The Soapbox

Joined: 01/04/2001 Posts: 27042
Likes: 34318

What's this?

I certainly agree that it's odd, which is partly why Trump did not appeal

to me.

Best representation I saw was about Eerie PA on the NewsHour some months back. It was exploring concentrations of Trump voters and the reasons for their vote. It was all about longing for their industrial past. You heard that over and over again - "I just want things to be the way they were". Well, Eerie is simply not the railway crossroads it once was. Coal is not what it once was - much more because of fracking than regulations, but regulations are an easier target.

This is where I once was in lock step with my repub friends. There is no glory in walling yourself from the future. There is just ruin. Up until very recently I would have been arguing on the side of repubs about the ruinous effects of arcane union rules meant to protect workers from the impacts of technology, or trade barriers meant to require that American consumers pay up for things that can be manufactured more cheaply elsewhere, against dems - in fact that was a sign post of extreme left wing politics. Some of our fiercest critics of liberals - the ones given to remarks like "libtards" - have become "libtards" - they just don't know it because their party loyalty never actually came with a worldview. They just mindlessly follow.

That's the oddest part to me - a guy who wins the repub nomination decides paying lip service to this nostalgia is the right path to get elected, and all these repubs switch on a dime. No commitment whatsoever to principle. Whatever the party says, man.

And who would bet a plug nickel that Eerie PA will look any different in 4 or 8 years? Not me. That bet would be about looking forward. They don't have to look that far - Pittsburgh is probably the finest example of a former 1950s industrial center that rolled with the times and embraced the Info Age. It's here, like it or not, only question is are you planning on leaving yourself behind?

A vote for Trump was a vote to be left behind. Unfortunately, the party I once aligned most closely with deserted me on that point.

You're right - it is odd.
[Post edited by hoolstoptheheels at 07/05/2017 11:32AM]

(In response to this post by Hoodafan)

Posted: 07/05/2017 at 11:30AM

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Make America Great Again, Make America Great Again! -- Hokieesith 07/04/2017 3:19PM

Making America Great Since 1776 (link) -- WaxHoo 07/05/2017 11:34AM

Very cool. ** -- Hoocinogenic 07/05/2017 11:54AM

Radical Conservatives and the War on the Fourth of July -- Hoepner 07/05/2017 08:51AM

Stupid sons of bitches. That's appalling. :( ** -- Seattle .Hoo 07/05/2017 12:36PM

Well, that's differnt ** -- FfxStationHokie 07/05/2017 09:06AM

If you want to see true snowflakes look in this thread, balz and JS -- TomKazanski 07/05/2017 08:57AM

You are the biggest "snowflake" on this board BY FAR. ** -- WahooRQ 07/05/2017 09:18AM

Except his flakes are yellow, maybe even brown ** -- 111Balz 07/05/2017 10:10AM

1950? Heck, let's bring back the 1770's ** -- Tuckahokie 07/05/2017 09:04AM

Is it really necessary to flip the bird at non-Trumpies on the 4th of July? ** -- JSHoo 07/05/2017 12:16AM

Is it really necessary to flip the bird at anyone anytime? ** -- Hokie5150 07/05/2017 08:47AM

Uhh, well, yes. Yes it is. ** -- hoolstoptheheels 07/05/2017 09:04AM

I suppose if one has poor impulse control like Trump. ** -- Hokie5150 07/05/2017 09:33AM

Ummm, yes (inside) -- FfxStationHokie 07/05/2017 08:28AM

What a dumbass ** -- CyberHoo78 07/04/2017 10:01PM

2020: KEEP America Great Again ** -- ConnHoo 07/04/2017 3:35PM

Again= when white males made all the rules and the decisions -- 111Balz 07/04/2017 6:36PM

"Make America Great Again" could be "Make it 1950 Again". -- hoolstoptheheels 07/05/2017 08:55AM

Let me be clear, I do NOT think all trump voters are racists -- 111Balz 07/05/2017 10:07AM

I disagree. -- hoolstoptheheels 07/05/2017 12:04PM

Well I am not sure we are saying much different things -- 111Balz 07/05/2017 12:26PM

I think I am saying something very different. -- hoolstoptheheels 07/05/2017 1:04PM

Oh I think there is a VERY sound basis to say that that -- 111Balz 07/05/2017 1:23PM

