How do they feed themselves and pay their mortgage or rent? Everyone needs a source of income. If they have jobs, unemployment is going to skyrocket. If they live off of the federal government, benefits are being cut. |
The red states get a whole lot of money in entitlements from the blue states who are net payers in terms of federal revenues. |
Pp here. Yes that was my question. Either they have jobs or they live off federal government benefits. Either way, Trump’s actions are going to have negative effects on them. Why do they not care? |
Working class poster here. I honestly don’t think they understand. I’m fortunate enough to work in a recession-proof job, but most aren’t as lucky. |
I’m sure it’s not luck. I bet you chose your profession carefully. |
Not much will change for the working poor. Most of them aren’t going to lose their job at Dollar General, as a receptionist at the local doctor, or the local mill/manufacturer. Some will, but not many and there’s always a sh*tty minimum wage job for someone willing to take it. Most people won’t see a huge change in their welfare benefits. Most of them won’t see a huge change in their day to day lives. But they get a pathetic little dopamine hit to see the “elites” (college educated middle class) being brought closer down to their level, and that’s enough for them. |
But surely they have to buy things?? |
The mills/factories are closing down and laying people off. The pensions of the union workers are withering at the vine. There is no more federal social safety net. How are these good things? |
NP- Yeah, I am not buying that MAGA voters are so pleased and immune to feeling the effects of this mess. I was at Walmart for the first time in a couple months and prices are up, by a lot, often a 25% increase. That's everything from some food items to towels to plants. When you are someone who truly has to watch prices, this stings even more and will absolutely be felt, and this is BEFORE we're really seeing the effects of tarrifs. |
If you ever want to try to get your head around what Trump voters think, I really recommend The Focus Group podcast - Sarah Longwell's weekly Bulwark podcast (well one of them - that team is PRODUCTIVE) where she plays snippets from focus groups she runs (often of Trump voters) to find out what they're thinking. Every time I think something like, well of course this time they'll disapprove of him - I listen to them talk on this podcast and I am quickly disabused. But also you'd be surprised the things that they do disapprove of. Anyway - yes, during this chaotic intro to his new term, a lot of them are on the podcast saying how much they appreciate that he's doing so much. Doesn't really matter what he's doing - they like that he's doing things. It really ties into what I think was Biden's worst mistake (second to not declaring early on he wasn't running for a second term): not talking to people often or well. Not sharing what he was doing. It meant people thought he wasn't doing anything. Trump is a firehose of communication - nonsense communication about horrible things, to my mind - but for a lot of people, they like that he's always out there saying something and doing something. In short, we're sc***ed. |
Ha I’m the PP you responded to and I listen to this every week! Have since the Trump-Harris debate. Longwell is one of the smartest people in politics because she listens to voters all day long. Great post, ITA with all of it. |