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Fearless

(18,458 posts)
82. This is a symptom not the problem
Thu Nov 7, 2024, 06:46 PM
Nov 7

People have always surrounded themselves by those that they agree with. Echo chambers if you will. The rise of social media and the recognition of the power it has to affect public opinion was on show this election cycle. Yet the reason why it works, the actual problem is racism and misogyny. Men of all racial and ethnic backgrounds by and large still do not trust women with power. White women still do not trust Black women with power. 43% of women who voted voted for Trump. 55% of men. It's no surprise that Trump HEAVILY used racist dog whistles and allusions to historical Nazi language, symbolism, and events.

The fact is the "economy" is good. Yet for the average person, who can't afford a house of their own, can't afford college, can't pay medical bills, can't find a job with good benefits, can't see any hope for the future, the economy is NOT doing well. It isn't good for the majority of people. A majority of people feel better about 2015 than they do about 2025, regardless of party.

Donald Trump tapped into that fear. He tapped into the fear of uneducated white men who can't "get a woman", can't get a good job, can't move out of their parents house, who have fallen down the alt-right pipeline that idolizes men like Joe Rogan or Elon Musk. The fact is that the Democratic Party did NOT provide them an alternative vision for the future. As Bernie Sanders had mentioned, the Democratic Party has cozied up to corporations and organizations, including large unions, that don't directly benefit the average voter in their minds today.

So all Trump had to do was make them FEAR things getting worse, take away their hope for the future, and point out that none of the Democratic Party's plans actually solved any of these existential issues. And he did. So many non-political type voters stayed home. Many men of all backgrounds who are working class, middle class or poor, voted for Trump. White women voted for Trump.

The fact is that the American middle class is dead. The core of the Democratic Party does not exist anymore. The message tailored to a group that doesn't exist falls on deaf ears. If they want to solve problems, actually help voters they need to fix the problems that plague the working class today.

They need a clear plan to break up capital groups that purchase and own single homes AND apartment buildings. No business or person should be allowed in America to own more than a dozen properties. All over that limit must be sold off at a rate of no less than 10% per year, every year until they've met that limit. This must also be true for commercial properties. Office space should not be empty while people sleep on the streets.

They need a clear plan to implement single payer universal health care options that cover health, dental, and vision care for Americans.

They need a clear plan to require free voter ID cards be distributed to EVERY American. Voter registration must be automatic at 18.
Present them at the poll. Vote electronically. The voting station will provide you with a receipt with a randomized code not tied to your identity allowing you to see your vote online at any point after the polls close. Voter registration must be automatic at 18 years old. Make people feel safe that their vote counts, that their voice is heard.

Mandate the solvency of Social Security. Require everyone to pay into Social Security regardless of wealth. Remove the cap. Make it a progressive tax, whereby the wealthy will pay MORE into it than the poor.

Make stock buybacks illegal (again). Companies should have to invest in their employees and infrastructure not enrich themselves.

Simplify the tax code and close tax loopholes that the wealthy use to get out of paying their fair share.

Base funding for public education on the number of students not the property values of the community.

Unforgivingly break up monopolies and non-compete arrangements between companies, including internet providers.

Raise minimum wage to a living wage and set it to increase with the cost of living.

Create a plan to actually address immigration. Legal and otherwise. 44% of farm workers in the US are undocumented. So long as people feel insecure economically this will be a major losing issue for Democrats. It's what Hitler did... Blame the "others" for your every problem. Create a classification for migrant workers whereby if American citizens are not available to employ, that they can LEGALLY be used for a farm season. Stipulate that they must pay taxes and cannot collect welfare, unemployment or other benefits (they already can't but make it clear). Stipulate that they have to pay a tax to be here and that tax will pay for services that may be needed as a result of them being here. Migrant workers should not cost the taxpayer anything. Make that clear. Then the issue no longer hurts Democrats.

Require background checks, insurance, and a license to own a gun. Tether every gun to their owner. Their owner is legally and criminally liable for any action taken with that gun. Expand the concept of gun-free zones. All federal, state, and local govt. owned property, including schools, parks, public buildings, etc. are all gun free zones. The bringing of guns into these zones leads to an immediate loss of that weapon, your license, and suspension of your right to carry for 5 years regardless of if you harmed someone or not. Private business can also follow these guidelines should they choose to.

Ban payday loans, for profit check cashing, and all similar things. No one should be profited off of for being poor or needing money early.

Mandate that any organization calling themselves a news organization be required to tell the truth. Make them legally liable if they try to manipulate or mislead viewers.

