You can wrap your head around it when you understand that it’s all about race and has been from the beginning. Only 0.1% of the electorate is concerned about “redistribution of wealth” (as the obscenely wealthy call it). That doesn’t affect elections. What most white people are concerned about, now, in FDR’s time, in Eisenhower’s time, a…
You can wrap your head around it when you understand that it’s all about race and has been from the beginning. Only 0.1% of the electorate is concerned about “redistribution of wealth” (as the obscenely wealthy call it). That doesn’t affect elections. What most white people are concerned about, now, in FDR’s time, in Eisenhower’s time, and in all periods of American history, is fair treatment of black people. They are against it. Sixty percent of white people oppose fair treatment of black people. At all levels and in all domains. Economic, judicial, and social. When you understand that, you can wrap your head around American politics.
You are absolutely right, Rex, about the foundational effects of pervasive racism on people's political and social views. But don't overlook the abilities of the 0.1% to use allegations about economic "unfairness"--makers v. takers, welfare cheats, etc.--to draw support for what ends up being redistribution of wealth upwards.
Yes, you’re right, Tom. The wealthy don’t have the votes themselves but have outsized influence, the tax system is regressive, and the entire economy overwhelmingly favors the already wealthy. About the only optimism I can offer is that the 60% of white people who favor oppression of Americans with non-European ancestors was 80% in the 1950s and 90% before that, but it doesn’t matter which direction it goes from here because by 2040 (if we get that far), the rest if us will be able to easily outvote them.
You can wrap your head around it when you understand that it’s all about race and has been from the beginning. Only 0.1% of the electorate is concerned about “redistribution of wealth” (as the obscenely wealthy call it). That doesn’t affect elections. What most white people are concerned about, now, in FDR’s time, in Eisenhower’s time, and in all periods of American history, is fair treatment of black people. They are against it. Sixty percent of white people oppose fair treatment of black people. At all levels and in all domains. Economic, judicial, and social. When you understand that, you can wrap your head around American politics.
You are absolutely right, Rex, about the foundational effects of pervasive racism on people's political and social views. But don't overlook the abilities of the 0.1% to use allegations about economic "unfairness"--makers v. takers, welfare cheats, etc.--to draw support for what ends up being redistribution of wealth upwards.
Yes, you’re right, Tom. The wealthy don’t have the votes themselves but have outsized influence, the tax system is regressive, and the entire economy overwhelmingly favors the already wealthy. About the only optimism I can offer is that the 60% of white people who favor oppression of Americans with non-European ancestors was 80% in the 1950s and 90% before that, but it doesn’t matter which direction it goes from here because by 2040 (if we get that far), the rest if us will be able to easily outvote them.