Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Justice

(7,182 posts)
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 09:01 AM Mar 2016

Republican Elite’s Reign of Disdain - Paul Krugman


http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/18/opinion/republican-elites-reign-of-disdain.html?_r=0

"Stripped down to its essence, the G.O.P. elite view is that working-class America faces a crisis, not of opportunity, but of values. That is, for some mysterious reason many of our citizens have, as Mr. Ryan puts it, lost “their will and their incentive to make the most of their lives.” And this crisis of values, they suggest, has been aided and abetted by social programs that make life too easy on slackers."

Two reasons Krugman's piece jumped out at me.

First, its flags the key - if not the -- reason for Trump's appeal - while Ryan, Romney and others in the so called GOP establishment peddle this falsehood that working-class [white and black] America would do better if we just had better values -- work harder, go to church and stop taking so called hand-outs, Trump talks about the real problems ordinary Americans face. Trump has a talent for honing in on vulnerabilities in his opponents, and this is no different.

The second reason this piece jumped out is this comment from a guy in NC: "With one vote for Trump I can vote against Bill & Hillary, against Pelosi, Boehner, & Ryan, against Harry Reid, Mittens, Mitch, The GOP Elite, George Soros and The Republican King Makers." It is a succinct and sobering statement.

IMO, Trump is not really interested in helping ordinary Americans - he is just a bully who will say anything to win and then renege or deny he said these things, but there is no denying the some people believe no one in DC is listening to them and a vote for Trump is more a vote against the status quo.
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Republican Elite’s Reign ...