Regular, Everyday Americans

I believe there are Nazis and Antifa and ignorant.

I can’t believe I was just less-thanned on this site compared to Trump voters. It’s obscene. 

Knowledgeable and ethical people are angry and scared. Not to excuse them, but I think they are looking for answers that are not there. 

You weren’t, but that’s fine. You’re completely free to write a diary and tremble with rage due to the twisting of my words. I’ll say my piece before the cavalry arrives with itchy flag fingers. 
 

First you wanted to label appealing to the working class as racist. Then, in the context of our discussion, you said that the voters who went for Trump were all your enemies.  A big chunk of those voters we’ll eventually have to win back if we ever want to win the White House again. So I asked 

Honestly, do you work for a living? Leave your house often? Talk to regular, every day Americans about what they’re dealing with in their lives?

I suspect you live in a DK online bubble, which is maybe why you believed Harris was going to win in a landslide and your prescriptions for success downright border on sabotage. 

I twisted nothing. Those were the words you said to me. If you didn’t understand their implications or what they meant to another person hearing them, that is not my fault. 

And yes, I fucked up with my election predictions. I had faith in the American people. I won’t be making that idiotic mistake again. 

Especially when people keep giving them excuses for the "reasons" they voted for a fascist, racist, and rapist.

"Sabotage" this is ridiculous. Trying to move the country forward is not "sabotage." Talk about being in a bubble of privilege.

I must be one of those Enemy Within we keep hearing about. 

Of course s/

The myths surrounding "regular, everyday Americans" are just that.  It's the same myth that surrounds "American heartland" and leads the media to interview people in small town diners as if they have special insight into the American psyche.

These are adults, capable of making their own decisions and capable of determining their own interests.  And what they chose were mass deportation, demonizing transgender people, and demonizing Bkacks and people of colour as others who are wanting to eat your pets.

Why apologize for them, why infantalize them as if they aren't in control of their own decisions? Why demand that we listen to their imagined grievances about White, male privilege are more valid than than those who voted Democrat?

Personally, I am my invested in protecting my own and good people at risk who understand what’s what. It’s time to man the lifeboats. We shouldn’t invite people in who sunk the boat and who are currently pointing rocket launchers at us. 

We lost, so the racist, trump voting, "regular everyday Americans" must be right. S/

Yes, we must sit at the feet of the "regular, everyday Americans" and listen to their thoughts on Haitians eating pets, kids going to school a boy and coming home a girl, vaccines causing autism and how hard it is to be a white, Christian male in our mixed our mixed up society

Ack, again, too pissed off to type, apparently.

Gosh, I have so much to learn. 

I am a big fan of the hatred for women, myself.  SNARK. 

I am an old white atheist woman, living mainly on SS and Medicare, who still has to pay my taxes, maintain my house and yard, put food on the table and worry about my kids, grandkids and great-grands. I can’t (and don’t) blame racism, sexism, religious persecution, gender etc for my problems or for the fact my candidates didn’t all win. Yet, after 85 years I’m no longer a regular everyday American? What utter BS!

Plenty of voters of every color, religion, gender and state of residency have trouble finding affordable housing and food, medical care, decent jobs with safe working conditions… a long list. My sympathy for white males feeling deprived of their “traditional” privileges is, well... ZERO.

Seems to me the people who talk about the “American heartland” are the same people who call it “flyover country” in the next breath, as though it doesn’t really count.  IOW, the people who expect us to vote for them but don’t really give a flying foxtrot about us and our circumstances. 

They don't want you, they want the symbol of you. Just like they want the symbol of the working class voter, who is of course a white male, hard-working, but broken by elitist Dems and our policies that support workers. 

You appear mean

A big chunk of those voters we’ll eventually have to win back if we ever want to win the White House again.

A completely false assumption given the number of eligible voters that didn’t vote AND the number of new eligible voters in the upcoming elections. If some Trump voters end up having regret over their own stupidity and/or immorality, then fine, we’ll  be here for their votes. But we shouldn’t let them drag us down into the pit of depravity they have now ushered in for us all.   

Exactly. They can come to us for once. They are supposedly adults.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I refuse to apologize for being right. 

How many times will racist whyte voters be given the chance to vote for life on this planet? I do believe that they have given everyone their true feelings with their votes in this Election. They can go to hell.

AND, they ignored four years, under a great President, to vote for trump! GTFO!

