Why does the GOP get votes from lower and middle income voters?

[Swede]

I mean,they must see this tax cut as a fiction for them by now.

[eek]

1. Thanks for this query!

I'm stymied and have wanted a non-crazyperson answer.

anyone?

And please no "because they're stupid arsholes" type answers. Purty please?

[FlashHarry]

10. Actually, I think it's a question of curiosity.

I get the impression that many--if not most--lower-income GOP supporters simply don't understand the ramifications of Bush's policy as it pertains to them--and, what's more, don't care.

Do you think people should pay less tax? After all, it's your money! Well who on earth would say 'no' to that???
</sarcasm>

[bearfartinthewoods]

19. reporting in from the midst of republia....

it isn't just the economy stupid.

less than rich people have opinions on issues too you know.

they want to keep their guns and control of their kids.
they want to feel good about being an American and say the pledge, including the part about god.
they know their neighbors and extend that familiarity to their state and prefer to be controlled , if controlled they must be by their neighbors rather than DC.
they associate the trash on tv that with the loose moral attitude of the hollywood liberals.
and they really hate being ignored or dismissed as fly over country.

[eileen_d]

30. yes! particularly the "want to feel good about being an American"

It's incredibly frustrating to me, but so many Republicans I know (of any class) would rather condone the crap perpetrated by the Bush administration by insisting that America is superior, and therefore right, that to engage in any kind of criticism of America.

[MISSDem]

53. I agree bearfart - all of the above plus, at

least in my state, Republican is code for anti-minority.

[izzie]

12. Well here is one and it was from my son. Bush maybe right.

We maybe safer for all he is doing.This is a swing away from the way he has been voting.He always starts with I know you do not think this, Mom.

[IrateCitizen]

14. Want a detailed answer? Read "The Politics of Meaning"...

by Michael Lerner.

It's not a simple question, and too often gets oversimplified (and outright wrong!) answers like, "They're stupid," or "They're sheep" or something like that.

[StClone]

24. I think that is the whole point

If, if, if people were well-educated and involved there would be no way that the tax cuts would be passed. Slice it, dice it, call me elitist (way off the mark) but the truth is Americans DO NOT have a working knowledge from which to operate.

I am the only college educted member of my family and it kills me to see the propaganda of Rush, Bush and the think tanks work through the ranks.

The rich may be as ill-informed but they benefit from the misinformation and are only to happy to float along with the lies.

[Rose Siding]

2. Anachronistic stereotypes

AKA ignorance, imo

[libertad]

3. I spoke to a low to moderate income repub last weekend who said that he

supports the repub party because the Democrats support raising taxes to pay for social programs. He believes each American should support him or herself with no help from the government. Those who rely on "handouts" are just lazy. Oh, we also want to take away their guns.

[elfwitch]

18. my father-in-law

He is a cop, so you know he doesn't make much money. He is also a veteran. In spite of all the cut-backs on police and verteran's aid he still insists on supporting the Repugs. It doesn't make any sense to me. The one issue that keeps him on board with the (R) set is the gun issue. We try to tell him about all the horrible things THEY are doing to this country and he flatly refuses to be swayed. Some people just cannot be saved from themselves.

[LeahMira]

45. Did he learn any history?

because the Democrats support raising taxes to pay for social programs. He believes each American should support him or herself with no help from the government. Those who rely on "handouts" are just lazy.

Too bad there are so few folks still able to remember the Depression, when there were no Democratic "social programs" and people had to support themselves with no help from the government. The people who didn't make it weren't lazy and they weren't spendthrifts.

BTW, my mom told me that a lot of the Depression had to do with buying stock on a margin and selling short. She said there were laws enacted against that sort of thing now, but meanwhile I can guarantee you that none of the people who suffered through the Depression were the people buying on a margin or selling short in the stock market! We know which folks were playing the market, and it wasn't the average American worker or his family!

[sandnsea]

69. While he collects his food stamps...

lives in low income housing and has state medical for his kids. Not necessarily your guy, but I know a few like that. I think they believe that if there weren't so many taxes their bosses could pay them more and they wouldn't need 'hand-outs'. Somebody needs to show them a picture book of life pre-60's.

[NoMoreRedInk]

86. My dad is a Vietnam Veteran....

who doesn't use Veterans' programs and doesn't want to pay for them.

He also owns several fixer-upper homes (in his retirement) that he constantly fixes and maintains and rents to low income folks. They get pretty well trashed with every renter.

Therefore, he thinks no Veterans should need programs and all low income people are sorry (and undeserving of his hard-earned tax money).

I think the Low and Middle Income Repug mindset is to take your own situation and assume it is the same for everyone else. So based on his own very narrow view of the world, my dad knows what's best for the world and its for the sorry lazy people to bootstrap themselves up to success.

[dkamin]

4. 4 words

they control the media.

[jeter]

5. It's because of the culture war

guns, god and gays.

[Beer Snob-50]

6. Low and moderate income people

are generally not higher educated people and as such are the perfect targets for the conservative simplistic answer to all of the worlds problems.

