{"id":1064,"date":"2017-01-11T16:30:56","date_gmt":"2017-01-11T20:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/?p=1064"},"modified":"2017-01-11T17:28:28","modified_gmt":"2017-01-11T21:28:28","slug":"sifting-through-the-ashes-part-nine-about-those-voters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/blog\/2017\/01\/11\/sifting-through-the-ashes-part-nine-about-those-voters\/","title":{"rendered":"Sifting Through The Ashes, Part Nine – About those Voters…"},"content":{"rendered":"
Greetings and Salutations;<\/div>\n
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The fallout from the Election continues, \u00a0as the day the donald will be sworn into Office approaches. \u00a0 Last night, \u00a0President Obama gave a really great, \u00a0farewell speech, in Chicago. \u00a0A recording of it is available, \u00a0and if you have not seen it, \u00a0I strongly urge you to take a quiet hour, \u00a0watch it, \u00a0and contemplate on the messages in it. \u00a0 The President touched on many issues \u00a0that apply both to the Political world and Real Life. \u00a0 It was amazingly sad, \u00a0and uplifting at the same time. \u00a0 As an Academic, \u00a0and Community Organizer, \u00a0 President Obama has honed the ability to communicate a message so that every person hearing it feels as if he is speaking to them. \u00a0 It was clear, \u00a0and very well said. \u00a0 If you want to do it later, then great. \u00a0If you want to do it right now…even better, \u00a0I will be happy to wait!<\/div>\n
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One of the important issues President Obama brought up \u00a0was the peaceful transition of power from Administration to Administration. \u00a0 He is correct, that this is a hallmark of our Democracy, \u00a0and is terribly important. \u00a0 Alas, \u00a0this particular transition is rather less easy than many previous ones have been. \u00a0 In my voting career \u00a0(I first voted for Nixon when he was re-elected to a second term – \u00a0More on that later) \u00a0I have seen the two main parties swap positions several times. \u00a0While I have not been comfortable with Republicans taking power before, \u00a0this is the FIRST Election where the incoming Administration seems Hell-Bent on not only destroying the advances in society we have made since the 1950s, \u00a0but, \u00a0is taking aim at the heart of our Democracy, \u00a0with the intention of killing that foolishness off, \u00a0and putting in a “REAL” government. \u00a0 To go from the quiet and patient elegance and intelligence of President Obama, \u00a0to the ravings and chaos of the donald is a fearful thing to contemplate. \u00a0 \u00a0I can only hope that the moderate republicans in Congress will come to their senses, \u00a0and will realize that Constitution and Country far outweigh Party in this world \u00a0(A point that President Obama ALSO makes in his speech). \u00a0There have been some efforts on the part of Moderate Republicans that are heartening, if they can grow, \u00a0and not be squished by the shorter-sighted members of the Party.<\/div>\n
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That having been said…there remains the problem of us voters. \u00a0 This election has stirred up more emotion than any previous election I have seen. \u00a0 There have been smaller, \u00a0regional issues that were pretty hot, and, like the Civil War, \u00a0split families in two, \u00a0but, this is the first time that almost every American has a strong opinion and will get really emotional when one attempts to discuss differing views with them. \u00a0 I am still amazed and interested by the mind of humans, \u00a0and so I have been trying to interact with as many points of view as is possible, \u00a0to try and understand what has brought these folks to believe what they believe. \u00a0 This has been a challenging task for me, both because I, too, \u00a0have an unpleasant emotional reaction to this election, \u00a0and, there are challenges with talking to folks who support the donald. \u00a0 It can be challenging to deal with them on a civilized,\u00a0 polite level.<\/div>\n
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This meme has started circulating around Social Media over the past few days. \u00a0 The original one consisted of just the BLACK parts. \u00a0 The edit \u00a0is a recent change, and points up my conundrum with understanding the Mind of America. \u00a0 Of course, \u00a0I have a few thoughts on how this graphic affects me, and my reactions to it:<\/div>\n
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IF, they are really “Adult” and really “Friends”, then, I hope that Sally will engage with Bob and try to understand why he DOES support the donald. I have been trying to do that, and to discuss why I find their support of the donald pretty worrisome. However, that has proved to be a challenging path. \u00a0Let me take a moment to lay out some of the things that I have run into with voters of all persuasions, over the past 18+ months.<\/div>\n
