Trump Makes Sense
Post date: Jan 22, 2017 5:55:02 AM
I finally figured it out, after much mental wrangling. What was it that previously eluded me and now is totally clear? The rise and popularity of Donald Trump as a candidate for President. Even my father, who I once thought I shared world views with, supports Donald Trump for President. My Dad is was born in 1942, so he is now getting older. He is now seeing his ability to earn more dwindle. And watching his family business start to lose market share. I can see why he would want to make America great again, his perception is America was great "back when". This is the battle cry of Trump supporters it seems. We "used to" be great, and now we are not; we "used to" have more, and now we have less; we "used to" have control, and now we have chaoss. It is unfortunate for my Dad, and people who see things his way this is not a disputable fact, it actually is The Truth. The truth happens a very different thing to different people. For the "group" my father belongs to, it does seem they have fared less well than other groups for the past 40 years or so. Whites are no longer a super-majority in the US, so we don't have to break even that group up by ethnicity or heritage anymore. The Italian and the German can hate the Mexicans equally. On top of this, everyone can hate African-Americans, because they are used to it. My dad and his generation is not used to Black Lives Mattering, or even a movement requesting something like that concept. If it is the days when you could overtly discriminate against minorities you are longing for, I say too bad. Those "good old days", were not really that great for everyone. While I don't subscribe to the zero sum theory of society where someone or some group gains rights by taking away from others. I can see where it might make sense to some. If I, am a white, middle-aged or even slightly older person sees things not going well for me. If I am realizing the "social contract" of hard work and perseverance isn't paying off like I was promised by my Grandfather, I might be pissed and look to scapegoats as well. It is unfortunate this group of pissed off white people is so short sighted though, it's to their detriment they don't realize they were screwed by other middle-aged white people whom they elected for decades. Here's where it really sucks, it's entirely possible they are not really short sighted at all. There is a part of me that believes the group who anointed Trump as their white knight (like how I did that) is fully aware they were all victims of previous errors in judgment with regard to voting. They all realize comparing the US in the 1950's, 60's, 70's and even 80's to America today is not really even possible...if you want like to like things. It is just they took the easy way out. Trump provided the easiest answer to a question they all had, "why does my life suck"? So I missed this election's prognostication by a wide margin, a margin the size of Vermont. I guess I don't have enough angry, white, cattle ranchers in my twitter feed. Oh well, I guess we'll see what happens. So far, it's been one day and already DT has signed an order making it easier for companies to not provide medical insurance. And another order making it harder for lower income individuals to buy a home. Well done pissed off people, well done.