"[Glenn Youngkin] won, largely thanks to the votes of non-college-educated white voters, 76% of whom backed him rather than McAuliffe."
I'm a retired construction/building trades worker. I spent my working life along side the non-college-educated white voter. Hell, I am one. How I became a far left progressive liberal Democrat is a story…
"[Glenn Youngkin] won, largely thanks to the votes of non-college-educated white voters, 76% of whom backed him rather than McAuliffe."
I'm a retired construction/building trades worker. I spent my working life along side the non-college-educated white voter. Hell, I am one. How I became a far left progressive liberal Democrat is a story for another day. It made for some "energetic" political/historical discussions at work. I know all about the willful ignorance, the prideful stupidity, and the clinging to comfotable myths, all of which are re-enforced daily by various "news" outlets.
Democrats are not going to make a lot of inroads with NCEWV's without abandoning much of what we've gained in the last forty years. Stacey Abrams is our future. Leave the shrinking NCEWV demographic to the Republicans; it's all they have.
More importantly, all of this illustrates the fundamental importance of education as an essential pillar of a healthy democracy. Education is not a luxury; it's a necessity. This should be a permanent plank in the platform of the Democratic Party.
I’m really not in agreement that lack of education causes people to coalesce around Trump and Trumps in sheep’s clothing.
America is profoundly, irreconcilably split. That is an absolute rock solid, take it to the bank certainty.
Trump touched the dark places in tens of millions of American souls. He awoke and aroused those who hate and fear cities, hated a black President, hated the smug entitlement of Hillary Clinton, hated being preached to about climate, hated the speed with which the new economy had trashed their towns and workplaces. Above all they felt looked down upon by others whom they perceived to be riding a higher horse.
The podcast “S***Town” opened millions of eyes to present day life in the poorer regions of the South. The characters in this extraordinarily interesting true saga live lives bereft of meaning. Their expressed philosophy, uttered before they do anything illegal, dangerous or profoundly anti-social, is “Fuck it.” Meaning this will probably bite me in the ass, but I’m going to do it anyway. How much worse can my life get?
Those are the people Trump galvanized. They’d been waiting decades for someone to spit on those whom they perceived to be elites and Trump did that and then some.
They followed him and gradually the movement became larger and larger, spreading like wildfire, propelling Trump to an election win that shocked everybody, including those who felt they were just along for a good ride.
Trump became a god to many of them. They would criticize nothing he did, twisting every evil word and deed around until they could make it sound moral or at least, justified in the opportunity to give “the elites” another well-deserved kick.
The movement became a cult. It is now fully engraved in the psyche of half - give or take - of America. Their fealty is limitless. “I’d walk behind Trump and clean up his shit”, one proud to be a Trump serf declared to the media just before the 2020 election.
These people are not going away. Democrats are going to lose key elections to them if the candidate makes the slightest error. And so, McAuliffe last night.
But Democrats, when they are fully and fiercely engaged are going to win in unexpected places. Look at Georgia on January 5 for a case in point.
It’s exhausting, but every crucial election is going to be razor thin in the margin of victory or defeat until this fever breaks.
Does McAuliffe’s loss doom the Democrats in 2020? Not necessarily - the zeitgeist will be changed in some way we can’t predict at this moment. The Democrats may once again summon up fierce energy for yet another battle in this seemingly endless war.
The hot take from last night is going to be crystallized into truth if we are not careful. It’s already on CNN. Democrats lost because they are too progressive. They aren’t where the “people” are. Once again the myth of a centrist America has risen.
No. No. No. All of the policies in Biden’s soft infrastructure bill are wildly popular and inspiringly progressive. Poll after poll has said this. Yet the media is going to refit the centrist Democrat allegory, until progressive Democrats retreat - if they have their way.
Two things are certain. President Manchin woke up this morning feeling the wind behind his sails and he will be further persuaded not to yield an inch. It is to weep.
The other is, and I occasionally have made this point in the past, it’s way past time to arrest some people with name recognition.
I agree - its not lack of education - more lack of interest outside your own personal experiences - or not wanting to hear/see/read anything that you might not agree with.
Most telling, Trump 'touched the dark places' because the rigged economic system and the political not only didn't listen, 'they' didn't address the people's real problems in a major way.
Most fundamentally, Trump aroused TRIBALISM as no one else had.
“The art of tribal politics is that it shapes reality,” .... “Lies become truth and explain everything in simple terms.” And political struggles... “become a war between good and evil that demands unconditional support for the leader of the tribe. If you talk against your own camp you betray it and get expelled from the tribe.” (NY Times) See link below.
Did the Democrats abandon the unions (softly, softly, so that it took many a long time to wake up to it because Reagan and successors decimated them to the point that what was once a bastion of power in the Party became an embarrassing relic, a millstone virtually?
Or did the unions achieve so much that their members were (temporarily) vaulted into a clas where they had their own wealth to protect and saw the Republican Party as the more traditional vehicle for doing so?
I lived at this time in a GM city. That company and its subsidiaries dominated the economic landscape. The UAAw had done so well so long that it became hard to imagine what more they could want. So they were reduced to granting absurd requests, such as the right to one’s birthday off with pay.
There was an arrogance to that union, a sense that the emoyer had the corporation by the short and curlies. So strong was it that a culture of drinking in the GM parking lot after work, which eventually resulted in a traffic death caused by an intoxicated worker, became a major union-management battle.
The union lost humility and with that its soul, and eventually its relevance. Today that town begs GM to deliver it work.
Small wonder that Reagan’s astonishing act of bravura in firing air traffic controllers so wrong-footed the Democrats. And much, much worse was to come.
In the 70s, few recognized that pendulums eventually swing, and always from their greatest height.
To acquaint yourself a bit more about the history of labor unions in the USA, this article, 'State of the Unions' in The New Yorker provides a general idea and, importantly, a number of excellent books you may want to check out.
