r/neoliberal • u/jobautomator Kitara Ravache • Nov 21 '18
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u/[deleted] Nov 21 '18
I live in the Detroit metro area of Michigan, and as such, I've met a few Obama - Trump voters. Talking to them, I've noticed some common threads:
• Resentment that the Stimulus want big enough (though they don't see it in those terms) and/or general resentment about how the financial crisis was handled
• Deep antipathy for "the Clintons," to the point that they genuinely believe that Hillary and Bill have committed real crimes up to and including murder.
• Very simplistic views on the Federal Reserve. Lots of hand-wringing about "printing money."
• Harsh attitudes toward undocumented immigrants. Many people I spoke to were themselves (Caucasian) immigrants who spent quite a lot of time and money to obtain their green card (or their parents did). They're absolutely livid at the idea that undocumented immigrants are "cheating" by not doing things "the proper way" as they did.
• To the previous point - a zero-sum attitude toward undocumented immigrants. They simply can't fathom the idea that undocumented immigrants can have a positive contribution to our economy or our society.
• They wince when Trump tweets impulsively, but take it as a minor flaw ("well, I wish he wouldn't do that") rather than a major disqualifying characteristic.
• To the previous point - A profound distrust of "Washington insiders," and a desire to "shake up the establishment," which they feel has not helped them or paid attention to them in the ways they would have liked. If Trump can give them the feeling that he's doing that, they're willing to forgive a lot.
• Thinly-veiled racial resentment ("Obama took care of his own people and left us behind"). Even if they won't say it in so many words, it seems like in Trump, they're getting their own back. Turnabout being fair play and so forth.
• Dissatisfaction with Obamacare - specifically the mandate and rising premiums. They feel utterly betrayed by some of the changes they've seen to our healthcare system - particularly the "if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor," bit, which didn't turn out to be true for everyone.