Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot understand this mindset.

Biden was going to pour billions into WVA for new infrastructure projects, reviving dead communities. People in WVA were excited about the prospect of turning WVA around.

Then came Trump and DOGE, and axed the funding. SNAP, medicaid.. all cut.

Yet, folks in WVA blame "both parties" but not Trump directly.

I do not understand their thinking. The only thing I can think of is that they are under the influence of a cult leader who can do no wrong.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/29/trump-coal-country

Rural communities in Appalachia were on the verge of breaking ground on projects when the grants were paused or terminated by the so-called “department of government efficiency”, or Doge, led by the billionaire Trump donor Elon Musk. The wholesale cull included the $3bn Environmental and Climate Justice Program created in the IRA to tackle the climate crisis and environmental harms at a local level.

The cuts have deepened existing mistrust in government, known colloquially as Appalachian fatalism, yet many of those interviewed by the Guardian blame Washington politics generally rather than Trump.

“This party [Rs] has taken away that funding from Appalachia illegally: that’s the stone-cold fact. But by the time those facts reach communities on the ground, it’s just so muddy. I think some are asking questions about why training is being shut down and why they didn’t get their Snap [food assistance] benefits, but where they’ll find the answers is the big issue,” said Hannah.

Trump has won big in West Virginia in the past three general elections, securing every county in 2024 with an average of 70% of the vote – the highest percentage any party has won in the state’s history. His vote share was even larger in rural counties including Clay and Wayne, which Huntington straddles.

I guess they don't understand that it was Trump, not the R party, who cut the funding, and that it's better to stick it to the libs than want your state leaders to support policies that will actually help your state rather than hurt it. That's quite a "cut off my entire face to spite my entire being" attitude.

This is why people call MAGA a cult.

Do you want a real answer?

People vote on much more than discrete policy issues. People vote based on identity, political ideology, and of course values.

This is true of voters across the political spectrum and it is actually a good thing that voters aren’t so easily bought.

In West Virginia’s case it has historically bounced between the parties in presidential elections, which is more than can be said of some states/regions.

Additionally, if you actually think Biden’s policies would have “revived dead communities,” you need your head checked.

Ingrained poverty and social issues don’t have simple solutions, whether in rural WV or DC, so it was never really a choice between a somehow revived West Virginia and the status quo.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another possibility is that voters value a lot more than just economics. that might be inconvenient for you, but it's reality.

Like what specifically? What does Trump offer them?

That spending $3 billion for freaking climate justice is idiotic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot understand this mindset.

Biden was going to pour billions into WVA for new infrastructure projects, reviving dead communities. People in WVA were excited about the prospect of turning WVA around.

Then came Trump and DOGE, and axed the funding. SNAP, medicaid.. all cut.

Yet, folks in WVA blame "both parties" but not Trump directly.

I do not understand their thinking. The only thing I can think of is that they are under the influence of a cult leader who can do no wrong.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/29/trump-coal-country

Rural communities in Appalachia were on the verge of breaking ground on projects when the grants were paused or terminated by the so-called “department of government efficiency”, or Doge, led by the billionaire Trump donor Elon Musk. The wholesale cull included the $3bn Environmental and Climate Justice Program created in the IRA to tackle the climate crisis and environmental harms at a local level.

The cuts have deepened existing mistrust in government, known colloquially as Appalachian fatalism, yet many of those interviewed by the Guardian blame Washington politics generally rather than Trump.

“This party [Rs] has taken away that funding from Appalachia illegally: that’s the stone-cold fact. But by the time those facts reach communities on the ground, it’s just so muddy. I think some are asking questions about why training is being shut down and why they didn’t get their Snap [food assistance] benefits, but where they’ll find the answers is the big issue,” said Hannah.

Trump has won big in West Virginia in the past three general elections, securing every county in 2024 with an average of 70% of the vote – the highest percentage any party has won in the state’s history. His vote share was even larger in rural counties including Clay and Wayne, which Huntington straddles.

I guess they don't understand that it was Trump, not the R party, who cut the funding, and that it's better to stick it to the libs than want your state leaders to support policies that will actually help your state rather than hurt it. That's quite a "cut off my entire face to spite my entire being" attitude.

This is why people call MAGA a cult.

Do you want a real answer?

People vote on much more than discrete policy issues. People vote based on identity, political ideology, and of course values.

This is true of voters across the political spectrum and it is actually a good thing that voters aren’t so easily bought.

In West Virginia’s case it has historically bounced between the parties in presidential elections, which is more than can be said of some states/regions.

Additionally, if you actually think Biden’s policies would have “revived dead communities,” you need your head checked.