There are some who just float back and forth, always against, always sure that they are the ones being screwed over. They generally have enough privilege to feel safe screwing over everyone who has less.

So they screw the system, thereby screwing themselves and others. It's why Republicans are always running as anti- incumbency, even when they are the incumbents.  The type is usually more open to Republican messaging, although they may sometimes float back, but they aren't the sort to count on, even though they are most likely to be catered to, at least by our side. 

We need to build with those willing to build instead of petulant hostage takers who insist on their value over - so yes, I am just currently venting because I'm so very tired of people who spend so much time saying how Dems have to take care of those "everyday Americans" by ignoring all America who isn't them.

The "real Americans" narrative is straight up rooted in Lost Cause propaganda, and yet there are many on our side who just can't resist..  and the press can't resist it any more than ken burns did with his horrible documentary (since apologized for by him, but still spinning on).

(The side that wants to encourage grievance doesn't have to care, it takes longer to build things than it does to tear them down, and the chaos and lack of a stable throughline in our process equals a gridlock to progress.)

Matt Z said that "appealing to the working class is racist?" Who's the one twisting someone we else's words? 

From what I am seeing, the people who want to complain that Harris "didn't speak to the working class" are the only ones who seem to think that the working class is synonymous with white, and also male.  Who is living in a bubble??  

- or they just don't want to admit that their concern is white men, which undoubtedly matches with their demographic.  Many want to engage in the "culture wars" without admitting that they are..

Now thinking that the working class matters is great. As a party, we all ostensibly believe that. Pretending that only means a certain demographic is myopically wrong. Pretending like you are talking about one group to cover up the specifics of the group that you are actually defending by prettying up the real problem, well that's quite another thing..

And you were kind of a jerk with your demeaning personal attack, and you only show more of your victimhood mentality and bullying with your concern about the "cavalry with the itchy flag fingers." I often don't flag, maybe I should, you definitely don't respect the DBAJ rule, but I feel like if people want to show us who they are...

OK, so I just did what I usually do when I see someone being persistently obnoxious to someone else here con gusto, con amore; I looked at your profile.

And I found this piece of pure poetry:

Most Recommended Story

Arrogance: How dare you disagree with me.

x

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Appreciate how you feel — I am an “everyday American.” I am very highly educated, an activiist since my teens and 20’s in the 60s, I vote, I pay my taxes, I have a very fine and decent family, raised Catholic on my side, raised Jewish holocaust survivors on my wife’s side. I am an atheist, have nothing to do with religion, but I value ethical behavior. Never went to Disney theme parks, but did enjoy Woodstock (whatever I can remember of it.) Retired, I worked with US veterans for over 30 years, respect them very highly. I want my two grown kids and my two grandchildren to survive. I’ve marched in protest I can’t count how many times, which is my right and duty as an “everyday American.” I don’t wave the flag around but I like to be in this country despite everything it’s becoming. I love Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. “This land is MY land . . “ etc. Damn anyone who’d want my wife, daughter, sisters-in laws or nieces to have anything but self-control over their own bodies. As far as I’m concerned we’re all immigrants and fuck any stupid fascist like Drumpf and Stephen Miller who think they can re-create concentration camps in America. Elon Musk is a pig who should take off to Mars, right now.

So, OK — I maintain that I am an everyday American.

Well said, RM.

Some people really want to believe that trump supporters have valid reasons for voting for a fascist. Which is a big part of the reason we are in this fucking mess. It is racism, misogyny, Misogynynoir and bigotry that they voted for. There a lot of rich people who voted for trump, so, just more bullshit.

The thing that bothers me is that they are tearing down US to build up THEM. Why would ANYONE on this site WANT to do that? I don’t GET IT. 

Institutional racism.

It amazes me the lengths even Democrats will go to protect that. I’ve gotten a wake-up call about that in these past couple of weeks. 

Ya, arguing with the Black commuity here, talking over them and around them. Not listening to them, it truly sucks. I am through being surprised or disappointed. 

That isn’t new. What’s alarming is the reason they are defending white privilege is new (at least to me. Black folks probably saw this coming). After all THAT, it seems to me to be a, what’s the right word? ESCALATION. I humored these people in 2016 because I believed their “misguided” feelings about Trump voters had to do with empathy. After this I am starting to think they have more to do with white supremacy. What else am I supposed to think after being told I am not a regular everyday American OR a flesh and bone person? And I’m fucking white! Black Kos must be absolutely disgusted by this. 