[IrateCitizen]

9. What an absolutely elitist answer!

And with thinking like this, we wonder why working class people have left the Democratic Party.

We have MANY working class people here on DU who would gladly differe with your opinion in this matter.

[trogdor]

33. ...and yet...

...as a group, it is the truth. Yes, there are people out there with Masters degrees who make less than $30K/yr., but the majority are indeed ignorant enough to fall for conservative baloney. Since conservatives own the media, this is what they're exposed to, day in and day out.

Note I said ignorant, not stupid. Ignorance is something one can do something about. Stupidity is forever.

It is a fact that most people won't read anything written higher than a sixth grade reading level. That eliminates the New York Times or any of the top echelon of newspapers. You would be appalled to know how most New Yorkers get most or all of their news from the Post, not the Times.

I've read the Post, and it seems to be written at the fourth grade reading level, IMO. Just dumbed down enough not to insult most people's intelligence. It's easier to read on the subway, too.

THINK ABOUT IT. What other explanation could there be for the effectiveness of these classic GOP hits:

"Candidate X (D) wants to scare you into thinking we Republicans want to take away your Social Security"
"Candidate Y (D) is just another 'tax and spend' liberal who will raise your taxes."
"Incumbent candidate Z (D) hates the military."
"Candidate A (D) wants to keep God out of our schools."
"Former Governor B (D) is soft on crime."

You've heard these so often you don't bother to roll your eyes anymore, but they will be just as effective next time they're used as they were last time. Why is that? Ignorance and fear. As long as the GOP can count on the ignorance and fear of common people to lend unearned credibility to chestnuts like these, they'll continue using them over and over and over again.

[IrateCitizen]

34. But yours is a much more thought-out answer, Why

And I very much agree with you on it. However, the overwhelming context in which the term "ignorance" has been thrown around on this thread is one that tends toward a view of working class people as lesser than they are.

As for the "Post" phenomenon, you don't have to tell me about it. I take a 55 min train ride to Manhattan every day, and am amazed at all of the supposedly "educated" folks from Mt. Kisco and Chappaqua who are reading that piece of trash!

But not all hope is lost. I would suggest that you take a look at The Politics of Meaning by Michael Lerner for a prescription of breaking through this hold of ignorance and fear that the GOP has on the working class.

[trogdor]

39. Well, people kinda assume you know what they mean here.

At least I think so. When you read my other flame, please don't take it too personally. It's not a repeat, it's more about how Republicans prefer us to be ignorant, and how they do what they can to keep us that way.

[Yupster]

66. Well most of the groups you mentioned are

the core Democratic voters, so be careful about the insults.

Less educated and poorer workers vote much more Demiocratic than Republican.

[Beer Snob-50]

78. I did not mean

to disparge any group with my comments. Yes, many in that group are core democrats but all I am saying is that many with only a high school education or less are the ones that love the conservative message. If I offended anyone, mea culpa, mea culpa,mea culpa

[IrateCitizen]

7. Because they champion "values", and we abandon it.

Lower and middle income people feel under attack for the past 30 years. Any sense of community they had around where they lived has been disintegrated. Their jobs have been shipped overseas. They're working longer hours for less money and benefits. Their kids' schools are going downhill due to many factors. They can't spend as much time with their families as they used to.

In short, they're looking for a sense of "meaning" in their lives -- a sense of belonging and being valued.

The Republicans are great at capitalizing on this. They speak all the time of "protecting family values" or "protecting children" and so on. They give these folks people to blame for their troubles -- liberals, homosexuals, feminists, immigrants, etc.

Of course, most of the Republicans' policies merely exacerbate this loss of meaning, but at least they speak to it. The Left avoids any talk of "values" or "meaning" like the plague. And in many instances, the Democratic Party has adopted some positions that should be exploited against the Republicans but instead have been abandoned (like their support for corporate-managed trade with NAFTA, et. al.).

Until we are able to articulate a clear vision that makes people feel valued, that gives them a sense of true meaning in their lives, we will continue to lose to the Republicans who at least talk of those issues even while undermining them.

A great book on this is The Politics of Meaning by Michael Lerner.

[monkeyboy]

13. Excellent post

To add to this, there's something I like to call the "Macho Factor", that says "Liberals are pussies, and I don't wanna be associated with that...". Also liberals, unfortunately have become rather elitist in their views of the lower classes. I see it here all the time on DU, where people talk about the "Walmart crowd". (Not that I'm not guilty of that myself, but it certainly is a factor)

[Bandit]

16. I think you are right on

Right now all we are doing is saying Bush* bad vote for us. We are not laying out a positive view of how we think America should and could be. We are allowing Rush et al to define liberals as being a detriment to society and the cause of all America's wrongs. We need a positive message and we need it yesterday.

[LeahMira]

44. Another fan?

It's good to see another fan of Michael Lerner.

Here's an article of his that's on the web and that I like. http://www.tikkun.org/magazine/index.cfm/action/tikkun/issue/tik0309/article/030903a.html
People may want to glide over the "promotion" of the Tikkun community a bit - or they may want to learn more about it... who am I to say? But the article does help to explain why so many people "think Republican" these days.

