I believe this has been the most vile, fact-free campaign season in my lifetime, and I've been around since FDR/Dewey. Of course, I wasn't taking notes at the time, being just eight months old, but I remember Eisenhower/Stevenson and all the elections thereafter. I can't remember any previous campaign claiming that its opponent presented an existential danger to the Republic, unlike both of the current campaigns -- and although pandering in the form of uneconomic tax cuts and impossible promised benefits aren't new, the scale and gaudiness are unprecedented.
Buckle up, America. It's been a bumpy eight years, and it's going to get worse.
Come on Ruy. Far from abandoning the working class, Trump's MSG appearance was 100% about the working class. How many hedge fund guys do you think were there? How many plumbers and firemen and electricians and other working-class people from Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Jersey were there? They FINALLY got a chance to have a New York voice. The second thing to consider is that I think to a large part, the working class has probably voted in a MUCH higher % of the GOP than the GOP as a whole. I think all these early votes, all the leads built by the 20-25% of first time R voters? I think that is HEAVILY working class. Rs know they can turn out the country club types on election day.
So, no, you're wrong on this one. Trump indeed is totally working-class and the NV results show that the "service workers," particularly the culinary union, who has ALREADY TOLD pollster Rich Baris that Trump would win NV, are in lock step with Trump. I've said this for two months: Trump wins the pop vote by 1.5% and wins a floor of 312 EVs, and every day of early voting is proving me correct.
If there is one thing both political parties might agree on in this dismal Election 2024 it is this: Avoid talking about the tough stuff.
So, yes, mention the high price of groceries and make stupid, unachievable promises about outlawing "price gouging." But be careful not to touch the substantive third rails like the actual causes of inflation, life runaway government spending leading to record deficits which will shape worse times ahead for Americans for years to come. And definitely make no promises like cutting spending in an election year. Trump has the better argument here in his pro growth, reduced regulation promises, but has failed to seal the deal by relating how economic dynamism lifts all boats, including government revenue sources. President Clinton spent like a drunken sailor, but the booming dot.com economy of the 1990s allowed him to do so and still balance the budget, the only time in the past half century.
No doubt in a time of deep and serious border and national security jitters most Americans might have liked to hear the specifics for what the candidates would do to keep Americans safe. That both candidates have records that clearly benefit Trump leaves unanswered what they will do and how they will address these security crises growing rapid worse and more ominous by the day.
This may not be the worse of times in American history, but it will become that in short order without some needed competitive straight talk specifics from the wannabe leaders of the free world.
The working class, indeed the lower 80 - 90% of American voters, will be ignored except at election time because it takes a shit ton of money to win a presidential contest and that means getting money that only the very wealthiest can provide. (almost entirely in secret).
Unless Buckley v Valeo and Citizens United are overturned, the Electoral College is eliminated, and federal funding of elections becomes mandatory, we will be stuck with the current form of plutocratic or kleptocratic rule. Since the necessary reforms to restore functional democracy are not politically possible, we will be living (and dying) with plutocracy or kleptocracy until there is massive system failure (e.g., economic collapse, widespread social uprisings). After that, who knows? Maybe something even worse
I know you said that these aren't unimportant issues, but tell me how any country can stay economically viable/competitive/growing if these 'right-wing culture issues' are not fixed?
Or maybe you are thinking a few generations of people who - don't believe in meritocracy (DEI), embrace equal outcomes over equal opportunity (its Kamala's mantra, or was, lol), are confused about sex (gender affirming care for minors, men can get pregnant, etc), some, so sadly, soon to be postal when they discover they really do like being what God made them but now can't procreate, experience sexual pleasure, or get off their Pharma for life sentence, give credence to all white/oppressor, all non-white/oppressed, past discrimination justifies future discrimination (Ibram X) dogma, think abortion should be an inalienable right up to the day of birth, as many times as needed, no questions (as we have in CO, not even pointing out the evil of this, just the economic fact of a mindset that no doubt leads to lower birth rates/economic growth) - are going to be helpful to a strong, thriving economy?
I know, there are more factors to consider, of course, but c'mon, tell me how these cultural trends lead to a strong work ethic which is needed for a strong economy?
"Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God." NKJ EX 20:9 We often forget this part of this commandment, we were created to among other things, work. These troubling left-wing cultural changes go against God's wisdom. And for many non-believers, go against the common sense God put into their being. Good article, well written, just would be curious how you would answer my questions.
Rejoice always, pray unceasingly and in everything give thanks!
The rally you didn't like? That is working and middle-class gold. It bothers me that political people don't get this. It's important to understand why this was hugely important and entertaining to understand these people. Really.
I found the poll results of the study to be interesting, as the education gap isn't as wide as is being messaged and the strange divide in income preferences is surprising to me.
What I will say I that my step-dad is an electrician and my husband got started as a diesel mechanic. So, I believe the manual laborer vote is 100% correct. It's the male vs female issue there.
