I Know Why Poor Whites Chant Trump, Trump, Trump

[malthaussen]

18. Callin' them poor folks stupid justifies us.

Last edited Tue Jun 21, 2016, 08:57 AM - Edit history (1)

I frankly flinch every time I see some post gloating about how the poor are ignorant, stupid, manipulated, and vote against their own interest. It would seem that the ways of separating us one from another are myriad, and all rooted in pride.

To a certain extent, this article is actually more of the same. It defines "interest" in narrow economic terms, as though man lived by bread alone, even though the author is clearly aware of the importance of amour-propre, especially among those who have no economic stability. When you got nuthin', you'll wrap yourself in whatever tatters can soothe your battered pride. The author, to give her credit, does recognize this, but because she is enlightened enough to see that we are all in this together, she calls those who are not so enlightened "manipulated," as if they were receiving nothing of value when they are justified.

One might suggest that justification is a mere fraction of what the poorer classes should expect or receive, but that's really a question of arithmetic, isn't it? If one truly believes that, despite all his running, he will stay economically in the same place (or worse), then getting some satisfaction is far superior to copping to powerlessness, especially as our culture is so derisive of powerlessness. A candidate who is prepared to milk this for all it is worth should go far. In fact, such a candidate has gone far.

-- Mal