Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

PatrickforO

(15,109 posts)
83. She could have visited those states and actually talked to those people
Fri Nov 25, 2016, 04:01 PM
Nov 2016

When I think of my own purchasing power and how it has dramatically declined since the 1990s, it makes me sick. I blame the 'free trade' policies which were never about moving goods and services over international boundaries - we could already do that just fine. Nope. These 'free trade' agreements are about moving capital over international boundaries. The idea that a factory can move its jobs from Flint, MI to someplace like Indonesia, get tax breaks and even be able to 'offshore' the profits so they DON'T EVEN PAY US INCOME TAX. Like GE and numerous others.

Basically, the working class has gotten fucked since 1948 when Taft-Hartley passed and it was no longer legal for unions to strike in sympathy with one another. Because, I'll tell you, this 'primacy of shareholder' theory where the CEO of a publicly held company is ONLY expected to increase value for shareholders (at the expense of the workers, the consumers, the community and the world environment, including the climate) is FUCKED. Without workers there can be NO profit, so if we all put our hands in our pockets for a few weeks and resisted the massive pressures put on us individually and as a group by corporate enforcers, we'd get some action. But, gosh, that's now illegal...

So now, I get to go to the store and pay and pay and pay. More and more and more. For less and less and less. I've got shitty, rationed healthcare with financially crippling copays. I have no real economic security because my employer can fuck with me at will - gee, I live in a 'Right to Work' state! Talk about an anti-worker concept.

And the people in my state just overturned an amendment that would keep our private prisons from profiting from the slave labor of prisoners.

The ice caps are melting at a truly scary rate and in ten years this world may not be recognizable, but we STILL pander to shitheads who think the world is 6000 years old and climate change doesn't exist.

So...I think you get it...I'M FUCKING MAD.

The neoliberal economic philosophy of 'privatize, deregulate and gut New Deal programs' purposely rapes our treasury and prevents OUR tax dollars that WE pay into OUR government that is supposedly OF, BY and FOR us, the people from being used for anything that actually makes our lives better. Instead we fund war, 'defense,' massive domestic spying and other useless shit that we don't need.

And, instead of getting rid of the Federal Reserve Act of 1912 and coining our own money like it says in Article II of our Constitution, we foolishly pay back money we should 'owe' ourselves to bankers with interest.

So, because of this SHIT we live in a world of artificially created scarcity, with the mistaken idea drummed into us for years and years that we have to be rugged individuals and pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, and helping others has become a radical political position...gasp...socialism!

Yeah, I'm plenty mad. But I'm educated. I have a graduate degree. I keep abreast of issues. I watch our corporate owned media and the right-wing corporate propaganda noise machine keeping our people ignorant.

And I want to PUKE.

I voted for Clinton, but it should be REAL EASY for any Democrat in any kind of responsible party position to see how someone as angry as I am could see Clinton as the quintessential establishment candidate and instead vote for Trump, because hey, the establishment has been fucking me since 1980 unrelentingly and now I can vote in an OUTSIDER who will make change.

See?

This is the DANGER of grossly misreading the mood of the people. I'm sorry to offend some of you but we ran a weak establishment candidate in an election where the working class is in near revolt against the establishment. How can we be surprised we LOST.

Oh, and we've REALLY LOST. Under a Trump administration, we're fucked. So now...I'm MAD at the Democratic party, too. And I have this friendly advice for any powerful Dem apparatchiks reading this rant - GET THE HEAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OUT OF ITS RECTUM AND START LISTENING. I can well remember how patronizing the Democratic establishment was as it crushed Bernie, who maybe could have won. "Oh, well, none of these things are practical..."

LISTEN.

