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Showing Original Post only (View all)"Rural, Christian, white America ..., don't trust people outside their tribe" [View all]
http://forsetti.tumblr.com/post/153181757500/on-rural-america-understanding-isnt-the-problem"As the aftermath of the election of Donald Trump is being sorted out, a common theme keeps cropping up from all sides-Democrats failed to understand white, working class, fly-over America. Trump supports are saying this. Progressive pundits are saying this. Talking heads across all forms of the media are saying this. Even some Democratic leaders are saying this. It doesnt matter how many people say it, it is complete bullshit. It is an intellectual/linguistic sleight of hand meant to throw attention away from the real problem. The real problem isnt east coast elites dont understand or care about rural America. The real problem is rural America doesnt understand the causes of their own situations and fears and they have shown no interest in finding out. They dont want to know why they feel the way they do or why they are struggling because the dont want to admit it is in large part because of choices theyve made and horrible things theyve allowed themselves to believe.
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What I understand is rural, Christian, white America is entrenched in fundamentalist belief systems, dont trust people outside their tribe, have been force fed a diet of misinformation and lies for decades, are unwilling to understand their own situations, truly believe whites are superior to all races. No amount of understanding is going to change these things or what they believe. No amount of niceties is going to get them to be introspective. No economic policy put forth by someone outside their tribe is going to be listened to no matter how beneficial it would be for them. I understand rural, Christian, white America all too well. I understand their fears are based on myths and lies. I understand they feel left behind by a world they dont understand and dont really care to. I understand they are willing to vote against their own interest if they can be convinced it will make sure minorities are harmed more. I understand their Christian beliefs and morals are truly only extended to fellow white Christians. I understand them. I understand they are the problem with progress and will always be because their belief systems are constructed against it. The problem isnt a lack of understanding by coastal elites of rural, Christian, white America. The problem is a lack of understanding why rural, Christian, white America believes, votes, behaves the ways it does by rural, Christian, white America."
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"Rural, Christian, white America ..., don't trust people outside their tribe" [View all]
SharonAnn
Dec 2016
OP
celebrity who mouths off and gets away with it - unlike meek people who wish they could and dont
msongs
Dec 2016
#3
He seemed powerful and extended a powerful *feeling* of "things will be better, trust me," that
JudyM
Dec 2016
#7
Check out this great post about research on liberals vs conservatives' critical thinking
JudyM
Dec 2016
#9