Why repubs appeal to middle and lower classes

[adigal]

I read a very interesting thought on dailykos.com today, which got me thinking further. The writer said that the repubs want to hurt the poor and the needy even more, unlike the dems who want to help them. He thought that by putting more and more people into the "needier" stage, the repubs are creating a competitive system in which those with a little have no sympathy for those with a lot. I saw this last weekend with a friend - he works for the govt, barely makes 50K, supporting a family of 4, wife does not work, and he is in favor of privitizing Soc Sec. I was shocked!!! I asked "What about those who cannot make good decisions because of time or knowledge?" He looked at me and said, "Survival of the fittest." I have to say, I don't think he is my friend anymore. I think he is immoral.

Another reason the repubs are getting middle class and lower middle class support is kind of like in "To Kill A Mockingbird" - the Ewells are the most ferocious in trying to keep the status quo, because if the blacks get more rights and rise in society, then the white "trash" will not be on the bottom of the barrel. The lower classes need to have someone to hate and look down upon. So it is liberals, gays, progressives, etc. We give them self-worth. Their hatred of us makes them NOT disappear, as they would in their selfish little lives. Think: when you meet a generous, giving person, are they usually a liberal or a conservative?? Usually a liberal.

[coloradodem2005]

1. How sad, yet true this is.

n/t

[MsConduct]

Ummmm, good post, gave me something to think about.....

I never thought of things this way. Answers a lot of questions.

[AP]

4. If you want to learn more, read Lakoff's Moral Politics. He talks all...

...about how right wingers thrive on the 'survival of the fittest' mentality they perpetuate and how people buy into it even thought it's clearly not in their best interests.

[MsConduct]

13. Thank you for the info. I better get in the groove, huh? n/t

[lyonn]

20. the old bootstrap mentality theme

People truly don't want to think they are as big a loser as their neighbor. My youngest son likes to tell people that he was a republican while in college, then when he started working and realised that making his first million wouldn't be easy, he became a democrat.

One must be born of royalty anymore to be respected and believed, like Bush.

[MsConduct]

33. I guess because the only prejudice I have is against

a**holes, I can't conceive of anything that runs so deeply into the fabric of our society....Of course I know about the kkk and the aryan brotherhood, etc. This just blows my mind!

[AP]

2. A guy making 50K supporting 4 people will NEVER be fittest when it comes

to making wise investment decisions. Corporate insiders will route his investment in the markets right into their bank accounts after pumping and dumping a stock while he's out to lunch, or typing up a report, or filing something and he's away from his computer and he can't enter his order on his Ameritrade account.

[adigal]

5. Absolutely!!!

That is what is so bizarre about this!!! I mean, I am sure I have more investments and equity than he has (although with the dollar dying, maybe not for long) and yet it is me who is worried about those less fortunate. I think it is because, for the most part, thank God, the wolf is not at my door. I am not wealthy at all, but I have a job and my husband has a job and we both have health insurance. So we are much luckier than a lot of people.

So who will take care of HIM when he is 75 and inflation has eaten into his piddly little "personal" account? Not his kids, because he is a cold ba$tard to them - they love to spend every moment with my family. I want to scream - at least we will make sure you are NOT going to STARVE when you are old and feeble!! But, hey, he is a republican - he will never be old and feeble.

[AP]

10. Aside: I think people who want to invest in equity don't realize that that

isn't a guaranteed income for life. Social security is a check every month for as long as you live. If you have most of your money in a 401(k) and stocks, there's a very good chance that you could blow through all your equity before you die.

Do these people have a plan if that happens?

And if you're a young person, do you want to be competing for entry level jobs with old people?

[lyonn]

24. are these real neat "personal accounts"

going to be federally insured?

[AP]

25. Hell no. That would be "Social Security" which is what they're trying to

get rid of.

They're trying to shift risk on to the working class and guaranteed wealth to the wealthy.

[stepnw1f]

17. We'll Be The Ones To Save Their Asses Too

...just like we did after the Stock Market Crash of the Great Depression. Sad we may have to go through it all over again, because of stupidity.

[EST]

37. The real reason for SS is exactly the issue of which you speak.

Most people will not have the kind of luck/DNA that will allow them to fulfill their grandiose dreams. Then the rest of us either have to watch them starve to death or take pity on them and share what little we do have to placate their wolf and making ourselves even poorer and more likely to starve..

SS is just a way to formalize that arrangement and serve as a continuous insurance policy that we all buy into (except for government employees and railroad workers) so we all can at least cover our asses. The most stuffed shirt tough guys with their survival crap are generally the first ones to whine and beg for help when times get thin.