Those jobs left during the Bush administration. dawg Nov 2016 #1
Hillary's main message was "Trump's bad and I'm not Trump." Let me explain how else you are wrong. RBInMaine Nov 2016 #7
Let me explain to you why you are delusional. dawg Nov 2016 #15
1000. n/t pnwmom Nov 2016 #56
I agree with your analysis Gothmog Nov 2016 #76
Dawg, Every word you type is truth.. JHan Nov 2016 #85
Maybe at her rallies, which were seen by a limited number of people. Her ads featured little policy MadDAsHell Nov 2016 #99
dawg... LenaBaby61 Nov 2016 #130
That's not how it works nolabels Nov 2016 #132
Listen to yourself, why don't you. dawg Nov 2016 #142
I really don't concede this election as something any voting bloc to be responsible for nolabels Nov 2016 #144
So very true! Everything you said. AgadorSparticus Nov 2016 #146
I noticed the same thing ; she wasn't even featured in her own damn commercials. MadDAsHell Nov 2016 #98
They started leaving the country during the Reagan years. duffyduff Nov 2016 #41
Bruce Springsteen's album, Born in the USA, was released in 1984. Yavin4 Nov 2016 #54
Glad you brought up Bruce. duffyduff Nov 2016 #81
Some of us have never stopped raising "a stink" about it. We've just grown louder. PotatoChip Nov 2016 #141
Oh, and btw... PotatoChip Nov 2016 #143
The OP believes we need to ape Trump and engage in demagoguery. duffyduff Nov 2016 #42
Al those jobs were not just manufacturing. dogman Nov 2016 #47
She could have visited those states and actually talked to those people PatrickforO Nov 2016 #83
It's not the Democratic Party that's being patronizing. dawg Nov 2016 #86
wow. your post impressed the hell out of me renate Nov 2016 #145
Actually they stated to leave in the 1970s BainsBane Nov 2016 #104
Exactly. Service jobs. Nurses. Teachers. Paralegals. Accountants. Horse with no Name Nov 2016 #111
We're still the 2nd biggest manufacturer in tje world, we can get SOME of dionysus Dec 2016 #151
And who is the Party that proposes free education, minimum wage hikes, access to healthcare Trust Buster Nov 2016 #2
The party needs to SAY that. There is no MESSAGING. RBInMaine Nov 2016 #9
The Democratic Party has been saying it all along while the Republican Party has been obstructing Trust Buster Nov 2016 #13
Absolute lack of a CLEAR jobs message and too many corporate Democrats. That's just the fact. RBInMaine Nov 2016 #14
No, those issues were muddy at best LiberalLovinLug Nov 2016 #79
WRONG. There was plenty of messaging. But the media pnwmom Nov 2016 #59
Bull. The Party SAID that all election long. The Press reported on emails and Foundations. NT Adrahil Dec 2016 #149
If you're not college-educated, "free" education isn't attractive. brooklynite Nov 2016 #17
Your statement makes zero sense. "If you're not college educated, "free" education isn't attractive" Trust Buster Nov 2016 #96
If your live in an area BainsBane Nov 2016 #107
And yet...non-College educated voters chose Trump brooklynite Nov 2016 #109
Sure they did. Trump promised to give them their 1960's back. It won't happen but they believed Trust Buster Nov 2016 #135
You lose me as soon as you repeat the RW talking point "Jobs. Jobs. Jobs." Moostache Nov 2016 #3
You don't get it. At least the Republicans SAY it. We don' even do that. It is SHIT messaging. RBInMaine Nov 2016 #10
No. It's clear you're the one who doesn't get it. kcr Dec 2016 #150
a bunch old guy Nov 2016 #102
There is no "White" working class Fichefinder Nov 2016 #4
Welcome to DU Fichefinder. guillaumeb Nov 2016 #8
That's just what I mean when I say this is the issue that binds ALL of us. RBInMaine Nov 2016 #11
Well said! Work also provides dignity and purpose in life. mia Nov 2016 #21
Here's my question: Fichefinder Nov 2016 #82
I don't have any global answers citood Dec 2016 #153
Recommended. I agree that economic insecurity can lead people to blame "the other" guillaumeb Nov 2016 #5
I refuse to pander to racist, homophobic, misogynistic bible banging fundie nazi fuckers, Grey Lemercier Nov 2016 #6
You are stereotyping as bad as the people you are accusing. I hope you enjoy LOSING. RBInMaine Nov 2016 #12