Dems messages have always been weak and some candidates are just terrible at getting their thoughts, their plans, across to people. The DNC must employ some of the awful tactics of the Repubs. I am not talking about deceit, thievery, or sex. Talking about some of the underhandedness that gets their candidates elected. It’s shitty but what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Forget the D. N. C. they are in bed with the same special interests the republicans are in bed with!!!
We have to face it folks, we live in a country that is governed by a VERY corrupt political system, an most of that corruption is in the way we fund and conduct our elections!!! And we had better do something about it pretty damn quick or we are SUNK…… in fact it is quite likely to late already…….. What we’re going to do about it now,,, I really don’t know, but to put it bluntly, I think we’re fucked,,, pardon my language,,,, but I see no sense in sugar coating it!!!
. We’ve got to somehow get behind a good progressive candidates and good progressive agenda……….
And yet the Dems have dropped the free comm college plank from the bill. The Dems are NOT in any way explaining themselves about these two big bills. They aren't explaining that comm college trains for the trades or for university requirements to transfer easily. I went that route (did all my gen ed courses at my local comm college and transfered to a state university) and it was cheaper in the long run. We need landscapers, chefs, CNAs & RNs, diesel mechanics ad infinitum!! Maybe some of these NCEWVs could become CEWVs, even if for a two-year AA or AS degree. But Dems are not pushing this education benefit. All the NCEWVs hear is that More Taxes will be needed to fund this program. Not the benefits. More missed opportunities you Dems in Washington. I'm frustrated at best.
I agree and would add that the Dems have not effectively communicated anything that is in this bill. Republicans are saying that the government is going to be monitoring everyone’s bank accounts. I pay a lot of attention to what’s happening with this bill and I am not sure if this is still in the bill, and if it is, what exactly it entails. Where is the Democratic communication to counter this Rep. narrative? Republicans are attacking child care and universal pre-school as the government deciding where your children can go to school to be indoctrinated. Dems need to counter this fear mongering with clear, constant messaging.
Democratic messaging in general is abysmal. Watching CSpan this morning I saw the Rep. guest refer continuously to “the American people” and the Democratic guest refer to “America”, one small example of the Dems penchant for abstractions. Additionally when the Dem. guest was questioned about policy, she spoke about what she was fighting for using “I” The Republican guest spoke about “we”, (Republicans) indicating throughout a strong, unified message.
Dems need to up their communication strategy and get people like Stacy Abrams out there constantly delivering a clear, pragmatic message that “the American people” can understand and relate to in their everyday lives.
Regardless of their message(s) Republicans, for decades, have been following a playbook that tells them the words and phrases to use with the media and the American People when discussing issues and answering question. They have been well schooled, consequently they message very well.
Your observation of the differences in language between the Democrat & Republican guests is significant - particularly impacts of I/we, America/American People. Democrats may have fantastic ideas and goals but they lack consistent, powerful, collaborative language and communication skills.
Old but true axiom: In general, it is much easier to disprove a hypothesis than prove it. Any number of supporting evidence helps raise our confidence in the stated hypothesis, however, it takes only a single set of evidence against the hypothesis to disprove it. In other words, Democrats have a far more difficult path trying to sell the American people on a plan when they can't prove the plan will help you, and you, and you.
Messaging for Democrats is inherently problematic. It would help enormously if they were 100% united in supporting their vision for America. All Republicans have to do is sit on the sideline taking cheap shots that are usually unprovable lies and half-truths.
Bottom line is, actions speak louder than words. Talk is cheap! Most people, right or wrong, ask what have you done for me lately? In a political squabble or war of words, most people just tune it out and become disengaged, hence a large number of no-shows come election time. That is my take on what happened in Virginia, for e.g.
Exactly on point! Perhaps Democrats should consult with a successful ad agency. The majority of people in this country would benefit greatly from democratic programs and ideas but if they don’t know what they are and how they help them, they will be oblivious. If the Republican playbook is not exposed in such a way that people understand how disastrous it is we will continue to have great inequality. Manchin and Sinema are disastrous for successfully passing Biden’s build back better plan and their actions will put democratic control, such as it is, in jeopardy.
Yes, and they can thank the Federalist Society for supplying that playbook. The Society gets ‘em young so that they can mold them into the deceitful humans they are.
lRepublicans are saying that the government is going to be monitoring everyone’s bank accounts. I pay a lot of attention to what’s happening with this bill and I am not sure if this is still in the bill, and if it is, what exactly it entails.
Gina, I don’t believe it is as I researched a little after mention by a Fox News watching friend. As I recall,the original proposal called for banks to report data on any accounts over $600(does seem low)so it could be compared to the account holder’s filing with IRS. Subsequent proposal raised the account amount considerably, maybe 10k ? but it still didn’t go.
Interestingly the same friend who complained was having an issue with the IRS double reporting on their end a big chunk of her unearned income, of course deposited into her bank account.
I emphatically agree with you. As a retired educator of special education for 35 years, all students hear is you aren't going college on those grades. Most of my students didn't have ability or inclination to attend a university, but they demonstrated hands-on skills, determination, and other quality skills that a community college or trades school or an apprenticeship would mold into a lifelong craft. With the college goals thrown at them for 12 years, many gave up and graduated with no bearings on what to strive for in life. We must provide some opportunities for the kids who just can't cut the university goals, and get them into well-paying skills. Community colleges are perfect for this.
Well said Ralph. Willful ignorance, “prideful stupidity, clinging to comfortable myths” and gleeful acceptance of bad behavior are contributing to a meltdown in democracy. Education is key along with the restoration of respect and logic.