Michael Moore also has a good chapter in his latest book that IMO offers some good insights. I can't find it on the web any more, but it was about the Horatio Alger myths and how people buy into the idea that if they just "do the right things" and "work hard enough" eventually they will get their reward... all evidence to the contrary.

I do like Michael Lerner's ideas about the fact that the Democratic party and/or progressives in general are reluctant to mention G-d. Obviously, the right wing is all over mentioning G-d, but for some reason we on the left are reluctant to admit that our activism and idealism spring from deeply held values that are spiritual values. I believe that my Creator does not want me to murder or to steal, but that my Creator does want me to share what I have with anyone who is in need and to offer comfort to those who are in pain. I also believe that my Creator intends that I be a responsible steward of the rest of creation, i.e. an environmentalist. When I marched in DC, someone questioned whether or not I should be there on Saturday, and my answer was that I believed (and still believe) that what I was doing there was holy work and that it was quite appropriate for the Sabbath.

Now, I do realize that not everyone believes in G-d and that's fine. I sometimes have my own doubts. But I do see very well reasoned and intellectual arguments put forward that ignore mentioning some basic premises, and I think the premises are rooted in our values and ideals and that our values and ideals are spiritual expressions.

Whether anyone believes in G-d or not, I wonder why we of the liberal persuasion are so reluctant to admit that we hold some things to be sacred. And, not to single her out, but when I read Mari333's "rant" about her son, I saw in that article something very sacred and holy and valuable... a mother's desperate love for her child.

So maybe we need not be reluctant to admit that we also believe?

[IrateCitizen]

46. "The Politics of Meaning" was one of the best books I ever read

After reading that, I became a fan of his REAL quick. I never would have even found it, either -- except I picked it up at a yard sale last spring for something like $0.50.

You're right that it is important for people of faith on the left to promote their faith. Not as a means of "conversion", but as a means to counter the stranglehold that the right has on all "God talk".

I belong to a diverse UU fellowship. In our congregation, we have Christians, Jews, Hindus, Pagans, Atheists, Wiccans -- you name it! Somehow, we find a way to exist as a community of "faith" in spite of all of these differences. One of our more "active" members is an atheist who will sign emails, "In faith (although I have no idea in what)".

Personally, I believe in a higher power, call it "God" or "Creator" or what have you. And it is a major source from which I draw upon my convictions. I shouldn't be afraid to say that, but you wouldn't know it from some of the hostility exhibited by those on the left.

At least I haven't let them beat that down in me -- it has only made me more determined to allow my personal faith to guide me, and to hope that others experience some sort of inspiration in their lives to live better as well.

[shimmergal]

68. The total dominance of commercial culture is the main force behind the

loss of values, but that's a complex argument to make. Except in the case of jobs moving overseas, etc.

I'm all for us articulating a clear vision about values, but it occurs to me that _helping_ people feel powerful, and valued, was one of the important by-products of the old Ward politics. Actually knowing and recognizing people one-on-one does more to build up their sense of worth that giving them groups to hate, as you rightly point out the Repubs. do.

Maybe we need to reinstate small-scale, "retail" politics too.

[Maine-i-acs]

8. bribery helps too.

The BFEE handed checks out to nearly every household in the USA when Chimpy seized power in the Bloodless Coup of 2000. They did it again this year. People remember that and think that Chimpco is taking care of them.

[mrgorth]

11. They're brainwashed

Mostly white males who listen to too much right wing radio, thus believing that Clinton was a pot smoking, womanizing, flag burning draft dodger and that their tax money goes directly to keeping crack whores on welfare.

[terrisel]

27. Some Reasons They Seem to vote Against Self Interest

1. Republicans position themselves as the "white" party.
example:friend overheard a conversation in a gym in SC. 30ish white male was saying " I'm white so I guess I'm a Republican." He wasn't enthusiastic about it but he identified.


2. People have been told and believe the US spends enormous amounts of money on foreign aid and welfare that does not benefit them.
ex. After the Republican "revolution" in which they got a majority in the House of Representatives, a mother of a severely disabled child told me that maybe now her son would get more help because the Republicans would throw all the drug addicts off welfare. It was my sad duty to inform her that she had put her son's SSI at risk.

3. Belief that we have the highest standard of living in the world. People are just waking up to the fact that we don't.

4. Not facing up to facts and poor knowledge of American history. People aren't acknowledging how much their ancestors got for nothing(land lotteries, land grants etc.) and how much they themselves may be taking. Farm welfare (a lot to corporations) is huge. There are whole counties out west dependent upon government checks. Some people are defensive about it and try to blame "blacks" in cities for welfare.

In short I think there are probably about 5 myths about the US that can be succinctly put forth in an organized fashion. The Democratic Party has not done so because of competing interests among its voters and because of its own conflicts of interest. How do you say the Farm Aid Bill is welfare when you want to get money from big corporate farms and votes from small farmers?


I think that the above problems can be solved.