Yes, no black women Presidents allowed. It is plain what happened.

People bend over backwards to explain anything other than the obvious. It’s infuriating.

Yeah. It is. I am going to be very picky about where I interact here, from now on. 

On some level, I feel the same way. But the bullshit “economic anxiety” frame took hold in 2016 because people like me didn’t do enough to push back against it. I’m tired of having to argue with people defending the indefensible. But if someone doesn’t it winds up becoming conventional wisdom. I feel the need to do my part against the bullshit for this reason. 

But yes, this has been an eye-opener. 

👍

They are just using tromps election to re-demand their seat at the head of the table. According to them, Harris ran a bad campaign because she didn't inspire any voter (or successfully coddle the white, cis, full of grievance like them men - it's almost like she didn't understand that they were the only people who mattered). 

They would definitely vote for a woman, no matter what race, as long as she coddled them sufficiently and told them that they were the only people whose pain is real. 

So since all of their real or imaginary "best mothers that they always deserved" can't be the nominee, it will always be 'just not that woman.'

I’m not sure they’d vote for a woman of any race as President. The “little woman” candidates who look they just stepped off a Faux News set might get their leers, but not their votes — ever.

Yes, it's their version of Schrodinger's cat - there will never be a woman who meets there demands, therefore they never have to open that door to see if they could ever really vote for a woman.  (I mean, they might if that woman was running against a different woman..)

They are so upset about that (/s) that they have to share exactly how each woman didn't run their campaign giving them the deference that would have, maybe, finally, possibly won their vote.

And obviously, we voters who are not them would have to elevate a candidate who offered all the rest of us nothing, so we are all the real problem causing them to never be able to vote for a woman.  

Why can't we understand how cruel and unfair the world is to them??

That certainly seems to be the attitude of most of these self-important jerks.

You are right, it's not empathy, it's a refusal to recognize the well of hatred and bigotry that rests inside too many voters, because to do do means you have to acknowledge the same in our friends, our family, and ourselves.

"do so" not "do do".  Ack.

Yep.

Not everyone who comes here to play is necessarily on our team, Matt. Did you see PvtJarHead’s diary today?

Those voters are often very ignorant and disinformed… but they’re still as wrong as h*ll.

Well, I’ve been a Kos reader and sometimes commenter for many years and a confirmed Democrat. I’m a mom, I’ve been a Cub Scout den mother, a Brownie and a Girl Scout leader, helped run a swim team, while holding down a full time job though I’m finally retired. I end each month with $1-2 in the bank after pinching every penny all month long. And yes, I voted for Kamala and Tim. And you want to tell me I am not a regular everyday American?!

That is the narrative they’ve decided. I’m fuming. 

Yes, they do. 

The hostile responses Matt Z received are unfortunate. Perhaps it would be more construtive to say Trump voters are misguided and misinformed “regular Americans.” However, do I really want to be like everybody else? Wouldn't I rather be myself?

Everybody wants to belong and feel like they fit in somewhere. I feel being told I am not a regular everyday American feels like a rejection of me and my values over selfish people who have none. 

Try not to let them get under your skin or it might be a very LONG 2-4 years! I’m going to put the best face on it and say they’re thinking of people who don’t closely follow politics, so they perhaps made a last-minute, uninformed decision on who to vote for and may not have chosen to be our enemies. 

However, according to Pew, 58% of Americans were closely following political news this past Spring and that percentage increases every election time until over 70% are paying attention by the Octobers before elections. So we are the regular Americans. Those who choose to ignore politics are actually those who are not so regular! 

Irregular?

You’re a great writer, Matt.  You articulate what many of us are feeling very well.  Your writing does help, even if you aren’t sure about that.  And I get what had you fuming about the above exchange.  We all matter and we’re all “regular folks” despite that some would disagree.  I’ll tell you this, I always click on your diaries because I know they will be interesting!

The computer keyboard is a Supersuit. Regular people likely means people not wearing their Supersuit. Real equals without the perceived power of anonymity. 

We can just demonize all who voted for tRump. But then how are we going to get any of those voters back in the Democratic column? The only way I see is to engage with those people in person. They don’t visit the places we do online. 

You won’t get them back by engagement, or at least you won’t get any more of them back than we’ve already gotten.  People all over the place voted for whatever Democratic policies were listed on their ballots, then marked the top of the ticket for a clown.

