Reply #8: I'm about 2/3 the way through it now

[mrsadm]

Can't put it down because I have been desparate for this kind of information. Why do people vote against their own economic self-interests? He certainly sheds a lot of light on this topic.

He does talk about religious values - but he mentions a lot of other characteristics of the people in Kansas that leads them to vote for Repubs. One is the "self made angry man" who feels that society is morally deteriorating. He emphasizes the need people have for anger at something (since Communism has failed). He states that many people need order and a simple plan to follow in life; they like rules and feel rules should apply to everyone.

He also states that once Bill Clinton and the democrats voted for NAFTA, that all economic differences between the parties vanished. Only social issues were left, and the social conservatives then went to the repubs. That was one point that had never occurred to me.

In addition he talks about the victimized conservative who believes the elite liberals run the country. HUH? Another moment of disbelief for me. What liberals, where? Halliburton? Enron? Wall Street Journal? Total self delusion. Or brainwashing by the likes of Coulter.

In the NY Times this morning, there is an article about voters in a coal mining town in Ohio. Very depressing article. One woman said "Kerry hasn't worked a day in his life, while Bush has middle-class values". MIDDLE CLASS VALUES? Give me a *&^%$# break! Born w/silver spoon, pampered through Yale, on and on. Must be the pious family thing and all the photo-ops from the ranch.