Very true, but the problem is that the R's have been whole heartedly endorsing the DeVos concept of school vouchers (taking public education funds and giving them to private/religious schools and home schooler families-a chunk of cash for each child that participates) then after stealing that money then the legislature cut the public ed. monies even more. The Republican majority NH legislators did just that this year and totally disregarded public input that was very much opposed to the plan. In remote public hearings, 8000 opposed the school voucher plan and much fewer (less than 1000) supported it. The plan has not been studied as to actual cost effects and there is minimal oversight as to how it will be monitored. The public outcry was so strong that those legislators went so far as to hide the bill in the State budget (as was the "Divisive Concept" bill-i.e. no one can publicly discuss things like racism and implicit/systemic bias,) The expected result of the school voucher plan will be increased property taxes for poor towns. In NH, the public education monies aside from federal/state funds are mostly provided by property taxes, which was been deemed unconstitutional over 10 years ago. Of course the rich towns will very likely not have the increases in property taxes. Yeah, as you can guess, I live in NH.
I observe Retrumplicans for several years now inciting emotions in a group of people that do not want or are unable to learn that Retrumplicans' inciting topics, words, and phrases are mostly lies, distortions, and empty words. CRT is a prime example. Public schools do not teach this, and yet the phrase CRT is so frightening and stokes anger. It's that word "race" in the middle. Cancel culture, Dr. Seuss, white fragility, and those murderous, raping immigrants dripping in COVID at the southern border, George Soros, etc. are all meant to keep this group active. In other words a true "patriot" owns a gun, wears red, white, and blue clothing, carries a defiant flag, gives Dems the middle finger, believes a psychopath is a god, and screams about Brandon. Isn't it compelling that Drump never achieved higher than a short-lived 49% approval rating, and Biden has dropped to a similar level, yet Biden is a horrible president setting out to destroy America? Biden has never said a word about getting rid of everything while that was Drump's first direction to his Cabinet. And, it is verified that Drump uttered 42,000 plus lies during his four years while no one is keeping track of Biden's because mostly his mistruths are errors. I think I am frustrated because no one can really fight a delusional control over a minority of easily provoked people. Unless Democrats stoop low and take on similar tactics, we are doomed. But, I know that I would begin to reject this type of group dynamics if the Dems were to become this. I think at this point we desperately need Manchin to allow passage of voter rights and infrastructure in order for all to begin seeing the benefits this administration has to offer.
Great summary. The delusional control over these people defies logic. I struggle every day to stay optimistic that this segment of the population will join us in reality.
I agree. I also work among the NCEWV demographic (catchy acronym!), and I don't see much hope there for progressive governance. Better for Dems to work as hard as they can to forge a broad coalition of all underserved and under-represented people in this country, because I'm guessing that taken together they're the largest voter bloc out there. And I like to think EDUCATED white voters would be glad to join!
I belong to several local forums here on Salem on Facebook. One is Salem Progressives and frankly a lot of them are very naive. So I stuck my neck out and said that after the primaries they need to get behind all the D candidates even if they don't check all the boxes. One person did agree with me and one posted something that really made no sense. Thankfully, it looks like I will not have to hold my nose and vote for Kurt Schrader who is preferable to any radical far right seditionist wing nut. I haven't looked yet this am to see if anyone else has posted.
Ds should take note about the school issue which killed them in VA which is my estimation has taken a large step backwards and hopefully will regret it.
Education is certainly key and that’s why my second career was as an educator. However, our public school systems all over our country are in bad shape. I’ve been retired for over 5 years now and worked in an inner city middle school serving special education needs. I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to deal with the pandemic issues let alone having parents threaten administrators and teachers.
Yes, education is threatened.. We have to remember the pandemic is real. What the screaming groups of parents are doing at school board meeting is intimidating and bullying. Trying to stand up to other people in your face like that would take a lot of courage. Some school board members have it. Electing far right members who absolutely have no idea of what schools and school boards are for is a huge threat. And the public school system is vulnerable. The school boards and thus the curriculum should function in response to community standards and that does not limit that function to appeasing far right demands. Public schools are charged with bringing all students together for an equal education, not indoctrinating them with far right propaganda. Students are currently being used, weaponized, for the political needs of the far right. There has to be a pushback.
The school issue in Virginia was a killer. Parents do have a right to say what should be taught, but all parents, not just a screaming mob of far righters who don't follow science or the history curriculum.
McAuliffe also was relying on and resting on his past history. He offered nothing new; no real vision. As my old man would say, 'Never rest on your laurels."
We also need to remember that when state legislatures and the federal education department (late 1990s) began undermining teachers and turning our curriculum into a testing focus and blaming schools and teachers for lost test scores, things started to crumble with government and public support.
My very dear friend has a work/education history similar to yours. Like you, he is a liberal, progressive Democrat. He is also one of the most intelligent men I've ever known. Having a college education doesn't make a person intelligent - just look at the Hawley, Cruz, Kennedy, and other dummies who are busily grifting off our dime while they destroy our country. I don't consider their ability to thieve in broad daylight "intelligence" as much as I consider it pure evil. They have figured out how to control the minds of the NCEWVs - that's their only real attribute.
Ralph, I spent 29 years in the office of a construction, then construction management company which had its start as a masonry business. At the time, had no idea what anyone's politics were (this was pre-2004) but the men and, later, the women that worked as carpenters, masons, laborers were great people who worked hard (and still do). We had a really good local building trade organization. I watched the breakdown of OSHA during the pandemic (meat packing plants?) & remembered bringing on a Safety person of our own to deal with the jobsites in order to be aware of any violations, also to work with OSHA reps. What in the world happened? Education? absolutely, but I believe in building trades & the ability of young people to apprentice and have a good, meaningful way of making a living. I get kind of resentful, I guess, when I read & hear that the ONLY path to a good life is for everyone to get a college education. That IS the path for many - but not ALL. In the not too distant future, if we dont already, we will be without, carpenters, masons, plumbers, electricians - people to repair & maintain all these necessities of life! What then?
I agree. Education takes many forms, college is one of them. What is taught in primary, middle, and high school is the most important and that isn’t happening. That is what I meant about the importance of education. Apprenticeships are great. I did an apprenticeship as an electrician. I was on the facilities staff of a large, well-known state university. Many of the students would have been better off in a trade school/apprenticeship, but they weren’t interested. They all wanted to be dot com millionaires. Trade schools, union apprenticeships, contractors were begging.
