You guys can't keep doing this. Working class white man here.

[PatrickforO]

146. Tobin doesn't really need my help or support, perhaps, but I'd point this out:

Reagan seduced many working class whites away from the Democratic party, and for some reason the measures the Dems took to get them back didn't work. They became 'Reagan Republicans.' Remember that?

Then, Reagan allowed the Fairness Doctrine to die in 1987, which allowed the giant right-wing propaganda machine to take over AM talk radio, as well as Fox news.

Then, in 1993, NAFTA was signed into law. Many businesses, particularly manufacturing businesses shut down their US shops and moved overseas. In rural areas, these factory jobs were often the bread and butter for whole communities. So the factory closes, and what moves in? You guessed it. A Wal-Mart paying slave wages, and no benefits. A Wal-Mart that coaches its employees how to get welfare and food stamps as part of its employee orientation.

Now, the mostly white working class men and women who worked at that factory until it left have been forced to take much lower-paying jobs. No benefits. No economic security. Treated like shit. Unsafe working conditions.

Lives that used to be decent have turned into living hells. Big cuts in income and benefits have caused millions and millions of working class white people across this nation to go from being middle class people who worked hard and had some pride to working poor people who have to hard-scrabble for everything they have, and are fighting a losing battle every day. Medicine or food? Gas for the car or food? Many of the sons and daughters of the people who formed the post-WWII middle class that was the envy of the world are now living in grinding poverty with never enough.

Now, enter a con-man like Trump who promises to bring back those jobs. Who sows the seeds of fear and hatred towards immigrants because 'they're takin' your jobs.' Who openly criticizes 'free trade' agreements that serve large corporate interests but NOT the interests of American workers, and viola! You have a guy wearing a MAGA hat and spewing bullshit that he hasn't even thought through. His talk radio stations have made him hate Obama (and black people in general) 24/7 for the last 8 years and he has come to blame Obama (and black people and immigrants) for his miserable life.

This is the message, and as an economist who has been in workforce development for nearly 30 years, I will tell you this is a truth that is being experienced by people all across this nation. So you tell me...every one of these people are dog shit? Because that's what many of you seem to be saying.

Let me tell you people this, because this shit makes me fucking mad: If you don't believe me about how miserable fucking life is in a capitalist shit-hole if you have a low-pay job with no benefits, then TRY IT. And, for all the big-dog Dems who read these posts, pay attention to what I'm saying.

IF YOU WANT TO GET THESE VOTES BACK AND START WINNING ELECTIONS, LIKE WE DID A COUPLE DAYS AGO, TALK ABOUT KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES. And lay off the cut-downs for ignorance, etc. Most of these people are racist because they have been propagandized by the capitalists that fund talk radio, Fox and an increasing number of red websites. Why? Read your Chomsky. Divide and conquer has been used against the working class by the rich for centuries and centuries.

So, let's quit cutting down working class people and start educating them about what's really what, and about how Democrats are better for them than Republicans, which they are. And then, when you get elected, BE better than the Republicans for the working class. And don't give me some shit about how I'm wrong because the Dems have ALWAYS been for the working class. The truth is that for the last few decades, the Democratic party has been lukewarm at best toward working class issues.

So flame away.