The Partisan Divide on Issues

[David Horn]

(12-14-2019, 03:48 AM)Classic-Xer Wrote:

(12-12-2019, 02:20 PM)David Horn Wrote: At this moment in time, both parties are largely "owned" by the wealthy elites, but it's the GOP that is doing it's level best to make that even worse. Citizens United is the product of a conservative court, bent on protecting the rights of wealthy.  The Dems are the second raters here.  So wanting to escape the control of the overlords by supporting the GOP is the world's greatest exercise in futility.  

Be aware of the actions not the words.  The GOP cuts taxes on the rich and removes restrictions on how they can use their wealth.  That enables the virtually unlimited right to use wealth to undermine democracy and we're already pretty far along on that journey.  Next up: anarchy, because only the rich and powerful have control in a wide open game.  Everyone else is one or two steps away from poverty -- you and me included.  It's easy to control people who are at risk.

I happen to believe in the notion that action speaks louder than words. So, I tend to focus/ judge more on actions than words. How many brushes with poverty have you experienced in life? I've experienced three during my life so far. The first was the worst because I was pretty powerless at the time. The last one was the worst as far as overall financial losses. Right now, I'm actually more than a couple steps away from poverty. I'm pretty familiar with ex urban areas and ex urban people. Honestly, I don't know of many or have met many ex urban folks who seem to be financially hurting these days. So, I doubt that you're a couple of steps away from poverty either unless you're completely dependent on your wife or something. Yes, it's easy to control people who are at risk. I'd say that Liberals know/ understand that better than anyone else right now.

My journey has been far from linear.  I left upstate New York, because the place was in rapid decline, and I wasn't about to join the fray.  That was 1972, and it's only worse today.  I've had other struggles along the way too, but I'm beyond that now.  I'm not atypical in this exurban enclave, because it's a resort area, with plenty of well-to-do retirees.  The locals who hail from here, on the other hand, are not so secure.  Still, there is an actual economy here.  No, the real exurban and rural economy lies to the west of me, in Western Virginia and other coal-belt areas.  Poverty is high, education levels are low, and mobility is near zero.  Among these folks there is a general belief that they pay the bills for their urban cousins, and they resent it.  Of course, the exact opposite is the case, but that truth is not enough to change opinions.  The area is solidly pro-Trump by upwards of 80%.  They believe he wants to help, but the nasty Democrats are stopping him.  Never mind that the state hasn't had a solid Democrat-lead government since 1983.