I am the first male in my family to earn not just one degree, but two. We were farming folk. My brother is a retired truck driver, cross country, for 40 years. I am a retired business executive and ordained graduate seminarian. We get along just fine.
I personally believe that many of our colleges are vocational technical schools. An MBA is the journeyman equivalent to the "trades" & the MBA trade is business. I would like to see the college educated (& everyone else) be more all encompassing with history, humanities, philosophy & the sciences. We also need to embrace being life long learners.
I agree - and the all encompassing should start in grade school! Remember civics?? Sadly, it wasnt being taught when I was in school - dont remember mention of it at least. But possibly some of the teachings at that point were covered in social studies? I did learn the 3 branches of government - which, it appears, some of our elected "officials" did not!! How about that? And yes, life long learners is a good thing - why would it not be? It is possible for someone to change their opinion after learning or experiencing something different over a period of time. Well, some people anyhow.
Thank you. Well said! Very well said. I’m copying your post to read in the future when I need a dose of reality. Or when I’m angry with the Democratic establishment. They’ve been so dumb at candidate selection and messaging. ❤️🤍💙
My husband is a non college educated white Fox News watching Trump supporter. The mandates have hurt Democrats. But the social issues are really swaying them away from Dems. Parents want to control what their children learn and the Republicans pushing constantly the narrative that liberal Dems are going to teach CRT and include books in the reading list they don't like is really moving these whites away from Dems. We have to control the narrative and it doesn't seem that we've been able to do that. I can ignore my husband since there is no discussing with him but there are others who I feel would listen if Dems could get their talking points in place.
FACT: CRT has not been taught and is not being taught in secondary schools. Parents are not equipped to determine the correct curricula for teaching their children. Watching the outraged, enraged anti-learning vigilantes at school board meetings sickens me. Parents should be allowed to SUGGEST, but not run roughshod over school boards and teachers. The faux moral outrage poised in thuggish outrage and bullying simply achieves nothing and harms the students. As to the Dems, they are doing themselves in.
Since I am a "product of the fifties", I suspect my worldview is vastly different from most folk who post comments on this site. I had the blessing of graduating from a high school that was 2nd in academics in my state. And we had an awesome athletics program as well as free and open discussion in our "Problems of Democracy" course. I was a frequent debater and contributor in those discussions. I do not recall any level of rage, outrage, hatred or dissension as we must witness today.
I agree - so exactly WHEN are the Dems going to learn how to put talking points in place! The Repubs. have controlled the narratives for far too long & it appears the Dems just continue to believe they wont pull away the football again!!! (Charlie Brown) Manchin is doing exactly what we all knew he would - now he can blame the Va. loss on "people unhappy with Biden's legislation"?????????? Which isnt true - its another case of yet another politician (Dem) who didnt have "good talking points"! It appeared his sole talking point was Trump! Why in ?? wouldnt he have been prepared better? He seemed to be opening his mouth & jamming his foot in! As a former governor of that state - seems he should have known better.
Things I want to know: 1)How to deal with Fox News, the greatest Pied Piper that democracy has ever known, for its shameless manipulation of our country. When will we call racism for what it is rather than tip-toeing around "CRT" rhetoric, parent control of curricula, voter repression, et al? Acknowledge that NCEWVs are shills to Republicans. They are merely a tool to be used? That Reaganomics are grinding us down to a withering autocracy?
100% agree with that, Ralph. Public education is the common good. It’s why they are obsessed with controlling it and trying to privatize it completely. Critical Race Theory my foot…. Or boot.
McAuliffe failed, period. He was resting on his laurels, believing that his somewhat celebrated past would carry the day for him. McAuliffe is sympotamtic and emblematic of the crisis pervading the Democratic Party, locally and nationally. 2022 wil be the bellwether. 2024 may well be the knockout punch, putting Republican fascists in control across the land. Democrats think brain and overwhelm brawn. Not in today's political milieux.
Agreed 100%. When Hillary Clinton referred to Trump's supporters as "deplorables", I cringed. I might have agreed with her (which I did and do), but it is better to offend one's opponent; not their supporters. She effectively wrote off any fence sitters at that point.
As I recall, HRC said most of Trump’s supporters were hardworking people who had been left behind by rapid economic changes, others were something else I don’t recall, and the “rest are a bunch of deplorables.” She was taken completely out of context, even by her own party.
"[Glenn Youngkin] won, largely thanks to the votes of non-college-educated white voters, 76% of whom backed him rather than McAuliffe."
I'm a retired construction/building trades worker. I spent my working life along side the non-college-educated white voter. Hell, I am one. How I became a far left progressive liberal Democrat is a story for another day. It made for some "energetic" political/historical discussions at work. I know all about the willful ignorance, the prideful stupidity, and the clinging to comfotable myths, all of which are re-enforced daily by various "news" outlets.
Democrats are not going to make a lot of inroads with NCEWV's without abandoning much of what we've gained in the last forty years. Stacey Abrams is our future. Leave the shrinking NCEWV demographic to the Republicans; it's all they have.
More importantly, all of this illustrates the fundamental importance of education as an essential pillar of a healthy democracy. Education is not a luxury; it's a necessity. This should be a permanent plank in the platform of the Democratic Party.
I’m really not in agreement that lack of education causes people to coalesce around Trump and Trumps in sheep’s clothing.
America is profoundly, irreconcilably split. That is an absolute rock solid, take it to the bank certainty.
Trump touched the dark places in tens of millions of American souls. He awoke and aroused those who hate and fear cities, hated a black President, hated the smug entitlement of Hillary Clinton, hated being preached to about climate, hated the speed with which the new economy had trashed their towns and workplaces. Above all they felt looked down upon by others whom they perceived to be riding a higher horse.