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  • SOME folks simply call me a name (or twelve), make snarky remarks about me and my opinions, and spout right-wing lies from Agenda-Driven websites to “prove” their point. \u00a0These are the folks that I look at and think…”Wow, \u00a0that is a Fear Driven Life there.” \u00a0 When push comes to shove they have not moved one step beyond the level of social development that existed when Homo Sapiens appeared on the Earth. \u00a0 They are instinctively Tribal, \u00a0and react to people within the tribe as if they were the best of friends, \u00a0but, \u00a0look at anyone OUTSIDE the tribe as an enemy and a danger…to be driven off, or avoided. \u00a0 They are so fixed in their views of reality that they cannot conceive of anyone that is not just like them as having humanity; of having a life and opinions that is just as valid as their own; or have anything worth contributing to a conversation. \u00a0It has been my experience that they prefer to belittle a person by saying “Get a JOB” or “now that Our Boy is in office, \u00a0you parasites are not going to get free things from the government any more.” \u00a0Of course, both these comments are without Merit, as a vast majority of Liberal and Progressive folks not only have jobs, \u00a0they show up to them and do the best that they can every day – only to see their financial well-being being eroded away by the law changes done by a Right-Wing Congress. \u00a0 As for the second point…All the Progressives and Liberals I know \u00a0agree that people should not be wards of the state. \u00a0However, \u00a0from the Liberal perspective, the way to deal with the problem is to recognize the worth of every person, and, if they are down on their luck, \u00a0to do what is necessary to support them and help them make their way back to being a productive member of society. \u00a0 While there are a percentage of folks in the System that are eking out a living by working that system, \u00a0a vast majority of the folks getting aid would rather have a real job, as they realize it provides them with far more resources than being a client of the Department of Human Services can ever provide. Be that as it may, \u00a0this group tend to be the people that I find ways to eliminate from my life. \u00a0On Social Media, \u00a0I will block them. \u00a0In Real Life, \u00a0I will slowly cut back on the times we interact, \u00a0until it becomes either never, \u00a0or less than once a year.<\/li>\n
  • SOME deflect, claiming that he did not mean what he said, or, making attacks on their opponents that are off topic. \u00a0 They too do not discuss well, as their beliefs enable them to dismiss my concerns as meaningless. \u00a0 It is very hard to discuss, on a civil level, \u00a0touchy subjects like this when the person is rejecting the FACTS they are presented with the claims that it is “Fake News”, \u00a0or “there is no proof that is true”, or “A LOT of people disagree with these facts”. \u00a0 I find this last response both hilarious and irritating. \u00a0 It is truly funny because it is so without merit it causes the speaker to look as ignorant as a new-born baby. \u00a0 To beat the dead horse a moment longer…JUST because “a lot of people” have this opinion does NOT turn it into a fact. \u00a0 It is true that, during the Salem Witch trials in 1692-1693,\u00a0 a VAST majority of the population believed that there were actual \u00a0Witches in the world, who could use mystical powers to bring Evil and injury to another person’s\u00a0 life. \u00a0In the 1930s-1940s, \u00a0many people living under the Third Reich believed that Jews were subhuman, evil people that were responsible for putting up barriers to their success. \u00a0They believed in the concept of “Racial Purity” and that it was “Evil” to dilute their blood with the blood of other races. \u00a0 The fact that a lot of people believed (and, alas, \u00a0STILL Believe) this does not magically make it a fact.<\/li>\n
  • SOME are single issue voters. For example, I have talked with people whose hot buttons range from abortion and woman\u2019s rights, to LGBTQ issues, to Healthcare Costs, to Work issues.<\/li>\n
  • Many of them, when push came to shove, said that they thought the donald would push their agenda where HRC held a different stance. They were able to ignore all the other ugliness and chaos in the donald’s life and history. I.E. Willful blindness. \u00a0 I, for one, \u00a0believe that the failure of the Educational System in America is partly to blame for this. \u00a0Schools should have the goals of teaching kids the basic tools of living – \u00a0Critical Thinking skills, \u00a0reading, \u00a0writing, \u00a0Math, \u00a0etc. \u00a0 The schools should present the students with the data they need to become well-rounded and educated enough to deal with the world. \u00a0This includes a more objective presentation of History, \u00a0Human Sexuality, \u00a0Number theory, \u00a0and vocabulary. \u00a0Alas, \u00a0for the past decades the school’s roll in doing this has been undercut by a lot of factors. \u00a0 One of the BIG things undercutting this important task is, in my view, \u00a0Religion. \u00a0 As time has passed, \u00a0the Religious community in America has become more entrenched and divided by their own agenda. \u00a0 My view is that God does exist (Read Edward Abbott’s “Flatland” \u00a0for a simple analogue for my view on how that works), \u00a0and, that It is far too complex for any single path to lead to It. \u00a0 In spite of being raised in the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, \u00a0I have had a very broad view of other religions. \u00a0 I have never believed that ONE denomination \u00a0has “THE Only Answer and Way To GOD”. \u00a0 I do have the opinion that, as it says in the Bible, \u00a0“now we see through the glass, \u00a0Darkly” \u00a0so, some philosophical paths are rather more complicated and stray further away from the shortest path to understanding and Connection. \u00a0 However, \u00a0 alas, \u00a0in the past decades the Balkanization of the Religious Community has produced a lot of parents who believe that their kids will be forever damned if they learn anything except what their interpretation of the Bible supports. \u00a0 These folks have fought to have school Curricula changed to either remove or re-word \u00a0topics that conflict with their beliefs, \u00a0or, in an increasing number of cases, \u00a0they Home School their kids, absolutely controlling what they learn.<\/li>\n
