Working Class fiction.

Haele

[AtheistCrusader]

71. No pride in elegant, functional code?

Well, fuck that guy.

[LenaBaby61]

81. The fact remains Clinton was a massively flawed candidate.

That fat, woman-beating Nazi Bannon was was going to take the knives out vs Bernie. Not only talking about the Commie, socialist, DC 25 year insider crapola, and showing tape of Bernie with and praising Communist leaders, but Bannon was 'allegedly' going to brand Bernie a Pedophile/child hater (Per Bernie's vote against the Amber Alert Bill which outlawed some child porn), and rapist, (Using Bernie's OWN 1972 essay passages against him). That so-called liberal media which is now 100% corporate would have covered the more salacious aspects of Bernie's campaign, and we know tRump would have projected that pedophile/rapist meme on Bernie 24/7 using all of that FREE $2 Billion dollars worth of air time he was gifted. Then you had voter suppression/disenfranchisement, voter cross-checking in most red states affecting Dems/minorities, voter purging/voter cross checking also mostly affecting Dems/minorities in at least 2 of 3 traditional Dem EC states (WI, MI, PA.) where Hillary "somehow" lost combined by 58,000 votes. And, you had tRump's puppet-master leading the cyber-hacking team from russia. tRumputin in an act of treason actually asked his bestie to find those emails of Hillary's. No telling what FakiLeaks would have come up with (per bogus emails from Bernie). Also, Bernie was never really veted by the media, and when they'd have start vetting him, as the Dem nominee, those high popularity numbers would have fallen--he'd have been dragged into the mud, his message drowned out, and him smeared into next year by that camp over there in tRumputinland. Popularity wouldn't have meant much--look at tRumps horrible numbers WHILE running and currently.

Bernie wouldn't have been immune to what Bannon and tRumputin would have thrown at him. How woulf those voting for Bernie have gotten past the treasonous and massive amounts of voter suppression/disenfranchisement and cyber-hacking? Pravda, russian bots, fake news, Fakileaks and a pro-trumputin media and especially putin-lead cyber-hacking would have more than likely taken him down as well. NO Dem, not FDR, Kennedy or Pres. Obama could have gotten past the massive amounts of voter suppression/disenfranchisement and cyber-hacking involved in this years GE.

[kacekwl]

75. Best explanation I have read re : trump supporters.

Still doesn't excuse them in my mind just shows how weak they actually are.

[Delphinus]

76. Wow!

Those last two quotes, what they heard, are telling.

[heaven05]

77. yeah, yeah yeah

on this intellectual BS. The hell's angels were in addition to all mentioned above to explain why white working class idiots/racists went for the trumpfuhrer and his message of making ameriKKKa white again were goddamn racist to the bone also.

[Ghost OF Trotsky]

78. Well said

There will be plenty of people to say it was the fault of Russia, the media or racism and/or sexism. And those things are probably right in part. But the reality deep, systemic on ongoing reason is, I think, what you allude to. Comey, the shitty campaign Hillary's people ran, good old fashioned sexism, hacking may account for a few percent over the difference between defeat and victory, but the huge body of votes that would have gone to Trump regardless of voter suppression, hacking shenanigans of the gender of either candidate are partly explained by what Thompson observed.

[BadGimp]

79. Great Post!

[rumdude]

80. Way too broad a brush - nt

[pbmus]

82. Yea well the stupid fuckers got this..

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[MountCleaners]

85. I come from a white working-class background...

And I don't think anyone needs to learn anything from anyone. When you grow up in a community where people don't have money, the schools suffer and a culture develops that is suspicious of education, or anything outside your blue collar bubble.

My dad was a Democrat, my grandparents were proud union Democrats, I can't make excuses for alleged "working class" people who refuse to become civilized and preserve their defensive "dog eat dog" culture as ECONOMICALLY they become more middle class. And I've seen these Trump supporters, they drive expensive trucks or ride expensive motorcycles and don't live a truly working-class lifestyle. In fact, being truly disadvantaged is embarrassing to these people. Upwardly mobile TRASH is more like what they are.

I grew up with guns, too, and guns aren't necessarily "working class". Neither is living in a rural area. My Democrat grandfather was both rural AND a gun owner. He would find today's political gun culture disgraceful. Used to be, if you had guns, you didn't get emotional, you didn't make a huge spectacle out of the fact you had them. You didn't indulge in this trashy, aggressive culture the gun people have today. These people just lie, full stop.

[pbmus]

87. Well said..and welcome to DU

Especially like the" upwardly mobile trash". ,

[duffyduff]

90. This has nothing to do what happened to this country.

The economy had nothing to do with this election. Period.

Stop peddling a meme that is false.

Furthermore, the notion skills and automation have anything to do with the destruction of living standards needs to die because it is a neoliberal lie trying to divert attention from the true cause, which is deliberate policies from D.C. that were designed to destroy living standards because of the Beltway's idiotic embrace of Milton Friedman crackpot economics. It started in the 1980s and continues to the present.

Read the Barlett and Steele books published in 1992, 1994, 1996, and 2013 to know the truth. The authors received a Pulitzer for their work for the Philadelphia Inquirer and their series formed the basis of their excellent books.

[Boomerproud]

91. The so-called "Silent Majority" that I saw carry signs at Trump rallys were never silent

nor a majority. They do not care about me and my values so why should I care about theirs? Common ground? No.

[HAB911]

94. WOW even Uday & Qusay can't get poor white trash to work

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028390353