The podcast “S***Town” opened millions of eyes to present day life in the poorer regions of the South. The characters in this extraordinarily interesting true saga live lives bereft of meaning. Their expressed philosophy, uttered before they do anything illegal, dangerous or profoundly anti-social, is “Fuck it.” Meaning this will probably bite me in the ass, but I’m going to do it anyway. How much worse can my life get?
Those are the people Trump galvanized. They’d been waiting decades for someone to spit on those whom they perceived to be elites and Trump did that and then some.
They followed him and gradually the movement became larger and larger, spreading like wildfire, propelling Trump to an election win that shocked everybody, including those who felt they were just along for a good ride.
Trump became a god to many of them. They would criticize nothing he did, twisting every evil word and deed around until they could make it sound moral or at least, justified in the opportunity to give “the elites” another well-deserved kick.
The movement became a cult. It is now fully engraved in the psyche of half - give or take - of America. Their fealty is limitless. “I’d walk behind Trump and clean up his shit”, one proud to be a Trump serf declared to the media just before the 2020 election.
These people are not going away. Democrats are going to lose key elections to them if the candidate makes the slightest error. And so, McAuliffe last night.
But Democrats, when they are fully and fiercely engaged are going to win in unexpected places. Look at Georgia on January 5 for a case in point.
It’s exhausting, but every crucial election is going to be razor thin in the margin of victory or defeat until this fever breaks.
Does McAuliffe’s loss doom the Democrats in 2020? Not necessarily - the zeitgeist will be changed in some way we can’t predict at this moment. The Democrats may once again summon up fierce energy for yet another battle in this seemingly endless war.
The hot take from last night is going to be crystallized into truth if we are not careful. It’s already on CNN. Democrats lost because they are too progressive. They aren’t where the “people” are. Once again the myth of a centrist America has risen.
No. No. No. All of the policies in Biden’s soft infrastructure bill are wildly popular and inspiringly progressive. Poll after poll has said this. Yet the media is going to refit the centrist Democrat allegory, until progressive Democrats retreat - if they have their way.
Two things are certain. President Manchin woke up this morning feeling the wind behind his sails and he will be further persuaded not to yield an inch. It is to weep.
The other is, and I occasionally have made this point in the past, it’s way past time to arrest some people with name recognition.
You need to be publishing your own rag. This kind of diatribe needs a home other than the comments section.
Thank you. That is very kind.
I shall make a point of checking yours out.
I'd have you guest post anytime based on the one comment I read. Blew me away.
I agree - its not lack of education - more lack of interest outside your own personal experiences - or not wanting to hear/see/read anything that you might not agree with.
Most telling, Trump 'touched the dark places' because the rigged economic system and the political not only didn't listen, 'they' didn't address the people's real problems in a major way.
Most fundamentally, Trump aroused TRIBALISM as no one else had.
“The art of tribal politics is that it shapes reality,” .... “Lies become truth and explain everything in simple terms.” And political struggles... “become a war between good and evil that demands unconditional support for the leader of the tribe. If you talk against your own camp you betray it and get expelled from the tribe.” (NY Times) See link below.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/10/world/europe/trump-truth-lies-power.html
I agree whole heartedly with both points.
Did the Democrats abandon the unions (softly, softly, so that it took many a long time to wake up to it because Reagan and successors decimated them to the point that what was once a bastion of power in the Party became an embarrassing relic, a millstone virtually?
Or did the unions achieve so much that their members were (temporarily) vaulted into a clas where they had their own wealth to protect and saw the Republican Party as the more traditional vehicle for doing so?
I lived at this time in a GM city. That company and its subsidiaries dominated the economic landscape. The UAAw had done so well so long that it became hard to imagine what more they could want. So they were reduced to granting absurd requests, such as the right to one’s birthday off with pay.
There was an arrogance to that union, a sense that the emoyer had the corporation by the short and curlies. So strong was it that a culture of drinking in the GM parking lot after work, which eventually resulted in a traffic death caused by an intoxicated worker, became a major union-management battle.
The union lost humility and with that its soul, and eventually its relevance. Today that town begs GM to deliver it work.
Small wonder that Reagan’s astonishing act of bravura in firing air traffic controllers so wrong-footed the Democrats. And much, much worse was to come.
In the 70s, few recognized that pendulums eventually swing, and always from their greatest height.
To acquaint yourself a bit more about the history of labor unions in the USA, this article, 'State of the Unions' in The New Yorker provides a general idea and, importantly, a number of excellent books you may want to check out.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/08/26/state-of-the-unions
Plus, Biden is a huge proponent of unions.
edit for missing word: '... the rigged economic system and political 'parties' not only didn't listen...'
Dems messages have always been weak and some candidates are just terrible at getting their thoughts, their plans, across to people. The DNC must employ some of the awful tactics of the Repubs. I am not talking about deceit, thievery, or sex. Talking about some of the underhandedness that gets their candidates elected. It’s shitty but what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Forget the D. N. C. they are in bed with the same special interests the republicans are in bed with!!!
We have to face it folks, we live in a country that is governed by a VERY corrupt political system, an most of that corruption is in the way we fund and conduct our elections!!! And we had better do something about it pretty damn quick or we are SUNK…… in fact it is quite likely to late already…….. What we’re going to do about it now,,, I really don’t know, but to put it bluntly, I think we’re fucked,,, pardon my language,,,, but I see no sense in sugar coating it!!!
. We’ve got to somehow get behind a good progressive candidates and good progressive agenda……….
Make your escape plan in case you need it. Look to Afghanistan to see what happens when things suddenly collapse due to corruption.
The DNC should get the hell out of the way and let Bernie have his moment. ;)
He has been more outspoken lately, thank goodness!