The only alternative is to steal from someons else's larder and that's exactly what the neocons (ever notice how closely neocon rhymes with moran) are currently engaged in with the average CEO's pay at over 500 times the average wage earners.
We (libs, progressives, etc) see giving to the less fortunate as just the right thing to do. The opposition, if they do it at all, do it for some imagined gain at their final judgement. This is so pathetic, and I do realize there may be some exceptions to these observations, but it's just because the subjects have unknowingly mislabelled themselves. (soap box firmly pushed back under bed)

[July]

3. I am hopeful that Dean will help the party offer a different conception

of the term "moral." Right now, plenty of Red People think that there's only one party concerned with "morality," and that's a problem for us as long as anyone buys the notion that the party opposing the "Morals" is the "Immoral." We must talk more about cheating, corruption, gaming the system (on the Republicans' part) and about compassion, the downtrodden, the forgotten, and what we as a prosperous nation owe to those who can't make it. The right's conception of morality is superficial and rigid. We've got the good hearts on our side, and it's time we talked about it.

[HuskiesHowls]

14. I think the different concept should be integrity.

One thing about "moral values" that I feel the Republicans are doing is equating it with "religion". It certainly helps them with that concept when we all learned morals in our religious training as kids, whatever that may have been.

However, few people talk about "integrity". Now, the dictionary definition of integrity is: "Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code." What the Republicans lack is the Steadfast part. They also lack a lot of the Ethical part, too.

I would much rather be known for my ethics and integrity, than for my morals. In thinking about it, the word "morals" is really slippery, because its used to mean so many things. That's probably why they use it so freely!!!

[EST]

38. Could'na said it better m'self! n/t

[ctaylor]

6. Barely making 50k

Poor thing.

What is the cost of living where you are that 50k is small?

"Think: when you meet a generous, giving person, are they usually a liberal or a conservative?? Usually a liberal."

Considering that you are ending a friendship over a disagreement on the privitization of social security I have to ask: When you meet ANY person is he usually a liberal or a conservative? You have to consider bias in your sampling.

[stepnw1f]

15. Your Point?

[AP]

16. Watching your friends so willingly participate in their own humiliation is

often a friendship ender. It's hard to be supportive of people who are so active in their own destruction.

Although, I would try to reach out to this person before cutting him off, often, in this situation, it's best to do everything you can from a political point of view to help them (ie, vote Democratic, advocate sensible public policy, etc) while distancing yourself from potentially difficult personal interactions.

[adigal]

19. He lives in NY, not cheap, houses are 250K up

and I am not sure what you mean in your question? I have conservative friends, as I used to be a Bush supporter before my mind opened up in midlife. So I know all sorts of people and meet both libs and conservatives in my area. But you know, I find that I have less time and tolerance for people who are so cruel, or who I find immoral. Why bother?

[AlCzervik]

7. they appeal to the most basest of human emotions

it's sad.

[Thtwudbeme]

8. I'm disgusted by people who work for Government who are CONservatives.

Despise, hold in contempt, whatever you want to say that conveys those angry thought, I feel it towards them.

And yes, I work in Local Government.

EDIT: Whoops, this is Jan Michael, not Stephanie....

[mitchum]

35. I assume their hero and role model is Linda Tripp...

they don't mind feeding at the public trough, but deplore big government.
Cognitive dissonance is for the insane and government-employed conservatives.

[AmandaRuth]

9. It breaks my heart how many people I have talked to who said

they voted for boosh, and they couldn't care less about others. From a gay women who voted boosh, and looked straight at me and said she couldn't care less about civil rights for gays, to a union grocery store checker, who had recently went through a strike, which guaranteed a good wage for her, but new hires make slightly over min wage.


In my worst moments I think that Americans will have to hit rock bottom before any changes to group think happen.

I also agree that people who just scrapping by are more hardened, and having the media bought and paid for by the right (and totally for the benefit of big corps) sure doesn't help either.

[vet 65 69]

11. cuts for the poor

Louisville's homeless aid cut
Advocates ask why HUD cut share from $5.5 million to $2.4 million


By Chris Poynter
[e-mail]
The Courier-Journal


Shocked by news of a $3.1 million federal funding cut, advocates for Louisville's homeless services scrambled yesterday to figure out why it happened and how it will affect local shelters and housing programs.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded Louisville's homeless programs $5.5 million. Yesterday, HUD announced that Louisville would receive $2.4 million. It had requested $5.8 million.

"It's stunning," said Maria Price, a spokeswoman for the Louisville Coalition for the Homeless.
http://tinyurl.com/46nkw

bushco would like to thank ky for voting for him

[stepnw1f]

12. Right On!!!!

I've been telling folks this for a while now. The fascist flakes really are the vainest of the human race. Just talk to a conflated "conservative".

Talk to them about Patriotism. They believe they are heros just for pasting a friggin' flag on their cars. "Oooooh... look! I'm a patweee-it..."

War, Death, Homophobia, Corruption, Bigotry, Intolerance, etc., give these dorks purpose in life. Watch these pathetic dip-shits fight like hell to maintain it.

Fucking losers... all of them.

[atommom]

18. I think the overwhelming meanness that conservative

commentators like Rush, O'Reilly, etc., have been pushing has had an effect on those who listen to it, too. They teach people to feel angry, superior, and resentful about the poor and about liberals who want to screw all the "good people" to help the poor. It's all about survival of the fittest, so those on the bottom must surely deserve to be there.... and those who aren't quite on the bottom can always hope that the great American economy will lift them up (if only the liberals don't destroy it first). :(

[adigal]

22. You are 100% right

"You have to get up and work every day, so why should those blacks/gays/hispanics welfare Queens stay at home and collect your hard-earned tax dollars??" This was the old way Rush got people to hate.