[LeahMira]

48. Good thought!

People aren't acknowledging how much their ancestors got for nothing(land lotteries, land grants etc.) and how much they themselves may be taking. Farm welfare (a lot to corporations) is huge. There are whole counties out west dependent upon government checks. Some people are defensive about it and try to blame "blacks" in cities for welfare.

I had never really thought about that. Thanks for mentioning it.

Of course the entire continent, with its vast resources, put them way ahead of the rest of the world of that time. Free building materials, free land, free food... what more could they ask?

[TKP]

15. Why?

I can only tell you what others have told me.

It's the "culture war". Many traditional Democrats have told me they feel abandoned by the Party's continued (in their words) pro-abortion, pro-gay, pro-extreme environmentalist viewpoints. They can live in a world where things aren't always rosey, but they can't vote for a Party they believe holds immoral positions on social-type issues.

[LeahMira]

49. "Immoral?"

Many traditional Democrats have told me they feel abandoned by the Party's continued (in their words) pro-abortion, pro-gay, pro-extreme environmentalist viewpoints. They can live in a world where things aren't always rosey, but they can't vote for a Party they believe holds immoral positions on social-type issues.

Immoral, my granny! That's so totally lame. Back in the day people had abortions and people were gay, but they just didn't talk about it outside the family. All that's different is that we talk about these things out loud now. Oh, yeah, and we don't kill people or let them die if they happen to be gay or happen to have had an abortion.

As for environmental issues, what's the matter with these people? If they would get on the stick and help us find alternative energy sources and get over the idea that everything they use one time is therefore rendered dirty and needs to be thrown out, we might not have environmental issues. Geez! Recycling creates jobs too, y'know.

[TKP]

57. LM

>That's so totally lame.

It may be lame to you, but it is a reality to them. And it's cost our Party elections.

Look, the person asked. I told what I had heard. Do I think it should be a reason not to vote Democratic? No. But I'm not going to deny the reality it's a major reason we're losing voters.

[NewJeffCT]

79. I agree

While I don't think abortion is as big an issue, there are a lot of people that feel uncomfortable about homosexuality. Maybe in another generation, it won't be so bad, but the average person out there feels that gays are wild men with no morals who are out to seduce their teenage sons into decadent life styles. (this is not my position, but my impression of others...)

Couple that with Hollywood being seen as promoting sex, teen sex, decadent lifestyles, etc and Hollywood being associated with Democrats...

And, also Democrats are seen as the welfare party, the party of higher taxes and the party of minorities and political correctness.

[AmandaRuth]

17. i see this has been addressed already

but the dems are in deep denial about about the effect of the constant spewing of rightwing propoganda from all forms of media, from local to national, radio print and tv. I mean, the first dem meeting I went to a couple of months ago, when I asked the question, the answer I got was basically hahahah its all entertainment, not to worry.

[billbuckhead]

21. Race, race and race again.

The Dems are the party of blacks, minorities and the absolutionist Yankee elite who gave them the right to vote. The California recall was a reforendum on Hispanics. Texas redistricting limits Hispanic and black voting power as well Austin liberals.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

20. ignorance

[IrateCitizen]

23. No, it's because of attitudes like this toward them from liberals

Do you honestly expect someone to come around to your POV by calling them "ignorant"? Or have you instead taken the DNC approach of abandoning the working class in order to focus solely on the upper middle class and "new money"?

[trogdor]

37. At least he didn't call them STUPID.

See my previous post. Ignorance can be cured; stupidity is forever.

Can you watch Fox News and say they don't encourage ignorance and fear?

Can you watch the inane programming on Fox, UPN, or WB (not to mention the former Big Three), and say television doesn't encourage ignorance and sloth (which breeds more ignorance)?

Maybe you can point to a particularly insightful article in the New York Post that doesn't feed on one's ignorance and fear.

Republicans give lip service to the idea of improving US education, but balk at paying for it, blaming Democrats when schools continue to fail. I really think they're scared to death of an educated electorate.

I'm sorry, but I'm yet another one who thinks most Americans aren't really that on the ball. I sooooooooo hope I'm full of shit, but I doubt it.

[LeahMira]

51. Chill a bit...

Do you honestly expect someone to come around to your POV by calling them "ignorant"?

Ignorant isn't stupid. I'm totally ignorant when it comes to calculus. I'm not stupid though. I really think I could learn calculus if someone would try to teach me... and if I really wanted to learn.

I agree, though, that name-calling won't cut it. We can instruct the ignorant if we try... and if they really want to learn. If they really don't want to learn, then they are stupid. }(

[ElsewheresDaughter]

76. ignorance can be cured with asking questions...now stupidity is something

else...i am ignorant of much...it was not meant as an insult ...rather a fact

[Rex]

22. Most of the poor and some

middle income voters are 'traditional values' type of people. This mostly applies to those that are ignorant of politics and science.

Conservatives, even though it is a fabrication, are identified as the 'traditional values' party. Democrats (but really liberals...that's why the RW has tagged ALL Dems as liberals) are seen as the party of Progress and reform. Ignorant people fear change, or at least view those that rally for reform (change) as suspicious outsiders.