Is it possible to want the 1950s U.S. economy and our standing in the world -- Tuckahokie 07/05/2017 10:19AM

If so, maybe then don't attach that slogan to policies -- 111Balz 07/05/2017 11:12AM

So you're increasing the size of the basket of deplorables? SMH! I guess -- Hoodafan 07/05/2017 10:16AM

I certainly agree that it's odd, which is partly why Trump did not appeal -- hoolstoptheheels 07/05/2017 11:30AM

No, why do you ask? In addition to suggesting you do the math, -- 111Balz 07/05/2017 11:14AM

25-50% didn't vote to return to the 50's. Hillary at least gave us 50%. -- Hoodafan 07/05/2017 11:22AM

Have a nice day hooda. Maybe someone else will explain it you ** -- 111Balz 07/05/2017 12:19PM

You left out the biggest propellant to his rise: building the wall -- hokeyhokie 07/05/2017 09:46AM

42% of American women who went to the polls voted for a sexist? ** -- Tuckahokie 07/05/2017 08:27AM

Yup. ** -- HowieT3 07/05/2017 08:56AM

If that number is correct, then yes. Why do you ask? ** -- 111Balz 07/05/2017 08:44AM

Interesting to note that such a large percentage voted for a sexist with -- Tuckahokie 07/05/2017 08:50AM

Interesting is one word.... ** -- 111Balz 07/05/2017 08:53AM

I suppose women can be sexist against their own gender...even 42% ** -- Tuckahokie 07/05/2017 08:56AM

Or just plain ignorant ** -- 111Balz 07/05/2017 10:12AM

Like I have mentioned in the past...perhaps a poll test should be initiated -- Tuckahokie 07/05/2017 10:15AM

Literacy does NOT= critical thought ** -- 111Balz 07/05/2017 12:27PM

Clearly. ** -- hoothat 07/05/2017 3:33PM

To the Left anything the Right says is Racist, bigoted, Homophobi, Nazi etc -- ConnHoo 07/04/2017 7:12PM

Seriously bro? You and the Sith have nothing better to do -- hoolstoptheheels 07/05/2017 09:00AM

You might want to check up on Don's CNN wrestling video pal's other posts. -- Shenhoo 07/04/2017 10:17PM

Can't anymore -- dajoka004 07/05/2017 06:54AM

Noooooooo!!! ** -- CyberHoo78 07/05/2017 07:38AM

CNN blackmail #1 and trending......you can't make this up -- TomKazanski 07/05/2017 07:32AM

Was it a threat or did it just become clear to him that he was about -- KCHoo 07/05/2017 12:51PM

Either way its CNN investigation a private citizen for posting a cartoon it -- TomKazanski 07/05/2017 1:24PM

Not that surprising to me that when the President retweets -- KCHoo 07/05/2017 1:44PM

I'd say its kind of shocking -- hoothat 07/05/2017 3:41PM

Is that how cockroaches and light is being spun at the Stormer? ** -- Shenhoo 07/05/2017 09:59AM

How was Gettysburg, Tom? ** -- WahooRQ 07/05/2017 08:25AM

Weren't you and your Antifa friends also there? ** -- Tuckahokie 07/05/2017 08:51AM

Antifa didn't show, but the neo-Nazi's still suffered a gunshot wound. -- Shenhoo 07/05/2017 10:00AM

The Gettysburg redneck rally was dripping with so much hilarity and irony. -- Seattle .Hoo 07/05/2017 1:29PM

Another Pizzagate. For all their yammerings about "fake news" these people -- WahooRQ 07/05/2017 10:17AM

Stick to bingo, grampa. ** -- WahooRQ 07/05/2017 09:19AM

Cockroaches. Light. -- Shenhoo 07/05/2017 07:27AM

That internet tough guy sure folded fast. ** -- VAGentleman05 07/05/2017 07:12AM

I haven't looked into his prior postings -- dajoka004 07/05/2017 07:40AM

Depraved is right. ** -- Shenhoo 07/05/2017 07:48AM

Lol. Too good. ** -- Hoocinogenic 07/05/2017 10:36AM

No, I was just talking about that slogan and the context -- 111Balz 07/04/2017 8:34PM

Looks like someone is going through holiday stress. ** -- Hokieesith 07/04/2017 6:41PM