you try walking in 100 million plus shoes of people who ARE the everyday victims Grey Lemercier Nov 2016 #18
This is not an either/or question. What don't you understand? RBInMaine Nov 2016 #22
You don't have a clue what you are talking about. duffyduff Nov 2016 #32
Let me tell you why you are SO wrong: RBInMaine Nov 2016 #36
I have a question for you? atreides1 Nov 2016 #77
You focus on common ground with these people, ie ec9nomoc issues, not dionysus Dec 2016 #155
I agree. potone Nov 2016 #103
Most telling part "it doesn't mean a whole lot" To you, perhaps. bettyellen Nov 2016 #106
you're absolutely right; some people are completely fixated on Us vs. Them nt. TheFrenchRazor Nov 2016 #136
Democrats have reached out to the white working class before by neglecting people of colour Grey Lemercier Nov 2016 #20
Being the party of EVERYONE doesn't leave ANYONE out. It isn't an either/or situation. RBInMaine Nov 2016 #23
Yes, it is. White males who vote GOP tend to be racist and sexist. duffyduff Nov 2016 #27
They have the house, Senate, presidency, and most state legislatures. We need more voters Amishman Nov 2016 #70
Thank you. whathehell Nov 2016 #52
!! gollygee Nov 2016 #31
You do realize that the white working class aren't the ones paying women less right? mythology Nov 2016 #48
they vote for the fuckers who DO enable all the rot in the country to occur, and then blame US when Grey Lemercier Nov 2016 #60
"Blue-collar Democrats to party: It's still the economy, stupid"-MSN headline today. jalan48 Nov 2016 #16
These blue collar males have not been Democrats since Reagan or Nixon. duffyduff Nov 2016 #25
Obama won Trumball county in Ohio by 22 points mythology Nov 2016 #49
Attitudes like yours are why we lost the election. jalan48 Nov 2016 #68
I don't know why they think the Republicans are going to help them treestar Nov 2016 #19
They have been RAISED that way by racist, sexist parents. duffyduff Nov 2016 #28
Because the Republicans SAY they are going to help them. We don't SAY it! RBInMaine Nov 2016 #29
What about when it does not happen? treestar Nov 2016 #30
Blame the Dems. How predictable can you be? Of course you are WRONG. n/t duffyduff Nov 2016 #33
Who would you blame? You call us "wrong"...but the important states show otherwise Nancyswidower Nov 2016 #95
well Afromania Dec 2016 #154
We effectively have a two party system mythology Nov 2016 #53
Another naive post. duffyduff Nov 2016 #24
You don't know what you are talking about, and here is why. RBInMaine Nov 2016 #34
Post removed Post removed Nov 2016 #35
Yawn.... think Nov 2016 #37
"I know everything. You know nothing." HassleCat Nov 2016 #40
That woud be funny, if it weren't so sadly true. westerebus Nov 2016 #91
Hillary won the popular vote by a large margin in CA and other West-Coast states LongTomH Nov 2016 #64
"I know WAY more than you do about politics..." BUT not more than me Nancyswidower Nov 2016 #87
I'll bet you know more than anyone eh. You sound like whats his name who just became president elect mtnsnake Nov 2016 #92
Great post. Thank you /nt think Nov 2016 #26
Good OP. Your POV is *SORELY* lacking in this place lately jack_krass Nov 2016 #38
Post removed Post removed Nov 2016 #39
Well, people are venting their frustration, and as a white male myself, while I agree these optics JCanete Nov 2016 #45
Lots of white people don't feel like they are living in privilege Dems to Win Nov 2016 #61
But what would you have people do? Are you denying that there is white privilege, that JCanete Nov 2016 #63
Perhaps we could extend the protections of political correctness to white people Dems to Win Nov 2016 #74
It may not be a way to win votes but it is the truth. Sorceress Nov 2016 #137
He lost in South Carolina liquid diamond Nov 2016 #67
He might have lost SC anyway, and I won't argue with you on that, but I was paying very close JCanete Nov 2016 #72
I saw every woman & POC asking what Bernie had to say to them accused of being a shill or DNC plant- bettyellen Nov 2016 #75
I don't think its fair for you to remember the worst acts of some Bernie supporters and to JCanete Nov 2016 #78
