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I can't speak for all of the democrats who I've met because they come from a variety of backgrounds, but as far as the bulk of the liberals who I've met in the last decade, they vote democrat because it feels good, and they believe it reflects status in society.
Let's face it, it's a rare man or woman who looks at issues through the perspective of there being multiple valid, but also opposing viewpoints that can both be respectable. For some time now, it seems like liberals have convinced themselves that they have the moral high ground on all of the issues that their party supports, and therefore anyone who doesn't agree with them is a racist, homophobic, xenophobic mouth breather with a room-temperature IQ at best (if not that exact list, they are loaded with other societal ills).
IOW there's no way that someone could not agree with them in lockstep and still be virtuous, morally upright or intelligent.
It's sickening really, because conversations are often reduced to absurdity, spins/deflection, and ad hominem attacks before any fruitful middle ground is found, and I think they often virtue signal more because they worry about keeping up with the liberal Joneses than worrying about actually seeing problems get solved.
To be fair, there are also some republicans out there like that, just on different sides of the issue.
I don't agree. I don't think that democrats vote for status reasons. They vote the way they do because they are voting for what they think is best for our country, as opposed to republicans who vote for what they think is best for themselves personally.
I understand why someone on welfare would vote for Democrats because they want the assistance. And I get why college students living off their parents would. And I see why some working class people would if they're seeking better benefits and a higher minimum wage.
But, nowadays, a massive portion of the Democratic base is made up of wealthy elites. If someone considers themselves to be financially successful through their decisions and hard work, what reason do they have to vote for Democrats other than shame and guilt for being successful? Shame over the perceived bad state of the environment, race, poverty, history, housing, etc, and guilt for somehow believing they're at least partly responsible for the problem and fully responsible for the fix.
To spare themselves and their nation the embarrassment of a president like Donald Trump? Some jokes walk and talk.
There may be some level of guilt that successful people have for being successful, so they think voting democrat is a form of altruism, that it will help the poor, when in reality it does the opposite. Giving people fish doesn't help them long term. Going soft in crime doesn't help a person long term. Basic life decisions on feelings over logic tends to have negative long term repercussions.
understand why someone on welfare would vote for Democrats because they want the assistance. And I get why college students living off their parents would. And I see why some working class people would if they're seeking better benefits and a higher minimum wage.
But, nowadays, a massive portion of the Democratic base is made up of wealthy elites. If someone considers themselves to be financially successful through their decisions and hard work, what reason do they have to vote for Democrats other than shame and guilt for being successful? Shame over the perceived bad state of the environment, race, poverty, history, housing, etc, and guilt for somehow believing they're at least partly responsible for the problem and fully responsible for the fix.
I'm financially successful and work in the field of business software; I pay a lot of taxes, and I don't take any government assistance. Social issues aside there are several specifically economically self-interested reasons I would lean Democratic in voting.
1) Democratic representatives support infrastructure improvements for cities. This is the simplest one; as a large city resident, Democratic politicians and policies tend to support infrastructure (transportation, utilities) which actually benefit my place of residence. I realize this is someone of a zero-sum item, voting Democratic results in improvements to my areas and not to more rural areas that tend to go Republican, but that's the question posed and people will tend to vote in their self-interest. Republican rhetoric painting my home as a crime-ridden hellscape (I live here and can attest that it's not) doesn't help either.
2) Legal immigration. In addition to rhetoric opposing illegal immigration, Republican voters and politicians also tend to support further restrictions on legal immigration, even that of highly skilled individuals. Around half of the highly talented individuals I work with are H1B visa holders, and that's fairly standard in the software field. These are law-abiding individuals seeking residence in the United States, and we should have clear and easy paths to legal citizenship for them, but we don't, and Republican politicians have come out in favor of shrinking the H1B visa cap in recent years, in addition to Republican voters generally opposing additional immigration. Being able to hire the best talent from overseas and giving them a path to citizenship through increasing the amount of legal immigration permitted directly affects my business's bottom line and my organization's ability to deliver results in a positive way.
3) Trade liberalization. Back during Reagan and Bush I, Republicans were the party pushing international trade liberalization (NAFTA and other international trade agreements), but the situation is now reversed and Republicans have taken up protectionist stances. Despite presenting themselves as pro-business, a number of trade wars and tariffs came out of the last Republican administration, even targeting our close historic trade partners which hurt a lot of businesses, including my own. As an exporter of software to other countries, I benefit from competing and interacting with the global marketplace and stand to lose business from trade wars with other countries. The United States needs to be a participant and leader in the global economy and not adopt isolationist policies, and the Democratic party is more interested in engaging with the international community.
These are just the directly economically beneficial reasons for an individual in my position to lean Democratic; I totally understand if it's in someone else's best interest to vote the other way, and there would definitely be cases where it would be, they would choose to do so. I'm open to any disagreements on the specifics of the above points.