Until we educate more people on the truth (that the RW is NOT the party of traditional values, might have been long ago, but isn't now) they will continue to vote Rep, hands down.

[leftofthedial]

25. ignorance

stupid *#&%ing Murkans.

[IrateCitizen]

28. All of which you are just so much smarter and better than, right?

I'm assuming that you're someone who advocates a campaign strategy of going after "soccer moms," "office park dads" and "moderate Republicans" -- because with that kind of attitude, you would completely lose us any hope of gaining back the working class.

Then again, all I have to do is go back 2 generations in my family to find working class roots (my grandparents), and I have to say that if you think that they are all "ignorant" or "stupid f%$*ing Murrikans", you can go take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut. I'd rather be surrounded by the likes of them -- people who know the idea of community and genuinely helping out their neighbor -- than be around people like you who are so self-absorbed with illusions of smug superiority.

What disgusting elitism! :puke:

[leftofthedial]

70. I was the first in my family to go to college

At considerable sacrifice, I have chosen a working class lifestyle, emulating my own grandparents, who were farmers and blue collar tradespeople.

I am no elitist. I'm certainly no better than anyone. But apparently I am smarter than those referred to in the original poster's question, since I don't vote contrary to my own interests or those of my country.

BTW your handle seems particularly appropriate.

[ElementaryPenguin]

26. Media manipulation, WOEFUL ignorance!!

This is perhaps our greatest problem - and our greatest challenge to remedy!

[ScreamingMeemie]

29. Because, as my cousin said to me last weekend," I intend to be

rich someday", as if voting Republican is going to make THAT happen.

Sheesh.

[MissMarple]

41. I think that's a good point. They think the GOP "creates wealth".

My brother-in-law firmly believes this, it is almost a mantra for him.
He isn't wealthy, if he losses his job he's is bad trouble, but he thinks the Republicans will foster a climate of wealth for all Americans. When this will happen, I am totally clueless, but he is quite optimistic.

[leesa]

31. Because they believe the propaganda spewed at them

24/7 for the last forty years that the Republicans manage money better when the facts prove over and over that the opposite is true.
They never stop to think that the rich corporations had plenty of money with which to create jobs PRIOR to the tax cuts. They have no intention of creating jobs. Purely a scam.

[Cat Atomic]

32. Wedge issues like abortion, gun rights, and immigration

There are, of course, some who believe in Republican economic ideas (why that is, I'll never know), but I think a significant portion of lower-middle class GOP voters are driven by wedge ssues.

[cally]

35. Because it is seen as the party of strength

and macho values.

I like this quote from Gene Lyons:

The idea was to convince the core constituency -- Southern white men -- that the Republican Party was their home and that the Democrats were the women's party, the black people's party, the homosexual party, the party of disgruntled minorities who were anti-religious, anti-patriotic, and anti-American, in a fundamental way. That Democrats supported "race-mixing," immorality, and the welfare state. It worked well enough to swing the South to the Republicans in the wake of the Civil Rights Act.


http://www.buzzflash.com/interviews/03/10/int03221.html

[drdigi420]

36. Republikkkans appeal to the 'its not my fault' crowd

Republikkkans give joe-sixpack an enemy to blame their position in life on.

The republikkkans validate the fear of the white man, convincing him that his economic and social problems are all caused by them 'nigger-loving' liberals that want to take away your guns AND your right to use them on darkies.

They play to the base racism and fear that joe sixpack has.

They also pander to the religious right, which, by definition, is easy to con. It's pretty easy to sell trickle-down economics to people that are willing to buy that a magic man in the sky controls everything.

The republikkkan constituency is easy lied to, via TV and hate-radio. They can even have the press put out a story that claims the press has a liberal bias and blame it all on the 'jews'. Because, as all good joe sixpacks know, it's them nigger lovin jews that control the media and are the reason he can't get a job. It has nothing to do with the republikkkan company he works for closing down the factory and moving it to Indonesia.

It's easy to lie to people who already adhere to false beliefs (read: fears). Those beliefs (fears) are easily manipulated. TV evangelists learned a long time ago the power of myth and fear. The republikkkans have just borrowed on that playbook.

The solution?
EDUCATION. EDUCATION. EDUCATION. Educated people are less likely to follow myths, once they are shown the falsness of their myths. Whether their chosen myth is some all-powerful diety, that marijuana will turn you into a heroin addict, or that trickle down economics works for anyone but those at the top, we must make sure that these people get the information that they sorely lack in order to make better, more-informed decisions.

It's up to US to spread the truth and counter the myths and misinformation that the right wing spreads.

The only other option would be to use the same fears and myths to manipulate people into voting our way, but that would be dishonest and I just can't be that.