  • SOME of the voters actually do prefer the platform and plans put forth by the Republican Party \u00a0over the goals of the Democratic Party. \u00a0 Again, \u00a0a complicated problem. \u00a0I was a strong Republican when I was a new voter. \u00a0By the by, \u00a0I am talking about during the 1960s and 1970s. \u00a0My first Vote was for Richard Nixon, \u00a0to elect him to his second term. \u00a0My parents were in the Republican Corner as in their minds (and mine, at the time), \u00a0the Republican Party expressed the view of reality that I found most appealing. \u00a0 The Party was Conservative in that it was not for radical changes that happened quickly. \u00a0Change would happen under that Party, but, it would have the speed of molasses in Winter. \u00a0 The Platform preached the gospel of Self-reliance – \u00a0Not depending on the Government to be the Nanny State. \u00a0The Federal Government should do the tasks it had to do to keep the country running, \u00a0but keep its nose out of the lives of individual Citizens. \u00a0 The Party left that task to the local governments! \u00a0 It pushed the “Horatio Alger Jr. Story of America” where it was easy for a person starting in poverty,\u00a0 with nothing to work hard and be frugal,\u00a0 and end up a very rich and powerful person, \u00a0who could relax and live on their investments and savings. \u00a0As we all realize though, \u00a0that even in those days, \u00a0this was an idyllic goal, \u00a0that was hard to reach for White Males, \u00a0and nearly impossible to even see for people of color. \u00a0 One thing about that time, though…for a lot of people, \u00a0that 20 year period between 1950 and 1970 \u00a0DID provide a lot of folks with the fulfillment of that dream. \u00a0Today, though, \u00a0the world has changed a LOT. \u00a0The economy and financial life of most Americans are in shambles. \u00a0 Over the past 20 years or so Management has apparently picked up and are clinging to the idea that Profit for themselves and investors is the God to be Worshiped, \u00a0and anything that might interfere with that (such as paying a living wage, \u00a0treating employees well, \u00a0slow steady growth, etc) \u00a0are to be avoided. \u00a0 The bottom line these days is that for a person working in a company, \u00a0they are likely limited in their advancement, \u00a0both in position and salary. \u00a0 While there are a few “mail room to CEO” stories still around, \u00a0they are, indeed, few and far between. \u00a0 Today, \u00a0for most people, \u00a0the only way to get increased benefits or salary is to look around and find a new job. \u00a0 Of course the massive economic collapse of 2008\/2009 \u00a0has even closed off that avenue of escape. \u00a0 Jobs have been scarce for a number of reasons, including the waves created by that crash, \u00a0so often, moving has been impossible. \u00a0 Over the years, \u00a0I, as have most of my siblings, \u00a0have moved to the Democratic Party, \u00a0both from an ethical point, and a fiscal responsibility point. For decades now, post Nixon, \u00a0the general trend is that the Republicans get into office, \u00a0and provide HUGE tax cuts (mostly for the upper class with all the money) \u00a0and added huge spending programs in the belief that their tax cuts will produce more revenue, as they will encourage the rich to expand their businesses, \u00a0and hire more people. \u00a0 This, by the by, has been a pipe dream from Reagan on, and has left us with an unimaginably large debt that the country owes, \u00a0and deficit that has been building that debt like a fire hose spraying gasoline on a skyscraper fire. \u00a0 The Democrats, \u00a0when they take office, \u00a0have taken steps to bring down the deficit, \u00a0and reduce the debt. \u00a0 They have done this by raising taxes on the people with the most money (in general), \u00a0and finding ways to make the government run more efficiently. \u00a0 Add to that, the social responsibility that the Progressives in the Democratic Party \u00a0feel towards all citizens, and their attempts to improve life for ALL citizens, \u00a0made it a trivial choice.<\/li>\n
  • Finally, there is the painfully large percentage of his supporters who, as far as I can tell, just do not like, or are frightened by, a strong, intelligent, well-educated WOMAN having taking the office. I have to Admit that this puzzles me a bit, \u00a0but I do understand enough about the human mind and its workings that I know that there can be subconscious fears and uncertainties that can motivate actions that seem odd. \u00a0Do these voters really just hate their mothers? \u00a0 Were they made to look like a fool by another, \u00a0intelligent, strong, well-educated woman? \u00a0Do they just feel inadequate and threatened by folks that are better at something than they are? \u00a0 All or some are,\u00a0 I think factors in their prejudiced thoughts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
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    Now, \u00a0I realize there are far more than just TWO political parties in the United States (at least as of today). \u00a0 However, \u00a0the above categories fit a fair number of folks that vote for the alternative party candidates too. \u00a0Also, \u00a0as history shows us, Alternative Parties do not do well in the United States (and I will offer some analysis as to why this is true elsewhere) \u00a0For example, \u00a0in the 2016 election, \u00a0in terms of overall vote, \u00a0the alternative candidates, combined together, \u00a0got less than 8% of the popular vote. \u00a0Now, \u00a0I have, at times, voted Third Party, although when I do, I am fully aware that I am making a statement, not influencing an election with my vote! \u00a0 Since I live in a Deep Red State, \u00a0the votes of most voters do not matter, \u00a0as there is a 99% probability that the Republican Party will sweep the National Offices. \u00a0This reality extends to the Governor’s office as well. \u00a0It is not until one gets down to the county level that it is possible for Democratic or Independent candidates to gain office.<\/div>\n
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