I believe this has been the most vile, fact-free campaign season in my lifetime, and I've been around since FDR/Dewey. Of course, I wasn't taking notes at the time, being just eight months old, but I remember Eisenhower/Stevenson and all the elections thereafter. I can't remember any previous campaign claiming that its opponent presented an existential danger to the Republic, unlike both of the current campaigns -- and although pandering in the form of uneconomic tax cuts and impossible promised benefits aren't new, the scale and gaudiness are unprecedented.
Buckle up, America. It's been a bumpy eight years, and it's going to get worse.
Come on Ruy. Far from abandoning the working class, Trump's MSG appearance was 100% about the working class. How many hedge fund guys do you think were there? How many plumbers and firemen and electricians and other working-class people from Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Jersey were there? They FINALLY got a chance to have a New York voice. The second thing to consider is that I think to a large part, the working class has probably voted in a MUCH higher % of the GOP than the GOP as a whole. I think all these early votes, all the leads built by the 20-25% of first time R voters? I think that is HEAVILY working class. Rs know they can turn out the country club types on election day.
So, no, you're wrong on this one. Trump indeed is totally working-class and the NV results show that the "service workers," particularly the culinary union, who has ALREADY TOLD pollster Rich Baris that Trump would win NV, are in lock step with Trump. I've said this for two months: Trump wins the pop vote by 1.5% and wins a floor of 312 EVs, and every day of early voting is proving me correct.
Ruy didn't write this article, but you are correct about Rs addressing working class issues.
If there is one thing both political parties might agree on in this dismal Election 2024 it is this: Avoid talking about the tough stuff.
So, yes, mention the high price of groceries and make stupid, unachievable promises about outlawing "price gouging." But be careful not to touch the substantive third rails like the actual causes of inflation, life runaway government spending leading to record deficits which will shape worse times ahead for Americans for years to come. And definitely make no promises like cutting spending in an election year. Trump has the better argument here in his pro growth, reduced regulation promises, but has failed to seal the deal by relating how economic dynamism lifts all boats, including government revenue sources. President Clinton spent like a drunken sailor, but the booming dot.com economy of the 1990s allowed him to do so and still balance the budget, the only time in the past half century.
No doubt in a time of deep and serious border and national security jitters most Americans might have liked to hear the specifics for what the candidates would do to keep Americans safe. That both candidates have records that clearly benefit Trump leaves unanswered what they will do and how they will address these security crises growing rapid worse and more ominous by the day.
This may not be the worse of times in American history, but it will become that in short order without some needed competitive straight talk specifics from the wannabe leaders of the free world.
The working class, indeed the lower 80 - 90% of American voters, will be ignored except at election time because it takes a shit ton of money to win a presidential contest and that means getting money that only the very wealthiest can provide. (almost entirely in secret).
Unless Buckley v Valeo and Citizens United are overturned, the Electoral College is eliminated, and federal funding of elections becomes mandatory, we will be stuck with the current form of plutocratic or kleptocratic rule. Since the necessary reforms to restore functional democracy are not politically possible, we will be living (and dying) with plutocracy or kleptocracy until there is massive system failure (e.g., economic collapse, widespread social uprisings). After that, who knows? Maybe something even worse
I know you said that these aren't unimportant issues, but tell me how any country can stay economically viable/competitive/growing if these 'right-wing culture issues' are not fixed?
Or maybe you are thinking a few generations of people who - don't believe in meritocracy (DEI), embrace equal outcomes over equal opportunity (its Kamala's mantra, or was, lol), are confused about sex (gender affirming care for minors, men can get pregnant, etc), some, so sadly, soon to be postal when they discover they really do like being what God made them but now can't procreate, experience sexual pleasure, or get off their Pharma for life sentence, give credence to all white/oppressor, all non-white/oppressed, past discrimination justifies future discrimination (Ibram X) dogma, think abortion should be an inalienable right up to the day of birth, as many times as needed, no questions (as we have in CO, not even pointing out the evil of this, just the economic fact of a mindset that no doubt leads to lower birth rates/economic growth) - are going to be helpful to a strong, thriving economy?
I know, there are more factors to consider, of course, but c'mon, tell me how these cultural trends lead to a strong work ethic which is needed for a strong economy?
"Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God." NKJ EX 20:9 We often forget this part of this commandment, we were created to among other things, work. These troubling left-wing cultural changes go against God's wisdom. And for many non-believers, go against the common sense God put into their being. Good article, well written, just would be curious how you would answer my questions.
Rejoice always, pray unceasingly and in everything give thanks!
The rally you didn't like? That is working and middle-class gold. It bothers me that political people don't get this. It's important to understand why this was hugely important and entertaining to understand these people. Really.
I found the poll results of the study to be interesting, as the education gap isn't as wide as is being messaged and the strange divide in income preferences is surprising to me.
What I will say I that my step-dad is an electrician and my husband got started as a diesel mechanic. So, I believe the manual laborer vote is 100% correct. It's the male vs female issue there.
It's the economy stupid