So what is it that makes a working class person support right-wing policy?

[arbusto_baboso]

I just don't get it. Teabaggers would be so much better off if we had universal single-payer, yet they not only oppose, some of them even demonstrate against it. So on, with tax policies, military spending, and pretty much every other issue where progressives and conservatives disagree.

It isn't just prejudice, because we heard most of their crap when Clinton was in office (and he was no progressive). Is it fear of change? Being convinced that they could someday be one of the moneyed elite? Sheer stupidity and/or ignorance? What exactly?

When I see the ridicule for teabagger types, I too have participated in it. But my overwhelming feeling toward them is pity. They have no idea how hard they are screwing themselves and their children and grandchildren.

[gateley]

1. Fear. They're playing to their fears. nt

[Deep13]

2. Fear and ignorance, because the RW is lying to them. nt

[arbusto_baboso]

3. Yes, the RW is lying to them. But fear of what?

[Deep13]

16. Anything at all...

...Blacks, gays, immigrants, Spanish-speakers, "liberals" out to destroy their "values", nebulous concepts like terrorism and socialism. Really, anything at all. It doesn't matter what they are afraid of because people vote right-wing when they are afraid.

[FLAprogressive]

17. ^ This.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. A love of tradition

which, if the tradition is "the rich control everything", means that what they'll support. You have got the major elements - fear of change is the partner of love of tradition, and they rationalise it to themselves with the conviction that they'll get rich themselves, which is somewhat stupid - a few will, but the vast majority won't.

[asdjrocky]

5. What makes a working class person support the Democratic Party any more?

For the life of me, I don't know what it could be.

[NightWatcher]

6. as Malloy says it's "gawd, guns, and gays"

and I'm guessing a lack of education

[NoNothing]

7. It's a lack of trust

The simply don't believe the top levels of government really have their best interests in mind. I find it harder every day to disagree.

[Echo In Light]

8. A worldview shaped by the dominant belief systems in a corp/consumer culture climate

... coupled w/cradle-to-grave institutional and media directives/propaganda which creates a sense if familiarity

[RDANGELO]

9. They are hooked on the tribalism.

Politically they are operating on the notion that their group or tribe is being threatened. Thats why they act they way that they do, and they don't make any sense. There is nothing logical in their thought process because it is all instinct.

[Alias Dictus Tyrant]

11. Irony.

You posted that on DU. :-)

[pampango]

19. Good point. And I wonder if for many of them nationalism isn't an extension of tribalism.

Hyper-patriotism seems to be a common notion among them. My tribe is exceptional compared to other tribes who might just be threats that need to be watched.

[anonymous171]

26. So why aren't they voting for pro-working class policies? That's their tribe after all. nt

[Duke Newcombe]

10. Fear, and Magical Thinking.

Fear of being cheated, or that someone else (that strange, scary, or less deserving Other) will get what you have/take away what you have.

Magical Thinking: the spoon-fed mindset that they have to stick up for the Corporations and thier corporatist overlords, because they're gonna be rich and powerful "someday". Hence, their "ZOMG they're taking away our FREE-DOMZ!!!11" squawking.

[bluethruandthru]

12. They've been told over and over by righty talk shows, faux news and

even the "liberal media"..that republicans are the party of "morality" and they equate that with goodness. Lee Atwater was the master. He made Liberal a dirty word. He convinced the country that "government is bad".."taxes are bad".."liberals want to give welfare queens your money"..."you know how to spend your money better than the government"...and on and on and on.

Republicans are masters of communication. We Democrats could learn alot from them. It's very unfortunate, but their tactics work. Just look at the health care debate. If Democrats had come out with a "Medicare buy-in" program..instead of calling it a "public option"...it would be law by now. Everyone would understand it. But we screwed up the message and now we're losing the war.

[NC_Nurse]

13. Don't forget racism. Big factor.

[Sherman A1]

20. Agreed, but that is based in fear

so I think Fear covers it pretty well.

[cali]

14. so what you all are really saying is that they're stupid.

[Echo In Light]

18. Can't speak for the OP, but I find that anyone who places great trust in officialdom to be, well...

... gullible, easy led .. and it often appears that conservative/rightward types are, psychologically speaking, more so authoritarian in their psyche make up, making them more likely to exalt 'leaders,' just because.

[JVS]

15. Cultural hegemony

[barbiegeek]

21. They have healthcare in VA benefits here

[ipaint]

22. 30 years of democrats either pushing or rolling over for republican policies.

Grayson in florida is beating all the republicans in his district and that's among republicans, because he acts like a real democrat.

A democrat who puts the working class first and foremost and doesn't lie and bipartisan their lives and rights away will win.

[Captain Hilts]

23. They think hard work will lead to success and that they will become successful. nt

[Ardent15]

24. Appeal to people's fears, rather than their hopes.

Whether it be race, religion, sexism, or other cultural issues, Republicans have been masters of using fear ever since Nixon.

[NDLiberal]

25. Ignorance first then fear incited by the right wing idiots...

[Blue_Tires]

27. talk radio...

it has been incredibly effective in many regions...

[anonymous171]

28. It's not fear of change. It's knowing that whoever you vote for, you are going to get fucked over

So you pick the pols that will at least (pretend to) respect your cultural/religious values while they do it.

[DebbieCDC]

29. Stupid and lazy

Too stupid to know what's for their own good and what works against them. Too lazy because it's easier to flip the remote control than read a frigging book or a newspaper or online new sources.

Flame away. I'm tired of making excuses for these people. If you can read you can find out things. You don't have to rely on some paid human teleprompter to tell you what to think unless you're too stupid or lazy to seek out answers for yourself.

[anonymous171]

30. Classism is fun. nt

[ctaylors6]

31. belief that government should do only essential things + social issues

They believe that the government should serve a very limited role. They believe that government screws up most everything they do, reinforcing the first point.

I'm sure social issues play an important role too.

They don't think fire and police departments are examples of socialism. They think those are essential services that the government should provide. I think that many of the working class could be won over on health care by convincing them that medical care is the same type of essential service rather than making into some argument about socialism vs not socialism.

[Ozymanithrax]

32. Their poltics is religion...they believe in it...have faith in it...

They do not think about it, and they certainly don't examine the effect of what they advocate.