I am a retired civil servant and as you will understand don't have much money, so right now I can't afford to be a paid follower, but I did check to be a free subscriber. I am looking forward to constructive ideas you will share about what to do now! I live in Missouri and in the poorest, reddest congressional district. The gop here know they have things locked up so they don't care about phone calls or letters (but I still make them).
I've always found it puzzling that, as you say, many of the poorest congressional districts and counties in this country are blood red, yet people keep voting for politicians who've never done a thing to make their lives better. I don't get that. Never have.
Because such people are hard-wired into their ways and refuse to accept any other input, particularly if it challenges their preciously-held, culture-bound world views.
I get that part. What I don't get is how they ignore the fact that their own lives haven't improved one iota after years of voting red. Something, something doing the same thing, expecting a different result.....
Interesting that they always think they've made it on their own initiative, but never give 'those other people' any credit for being in the same circumstances. Weird, eh?
Yes, and also interesting that so many of them are the recipients of that "socialism" they want to deny anyone who is "other". SNAP and WIC benefits, Medicaid, FEMA funds, military benefits and property tax breaks, ACA health insurance, farm subsidies, and all the others that Democrats traditionally fight for. It slays me how hypocritical these rural Texans are - "Good for me, but NOT for thee!"
It's not news that most red states are federal tax dollar welfare queens, while most blue states are federal tax dollar donors. Medicare, the ACA, and all the other federal benefits you mentioned are most heavily used by people in red states - who keep sending republicans to DC to cut those very programs. Also, many red states' budgets are heavily dependent on federal tax dollars for general operating expenses. WV, e.g., gets 40% of its state budget from the federal government - meaning US!
It's not news to us, Jane, but try to call THEM on it and you're in for a deluge of redirect to more of their favorite misinformation. It's alarming how so much of our citizenry lacks a Civics 101 education/understanding, and has no idea what their state legislatures are doing with funding... or NOT doing, as the case may be... with Federal or State dollars. So many of them don't make enough income to pay federal taxes, but are the first to scream about how they're sick of supporting undocumented people. Makes my brain hurt 🫤
It's the usual 'chip on the shoulder' attitude that prevails in a lot of red states and red areas. The same people who complain about folks who use WIC or SNAP 'mooching off taxpayers' are likely collecting Medicare and social security and not paying income taxes.
There are way too many people who lay awake at night worrying that somebody else [undeserving, of course] is getting something they're not.
They already ARE cement boots, thanks to their own voting habits. Thing is, when you're struggling with those boot straps all the time, it leaves you bent over with your ass exposed....
When over the last eight years they have seen their income decrease and their debt load increase they will go with the party that lies to them the best about changing their circumstance. They know the Democrats had 4 years to turn it around and the bottom 50% had a piddly 0.17% increase in their share of the entire wealth of the United States during that time. Where as wealthy folks so a much bigger share going to themselves that vastly eclipses that 0.17% In another 4 years those Republicans will be angry again. Wo be to the politicians on the receiving end of that anger, unless they redirect it into Fascist outlets and the innocent as usual suffer the consequences.
Meidas is far superior to Musk. Civil servants like me will resist Trump, Elon, and DOGE fascism. When we fight, we win! https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/public-servant-democracy-defender-introduction
I am a retired civil servant and as you will understand don't have much money, so right now I can't afford to be a paid follower, but I did check to be a free subscriber. I am looking forward to constructive ideas you will share about what to do now! I live in Missouri and in the poorest, reddest congressional district. The gop here know they have things locked up so they don't care about phone calls or letters (but I still make them).
I've always found it puzzling that, as you say, many of the poorest congressional districts and counties in this country are blood red, yet people keep voting for politicians who've never done a thing to make their lives better. I don't get that. Never have.
Because such people are hard-wired into their ways and refuse to accept any other input, particularly if it challenges their preciously-held, culture-bound world views.
I get that part. What I don't get is how they ignore the fact that their own lives haven't improved one iota after years of voting red. Something, something doing the same thing, expecting a different result.....
They LIKE being martyrs, and living under the illusion that they always "pick themselves up by their bootstraps".
Interesting that they always think they've made it on their own initiative, but never give 'those other people' any credit for being in the same circumstances. Weird, eh?
Yes, and also interesting that so many of them are the recipients of that "socialism" they want to deny anyone who is "other". SNAP and WIC benefits, Medicaid, FEMA funds, military benefits and property tax breaks, ACA health insurance, farm subsidies, and all the others that Democrats traditionally fight for. It slays me how hypocritical these rural Texans are - "Good for me, but NOT for thee!"
It's not news that most red states are federal tax dollar welfare queens, while most blue states are federal tax dollar donors. Medicare, the ACA, and all the other federal benefits you mentioned are most heavily used by people in red states - who keep sending republicans to DC to cut those very programs. Also, many red states' budgets are heavily dependent on federal tax dollars for general operating expenses. WV, e.g., gets 40% of its state budget from the federal government - meaning US!
It's not news to us, Jane, but try to call THEM on it and you're in for a deluge of redirect to more of their favorite misinformation. It's alarming how so much of our citizenry lacks a Civics 101 education/understanding, and has no idea what their state legislatures are doing with funding... or NOT doing, as the case may be... with Federal or State dollars. So many of them don't make enough income to pay federal taxes, but are the first to scream about how they're sick of supporting undocumented people. Makes my brain hurt 🫤
It's the usual 'chip on the shoulder' attitude that prevails in a lot of red states and red areas. The same people who complain about folks who use WIC or SNAP 'mooching off taxpayers' are likely collecting Medicare and social security and not paying income taxes.
There are way too many people who lay awake at night worrying that somebody else [undeserving, of course] is getting something they're not.
They already ARE cement boots, thanks to their own voting habits. Thing is, when you're struggling with those boot straps all the time, it leaves you bent over with your ass exposed....
True and they seem to love culture wars!
This.
When over the last eight years they have seen their income decrease and their debt load increase they will go with the party that lies to them the best about changing their circumstance. They know the Democrats had 4 years to turn it around and the bottom 50% had a piddly 0.17% increase in their share of the entire wealth of the United States during that time. Where as wealthy folks so a much bigger share going to themselves that vastly eclipses that 0.17% In another 4 years those Republicans will be angry again. Wo be to the politicians on the receiving end of that anger, unless they redirect it into Fascist outlets and the innocent as usual suffer the consequences.
Missouri is very bad about that.
Thanks, you make a difference I am sure!
Thank you! I sure never feel like I do!
I know that feeling!