And so on.

In short, tldr, the Democratic Party needs to work for the working class. We need to defend against the fearmongering of the right wing. And we need to have clear policies that clearly fix problems. No Band-Aids. No half measures. Fixes.

Recommendations

5 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Sometimes you gotta hit rock bottom JoseBalow Nov 7 #1
Sometimes you lose the patient. IrishAfricanAmerican Nov 7 #3
Quite true JoseBalow Nov 7 #4
This felt more like a death knell than rock bottom. Initech Nov 7 #47
I'm having an epiphany ... rebirth not hate LSparkle Nov 8 #161
Usually after a plague, there's a period of enlightenment. Initech Nov 8 #163
Like Nazi Germany gerryatwork Nov 7 #101
Thank you. FWIW, I completely agree. NewHendoLib Nov 7 #2
Agree completely. Here is Rove(?) spelling it out explicitly 20 years ago. dgauss Nov 7 #5
Rove was also author Redmap, the Republican Party plan to use gerrymandering for permanent control of government. Lonestarblue Nov 7 #64
Let's not forget Rove's involment in Bush 2000 election theft. GoreWon2000 Nov 7 #79
And John Roberts, Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett too Attilatheblond Nov 8 #137
It's called a quid pro quo GoreWon2000 Nov 9 #164
Well...that was scary as hell. BComplex Nov 7 #106
I definitely agree that curated spaces and echo chambers have contributed to her loss. orange jar Nov 7 #6
& it's reached almost insurmountable proportions. According to canvassers, the misinformation this election was insane, Native Nov 7 #18
Oh, I wouldn't doubt it. orange jar Nov 7 #24
Agreed... just to add WarGamer Nov 7 #7
I don't know about that. A lot of people are saying it's pandered too much to the left/progressives of the party. Native Nov 7 #29
This old white lady watches football mnhtnbb Nov 7 #57
I would like examples of how the Dem party has pandered to the left - TBF Nov 7 #89
sure, i cant remember them all, but one for sure that was mentioned was the transgender surgeries for inmates. Native Nov 7 #93
She REALLY should have hit-back on the transgender "prison surgery" thing, Jack Valentino Nov 8 #134
But it's not true. summer_in_TX Nov 8 #114
then explain blue collar America leaving the Party? WarGamer Nov 8 #118
When Biden made sure they got COVID relief funds, he should have put his name on it like Trump did. summer_in_TX Nov 8 #119
Trump didn't go after these folks... he had them Jack Bone Nov 8 #121
Those differences in voting by income are all small. It's not a big factor. muriel_volestrangler Nov 8 #123
I think the income voting differences are mostly related to education (which trends to result in higher income), deurbano Nov 8 #145
Saw an article this morning (sorry don't remember where) that said Tadpole Raisin Nov 8 #127
The signs were there. Biden has been a great president. The economy is doing great. Yet most people don't agree. Doodley Nov 7 #8
Do you think Trump's assassination attempt(s) ultimately helped him? orange jar Nov 7 #11
I'm sure it did. It was an important part of their campaign. Our household of two received a dozen direct mail Doodley Nov 7 #15
And people bought into it...... Butterflylady Nov 7 #25
I remember a Dem Operative at the time MustLoveBeagles Nov 7 #48
If a supernatural being saved Trump from death, it was LUCIFER and not God. Jack Valentino Nov 8 #136
No! Rebl2 Nov 7 #32
It didn't ForgedCrank Nov 7 #45
it definitely solidified GOP support for him LymphocyteLover Nov 8 #126
And yet, the Dems didn't continually publish the positive news, buy ads, etc. That's on us. SharonAnn Nov 7 #17
You probably didn't see them dickthegrouch Nov 7 #98
There's no question that's part of it. returnee Nov 7 #9
It's the conspiracy theories LeftInTX Nov 7 #12
Good point. Trump maximized the racist, homophobic, transphobic, mysogynist vote. Kamala had to overcome that. Doodley Nov 7 #13
❤️ littlemissmartypants Nov 7 #10
Really good thoughts Johnny2X2X Nov 7 #14
Along those same lines people expected prices to actually drop to pre-Covid levels groundloop Nov 7 #38
Prices *are* higher than they were 4 years ago intrepidity Nov 8 #157
Finally, someone explaining how targeting works. We're an old group and very defensive to boot. Explanations like this Native Nov 7 #16
