Sunday, September 28, 2008
What's the Matter with GOP voters?
Four years ago, born-and-bred Kansas conservative-turned-liberal, Thomas Frank wrote a popular book called _What's the Matter with Kansas?_ In the book, Frank explored why Republicans--particularly low-income or middle-class individuals--choose to vote against their economic interests. He posits that they have embraced cultural wedge issues over the economic good of the country.
I have long wondered why people like my family, who are squarely middle class, would embrace a Republican free-market ideology--like the one that has led to our recent financial crisis--or why they would look down on welfare to the poor but avert their gaze when it comes to corporate welfare. And honestly, unless you are making over $250K and will gobble up even more tax breaks from a McCain presidency, why wouldn't you vote for Obama, who will give tax breaks to 95% of US citizens?
Puzzled by this seeming disconnect, I've set out to answer the question, "What's the Matter with GOP voters?" Here's my attempt at a response at why anyone would vote McCain/Palin:
1) You are a rich CEO enjoying "voluntary regulation" and the privatized profits and socialized risks that go along with deregulation (which McCain promoted);
2) You are part of the 24% who still think Bush is doing a good job, and you want to see a continuation of the disastrous policies that got us where we are today;
3) You are part of the "values voters" who are more interested in the fact that the Pentecostal Sarah Palin can speak in tongues than whether she can speak coherently about any other domestic or international issues;
4) You are woefully misinformed and only listen to right-wing talk radio, FOX news, or WorldNet (Nut) Daily and therefore have a very warped view of reality and along with a deep hatred of anyone who is different, which leads to my last point:
5) You are a racist who would never vote for a black man for President, even if the alternative is a doddering old white guy who has spent 30 years in Washington and failed to change it and who picked a frighteningly inexperienced running mate and put her a heartbeat away from the presidency--all for a gimmick and not the good of the country.
Online NewsHour: Economic, Social Issues Play Part in Voters' Decisions -- October 28, 2004
I have long wondered why people like my family, who are squarely middle class, would embrace a Republican free-market ideology--like the one that has led to our recent financial crisis--or why they would look down on welfare to the poor but avert their gaze when it comes to corporate welfare. And honestly, unless you are making over $250K and will gobble up even more tax breaks from a McCain presidency, why wouldn't you vote for Obama, who will give tax breaks to 95% of US citizens?
Puzzled by this seeming disconnect, I've set out to answer the question, "What's the Matter with GOP voters?" Here's my attempt at a response at why anyone would vote McCain/Palin:
1) You are a rich CEO enjoying "voluntary regulation" and the privatized profits and socialized risks that go along with deregulation (which McCain promoted);
2) You are part of the 24% who still think Bush is doing a good job, and you want to see a continuation of the disastrous policies that got us where we are today;
3) You are part of the "values voters" who are more interested in the fact that the Pentecostal Sarah Palin can speak in tongues than whether she can speak coherently about any other domestic or international issues;
4) You are woefully misinformed and only listen to right-wing talk radio, FOX news, or WorldNet (Nut) Daily and therefore have a very warped view of reality and along with a deep hatred of anyone who is different, which leads to my last point:
5) You are a racist who would never vote for a black man for President, even if the alternative is a doddering old white guy who has spent 30 years in Washington and failed to change it and who picked a frighteningly inexperienced running mate and put her a heartbeat away from the presidency--all for a gimmick and not the good of the country.
Online NewsHour: Economic, Social Issues Play Part in Voters' Decisions -- October 28, 2004