[asjr]

38. gop

The GOP propaganda machine is alive and well. We have to counteract that. I do my bit almost on a daily basis. Standing at a checkout line that may be long affords me a chance to talk to others in line. Sometimes I am not very subtle, but I do engage in conversation re the economy, Iraq, etc. I have yet to talk to anyone who supports Shrub. Some are out of work, can't draw any more unemployment and are very unsatisfied with the way things are going in this country. A lot of the baby boomers are wary of not having any Social Security. I don't know what else I can do, but I do think it is up to us to get the message out. We have a good crop of candidates running for the next election and we can help them get out the message. I consider myself lower income because all I have is SS. It isn't easy and can only get worse if this administration, by hook or crook, stays in the WH. They don't just attack our purses, they attack the ability of our children and grandchildren to live a decent life. I have been on this earth long enough to realize what is happening now is against all that we, as Americans, hold dear. The word "freedom" may have to be pulled from the dictionary if it continues.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

40. Multi-stage process beginning in the 1970s

1) Middle and working class revulsion against the youth counterculture, which, let's face it, was made up mostly of upper middle class and rich college students. Most middle and working class people had been raised with conservative social values, so the thought of affluent young people taking drugs, unashamedly having non-marital sex, objecting to a war, and pursuing Eastern religions went against everything they believed.

2) The progressive social movements geared their message toward upper middle class people. Feminism was abortion rights and executive and professional jobs for women. Environmentalism was about affluent people having nice places to camp. These issues could have and should have been framed differently, as I saw with my grandmother, who used to rail against feminists because she was opposed to abortion. Then I sat down and talked to her about the various ways that she had suffered through her life and the things that the feminist movement was doing to change that, and it was a real revelation to her. Similarly, if the environmental movement had put more emphasis on pollution in poor communities, job-saving conversion from destructive to eco-friendly industries, and improving the quality of life in every community, Rush wouldn't have the fuel to rail against "whacko tree-hugging environmentalists."

3) When the Democrats had the chance to stand up as a party for working class/lower middle class interests, they didn't. Thousands upon thousands of hard-working family farmers lost their farms or were forced to sell their land to agribusiness companies, but few Democrats seemed to notice. They answered the loss of manufacturing jobs with unproductive Japan bashing. They failed to stand up for union rights when Reagan fired the air traffic controllers. When Reagan put forth his 1986 "tax reform" proposal, they did nothing to stop middle class tax preferences (consumer interest deduction, charitable contribution deduction for non-itemizers) from being phased out in favor of corporate tax giveaways. Then, to top it off, they mostly backed, no, pushed NAFTA and globalized corporate "free" trade, which the people on the street see largely as their jobs going to China or Mexico.

It's like a family where the father has been raping the daughter. The daughter hates the father, sure, but she hates the mother even more for knowing about the incest and doing nothing to stop it.

In short, the Democrats did a lot to offend the social values of the working class, but at the same time, they failed to stand up for working class economic interests when they had the chance.

Since the Republicans profess to be in favor of "traditional values," I suppose that working/lower middle class people have decided that they may as well go with the party that promotes at least some of their concerns rather than the party that all too often appears to despise them and doesn't stick up for their interests anyway.

[IrateCitizen]

42. Well said, Lydia!

I think you summed it up best in this sentence:

In short, the Democrats did a lot to offend the social values of the working class, but at the same time, they failed to stand up for working class economic interests when they had the chance.

So now, the Democrats have lost one of their previously staunchest bases of support, while they continue to fish for a few votes among upper-middle class "soccer moms" and "office park dads".

You know, it's not too late for them to start standing up for the working class economic interests. But time is growing short.

[Selwynn]

55. WOW -- You are marvelous, darling!

I am cutting this and SAVING IT, also sending it to my friends, so if you want to be called by anything other than Lydia Leftcoast when I do, let me know.

This is a fabulous political articulation. Do me a favor - read my take below. Not nearly as articulate as yours, but what do you think about my analysis of some of the psychological reasons?

[Tinoire]

60. Well said!

When the Democrats had the chance to stand up as a party for working class/lower middle class interests, they didn't. Thousands upon thousands of hard-working family farmers lost their farms or were forced to sell their land to agribusiness companies, but few Democrats seemed to notice. They answered the loss of manufacturing jobs with unproductive Japan bashing. They failed to stand up for union rights when Reagan fired the air traffic controllers. When Reagan put forth his 1986 "tax reform" proposal, they did nothing to stop middle class tax preferences (consumer interest deduction, charitable contribution deduction for non-itemizers) from being phased out in favor of corporate tax giveaways. Then, to top it off, they mostly backed, no, pushed NAFTA and globalized corporate "free" trade, which the people on the street see largely as their jobs going to China or Mexico.

It's like a family where the father has been raping the daughter. The daughter hates the father, sure, but she hates the mother even more for knowing about the incest and doing nothing to stop it.

:loveya:

[QuidditchFan]

43. Hammer them with the truth, re: "Class Warfare."

Maybe Al Franken could be the Democratic spokesperson for this cause, but what every single democratic candidate needs is three or four truly representative, WITH DOLLAR AMOUNTS, examples of middle and lower class people and how they are treated unfairly. These examples should include, but not be limited to:

1. The payroll tax IS income tax.
2. Decline in revenue means decline in services that benefit those in the middle and lower class.
3. The goddamn estate tax.

On the other side, we need the same number of examples that focus on the top 1% of income earners and how they overwhelmingly benefit from Shrub's policies.

