Why Workers in Red States Vote Against Their Economic Self-Interest

[The2ndAmendment]

Because Detroit went bankrupt.

 

[Bombur]

A "point" or "influence" is not an "event." If you reread my sentence I was talking about events of "increase of debt." The wise spending of Reagan has got nothing to do with our bloated debt now.

You make great points but are not paying attention.

LOL you clowns never fail to disappoint.

Chickens don't either.

The only thing I am afraid of is falling off my chair laughing at you. It is a long way down.

 

[ClosedCaption]

Nice spin. The fact is voting for big government, more regulations, higher taxes isn't what's best for the country, yet that is the ideology you vote for.

Holy shit. Is it a rule of some kind that you have to throw in a talking point no matter what the other person says? You're like a mother bird regurgitating the same things over and over

You have to resort to lies.

Show me where this so called "talking point" is that you claim I'm regurgitating.

Democrats are typically for higher taxes and bigger government, that's the party you side with. How is that voting in your best interest?

Here *****

The fact is voting for big government, more regulations, higher taxes isn't what's best for the country, yet that is the ideology you vote for.

and again in your own post asking where is the talking point.

Democrats are typically for higher taxes and bigger government, that's the party you side with. How is that voting in your best interest

Notice I have yet to give my opinion on anything because you keep trotting out the old worn out "heres what you think" posts. Better that than address what I actually say. Its easy to beat a strawman

 

[francoHFW]

A

Events under Reagan have very little to do with today's economic realities. Why don't you just say, "Bbbb...Bushy."

The point I was making was that Reagan was hugely influential on the minds of Republicans today and their understanding of economic policy. A lot of changes happened under Reagan that are relevant today as well. So your post is doubly wrong. Congratulations!

A "point" or "influence" is not an "event." If you reread my sentence I was talking about events of "increase of debt." The wise spending of Reagan has got nothing to do with our bloated debt now.

You make great points but are not paying attention.

ACTUALLY, Reagan spent like a drunken sailor, tripled the debt, produced a bloated wealthy class, transferred tax burdens to states and localities that kill the nonrich, facts that ruin the country to this day. The only thing keeping Pubs having any power is the brainwashing of the rubes, ie YOU, thanks to him ending the Fairness Doctrine. And yes, all the racists are in the GOP.

 

[Bombur]

Actually one issue that concerns voting against self interest is Social Security. Specifically the retirement plan portion of SS.

Some people will point to debt and deficit levels and suggest that we have to cut entitlements, including SS, in order to deal with it. Meanwhile the real problems are not in SS, which is meant to have it's own funding source, but in other spending areas like discretionary spending and Medicare. If anything should be done about SS it is to shift the tax burden away from regressive payroll taxes. Instead some people push to blur the differences in revenue sources in order to prevent tax increases that are progressive and/or spending cuts to things like defense spending.

 

[The2ndAmendment]

Because Detroit went bankrupt.

 

[LordBrownTrout]

Oil and natural gas is averaging 44 dollars an hour in wages in texas.

 

[Stephanie]

Do you all get SICK of hearing this shit?

who are they to tell someone what is in their BEST INTEREST?

FRIKKEN political scientist,...what a joke

 

[Lonestar_logic]

Holy shit. Is it a rule of some kind that you have to throw in a talking point no matter what the other person says? You're like a mother bird regurgitating the same things over and over

You have to resort to lies.

Show me where this so called "talking point" is that you claim I'm regurgitating.

Democrats are typically for higher taxes and bigger government, that's the party you side with. How is that voting in your best interest?

Here *****

The fact is voting for big government, more regulations, higher taxes isn't what's best for the country, yet that is the ideology you vote for.

and again in your own post asking where is the talking point.

Democrats are typically for higher taxes and bigger government, that's the party you side with. How is that voting in your best interest

Notice I have yet to give my opinion on anything because you keep trotting out the old worn out "heres what you think" posts. Better that than address what I actually say. Its easy to beat a strawman

So I said the same true statement twice and that makes it a "talking point"?

Who knew!?!?

 

[ClosedCaption]

You have to resort to lies.

Show me where this so called "talking point" is that you claim I'm regurgitating.

Democrats are typically for higher taxes and bigger government, that's the party you side with. How is that voting in your best interest?