"It was first propagated" the day Sanders website went live and there was no mention of women's, bettyellen Nov 2016 #90
I'm an economic progressive, because it goes hand and hand with every social issue. Again, you are JCanete Nov 2016 #94
I saw plenty of Hillary supporters belittling and insulting Bernie supporters BlueProgressive Nov 2016 #115
Get over the fucking primaries already, really tho, it's done bravenak Nov 2016 #123
"No I fucking DONT NEED TO DO SHIT" BlueProgressive Nov 2016 #125
Damn straight I DONT bravenak Nov 2016 #126
I was merely posting a response to someone else who seemed to be "refighting the BlueProgressive Nov 2016 #127
Yeah right bravenak Nov 2016 #128
Indeed. BlueProgressive Nov 2016 #129
So, I would just say that you should stay away from language like "braindead." You are referring to JCanete Nov 2016 #43
False. The OP did NOT refer to DUers as you claim. The OP referred to a "notion." mtnsnake Nov 2016 #50
No I read it. You didn't read my whole post if you thought I didn't make that distinction. But JCanete Nov 2016 #62
Warren 2020 Oneironaut Nov 2016 #44
1 think Nov 2016 #46
Brain dead and hateful whathehell Nov 2016 #51
K & R democrank Nov 2016 #55
Exactly! nt Akacia Nov 2016 #57
Where were the white males back in the early 1970's . . FairWinds Nov 2016 #58
The white working clsss fucked themselves randr Nov 2016 #65
WE have just now abt finished purging ,,,, Cryptoad Nov 2016 #66
Yes liquid diamond Nov 2016 #69
"Working class America doesn't give a flying shit about pure food laws and solar power" Martin Eden Nov 2016 #71
CURIOUS: When hasn't an election been about JOBS? quantumjunkie Nov 2016 #73
Totally agree. We won't win without that group. cry baby Nov 2016 #80
There isn't anything Clinton could have said or done that would have won over a Trump voter. Garrett78 Nov 2016 #84
If that's the case, then she shouldn't have run for President. n/t mtnsnake Nov 2016 #89
Yup. old guy Nov 2016 #105
Totally agree Lithos Nov 2016 #88
Why do we always have to treat them like children? BlueStater Nov 2016 #93
Yep. Is it funny though seeing that group, who cheered Walmart previously... WhoWoodaKnew Nov 2016 #97
TOTALLY agree!!! nt Raine Nov 2016 #100
This message was self-deleted by its author KK9 Nov 2016 #101
Yes. Cultural and economic progress aren't mutually exclusive. DirkGently Nov 2016 #108
Oh give me a mutha fucking break, for real bravenak Nov 2016 #110
I'd like to know why they don't have bootstraps. Where'd their bootstraps go? betsuni Nov 2016 #112
Its black friday, i'm sure they can find some on sale bravenak Nov 2016 #113
I am WHITE WORKING CLASS and I've voted Democratic in every election BlueProgressive Nov 2016 #116
I was talking about the Trump voters, but go ahead and assume what ya want to bravenak Nov 2016 #118
When you find yourself using phrases like "these people", BlueProgressive Nov 2016 #122
No I fucking DONT NEED TO DO SHIT bravenak Nov 2016 #124
she is clearly referring to those who voted Trump JI7 Nov 2016 #133
I agree. Working class concerns had been a major part of the Democratic Party since FDR mvd Nov 2016 #114
Anybody who believes that a racist Neanderthal with a slew of lawsuits under his belt, who flies Number23 Nov 2016 #117
I agree, fully bravenak Nov 2016 #119
Oh, he will. And the whole damn planet will suffer because of it too Number23 Nov 2016 #120
That's the fucked up part bravenak Nov 2016 #121
Trump often played The Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want" at rallies. betsuni Nov 2016 #131
agreed; it's the economy, stupid... nt TheFrenchRazor Nov 2016 #134
then why didn't they vote for Strickland and Feingold ? and voted for the pro free trade JI7 Nov 2016 #138
We're going to write off a huge segment of our population OnionPatch Nov 2016 #139
It absolutely kills me DemonGoddess Nov 2016 #140
k&r think Dec 2016 #147
People don;t just want Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Adrahil Dec 2016 #148
"Fuck the white working class." stonecutter357 Dec 2016 #152
Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»2016 Postmortem»Fuck the braindead notion...»Reply #83