If no one's told you lately that you're a genius, EarlG, elbow them in the ribs (gently but definitely). jaxexpat Nov 7 #19
Dems needs to match the right's online media ecosystem. TRHST82 Nov 7 #20
Hope our record with talk radio isn't an indicator KPN Nov 7 #36
It is the perfect indicator intrepidity Nov 8 #158
Buyer's remorse will set in for a lot of people. ananda Nov 7 #21
I disagree. There will never be a free and fair election n/t Vogon_Glory Nov 8 #151
That's already the case for this election. ananda Nov 8 #162
And this algorithmic messaging is now automated and will grow and learn erronis Nov 7 #22
A piece of the loss, yes. I agree with you on that. Passages Nov 7 #23
Has DU become its own bubble? leftstreet Nov 7 #26
DU has always been a bubble! EarlG Nov 7 #58
I should have refreshed before posting. haha TwilightZone Nov 7 #66
Lol true enough leftstreet Nov 7 #69
I do agree that it's good to get multiple perspectives on issues sometimes COL Mustard Nov 7 #72
With a notable exception for the Vance couch thing unblock Nov 7 #77
No. LarryNM Nov 8 #142
Earl, what about a small siloed section of DU where the rules are relaxed somewhat? intrepidity Nov 8 #160
DU has always been its own bubble. TwilightZone Nov 7 #65
All places are bubbles to some extent jfz9580m Nov 7 #105
+1 leftstreet Nov 7 #108
Thank you for reading leftstreet :).nt jfz9580m Nov 7 #110
the creators of AI KT2000 Nov 7 #27
I don't know Dem4life1234 Nov 7 #28
He gained DetroitLegalBeagle Nov 7 #39
It makes a bit of sense for first time voters under 25 Trekologer Nov 7 #88
Confirmation bias can be a dangerous thing Ocelot II Nov 7 #30
"misinformation peddled on an industrial scale" BoRaGard Nov 7 #31
We just got some stunning family news from some in-laws: almost the whole younger gen voted Trump Hekate Nov 7 #33
Did they say why? yardwork Nov 7 #35
i heard today (either from one of the shows on wcpt orleans Nov 7 #61
??! Sparkly Nov 7 #97
they're taking their masks off and showing what they really are nt orleans Nov 7 #103
This is what blows my mind mnhtnbb Nov 7 #62
They didn't care he's an Ajudicate Rapist 34 Counts a Felon.. a Convicted Fraud Cha Nov 7 #112
Gen Z follows Barron Trump and podcasters Maggiemayhem Nov 8 #131
I'm still looking at the returns and I tend to agree... yardwork Nov 7 #34
Right wing radio and trumps own rants Artistree22 Nov 7 #37
At this point, it's more RW podcasting and streaming Algernon Moncrieff Nov 7 #60
Never imagine you're alone in this sort of soul-searching Emrys Nov 7 #40
Precisely this: geniph Nov 7 #68
Thank you for your post LittleGirl Nov 8 #141
You're very welcome Emrys Nov 8 #143
As soon as Brexit was determined LittleGirl Nov 8 #149
Well said especially this .... live love laugh Nov 7 #41
AI has enhanced the methods of mind control for profit bucolic_frolic Nov 7 #42
"people's opinions were already baked in" BumRushDaShow Nov 7 #43
Thanks! It's very cathartic to read this analysis. Mike 03 Nov 7 #44
"The playbook is 100 years old but the technology is brand new." dgauss Nov 7 #111
My Wife and I have been discussing this exactly as you have described for a couple of days now. I agree completely with marked50 Nov 7 #46
The TOP (Trump's Oleaginous Party) can't help but fuck with Social Security and Obamacare. LudwigPastorius Nov 7 #49
This message was self-deleted by its author Ursus Arctos Nov 7 #55
100% agree until last point Cosmocat Nov 7 #50
Ah This explains Peter Theil and the Silicon Valley Divas bronxiteforever Nov 7 #51
One thing the democrats absolutely have to stop with: Initech Nov 7 #52
Thank you so much, EarlG, for explaining that so thoroughly. We have all seen it niyad Nov 7 #53
I agree with your analysis. I still believe that racism and sexism played a role but so did social media tulipsandroses Nov 7 #54
There will be midterms? Algernon Moncrieff Nov 7 #56
For me, to break through the information bubble, it came down to critical thinking (education) ffr Nov 7 #59
Here's what I don't understand anobserver2 Nov 7 #63
I am certain they knew genxlib Nov 8 #135
This is 1000% the message I have been spouting for years. genxlib Nov 8 #138