And yet the Dems have dropped the free comm college plank from the bill. The Dems are NOT in any way explaining themselves about these two big bills. They aren't explaining that comm college trains for the trades or for university requirements to transfer easily. I went that route (did all my gen ed courses at my local comm college and transfered to a state university) and it was cheaper in the long run. We need landscapers, chefs, CNAs & RNs, diesel mechanics ad infinitum!! Maybe some of these NCEWVs could become CEWVs, even if for a two-year AA or AS degree. But Dems are not pushing this education benefit. All the NCEWVs hear is that More Taxes will be needed to fund this program. Not the benefits. More missed opportunities you Dems in Washington. I'm frustrated at best.
I agree and would add that the Dems have not effectively communicated anything that is in this bill. Republicans are saying that the government is going to be monitoring everyone’s bank accounts. I pay a lot of attention to what’s happening with this bill and I am not sure if this is still in the bill, and if it is, what exactly it entails. Where is the Democratic communication to counter this Rep. narrative? Republicans are attacking child care and universal pre-school as the government deciding where your children can go to school to be indoctrinated. Dems need to counter this fear mongering with clear, constant messaging.
Democratic messaging in general is abysmal. Watching CSpan this morning I saw the Rep. guest refer continuously to “the American people” and the Democratic guest refer to “America”, one small example of the Dems penchant for abstractions. Additionally when the Dem. guest was questioned about policy, she spoke about what she was fighting for using “I” The Republican guest spoke about “we”, (Republicans) indicating throughout a strong, unified message.
Dems need to up their communication strategy and get people like Stacy Abrams out there constantly delivering a clear, pragmatic message that “the American people” can understand and relate to in their everyday lives.
Regardless of their message(s) Republicans, for decades, have been following a playbook that tells them the words and phrases to use with the media and the American People when discussing issues and answering question. They have been well schooled, consequently they message very well.
Your observation of the differences in language between the Democrat & Republican guests is significant - particularly impacts of I/we, America/American People. Democrats may have fantastic ideas and goals but they lack consistent, powerful, collaborative language and communication skills.
Old but true axiom: In general, it is much easier to disprove a hypothesis than prove it. Any number of supporting evidence helps raise our confidence in the stated hypothesis, however, it takes only a single set of evidence against the hypothesis to disprove it. In other words, Democrats have a far more difficult path trying to sell the American people on a plan when they can't prove the plan will help you, and you, and you.
Messaging for Democrats is inherently problematic. It would help enormously if they were 100% united in supporting their vision for America. All Republicans have to do is sit on the sideline taking cheap shots that are usually unprovable lies and half-truths.
Bottom line is, actions speak louder than words. Talk is cheap! Most people, right or wrong, ask what have you done for me lately? In a political squabble or war of words, most people just tune it out and become disengaged, hence a large number of no-shows come election time. That is my take on what happened in Virginia, for e.g.
Exactly.
Exactly on point! Perhaps Democrats should consult with a successful ad agency. The majority of people in this country would benefit greatly from democratic programs and ideas but if they don’t know what they are and how they help them, they will be oblivious. If the Republican playbook is not exposed in such a way that people understand how disastrous it is we will continue to have great inequality. Manchin and Sinema are disastrous for successfully passing Biden’s build back better plan and their actions will put democratic control, such as it is, in jeopardy.
Yes, and they can thank the Federalist Society for supplying that playbook. The Society gets ‘em young so that they can mold them into the deceitful humans they are.
Exactly.
lRepublicans are saying that the government is going to be monitoring everyone’s bank accounts. I pay a lot of attention to what’s happening with this bill and I am not sure if this is still in the bill, and if it is, what exactly it entails.
Gina, I don’t believe it is as I researched a little after mention by a Fox News watching friend. As I recall,the original proposal called for banks to report data on any accounts over $600(does seem low)so it could be compared to the account holder’s filing with IRS. Subsequent proposal raised the account amount considerably, maybe 10k ? but it still didn’t go.
Interestingly the same friend who complained was having an issue with the IRS double reporting on their end a big chunk of her unearned income, of course deposited into her bank account.
Thanks, Kathy. That’s what I thought, but if it is out of the bill, Dems need to make this clear. Sigh.
Agreed.
I emphatically agree with you. As a retired educator of special education for 35 years, all students hear is you aren't going college on those grades. Most of my students didn't have ability or inclination to attend a university, but they demonstrated hands-on skills, determination, and other quality skills that a community college or trades school or an apprenticeship would mold into a lifelong craft. With the college goals thrown at them for 12 years, many gave up and graduated with no bearings on what to strive for in life. We must provide some opportunities for the kids who just can't cut the university goals, and get them into well-paying skills. Community colleges are perfect for this.
I so very much agree, Christi!
"They aren't explaining that comm college trains for the trades or for university requirements to transfer easily."
Barbara, you are spot on!
Great points to lobby Democratic Party with. Please spell out your abbreviations in the future. Thanks.
Yes, that frustrated me also.
Well said Ralph. Willful ignorance, “prideful stupidity, clinging to comfortable myths” and gleeful acceptance of bad behavior are contributing to a meltdown in democracy. Education is key along with the restoration of respect and logic.
Very true, but the problem is that the R's have been whole heartedly endorsing the DeVos concept of school vouchers (taking public education funds and giving them to private/religious schools and home schooler families-a chunk of cash for each child that participates) then after stealing that money then the legislature cut the public ed. monies even more. The Republican majority NH legislators did just that this year and totally disregarded public input that was very much opposed to the plan. In remote public hearings, 8000 opposed the school voucher plan and much fewer (less than 1000) supported it. The plan has not been studied as to actual cost effects and there is minimal oversight as to how it will be monitored. The public outcry was so strong that those legislators went so far as to hide the bill in the State budget (as was the "Divisive Concept" bill-i.e. no one can publicly discuss things like racism and implicit/systemic bias,) The expected result of the school voucher plan will be increased property taxes for poor towns. In NH, the public education monies aside from federal/state funds are mostly provided by property taxes, which was been deemed unconstitutional over 10 years ago. Of course the rich towns will very likely not have the increases in property taxes. Yeah, as you can guess, I live in NH.