Ingrained poverty and social issues don’t have simple solutions, whether in rural WV or DC, so it was never really a choice between a somehow revived West Virginia and the status quo.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another possibility is that voters value a lot more than just economics. that might be inconvenient for you, but it's reality.

Like what specifically? What does Trump offer them?

That spending $3 billion for freaking climate justice is idiotic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot understand this mindset.

Biden was going to pour billions into WVA for new infrastructure projects, reviving dead communities. People in WVA were excited about the prospect of turning WVA around.

Then came Trump and DOGE, and axed the funding. SNAP, medicaid.. all cut.

Yet, folks in WVA blame "both parties" but not Trump directly.

I do not understand their thinking. The only thing I can think of is that they are under the influence of a cult leader who can do no wrong.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/29/trump-coal-country

Rural communities in Appalachia were on the verge of breaking ground on projects when the grants were paused or terminated by the so-called “department of government efficiency”, or Doge, led by the billionaire Trump donor Elon Musk. The wholesale cull included the $3bn Environmental and Climate Justice Program created in the IRA to tackle the climate crisis and environmental harms at a local level.

The cuts have deepened existing mistrust in government, known colloquially as Appalachian fatalism, yet many of those interviewed by the Guardian blame Washington politics generally rather than Trump.

“This party [Rs] has taken away that funding from Appalachia illegally: that’s the stone-cold fact. But by the time those facts reach communities on the ground, it’s just so muddy. I think some are asking questions about why training is being shut down and why they didn’t get their Snap [food assistance] benefits, but where they’ll find the answers is the big issue,” said Hannah.

Trump has won big in West Virginia in the past three general elections, securing every county in 2024 with an average of 70% of the vote – the highest percentage any party has won in the state’s history. His vote share was even larger in rural counties including Clay and Wayne, which Huntington straddles.

I guess they don't understand that it was Trump, not the R party, who cut the funding, and that it's better to stick it to the libs than want your state leaders to support policies that will actually help your state rather than hurt it. That's quite a "cut off my entire face to spite my entire being" attitude.

This is why people call MAGA a cult.

Do you want a real answer?

People vote on much more than discrete policy issues. People vote based on identity, political ideology, and of course values.

This is true of voters across the political spectrum and it is actually a good thing that voters aren’t so easily bought.

In West Virginia’s case it has historically bounced between the parties in presidential elections, which is more than can be said of some states/regions.

Additionally, if you actually think Biden’s policies would have “revived dead communities,” you need your head checked.

Ingrained poverty and social issues don’t have simple solutions, whether in rural WV or DC, so it was never really a choice between a somehow revived West Virginia and the status quo.

Anonymous wrote:I cannot understand this mindset.

Biden was going to pour billions into WVA for new infrastructure projects, reviving dead communities. People in WVA were excited about the prospect of turning WVA around.

Then came Trump and DOGE, and axed the funding. SNAP, medicaid.. all cut.

Yet, folks in WVA blame "both parties" but not Trump directly.

I do not understand their thinking. The only thing I can think of is that they are under the influence of a cult leader who can do no wrong.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/29/trump-coal-country

Rural communities in Appalachia were on the verge of breaking ground on projects when the grants were paused or terminated by the so-called “department of government efficiency”, or Doge, led by the billionaire Trump donor Elon Musk. The wholesale cull included the $3bn Environmental and Climate Justice Program created in the IRA to tackle the climate crisis and environmental harms at a local level.

The cuts have deepened existing mistrust in government, known colloquially as Appalachian fatalism, yet many of those interviewed by the Guardian blame Washington politics generally rather than Trump.

“This party [Rs] has taken away that funding from Appalachia illegally: that’s the stone-cold fact. But by the time those facts reach communities on the ground, it’s just so muddy. I think some are asking questions about why training is being shut down and why they didn’t get their Snap [food assistance] benefits, but where they’ll find the answers is the big issue,” said Hannah.

Trump has won big in West Virginia in the past three general elections, securing every county in 2024 with an average of 70% of the vote – the highest percentage any party has won in the state’s history. His vote share was even larger in rural counties including Clay and Wayne, which Huntington straddles.

I guess they don't understand that it was Trump, not the R party, who cut the funding, and that it's better to stick it to the libs than want your state leaders to support policies that will actually help your state rather than hurt it. That's quite a "cut off my entire face to spite my entire being" attitude.

This is why people call MAGA a cult.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another possibility is that voters value a lot more than just economics. that might be inconvenient for you, but it's reality.

Like what specifically? What does Trump offer them?

That spending $3 billion for freaking climate justice is idiotic.

