We have met the enmy. He is us.

The Deplorables

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Yes, the title is a charged statement. On purpose.

Let me start out by saying we all have biases. It’s what we do with them- or about them- that makes all the difference in the world.

My primary bias? I’m an intellectual elitist. Left to my own devices, I would rather spend hours with the brightest folks, the most educated bunch, discussing religion, politics, science- whatever. That’s been true since I was a little tyke. I’m sure my first school- which segregated (there’s that word!) kids by our IQ. We had two classes- the dumb class (minimum IQ of 120) and the smart class (minimum IQ of 140 or 150; they never really told us the truth).

But, I spend plenty of time with all kinds of folks. My morning coffee group included people from all walks of life, from all educational strata. Now, I did avoid one person who (wait for it) decided it was OK to make up facts to win an argument. (Sounds like the recent Presidential campaign, no?) But, other than he, it was great way to spend an hour or two each morning.

And, while I am ABSOLUTELY pro-Israel, I am not anti-Arab or anti-Palestinian. (I could be accused- rightly so- of being anti-Netanyahu, however.) Because, my bias is based upon intellectual criteria. It’s also why when I read a blog that fails to match a verb and subject or has creative spelling- I tend to go ballistic. It’s the proverbial chalk screech on the blackboard.

Nor am I in favor on epistocracy. After all, that is what many of our Southern brethren claimed they were doing when they blocked all attempts by Blacks to vote. And, which many Republican states are still employing.

Now, let’s consider what set off a lot of voters. Hillary said, “…to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump’s supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right? The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic—you name it. And unfortunately there are people like that. And he has lifted them up.” To finish the quote, she stated that the other half of Trumps supporters “feel that the government has let them down”; “desperate for change.”

I grossly agree. OK. No, not that half of Trump’s supporters are or were such folks. But 30%- you can bank on that percentage being on the money. And, more importantly than that, when Trump mocks a disabled reporter, considers sexually assaulting women his basic right, employs anti-Semitic tropes, labels Mexican immigrants as rapists, then those 30% feel entitled to brazenly express their malignant points of view in public (and not keep it hidden). After all, if Trump can say (and do) those things and become elected President, it must be permissible for everyone to do likewise.

I also know that Donald Trump did not win the Presidency because he is a racist or because of his racist comments. Many folks voted for him believing his other words, that he would be the agent of change they want. One that would remove the favoritism they see afforded the minorities over themselves. The problem is those holding such views believe that “The Others” are not working as hard as they perceive themselves to be doing, because of the racial stereotypes to which they adhere.

The concept of “Make America Great” to many Trump supported has them returning to the time when White working men were held in high esteem, when they had higher status than they do now have. And, racial bias is also enmeshed in that concept.

It didn’t hurt that many of these same people were positive that Hillary was in total control of her faculties; they felt she knew exactly what she wanted to say and do. Those same folks assumed Trump did not; that he simply flew off the cuff- and, therefore, would not be responsible for those remarks. (Not being in total control of his faculties did not deter them voting for him at all. Nor did they consider that those remarks are still slanderous, bigoted, and damaging to those “perhaps not” the targets of same.)

Presumed 2016 Electoral Vote

The fact that the voting patterns showed that the coastal regions- the East and West Coasts- where these Trump supporters perceive the elites reside, joined by with those ‘not working as hard’ as they do, feeds further into this racial bias.

These feelings that have been liberated by Trump is why we have had a spate of gay, Black, Muslim, immigrant, and Jew bashing across America. Even in New York suburbs, where my brother’s stepdaughter was advised that she is first on the list to be deported. Even though she- and her mother- are both US Citizens. Or, in Michigan, where middle school kids chanted “Build a Wall” to their Latino classmates. Or, in West Virginia, where a mayor declared that Michelle Obama was akin to an ape. Or, that now viral visual of “Make America White Again”, along with a swastika on a softball field wall. Or, here in the DC area, where a local church had its sign defaced, informing those coming to pray that in “Trump nation whites only” is the rule.

OK, I get it. The economy still sucks. Sure, it may be OK on the two coasts. But, not in our nation’s interior. And, not in our rural areas. And, that gets us -all of us- angry. The problem is that too many folks are like little kids.

I was always amazed when I asked who spilled something on the floor, who broke the glass, a chorus of “not me” emanated from my children and step-children. Of course, I never named a child “not me”.

This “not me” syndrome is worse when we are adults. It’s how folks end up wanting to blame “The Other.” And, yes, I will go to the Holocaust. Where Germans, Poles, and the French considered it acceptable to blame the Jews for their ills. (These “foreigners” were taking their jobs. Sound familiar?)

But, let’s get real.

Who tolerated the corporate powers to hire illegal immigrants? Ya’ think it’s because the lobbyists convinced our government to not enforce one of the few statutes that Reagan proposed with which I agree? To verify that every single new employee is, indeed, a citizen- or the proud owner of a valid visa allowing him/her to work here.

Who tolerated the corporate powers to move plants from Indiana, Oklahoma, Virginia (OK, all 50 states) to Bangladesh, to Mexico, to China?

Who tolerated the hedge funds and raiders to buy profitable companies, strip out cash from the pension funds (leaving you and me to pick up the pieces- via the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp- a government agency ), and saddle those firms with debt (to be repaid to these very same pirates)?

I don’t think you will find those folks to be immigrants, Muslims, or even Jews. Sure, there may be one or two among the bunch, but if you look carefully, they are by and large White, Anglo-Saxon Protestants.

We have met the enmy. He is us.

To quote Walt Kelly’s Pogo: We have met the enemy. He is us.

So, now, let’s work together. Let’s assign the blame to those who cause the pain. And, let’s have the rules enforced, so we can all enjoy our American Freedoms- and be as great as we can be.

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8 thoughts on “The Deplorables”

  1. I fear to write a comment because the spelling might cause you to scrape your fingernails down the chalkboard…but this is a well written article that I fear will not be read by those who need to read and act on this challenge the most. For those looking for the “Complete Change in Government” they were promised need to take a look at who is going to fill all the jobs he gets to fill…They might be surprised to find out just how “old school” it is…..
    william recently posted..Green Tea is a Great Health Drink

  2. It took me two days to put together a response to this, because, every day, I wake up thinking I’m trapped in a reality show called The Appre…whoops, not a dream. Just trapped. Every day it becomes more unreal. To me, honestly, the 47% or so of voters who did not vote are the true deplorables. We have to live with their disinterest. Our country has to live with it. I am pessimistic. This is not going to end well.

    1. I hope you are wrong, Alana. It will take a concerted effort by the GOP to repress this activity by their adherents. I, too, am not certain they have the political will to do so…
      Oh- and I never understand why so many don’t vote. (Although some 100,000 folks in Wisconsin had their ballots not counted; smaller- but substantial numbers obtain in North Carolina and Georgia…)

  3. I think you sum that well Roy.
    Similar to the Brexit vote and fallout here.
    I also agree with your close – asign blame properly and enforce rules. Seems a reasonable plan…

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