I really think that this could be the lynchpin of the Democratic message, but abstractions will not suffice. Talk about the Jones', the Smiths, the average and representative middle or lower-class family that is being pummelled by the Bush Adminstration's tax cuts.

[drdigi420]

47. as right as those appeals are...

people with religion resist facts

only emotional appeals to their fears and myths will work on the slow-minded

[Lydia Leftcoast]

50. "People with religion resist facts"?

Are you perhaps talking about me, Irate Citizen, Indiana Green, rowdyboy, rabrrr, Cheswick, Lynne Sin, John Kleeb, and a host of other DU posters who are adherents of a liberal variety of religion as well as being staunch liberals or even leftists?

[goddess40]

52. they are told to by their churches or they are gun nuts

Not that religious people can't think for themselves, many do just fine but if they are voting right I don't think they are making the choice.

Gun nuts are those who believe the right when they say the left just want to take everyones guns away. They don't know the truth and they are to lazy and/or stupid to figure it out.

[drdigi420]

56. mebbe u took that the wrong way

people 'with religion' are those that follow a dogma and refuse facts

as in: "he so religiously believes in trickle down economix that he cant see the rich guys plugging up the trickle, he's 'with religion' on that"

its a southern phrase, like 'losing my religion'

[QuidditchFan]

62. The "Christian Coalition" member is a lost cause, but...

The truth does tend to resonate for the rest of the populate. The key is that the truth has to be in the form of a concrete, NOT an abstract. To juxtapose our ideas, maybe one of the example families would be a religious, middle-class family from the Deep South.

[Selwynn]

54. Because they all believe they'll have the "american dream" someday

And low and middle income folks are not exempt from not giving a fuck about their neighbor and wanted to do for "me and mine." I believe many people believe that fatefull day when their ship comes in, they don't want to be told they should use some of their hard earned money to help others. This society is based on "rugged individualism" where the rich are rich because they deserve it an the poor ar poor because they deserve it. And republican's do the best job of reinfocing this belief. :)

That's #1.

Next is that "they" are religious. :D Yup the majority of religious folks are religious conservaties. They may not be right wing fundamentalists but they certainly aren't liberal. A literalized interpretation of Christian tradition, which is the most common amoung American people sadly, avails itself to conservatism. You can't have a literal interpretation of scripture and have a liberal perspective - at least not very easily.

That's #2

Finally, as a follow up to the religion thing, many lower and middle income folks vote republican for TWO REASONS ALONE: Abortion and Gay Rights. They believe abotion is wrong and homosexuality is a sin, and they believe these are moral issues. They see these things as moral issues but they do not see things like human treatment of the poor, human rights,social justice or international relaitons as moral issues.

I cannot tell you how many people I know who don't agree with ANY of the Republican platform, who will still vote for Bush because he is pro-life and anti-gay. In fact, my very good friend asked me the other day "what do I do if I disagree with most of the political policies of the right, but agree with their moral posisitions, and disagree with the moral positiosn of the left but agree with most of their political policies?" Of course, I pointed at that they are all moral issues, but my point is that many people vote republican not because they believe in the platform, but becasue they are pro-choice and anti-guy.

That's #3

I think these are three of the biggest reasons. I don't think there are ANY rational reaosns for lower or middle income folks to vote Republican.

[Ms. Clio]

58. Nascar Dads

A very interesting article attempts to explain it:
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16885


George W. Bush is sinking in the polls, but a few beats on the war drum could reverse that trend and re-elect him in 2004. Ironically, the sector of American society now poised to keep him in the White House is the one which stands to lose the most from virtually all of his policies – blue-collar men. A full 49 percent of them and 38 percent percent of blue-collar women told a January 2003 Roper poll they would vote for Bush in 2004.

<snip>

We can certainly understand why Bush wants blue-collar voters. But why would a near majority of blue-collar voters still want Bush? Millionaires, billionaires for Bush, well, sure; he's their man. But why pipe fitters and cafeteria workers? Some are drawn to his pro-marriage, pro-church, pro-gun stands, but could those issues override a voter's economic self-interest?

[reachout]

61. Sheep and Wolves

The sheep keep voting for the wolves because they are absolutely convinced they are wolves too...even as they are consumed.

[Avalux]

59. Guns

pure and simple. This is the single biggest issue I've gleaned from regular middle class folks in PA.

On edit - replace the word folks with men.

[Yupster]

63. They don't get most votes

It's not all that bad a picture overall.

From 2000 exit polls, here are the figures

Voters who didn't graduate high school
Gore 59% Bush 38 %

Voters who make below $ 15,000 per year
Gore 57 % Bush 37 %

Voters who make between 15k and 30k
Gore 54 % Bush 41 %

So, the numbers aren't too bad. The least educated and poorest voters do vote Democratic in large numbers.

Why do any less-educated or poorer voters vote Republican?

I would agree with many others who say it's mostly cultural.

An example would be fighting the Boy Scouts on gay rights.