Anonymous wrote:Associating with liberals is so unbearable, OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because there are a lot of people willing to take a hit so long as they believe others lower in the hierarchy are going to get it worse. That's what MAGA is about. They are trying to put society back the way it was when things were good for them, ie. a return to strict racial, gender, and class hierarchies.

The fundamental difference between conservatives and liberals/progressives is their view on the purpose of government. Conservatives believe government exists to enforce "the rule of law" and social hierarchy (although this is usually the quiet part). Liberals and progressives believe government is supposed to serve the public and provide services. Conservatives see that and taxation as theft and counter to what government is supposed to do.

So MAGA fundamentally does not believe they will be affected by these policies because THEY are the good ones, the ones deserving of government services, and all these women/POC/Jews/Immigrants/your scapegoat of choice are taking from them. And when MAGA finds themselves on the wrong end of policies, well it's an isolated incident. That was just a bad cop. That ICE agent made a mistake. It's never the broader policy that is the issue.

You will not reach these people using logic. The entire ideology is based in their feelings and fears. The only way they will be reached is when they can no longer deny what is plainly true, and when they and people like them are suffering en masse. Higher grocery prices is starting to work, but I think the pain will have to become far more acute before they start using their brains.

Along these lines +1

People are emotional not logical beings. It explains about 100000 things in life from marketing, fads, everything.

So the logic is that there was so much anger and hurt in this country just simmering among a lot if the folks ultimately MAGA - they continue to stand by Trump not because he does no wrong but because they hinged all their hopes on him and are totally invested. They don't want to see what they don't want to see in a manner of speaking. People are wired to see their investments through ie gambling and addiction.

Sounds like a lot of loose cannons waiting to happen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because there are a lot of people willing to take a hit so long as they believe others lower in the hierarchy are going to get it worse. That's what MAGA is about. They are trying to put society back the way it was when things were good for them, ie. a return to strict racial, gender, and class hierarchies.

The fundamental difference between conservatives and liberals/progressives is their view on the purpose of government. Conservatives believe government exists to enforce "the rule of law" and social hierarchy (although this is usually the quiet part). Liberals and progressives believe government is supposed to serve the public and provide services. Conservatives see that and taxation as theft and counter to what government is supposed to do.

So MAGA fundamentally does not believe they will be affected by these policies because THEY are the good ones, the ones deserving of government services, and all these women/POC/Jews/Immigrants/your scapegoat of choice are taking from them. And when MAGA finds themselves on the wrong end of policies, well it's an isolated incident. That was just a bad cop. That ICE agent made a mistake. It's never the broader policy that is the issue.

You will not reach these people using logic. The entire ideology is based in their feelings and fears. The only way they will be reached is when they can no longer deny what is plainly true, and when they and people like them are suffering en masse. Higher grocery prices is starting to work, but I think the pain will have to become far more acute before they start using their brains.

Along these lines +1

People are emotional not logical beings. It explains about 100000 things in life from marketing, fads, everything.

So the logic is that there was so much anger and hurt in this country just simmering among a lot if the folks ultimately MAGA - they continue to stand by Trump not because he does no wrong but because they hinged all their hopes on him and are totally invested. They don't want to see what they don't want to see in a manner of speaking. People are wired to see their investments through ie gambling and addiction.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another possibility is that voters value a lot more than just economics. that might be inconvenient for you, but it's reality.

Like what specifically? What does Trump offer them?

That spending $3 billion for freaking climate justice is idiotic.

Anonymous wrote:Because there are a lot of people willing to take a hit so long as they believe others lower in the hierarchy are going to get it worse. That's what MAGA is about. They are trying to put society back the way it was when things were good for them, ie. a return to strict racial, gender, and class hierarchies.

The fundamental difference between conservatives and liberals/progressives is their view on the purpose of government. Conservatives believe government exists to enforce "the rule of law" and social hierarchy (although this is usually the quiet part). Liberals and progressives believe government is supposed to serve the public and provide services. Conservatives see that and taxation as theft and counter to what government is supposed to do.

So MAGA fundamentally does not believe they will be affected by these policies because THEY are the good ones, the ones deserving of government services, and all these women/POC/Jews/Immigrants/your scapegoat of choice are taking from them. And when MAGA finds themselves on the wrong end of policies, well it's an isolated incident. That was just a bad cop. That ICE agent made a mistake. It's never the broader policy that is the issue.

You will not reach these people using logic. The entire ideology is based in their feelings and fears. The only way they will be reached is when they can no longer deny what is plainly true, and when they and people like them are suffering en masse. Higher grocery prices is starting to work, but I think the pain will have to become far more acute before they start using their brains.