Personally, I’ve always had LOW expectations of millionaire congressmen working in my behalf. Now the representative that I once campaigned for — now a multi-millionaire — only responds to my questions with form letters that often have nothing to do with my question.
As much as I enjoy Ms. Sorensen’s work, today’s strip leaves me with a hollow feeling. Blue collar voters have been the property of the Republicans since 1980 and the beginning of the Reagan revolution. Yes, they do not connect the dots and figure out that maybe the ultra-rich do not have the working class’s best interests at heart, but that is the way they like it. So long as they get a bone thrown to them every once in awhile they will keep voting that way until they can be shown a better alternative. Ms. Sorensen is preaching to the choir here and I am confused as to how we are supposed to feel; smugly superior? That is an attitude that is much too prevalent on both sides today, and certainly not one that will ever bring about change. I know that this post won’t be popular, so let the attacks begin I guess.
Status threat, not economic hardship, explains the 2016 presidential vote
Abstract
This study evaluates evidence pertaining to popular narratives explaining the American public’s support for Donald J. Trump in the 2016 presidential election. First, using unique representative probability samples of the American public, tracking the same individuals from 2012 to 2016, I examine the “left behind” thesis (that is, the theory that those who lost jobs or experienced stagnant wages due to the loss of manufacturing jobs punished the incumbent party for their economic misfortunes). Second, I consider the possibility that status threat felt by the dwindling proportion of traditionally high-status Americans (i.e., whites, Christians, and men) as well as by those who perceive America’s global dominance as threatened combined to increase support for the candidate who emphasized reestablishing status hierarchies of the past. Results do not support an interpretation of the election based on pocketbook economic concerns. Instead, the shorter relative distance of people’s own views from the Republican candidate on trade and China corresponded to greater mass support for Trump in 2016 relative to Mitt Romney in 2012. Candidate preferences in 2016 reflected increasing anxiety among high-status groups rather than complaints about past treatment among low-status groups. Both growing domestic racial diversity and globalization contributed to a sense that white Americans are under siege by these engines of change.
The Rich Republican Elites are undermining our country. They aren’t like factory workers, they are psychopaths. They are racists who want you to be racist too. I support unionizing workers, raising the minimum wage and creation of clean energy jobs. But that would empower the little people, so the republicans won’t back that. They would rather help the 1/%.
superposition about 6 years ago
Personally, I’ve always had LOW expectations of millionaire congressmen working in my behalf. Now the representative that I once campaigned for — now a multi-millionaire — only responds to my questions with form letters that often have nothing to do with my question.
rip_marco about 6 years ago
As much as I enjoy Ms. Sorensen’s work, today’s strip leaves me with a hollow feeling. Blue collar voters have been the property of the Republicans since 1980 and the beginning of the Reagan revolution. Yes, they do not connect the dots and figure out that maybe the ultra-rich do not have the working class’s best interests at heart, but that is the way they like it. So long as they get a bone thrown to them every once in awhile they will keep voting that way until they can be shown a better alternative. Ms. Sorensen is preaching to the choir here and I am confused as to how we are supposed to feel; smugly superior? That is an attitude that is much too prevalent on both sides today, and certainly not one that will ever bring about change. I know that this post won’t be popular, so let the attacks begin I guess.
Masterskrain Premium Member about 6 years ago
Simple test…if it won’t MAKE THEM RICHER, they aren’t in favor of it. Period.
Radish the wordsmith about 6 years ago
Republicans only love the 1% and the military. Why would you vote for them?
martens about 6 years ago
Status threat, not economic hardship, explains the 2016 presidential vote
Abstract
This study evaluates evidence pertaining to popular narratives explaining the American public’s support for Donald J. Trump in the 2016 presidential election. First, using unique representative probability samples of the American public, tracking the same individuals from 2012 to 2016, I examine the “left behind” thesis (that is, the theory that those who lost jobs or experienced stagnant wages due to the loss of manufacturing jobs punished the incumbent party for their economic misfortunes). Second, I consider the possibility that status threat felt by the dwindling proportion of traditionally high-status Americans (i.e., whites, Christians, and men) as well as by those who perceive America’s global dominance as threatened combined to increase support for the candidate who emphasized reestablishing status hierarchies of the past. Results do not support an interpretation of the election based on pocketbook economic concerns. Instead, the shorter relative distance of people’s own views from the Republican candidate on trade and China corresponded to greater mass support for Trump in 2016 relative to Mitt Romney in 2012. Candidate preferences in 2016 reflected increasing anxiety among high-status groups rather than complaints about past treatment among low-status groups. Both growing domestic racial diversity and globalization contributed to a sense that white Americans are under siege by these engines of change.
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2018/04/18/1718155115
Mr. Blawt about 6 years ago
The Rich Republican Elites are undermining our country. They aren’t like factory workers, they are psychopaths. They are racists who want you to be racist too. I support unionizing workers, raising the minimum wage and creation of clean energy jobs. But that would empower the little people, so the republicans won’t back that. They would rather help the 1/%.