General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I know this is going to be unpopular but I am friends with and I understand many Trump supporters [View all]Lyricalinklines
(367 posts)I, too, know voters for trump. I imagine we all know at least one considering just under half of those who voted did so for trump.
Most of those I know who voted for trump, actually began paying attention to politics in 2007/2008 when the economy tanked. So in discussing with them anything political/campaign related, I actually found they were saying things they'd heard/read with their limited understanding/knowledge base of how government actually works. They listened to their churches (who I heard the pastors in October when I attended, actually say in their Sunday lectures they needed to vote for trump or lose America as we know it), became Faux news followers thus were parroting that info, became "preppers" who seem to me to be racist and fear based. During the last 7 years of Obama's presidency were actively gathering/hoarding food and supplies, training in organized militia and networking to form organizations/communities on isolated/protected privately owned land for when "TEOTWAWKI" (the end of the world as we know it), or, as I heard them claim, Obama imposed martial law and sent conservatives and Christians to concentration camps to be killed.
I listened to what they had to say as I saw it as learning from each other. I genuinely wanted to understand their position - I wanted to understand how they could actually believe their government was plotting to kill them. Sadly, these relationships dissolved over the campaign as they actually said to me - each in their own way - they couldn't associate with someone who claimed to be American and didn't believe that "Clinton caused Benghazi" "Clinton runs a child sex ring from a pizza shop" "We have to save America because the Democrats have hi-jacked the US". Yes! These adults believe these things, at least in September and October when we last spoke they did. These were family members (brothers and sister-in-law), extended family, and 2 friends I'd known 10 years, as well as a professional acquaintance (licensed master of psychology) who we became friends during the year prior to election. The others are all blue collar workers, if it means anything.
I saw much of their discomfort with President Obama as a difference of management style, at least that which was not directly due to their racism. They were comfortable with 'hierarchy' and saw President Obama as no leadership skills. I saw President Obama's leadership style as more 'circular'. Therefore, for instance, I saw his ignoring Kim Jung-Un much like ignoring a child throwing a tantrum because you won't but him a piece of gum. These I refer to said they would "punish" the child - spanking they said - to show them they were "wrong". They saw President Obama showing Kim Jung-Un that he could get away with "misbehaving". They also advocated the US stop being the world's police, and said they saw trump as asserting that position. North Korea has a pattern of asserting themselves in inappropriate ways when they need food or supplies. Many people still favor patriarchal leadership over circular - especially women I know in the area I'm currently living (Eastern Washington - Red as well). They want a man. They want that man to be aggressive in their leadership because it makes them feel safe. So President Obama ignoring Kim Jung-Un seemed weak to them. Just one example.
I don't know where these voters I refer to stand today. I've had the hardest time with this election cycle than any in my 40 years of voting. It's also been the most emotionally challenging. It's certainly the only one I've lost relatives over. I'm still having a difficult time with the reality of this aspect. Yet it's one I feel has been a most significant one as having long lasting affects - decades long.
I think many of us here have similar experiences/feelings. I'm so grateful to have found this site. I know I'm not alone in these thoughts.