2016 Postmortem

OnionPatch

(6,222 posts)

34. I grew up in Ohio

Thu Nov 24, 2016, 12:27 PM

Nov 2016

I left as a young adult but go back visiting regularly. I do see a lot of people like those described in the OP but I can't help but want to defend the good people there because I know many, including a lot of my family. They are outnumbered and are frustrated with their right-wing neighbors as much as we are. Those areas have been hard-hit economically and have had "brain-drain" because of their failing local economies, so it's not that surprising that "the stupid" often wins out there.

I don't see how just writing off the whole Midwest is going to help us, especially with the Electoral College choosing our presidents. Support of working class issues will help them along with the rest of the working class so it seems like a no-brainer to me. Sadly the Dems have not been our champions as much as they could or should have been, IMO. I share rust-belt anger about NAFTA. I'm basically a rust-belt refugee because my home town started morphing into a ghost town right when I was of the age to start a career. That started with Reagan but you're right that Bill Clinton's support of NAFTA advanced it and shifted the blame to the Democrats.

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You guys don't get it: the rust belt working class want to be TOLD, not reasoned with [View all] LaydeeBug Nov 2016 OP

I often really think some PTB democrats really don't understand the voter demographics RKP5637 Nov 2016 #1

I want to be clear: I wasn't talking about Democrats...I was talking Blue Collar, not Blue Party LaydeeBug Nov 2016 #2

Yep! Thanks! n/t RKP5637 Nov 2016 #3

You're still wrong, though NoGoodNamesLeft Nov 2016 #43

No. I'm not. And when you said, "There are a few of those" you fucking admitted it LaydeeBug Nov 2016 #48

I have relatives and friends in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Ohio NoGoodNamesLeft Nov 2016 #56

Maybe your relatives get called racist because they are racist. yardwork Nov 2016 #62

this is *another* problem here...these guys want to BE racist, they just LaydeeBug Dec 2016 #71

Your post actually seems to support the OP without you wanting it to Hekate Nov 2016 #57

You've only been here since August. musicblind Nov 2016 #59

I'm sick of hearing this. Nobody is taking their guns. yardwork Nov 2016 #61

Exactly! They sufferer from Authoritarian Personality Disorder. musicblind Nov 2016 #65

Sounds familiar! yardwork Nov 2016 #67

Read this article for perspective. "On Rural America - Understanding Isn't the Problem" SharonAnn Nov 2016 #25

Thanks, Wellstone ruled Nov 2016 #27

And as for the lack of critical thinking in many of these Americans... maddiemom Nov 2016 #29

Very well said! Thanks for the link!!! n/t RKP5637 Nov 2016 #35

I didn't want to get mired down in politics today, but couldn't resist having a look at DU. Dark n Stormy Knight Nov 2016 #36

I read this earlier on 'kos, and it is very insightful LaydeeBug Nov 2016 #49

Many of us "coastal elites" grew up in "the heartland." yardwork Nov 2016 #63

I am a liberal farmer. I haven't left because I liked farming too much. Am retired now JimBeard Nov 2016 #68

There's a lot of truth to this, I think. Nt lostnfound Nov 2016 #4

And this is precisely why those suckers will NEVER get. . . DinahMoeHum Nov 2016 #5

Oh I completely agree with you, except that... LaydeeBug Nov 2016 #7

I have a feeling they could only be TOLD by an old white rich guy, though Fast Walker 52 Nov 2016 #11

or some really well placed ridicule. nt LaydeeBug Nov 2016 #13

coming from who, though? Fast Walker 52 Nov 2016 #15

Calling them idiots, morons, dumbasses, etc. hasn't converted one single teabagger for me.... johnfromokc Nov 2016 #37

I was *going* to cuss, but it's T-Day, so let's just disagree. LaydeeBug Nov 2016 #41

Preach. JHan Nov 2016 #23

I've lived here all my life too, and I don't think we've crossed the same people. Buckeye_Democrat Nov 2016 #6

Oh, we're crossing the exact same people, alright...you are spot on. nt LaydeeBug Nov 2016 #8

There isn't much of a sense of "community" anymore. Buckeye_Democrat Nov 2016 #17

I grew up in Ohio OnionPatch Nov 2016 #34

So fuck 'em. I say stop trying to appeal to them. We've met the enemy, and they are them. MADem Nov 2016 #9

Yep. Because they need to be TOLD, not coddled. nt LaydeeBug Dec 2016 #70

You are right on HelenWheels Nov 2016 #10

oh-- I bet there's all kinds of "facts" they believe about Hillary being the devil etc Fast Walker 52 Nov 2016 #12

Wow melman Nov 2016 #14

truth hurts?? Grey Lemercier Nov 2016 #18

I grew up in a (former) steel town south of Pittsburgh. Efilroft Sul Nov 2016 #16

Yep, they cannot stand for minorities to "get" anything but ticket back where their ancestors came Hoyt Nov 2016 #19

They also inflate what they think they get...it's not just 'low-information', it's *stupid* LaydeeBug Nov 2016 #47

Yep treestar Nov 2016 #33

I think that is fundamentally America's whole problem, right there. yardwork Nov 2016 #66

I grew up in central MN. Michelle Bachmann territory NickB79 Nov 2016 #20

You are correct in this. Ligyron Nov 2016 #21

Agreed. But this goes beyond the rust belt. progressoid Nov 2016 #22

This is what passes for dialogue when workers fight for scraps. jalan48 Nov 2016 #24

This is so spot on...yep. They tore down a steel mill (career) and they'll build LaydeeBug Nov 2016 #50

Sigh. How do you reason with the unreasonable? wisteria Nov 2016 #26

ridicule. nt LaydeeBug Nov 2016 #38

Very well said! Hayduke Bomgarte Nov 2016 #28

They've traded their guns for Social Security, Medicare, a Free Press, and the Environment bucolic_frolic Nov 2016 #30

You look like a good person to me. I agree with you some, but not all, Laydee B. Mc Mike Nov 2016 #31

Your point of contention is apt, for sure, because the KGB, Comey, suppression, LaydeeBug Nov 2016 #39

I agree treestar Nov 2016 #32

And they are racist?? NeoConsSuck Nov 2016 #40

Please note that I did NOT reference Democrats...but please proceed. nt LaydeeBug Nov 2016 #46

Your cup runneth over with hate mtnsnake Nov 2016 #42

Your cup runneth over with spite LaydeeBug Nov 2016 #45

Best to hold a bible and gun while you are telling them to bow pbmus Nov 2016 #44

What is this: "documented workers get incentives to which they are not entitled" LonePirate Nov 2016 #51

I shed no tears for the plight of "deplorables ".They deserve what's coming. oasis Nov 2016 #52

Racist/sexist/homophobic when they don't vote the way you want... Bob41213 Nov 2016 #53

Sorry sweets, but you're just incorrect. And supporting a racist *IS* racist, whether LaydeeBug Nov 2016 #54

Half? gollygee Nov 2016 #69

Very interesting POV. I'll give it some thought. Hekate Nov 2016 #55

I grew up in rural Ohio. You are exactly correct. yardwork Nov 2016 #58

These are the people who get caught in the supermarket checkout line because JimBeard Nov 2016 #60

You entire post just defined Authoritarian Personality Disorder to a T. musicblind Nov 2016 #64