Here *****


and again in your own post asking where is the talking point.

Democrats are typically for higher taxes and bigger government, that's the party you side with. How is that voting in your best interest

Notice I have yet to give my opinion on anything because you keep trotting out the old worn out "heres what you think" posts. Better that than address what I actually say. Its easy to beat a strawman

So I said the same true statement twice and that makes it a "talking point"?

Who knew!?!?

Deflection noted You couldnt even attempt your lame ass "Show me where" bullshit anymore. Good

 

[ScienceRocks]

blacks vote democrats for the same reason whites mostly vote republican.

what's good for the goose is good for the gander! Can't say it is good for the advancement of this country as science, infrastructure and improving our society are...But fair play is part of reality!

 

[dblack]

Maybe it's because economic security isn't their only 'interest'.

 

[Mac1958]

.

What some don't realize - somehow - is that "economic self interest" does not necessarily have to mean "getting stuff paid for by other people".

But when that's how your thought process works, that's just the way it works.

.

 

[Political Junky]

For years, political scientists have wondered why so many poor and working-class citizens of so-called “red” states vote against their economic self-interest.
The wages of production workers have been dropping for 30 years, adjusted for inflation, and their economic security has disappeared. A smaller share of working-age Americans hold jobs today than at any time in more than three decades.
For them, a job is precious — sometimes even more precious than a safe workplace or safe drinking water.
This is especially true in poorer regions of the country like West Virginia and through much of Southern and rural America, where the old working class has been voting Republican. Guns, abortion and race are part of the explanation. But don’t overlook economic anxieties that translate into a willingness to vote for whatever it is that industry wants.
This may explain why Republican officials who have been casting their votes against unions, against expanding Medicaid, against raising the minimum wage, against extended unemployment insurance, and against jobs bills that would put people to work, continue to be elected and re-elected.
They obviously have the support of corporate patrons who want to keep unemployment high and workers insecure because a pliant working class helps their bottom lines.

As someone who has lived in the south for the past half of my life it always puzzled me why people in this region always vote against their self interests and defend the same people who exploit them . I attribute it to a plantation mentality ...

It is highly possible that red state voters realize that there is no free lunch, and that every benefit given to one person has to be paid for by someone else. And, it is almost certain that the red state voter is going to be one of those doing the paying.

Those extra dollars paid to mimimum wage earners didn't just materialize out of the air, it came out of someone's pocket, either directly or indirectly.

They also may realize that Medicaid is becoming a farce, as fewer and fewer doctors will accept new Medicaid patients. And, once again someone has to cough up to pay the bills.

Mostly however, it is because red state voters have common sense and realize that the liberal/socialist agenda will bring this nation to economic ruin, and they know, full well, that is not in their best economic interests.

Those talking points from the Right really work on poor folks, after all.

 

[ScienceRocks]

Because Detroit went bankrupt.

Poor education = less jobs and less innovation = Detroit!

This also means that they had lost the tax base to prop the city up! No police, no medical system, no educational system and the cycle grids on and on into the ground.

libertarianism must be the stupidest idea ever thought up. At least communism when you're dealing at a very small scale works.

 

[Lonestar_logic]

Here *****


and again in your own post asking where is the talking point.



Notice I have yet to give my opinion on anything because you keep trotting out the old worn out "heres what you think" posts. Better that than address what I actually say. Its easy to beat a strawman

So I said the same true statement twice and that makes it a "talking point"?

Who knew!?!?

Deflection noted You couldnt even attempt your lame ass "Show me where" bullshit anymore. Good

Deflection from what?

No question was posed and you made no point.

On the other hand I posed a question to you that you deflected.

 

[dblack]

I think it's really telling that statists find this issue such a puzzle. For them, getting one over on the other guy via 'democracy' is (apparently) the be-all, end-all of public life. Maybe these 'ignorant hillbillies' value their freedom more than they value false promises of security offered by government?

 

[blackhawk]

Perhaps because they have seen the impact Democratic polices have had in places like Detroit and Chicago to name a couple.

 

[ScienceRocks]

Perhaps because they have seen the impact Democratic polices have had in places like Detroit and Chicago to name a couple.

Cultural hatred of education and love of violence made this mess.

 

[francoHFW]

Dems made manufacturing leave Detroit?