This is an issue that many in middle America don't want to even hear debated. If you're after the Boy Scouts, there's something wrong with you. The local Democratic politicians will hide from this fight (in Texas anyway), and the local Republican politicians will appear at the meetings defending the Boy Scouts. They might as well be defending apple pie, and the message gets through. Republicans support traditional American things that you care about. Democrats sue them in court.

Guns is another example.

So is prayer at football games.

Out here it's not even a matter of the people siding with the Republican side of the argument. The local Democrats won't even make the other side of the argument. They run away from it, and probably for good reason.

If a local Democratic office-holder is getting 59 % of the high school drop-out vote now, it would be worse, lots worse if he showed up with the police to kick the Boy Scouts out of the school cafeteria at night. He may feel it's best to stay out of fights like that and let the Republicans wrap themselves in the flag and mom and apple pie and the Boy Scouts.

I understand things are probably very different in Boston and San Fransisco, but this is how I see it in Texas.

[jiacinto]

64. Easy

They see the Democrats as offering them little except higher taxes. They see the Democrats going to Hell and back for welfare recipients and criminals while offering them nothing.

[IrateCitizen]

80. Typical oversimplified and incorrect response....

Do yourself a favor, and read the article by John Nichols in the most recent issue of The Nation about courting Democratic voters in rural areas. It's written from a point of view that is taken (GASP!) directly from people who live in rural areas, rather than focus groups.

You might be surprised at the findings.

You can find the article here:
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20031103&s=nichols2

[GOPBasher]

65. The Right Wing Propaganda Machine

and the fact that people are stupid enough to believe the shit.

[KaraokeKarlton]

67. Guns

n/t

[Upfront]

81. God, Guns, And Abortion

will get there vote every time. Rethugs score big on these hot button issues. Oh, and don't underestimate tax and spend liberals. Because of issues like this and a few others, some people just lock you out period and will not listen to reason and facts at all.

[Piperay]

71. This is something that is so hard to figure out

I have tried and tried and I think it is because basically most repuke voters whether they are upper, lower or middle class are just not very introspective or indepth thinkers. They don't seem like they look beyond the immediate and they never connect the dots or seem to comprehend that what happens in Government is really truly going to effect their lives. They seem to vote more from emotion than from any real thinking about things, that seems to be the nature of all repuke voters. They also believe the ridiculous lie that has been perpetuated by the repukes and the media that because the Democrats want to help the downtrodden that help will come at the expense of the upper, lower and middle class...a blatent lie.


EDIT: left out a word.

[onebigbadwulf]

72. My $2

Here's my take on a basic Republican voter sweep.

Republicans capitalize on the top 10-20% on the economic ladder. That's an automatic ~15% of the votes right there. They don't give a damn what happens- they own * and * gives them tax cuts.

Republicans also capitalize on the fundamentalist christians who vote purely out of social christian issues- pro-life, pro-death penalty, no gun control, no gay marriage. * could literally break into their house, steal their furniture, burn their house down, and steal their car and they'd STILL vote for him because he will sign legislature to further the Christian agenda. That's at least another 30% of the population.

So basically NO MATTER WHAT * does, he will have at least 45% of the vote.

That means every last minority, educated, non-religious, non-christian, middle class, non-rich MUST unite to vote this monster out of office. This means NO votes for greens, no votes for labor, no abstaining. It MUST unite. It is the only way.

[Resistance Is Futile]

73. Unenlightened self interest

The population believes that voting for low taxes, deregulation and no social programs is in their best interest and is just too ignorant to see the pitfalls. Anti-intellectualism and a hatred of education is also a significant factor.

Wave a tax-cut under the nose of an average hick and he'll literally start drooling because he has no awareness of the government services he is using and no understanding that services cannot be delivered for free. When someone tries to tell him that he can't have his cake and eat it too, he'll refuse to accept it because he doesn't want to look dumber than the no-good book-worm college boy who is trying to tell him which way is up.

[Malva Zebrina]

74. Religion is political and has contributed to the tyranny of Bush

I do not want to inflame Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell, or Ralph Reed or Marvin Olasky or any other Christians by a diatribe describing how this one factor has swayed vulnerable people over to conservative Republicanism and away from the more liberal Democratic party. There are many reasons how and why this was accomplished over the past twenty or thirty years.

[midnight armadillo]

75. If Repukes are the party of the rich....

...and I vote with the party of the rich...then I must be rich!! Surely, somewhere, someone follows this line of reasoning.

[Piperay]

84. I honestly believe

that many do think that way and vote that way. What they don't see is that the repuke few who already have IT (wealth & power) are making sure no one else gets IT.

[neebob]

77. Belief in fake morals. nt

[NeonLX]

82. FAUX "News", Rush, AM hate radio. eom

!

[AlinPA]

83. Flags, God, & Guns.

Holier-than-thou republican politicians do that trilogy well.

[donotpassgo]

85. I got my 6$ a month rate reduction!!!!!!!!!! ITS MY MONEY DAMNIT

and if i want to do an extra load of Laundry or by an extra six pack instead of giving social commie welfare to lazy immigrants, than it's my business.

sarcasm...won't be off any time soon.