Resetting the playing field must become resetting the battlefield. Jit423 Nov 7 #67
Words ... matter Metaphorical Nov 7 #70
The difference? Aussie105 Nov 7 #71
A big shocking event, a meteor hitting Earth seems about right BigmanPigman Nov 7 #73
Russia perfected this under Stalin! cilla4progress Nov 7 #74
Uncle Smart Ass Uncle Smart Ass Nov 7 #75
I'm hearing this over and over from party folks, AllyCat Nov 7 #76
I agree that buyer's remorse is going to set in quickly Dem4life1970 Nov 7 #78
Mark Zuckerberg too IbogaProject Nov 7 #80
I agree with what you're saying. GoreWon2000 Nov 7 #81
This is a symptom not the problem Fearless Nov 7 #82
Thanks - I agree. Pinback Nov 7 #83
That is Linda ladeewolf Nov 7 #84
I agree, EarlG. I've seen discussions of this on Twitter. From Asha Rangappa this morning: highplainsdem Nov 7 #85
Hmm. I have a quibble with how you're presenting your point. love_katz Nov 7 #86
Thought-provoking OP. I still think we've got a lot of folks who just won't vote for a woman, TBF Nov 7 #87
Misinformation peddled on an industrial scale. DeeDeeNY Nov 7 #90
Agree with everything you said EarlG jfz9580m Nov 7 #91
Good food for thought. Sparkly Nov 7 #92
So, what we really need is a bigger blowhorn.... Hugin Nov 7 #94
Inadequate messaging has been our issue for years now. SunSeeker Nov 7 #95
He will fuck up on a grand scale before the mid terms orangecrush Nov 7 #96
Bubbles suck The Mouth Nov 7 #99
Our reality: Living inside a conspiracy theory. SleeplessinSoCal Nov 7 #100
You are very correct about the algorithms moniss Nov 7 #102
I sure remember those times Ligyron Nov 8 #133
Yes indeed and a great movie from that time and moniss Nov 8 #153
If only Kamala had done what Trump did. Aussie105 Nov 7 #104
THANK YOU! You are absolutely correct! Silver Gaia Nov 7 #107
Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 7 #109
What I keep hearing from trump voters proud patriot Nov 8 #113
My area (DMV) is receiving racist text messages Maggiemayhem Nov 8 #132
how long before repukes crash the economy? Skittles Nov 8 #115
Read a great thread by a Brit about the analogies to Brexit on Twitter today. summer_in_TX Nov 8 #116
The incremental, stealth takeover by oligarchs is now open and in its final race to the finish line. Hermit-The-Prog Nov 8 #117
On Saturday This American Life ran a segment called mahina Nov 8 #120
Why are we accepting the results? Roxi Nov 8 #122
All incumbents across the world have lost vote share. The Biden to Harris loss was one of the smallest. muriel_volestrangler Nov 8 #124
"Algorithmic microtargeting". Yes. The microtargeting supports Inconsistent views and helps to dissuade real-life convos lostnfound Nov 8 #125
Agreed. You will never convince me Ruby the Liberal Nov 8 #128
When I worked construction... MiHale Nov 8 #129
Kamala is a woman get the red out Nov 8 #130
That could be it. FM123 Nov 8 #155
If buyer's remorse doesn't set in over the next 4 years for a significant number of people who voted for Trump, Martin68 Nov 8 #139
People here keep thinking we'll have free and fair elections that will be winnable in 2026 and 2028. Efilroft Sul Nov 8 #140
Trump said it. "You'll never have to vote again". ratchiweenie Nov 8 #144
We're in for scary times, and the old rules -- the old laws -- won't necessarily be applicable any more. Efilroft Sul Nov 8 #147
Excellent analysis Felicita Nov 8 #146
YES. We hit 1% with volunteers once in 6 months. They hit 90% twice a day -- at least. Festivito Nov 8 #148
Mis and disinformation coupled with lack of perspective is huge. But this was a change election. andym Nov 8 #150
A tech perspective. Great points. It seems like an application of the Facebook effect in 2016 underpants Nov 8 #152
You're one smart guy. defacto7 Nov 8 #154
I need to add to that comment ... defacto7 Nov 8 #159
People almost always bleme the Executive branch for their troubles and complaints. Ping Tung Nov 8 #156
I just had a technician tell me Trump would stop the wars because he was strong True Blue American Nov 20 #165
Just dropping back in to say thanks again for your thoughtful comments in November Hekate Yesterday #166
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