The new way: "The liberals don't care about the safety of America; they only complain about our soldiers involved in torture, they don't care one whit about terrorists who killed us on 9/11 or who cut our heads off." (verbatim from a LTE in a local paper today - YES, I responded immediately) "The liberals are endangering the troops complaining about WMDs, torture, lies to the American people. Let the past stay in the past." (Repub Senators trying to defend torture boy, Gonzales, today. Disgusting.)

They have to have an enemy. WE, my friends, are the enemy.

[ultraist]

21. Kerry got the majority of lower and middle income voters

While Bush got the majority of upper middle and upper income voters.

50K is below the national median by a few grand so this guy borders on lower middle class, but again, Kerry got the majority of these voters.

I haven't looked at the numbers for each state closely; in what states did lower and middle income voters give Bush the victory? Also keep in mind, higher income earners have a better turnout.

People seem to lump all Bush voters into the uneducated and poor category. That simply is not the case. A higher percentage of Repukes have bachelors degrees than do Democrats.

[adigal]

26. But why would ANY middle/lower class

vote for Bush? That is the question I am proposing? That upper class people would vote for him makes sense. They are his real base. But he should not have gotten any votes from the lower classes. How many people whose kids have no health insurance voted for Bush?

And I think (may be wrong) that more Dems have post-graduate degrees than do repubs - just for accuracy sake.

[ultraist]

27. Middle and Upper income earners = 55% of voters past election

Percentage of Voters/ Bush / Kerry
Under $15,000 (8%) 36% n/a 63%

$15-30,000 (15%) 42% n/a 57%

$30-50,000 (22%) 49% n/a 50%

$50-75,000 (23%) 56% n/a 43%
$75-100,000 (14%) 55% n/a 45%

$100-150,000 (11%) 57% n/a 42%

$150-200,000 (4%) 58% n/a 42%

$200,000 or More (3%) 63% n/a 35%

55% of voters fall in these income ranges. Kerry won the majority of the lower income ranges.


No High School (4%) 49% +10 50%

H.S. Graduate (22%) 52% +3 47% ]

Some College (32%) 54% +3 46%

College Graduate (26%) 52% +1 46%

Postgrad Study (16%) 44% +0 55%

Educational demographics are interesting. Kerry, of course, won the majority of those with post grad studies (16% of voters) but Bush won the majority of some college and undergrad degrees as well as only HS.

So where do Democrats look for votes? Personally, I think it's a waste to look to uneducated or some college lower to mid income earners as they likely are very religious.

I think the higher middle class college grads is a fertile market (20% of voters). Surburbanites for the most part. Bush's policies affect them adversly yet, they may not be as religious and more moderate in their idealogies.

[KissMeKate]

23. repugs offer scapegoats

thats why they have appeal.

[Dude_CalmDown]

28. I may have found someone like this today.

Today at work I discovered someone who I really would not have guessed to be a pub was a pub. I was actually kind of shocked because even though she reads the NY Post, she has always been so kind and sweet (although always on the verge of a nervous breakdown) and would usually complain with me about the shit the company pulls to fuck us over. Anyway while sitting there being shocked by discovery after discovery of how pub she really is (dedicated Hannity & O'FuckenReally fan) I could see a little bit of why she believe this shit. She believes that the Dems are trying to take all of her money and give it to people who don't want to work and the Chimp wants to put it all in our hands. So she believes that there is a massive chunk of the population that does not want to work and when the Chimp puts the responsibility in our hands, the ones who do want to work will rise to the top. I was dizzy after talking to her and could only think of what a great thing it was that she's not yet a citizen.

[adigal]

29. You HAVE to work with her

to get her to see the light. Of course, she is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Her politics don't mesh with her basic nature, which you said is kind and sweet. Get her to see the light!!! I have already "turned" 3 people, and I am working on 5 more. Maybe 7 more. They don't return my emails anymore, but I KNOW that I am making them think and they don't have the balls to tell me to not email them anymore.

So keep the faith and spread it! It IS the kind way to live.

[Biased Liberal Media]

30. This is the kind of shit that really worries me

I am currently in the process of going back to school (start on the 14th) and I stay at home with our daughter, my husband works a blue collar job and doesn't make a lot of money. We do not have medical insurance and we're appllying for state insurance for our daughter.

How the hell do we stop this? Is a person's self-worth only due to their income??

I don't get it, and it makes me sad.

[w4rma]

31. Working so much they don't have time to research. (nt)

[Catherine Vincent]

32. hmmm....

Interesting thought and analysis.

[mitchum]

34. Youi should have bashed his head in with a rock, and then roared...

"SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST!"
The only thing I hate more than stupid people, is stupid people who mouth that social Darwinism bullshit.

[EST]

36. When, one day, you wake up and discover you're not

one of the fittest, your opinions do change. Just like justice-I want justice for you, but mercy for me. Dam**d shortsighted buggers.