I observe Retrumplicans for several years now inciting emotions in a group of people that do not want or are unable to learn that Retrumplicans' inciting topics, words, and phrases are mostly lies, distortions, and empty words. CRT is a prime example. Public schools do not teach this, and yet the phrase CRT is so frightening and stokes anger. It's that word "race" in the middle. Cancel culture, Dr. Seuss, white fragility, and those murderous, raping immigrants dripping in COVID at the southern border, George Soros, etc. are all meant to keep this group active. In other words a true "patriot" owns a gun, wears red, white, and blue clothing, carries a defiant flag, gives Dems the middle finger, believes a psychopath is a god, and screams about Brandon. Isn't it compelling that Drump never achieved higher than a short-lived 49% approval rating, and Biden has dropped to a similar level, yet Biden is a horrible president setting out to destroy America? Biden has never said a word about getting rid of everything while that was Drump's first direction to his Cabinet. And, it is verified that Drump uttered 42,000 plus lies during his four years while no one is keeping track of Biden's because mostly his mistruths are errors. I think I am frustrated because no one can really fight a delusional control over a minority of easily provoked people. Unless Democrats stoop low and take on similar tactics, we are doomed. But, I know that I would begin to reject this type of group dynamics if the Dems were to become this. I think at this point we desperately need Manchin to allow passage of voter rights and infrastructure in order for all to begin seeing the benefits this administration has to offer.
Great summary. The delusional control over these people defies logic. I struggle every day to stay optimistic that this segment of the population will join us in reality.
Yes allow passage BEFORE everything "great" is removed from the bills!
I agree. I also work among the NCEWV demographic (catchy acronym!), and I don't see much hope there for progressive governance. Better for Dems to work as hard as they can to forge a broad coalition of all underserved and under-represented people in this country, because I'm guessing that taken together they're the largest voter bloc out there. And I like to think EDUCATED white voters would be glad to join!
I belong to several local forums here on Salem on Facebook. One is Salem Progressives and frankly a lot of them are very naive. So I stuck my neck out and said that after the primaries they need to get behind all the D candidates even if they don't check all the boxes. One person did agree with me and one posted something that really made no sense. Thankfully, it looks like I will not have to hold my nose and vote for Kurt Schrader who is preferable to any radical far right seditionist wing nut. I haven't looked yet this am to see if anyone else has posted.
Ds should take note about the school issue which killed them in VA which is my estimation has taken a large step backwards and hopefully will regret it.
Education is certainly key and that’s why my second career was as an educator. However, our public school systems all over our country are in bad shape. I’ve been retired for over 5 years now and worked in an inner city middle school serving special education needs. I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to deal with the pandemic issues let alone having parents threaten administrators and teachers.
Yes, education is threatened.. We have to remember the pandemic is real. What the screaming groups of parents are doing at school board meeting is intimidating and bullying. Trying to stand up to other people in your face like that would take a lot of courage. Some school board members have it. Electing far right members who absolutely have no idea of what schools and school boards are for is a huge threat. And the public school system is vulnerable. The school boards and thus the curriculum should function in response to community standards and that does not limit that function to appeasing far right demands. Public schools are charged with bringing all students together for an equal education, not indoctrinating them with far right propaganda. Students are currently being used, weaponized, for the political needs of the far right. There has to be a pushback.
The school issue in Virginia was a killer. Parents do have a right to say what should be taught, but all parents, not just a screaming mob of far righters who don't follow science or the history curriculum.
McAullife bungled this issue horribly, and it's among the main reasons he lost.
McAuliffe also was relying on and resting on his past history. He offered nothing new; no real vision. As my old man would say, 'Never rest on your laurels."
We also need to remember that when state legislatures and the federal education department (late 1990s) began undermining teachers and turning our curriculum into a testing focus and blaming schools and teachers for lost test scores, things started to crumble with government and public support.
Absolutely...a big part of the picture with education.
My very dear friend has a work/education history similar to yours. Like you, he is a liberal, progressive Democrat. He is also one of the most intelligent men I've ever known. Having a college education doesn't make a person intelligent - just look at the Hawley, Cruz, Kennedy, and other dummies who are busily grifting off our dime while they destroy our country. I don't consider their ability to thieve in broad daylight "intelligence" as much as I consider it pure evil. They have figured out how to control the minds of the NCEWVs - that's their only real attribute.
Ralph, I spent 29 years in the office of a construction, then construction management company which had its start as a masonry business. At the time, had no idea what anyone's politics were (this was pre-2004) but the men and, later, the women that worked as carpenters, masons, laborers were great people who worked hard (and still do). We had a really good local building trade organization. I watched the breakdown of OSHA during the pandemic (meat packing plants?) & remembered bringing on a Safety person of our own to deal with the jobsites in order to be aware of any violations, also to work with OSHA reps. What in the world happened? Education? absolutely, but I believe in building trades & the ability of young people to apprentice and have a good, meaningful way of making a living. I get kind of resentful, I guess, when I read & hear that the ONLY path to a good life is for everyone to get a college education. That IS the path for many - but not ALL. In the not too distant future, if we dont already, we will be without, carpenters, masons, plumbers, electricians - people to repair & maintain all these necessities of life! What then?
I agree. Education takes many forms, college is one of them. What is taught in primary, middle, and high school is the most important and that isn’t happening. That is what I meant about the importance of education. Apprenticeships are great. I did an apprenticeship as an electrician. I was on the facilities staff of a large, well-known state university. Many of the students would have been better off in a trade school/apprenticeship, but they weren’t interested. They all wanted to be dot com millionaires. Trade schools, union apprenticeships, contractors were begging.
Our society aldo denigrsted folks in the trades. Which I find unforgiveable. But tRump found them ripe for the picking.