Last edited by ForgotTheMilk; 08-03-2022 at 12:41 AM..
Not really. Rich people vote Democrat because they know Democrats promise to legislate people up the social ladder, which is impossible.
Therefore, voting Democrat ensures the rich stay rich.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vegasrollingstone
I vote for family and friends that need the social safety nets (healthcare, medicare, medicaid, social security) that are provided and protected by the dems.
That's not true.
I'm black, we blindly vote Democrat, and we blacks have the worst healthcare and health out of any demographic in America.
Folks need to vote on logic, not on who they think gives away the most free crap. It hasn't paid off and it never will.
Quote:
African American women have the highest rates of obesity or being overweight compared to other groups in the United States. About 4 out of 5 African American women are overweight or obese.
yet republicans and conservatives give more to charity then liberals and Dems, makes what you said not really accurate. It's more accurate to say that Repubcs and Conservative dont trust or think the Government should be doing it that it is the private individuals/business or charity who should be helping. Dems seem more interested in spending OTHER peoples money over their own. Which can be seen in the NIMBY you see in so many liberal wealthy areas. All for the poor just keep them away from me.
No, it makes your math skills questionable. One wealthy Republican contributor can donate a larger sum than a multitude of low income Democrat contributors. Besides, ever heard of tax write-offs? Donations do not necessarily indicate social responsibility.
I work in “big tech” so pretty much everyone is a Democrat and/or Socialist.
I think it boils down to the fact that for the most part, they are intellectually lazy. They’ll just follow their friends and co-workers who generally tend to be Democrats or Socialists at the risk of being ostracized or criticized for even considering an opposing viewpoint. Democrats and Socialists can be quite nasty. I live it every day and yes, I generally keep my mouth shut.
Generally, social issues and stuff like LGBT-LMNOP rights are way more important than actual issues that impact their own well being or life. Slogans and taglines reign supreme over deeper discussion and critical thinking.
A financially successful person “may” vote Democrat because considering the far right wing of the Republican Party and the lack of leadership/ambition and naivety on the Democratic Party, there’s clearly a fair case for a lesser of 2 Evils. Basically which lousy party could be more tolerated compared to the other?
And isn’t it fair to believe some Americans are on the fence because they have a sensible economic perspective more aligned with GOP’s policies on jobs and economy and deregulation , while also on treatment of migrants and gender orientation and women’s right to their body and on respecting pandemic all doing part using masks and social distancing (much more protected by Democratic leaders) …. That there’s a middle that’s being attended by neither party? That is ..:: just respect people for their differences , treat immigrants fairly, while ALSO promoting business and job growth? Like a moderate platform that hits both these values together?
Seriously a leader who decided to not attack pride movement , to not attack immigrant groups, to treat everyone as valid, And then pushed for deregulation rapid job growth , common sense fiscal responsibility and cross the board reduction of Govt size to keep taxes low while fighting inflation with Fed policy , This would be an invincible platform. Seriously most of all the attacks right now on GOP are on the reversing of Roe and the anti-trans attention hysteria…. Maybe if GOP geared the forefront of their agenda to economic improvement, it would win a ton … even get people who are socially liberal and sick of the economic laziness
What happened to Libertarian Laissez-faire? Let the people rule, let them choose what they do in and out of the bedroom, respect their sexual orientation and gender and all that and states as well …. this should be in the individual and municipal local domain not even state Govt but local. The focus we can unite on is connecting to the deregulation of burdensome mandates so that decisions that are economically favorable are not restricted. This is at any level of Govt .
For instance, if there’s lack of affordable housing and lots of space with low density housing because of zoning making 80% of a jurisdiction restricted to one type of housing unit, what is being protected by this zoning? If the Govt backs off the zoning law then it doesn’t mean the happy affluent low density dwellers are in trouble. Zoning laws concern what new structures can be built, but not that their property is taken away unless they sell.
Last edited by Freesponge; 08-03-2022 at 09:47 AM..
I work in “big tech” so pretty much everyone is a Democrat and/or Socialist.
I think it boils down to the fact that for the most part, they are intellectually lazy. They’ll just follow their friends and co-workers who generally tend to be Democrats or Socialists at the risk of being ostracized or criticized for even considering an opposing viewpoint. Democrats and Socialists can be quite nasty. I live it every day and yes, I generally keep my mouth shut.
Generally, social issues and stuff like LGBT-LMNOP rights are way more important than actual issues that impact their own well being or life. Slogans and taglines reign supreme over deeper discussion and critical thinking.
I taught as an adjunct professor for years and learned to keep my mouth shut when it came to politics. The same with my siblings. My sister as well as my SIL will attempt to drag me into a political discussion but I never take the bait.
Also I own rental property and suspect in the coming years rent control laws will end up before the USSC. I'm happy with the Trump appointees and hope any future rulings pertaining to rent control favor landlords.
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