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Tuesday, July 4, 2017

The Myth of the Downtrodden Republican Voter

("What's the Matter with Republicans")

David Brooks creates a portrait of the downtrodden Republican, a beleaguered being, struggling for survival against a hard universe, self-reliant and unbending. It is but a product of the imagination of Mr. Brooks, wholly unattached to the reality of the moment.
 
Why do Republicans vote against their self interest? First, many of them don't bother to vote, the inability of a large segment of our citizens to gather enough interest to appear at the polling booth a national disgrace. Second, many of those who do vote are low information voters, not casting their ballot predicated on even a rudimentary understanding of the issues that impact their everyday lives. Further, many of them are, in a word, prejudiced and, even if their vote would have some negative impact upon them, they are most concerned in depriving these benefits to others.
 
To be a Republican is not to be a sympathetic figure, not one who embraces all the qualities that we would suggest the 4th of July American should have. These are people waving the flag with one hand and simultaneously pointing a menacing finger with the other. 
 
So, Mr. Brooks, although this is a day we celebrate the red, white and blue, tomorrow we will wake up to a land that is far from perfect, with people who may do little to advance their own welfare and certainly do little to support many others in dire need. A Republican party that on our 241st birthday reveals a country of all too human failings and flaws.

2 comments:

Bruce said...

No, Brooks makes a crucial an accurate observation. An easy way to avoid the painful work and sacrifice toward success is to eschew all help and go it alone. --people would rather protect their ability to get rich no matter how remote than deal with the problems and headaches they now have.

Anonymous said...

The confusion, within the Republican party, as well as outside of it, is what government is capable of doing, especially when it comes to health care. Republicans are realizing that the public expects government to take a role in it.