I am the first male in my family to earn not just one degree, but two. We were farming folk. My brother is a retired truck driver, cross country, for 40 years. I am a retired business executive and ordained graduate seminarian. We get along just fine.
I personally believe that many of our colleges are vocational technical schools. An MBA is the journeyman equivalent to the "trades" & the MBA trade is business. I would like to see the college educated (& everyone else) be more all encompassing with history, humanities, philosophy & the sciences. We also need to embrace being life long learners.
I agree - and the all encompassing should start in grade school! Remember civics?? Sadly, it wasnt being taught when I was in school - dont remember mention of it at least. But possibly some of the teachings at that point were covered in social studies? I did learn the 3 branches of government - which, it appears, some of our elected "officials" did not!! How about that? And yes, life long learners is a good thing - why would it not be? It is possible for someone to change their opinion after learning or experiencing something different over a period of time. Well, some people anyhow.
Yup.
Thank you. Well said! Very well said. I’m copying your post to read in the future when I need a dose of reality. Or when I’m angry with the Democratic establishment. They’ve been so dumb at candidate selection and messaging. ❤️🤍💙
Please spell out your abbreviations. Thank you.
Non Collège Educated White Voters
Thank you, Marcy.
THANK YOU
I Had North Carolina East West Virginia voters.
But then they don't call me a space cadet for no reason.
😄
Yes. That's what I came up with as well.
Thank you Fern. I came up with North Carolinaand. East West Virginia!
HA! I definitely came up with West Virginia but that was it. My brain can only get a little more imaginative. 😆
My husband is a non college educated white Fox News watching Trump supporter. The mandates have hurt Democrats. But the social issues are really swaying them away from Dems. Parents want to control what their children learn and the Republicans pushing constantly the narrative that liberal Dems are going to teach CRT and include books in the reading list they don't like is really moving these whites away from Dems. We have to control the narrative and it doesn't seem that we've been able to do that. I can ignore my husband since there is no discussing with him but there are others who I feel would listen if Dems could get their talking points in place.
FACT: CRT has not been taught and is not being taught in secondary schools. Parents are not equipped to determine the correct curricula for teaching their children. Watching the outraged, enraged anti-learning vigilantes at school board meetings sickens me. Parents should be allowed to SUGGEST, but not run roughshod over school boards and teachers. The faux moral outrage poised in thuggish outrage and bullying simply achieves nothing and harms the students. As to the Dems, they are doing themselves in.
Liberal Democrats want to control what their children are taught as well; history as it happened; not the myth.
So do we propose partisan schools?
Since I am a "product of the fifties", I suspect my worldview is vastly different from most folk who post comments on this site. I had the blessing of graduating from a high school that was 2nd in academics in my state. And we had an awesome athletics program as well as free and open discussion in our "Problems of Democracy" course. I was a frequent debater and contributor in those discussions. I do not recall any level of rage, outrage, hatred or dissension as we must witness today.
I agree - so exactly WHEN are the Dems going to learn how to put talking points in place! The Repubs. have controlled the narratives for far too long & it appears the Dems just continue to believe they wont pull away the football again!!! (Charlie Brown) Manchin is doing exactly what we all knew he would - now he can blame the Va. loss on "people unhappy with Biden's legislation"?????????? Which isnt true - its another case of yet another politician (Dem) who didnt have "good talking points"! It appeared his sole talking point was Trump! Why in ?? wouldnt he have been prepared better? He seemed to be opening his mouth & jamming his foot in! As a former governor of that state - seems he should have known better.
I like the Charlie Brown / Lucy analogy. I am beginning to wonder if in fact the Dems are secret facilitators for the Republicans.
At this point - it does make you question, doesnt it?
Well, with friends like the Dems, the Repubniks need no more enemies.
Frankly not concerned whether the Repubs have enemies - the Dems really need to wake up & start using offense!
Things I want to know: 1)How to deal with Fox News, the greatest Pied Piper that democracy has ever known, for its shameless manipulation of our country. When will we call racism for what it is rather than tip-toeing around "CRT" rhetoric, parent control of curricula, voter repression, et al? Acknowledge that NCEWVs are shills to Republicans. They are merely a tool to be used? That Reaganomics are grinding us down to a withering autocracy?
I hate to say this but I have a dear friend who is completely charmed by Tucker Carlson.
Ugh
Ditto
100% agree with that, Ralph. Public education is the common good. It’s why they are obsessed with controlling it and trying to privatize it completely. Critical Race Theory my foot…. Or boot.
Christine(FL) That has already happened in NH-see my post above)
So well articulated, Ralph!
McAuliffe failed, period. He was resting on his laurels, believing that his somewhat celebrated past would carry the day for him. McAuliffe is sympotamtic and emblematic of the crisis pervading the Democratic Party, locally and nationally. 2022 wil be the bellwether. 2024 may well be the knockout punch, putting Republican fascists in control across the land. Democrats think brain and overwhelm brawn. Not in today's political milieux.
McCauliffe ran on “I’m not Trump.”
Dems need to concentrate on what we are, not what we aren’t.
“Donald who?”
Agreed 100%. When Hillary Clinton referred to Trump's supporters as "deplorables", I cringed. I might have agreed with her (which I did and do), but it is better to offend one's opponent; not their supporters. She effectively wrote off any fence sitters at that point.
As I recall, HRC said most of Trump’s supporters were hardworking people who had been left behind by rapid economic changes, others were something else I don’t recall, and the “rest are a bunch of deplorables.” She was taken completely out of context, even by her own party.
Thank you for this clarification. But! She should have avoided that depiction. That simply fueled the image of her as a "down-the-nose" liberal.
Agreed. HRC’s big weakness was telling it like it is. Politicians who do that are doomed.
AND NCEWV ? Sorry - dont know what that stands for. ??
It's in the first paragraph, quoted from the letter. It stands for Non-College-Educated-White-Voters. Hope that helps.
Thanks - apparently I slid right over that!!! Age related maybe?