The People of the Rust Belt Have Fears, Too

[blue_by_you]

Some people use Facebook for sharing cute animal videos and funny memes. Others share more of their day to day happenings. Some, maybe fewer, share their political or religious views. Others don’t like seeing political or religious posts from their friends. There is an old adage that one should not discuss politics and religion in polite company.

Comments

[savia]

I don't have any argument with your soul searching about wanting to be more persuasive (and kind - I see a quest for more kindness in dealing with people you disagree with here).

However, I don't think your original statement is very far off base, even if it was written in biting language. Because data backs it up.

I think we need to kill the myth that the majority of Trump supporters are blue collar working class people. Trump supporters tend to be wealthier and better situated than those who supported Clinton or Sanders.

I also think we need to stop talking in terms of bubbles. If you look at detailed election maps scaled by population (especially when you get down into the counties), the whole bubble on the coasts thing is a myth. There is certainly a difference between cities and rural areas. Cities tend to be more progressive, and rural and suburban areas more conservative. But rural and suburban areas are more sparsely populated and white. Cities are much more diverse. If there is a bubble, then there is a rural bubble that

[savia]

So, I don't think you should feel too badly about whatever ideas you have about the composition of Trump voters. There is a persistent narrative about them that, while it may be minimally true in some areas, is overall just incomplete and incorrect. I'm all for kindness, and I'm also for calling bullshit on Trump supporters for enabling all of the downright evils being unleashed right now, and for holding them accountable for what is happening and the fallout from all of this, some of which will reverberate painfully for years.

I do have a political ranting filter on Facebook that i use with some frequency, though. The people in that filter have generally opted in to it, so it keeps things fairly straightforward.

[blue_by_you]

Send me the link? I'm all for a good political rant.

[blue_by_you]

First of all, I have to say, after this election, I'm not likely to trust exit polls but when you're talking about an exit poll and the question is about people's income? No. Not a reliable source of information to me. But I do think the term "working class" needs to be defined, and I think my mentally defining it as mostly white male blue collar workers is not totally accurate, you're right. According to those same exit polls 51% of women voted for Trump. Even if they're off by 20%, that's a lot of women working that Trump vote

[kristli]

This is absolutely beautiful, my friend. I wish I lived closer so we could discuss it and other important things at length, late into the night, 'round the table with wine. I'm just so tired of trying to express myself through social media. It's doesn't work for me anymore. Thank you for writing this. I love you. Xxoo

[blue_by_you]

Don't give up. Fight on. I love you, too.