Voters, in a haze of racism and misogyny, apparently wanted economic populism

[ProfessorPlum]

and stupidly thought that Trump complaining about the price of bacon and eggs and gas meant that he means to give it to them.

Even though there is no coherent policy - certainly none that the GOP would support - for doing any of that.


And so. . . if/when there is ever any chance of clawing back some political power in this country, can we try economic populism this time (and mean it?)

The greed of the donors has given us fascism instead of their tidy, profitable status quo.

[Freddie]

1. We try to appeal to minorities

And we should. But many minority groups have misogyny baked in their culture, even more so than “regular” Americans.

[surfered]

2. Harris got 68 million votes. Biden got 80 million. Trump got 72 million votes, about the same he got against Biden

12 million Democrats did not turn out.

[ProfessorPlum]

3. and why, I ask. Not enough economic populism

is my answer. The Walz pic was a step in the right direction. But raising the minimum wage, single payer healthcare, worker protections, lifting the cap on Social Security - would all have been much more effective.

[kerouac2]

4. They blamed better

We talk about what we do and what we plan to do. Seems like even that's too much info for the masses. We just need to blame the hell out of someone else and say we will fix it. Details don't seem to help those who don't care to look any further than blame.

[surfered]

6. That worked for Trump

[Prairie Gates]

5. Compare the messaging on these two policy points

Harris: We're going to expand the child tax credit for middle class families.
Trump: NO TAX ON TIPS!

Which of these is more understandable? Harris is proposing - vaguely - an adjustment in the tax reporting form. What does expansion mean? What is a middle class family? Why is this tax cut (is it even one?) just for people with families? Will I need an accountant to understand how to even do this? This means I get a subtraction from my larger tax bill? It almost implies that my other taxes are pretty high. And what is a credit? What even is this?

Now, "No Tax on Tips" I understand! You will still tax my salary, but because I'm a tipped worker, my salary is pretty low anyway. But now I can keep 100% of my tips, which is usually cash anyway, and a pain to report (which is why I usually don't fully report it when it's cash). That's the bulk of my income! So the bulk of my income is tax free? And you removed a pain in the ass reporting requirement? Hooray!

Of course, the first one makes sense within the current tax system and within the general idea that the government incentivizes particular activities (to wit, having children) within that system. It's also likely doable without severe repercussions (including slashing services) elsewhere in the system. It's a grown-up policy, made by policy people who seek to help ordinary people through policy construction.

The second is a wrecking ball to the tax system that will, if it is put into place, authorize additional transformations, up to and including the complete elimination of the income tax (yes, with a Constitutional amendment) and destruction of the 20th century state support system, including Social Security. Massive cuts in services, etc. But it sounds so simple and good. NO TAX ON TIPS!