They didn’t reason themselves into that and you can’t reason them out of it.  They live in some other reality and they lie about their motivations for voting.  The economy?  Nah...they just don’t want to tell you the real reason.  Maybe they don’t even understand it themselves.

The only way to break that cycle is the method we’re being forced into currently.  They have fucked around and now they’re going to find out.  Those “real people” are famous for not opening their eyes until something personally affects them.  They hate all the LGBTQ people until one of their kids comes out, and then sometimes they’ll change their minds.  They hate Joe Biden’s economy until milk is $15 a gallon, and there is no lettuce to buy even at $10 /head.   And then some of them will realize their mistake.  The rest will blame immigrants and Democrats.

This whole idea that Democrats must self-flagellate and appease these people, and that we are all guilty of not pandering to this happy parade of nitwits is offensive.  The idea that Democrats offered them nothing is nonsensical.  The return of manufacturing to their red states is nothing?  The careful management of inflation, the strong labor market, the increase in wages, the support for students, the promise of home-buying assistance, long-term care for the elderly...all nothing?   What did the clown car promise them?  Retribution and mass deportations.  We’re not gonna go there, and it wouldn’t work if we were craven enough to do it.

There are people out there who voted for FG and AOC, so I don’t think they are all beyond reach. I’m not ready to concede to perpetual rethuglican rule. 

Trump voters are going to be among your neighbors and co-workers. I’ve never suggested appeasement and self-flagellation. But I’m also not suggesting we just take our ball and go home. It won’t work. 

I’m curious what you plan to say to those people that hasn’t already been said to them.

The fact that they’re my neighbors doesn’t make it any less likely that they voted to make sure schools weren’t doing sex change operations, or that immigrants wouldn’t be eating pets.  The fact that I’m their neighbor doesn’t make it any more likely they’ll believe me when I tell them they might enjoy not having their SS cut, and getting Medicare benefits for home health care to avoid the dreaded nursing home.

Well, I’ve been known to be a sarcastic ass.

If they are grumbling about something going against them, and it stems from republican or trump policy, it might be something along the lines of, how that (name the republican policy or a key republican espousing the policy) working out for ya? If they come already accepting that a policy hurting them then you listen and try to help while slipping the democrats better position into the ideas. 

It’s unlikely to change them on the spot. But if I say something that annoys them a little it will likely pop back into their head later, and maybe they will even think about it (if capable).

I find the tRump republicans like to complain. When it is about their personal plight (not these big societal boogymans Faux and republicans on the stump make up) there is a good chance they voted against their interests. It can be fun to point it out. 

OH, I see.  You’re talking abut after the “Find Out” portion of FAFO starts.  Yeah, there might be a few more pickups to be had then.  Previously I’ve only had one, and it was an enormous surprise.  Took 3 years to bear fruit too.

There will be a large number of them Finding Out but blaming it on JoeBidenKamalaHarrisNancyPelosiObama….but I suppose a few may wake up.

I hope it will become so obvious that even some tЯumpies can’t ignore it.

It is the FO part of FAFO, but they like to complain so…

I got one of my little chances today. I’m in western WA, but in the outer burbs well outside of Seattle. I was in line at my local hardware store buying fasteners (the small ones do so much better than the big-box chains.) The guy behind me in line has on his red hat and some Ford-tuff 4x4 off-road-is-great tee. A Tesla pulls into the parking lot and the headlights paint the checkout line as he swings in. The guy comments something to the effect of, “I hope Trump doesn’t sell out to billionaires like the other politicians.” (Not that direct, but I took it to mean that.) I forgot the exact words I commented back, but they were along the lines of, “it’s just 2 billionaires scratching each others backs.” He didn’t say anything else. Perhaps it will pop back in his mind later (or maybe I wasted my breath.) 

The interesting thing abou tthat encounter is that it reminded me that the shoe is on the other foot now.  It’s been really easy for the magas to complain about everything and find fault with everything and claim everything’s terrible.  They’re now in a position where they have to do the opposite.  And for us, instead of trying to sell our politicians and our great accomplishments, we get to just tear everything down, which is far easier and much more likely to get agreement from them, because they enjoy getting angry over stuff.

Ordinary Americans, simple farmers, the people of the land.  You know, morons.

TBF, "regular Americans" to talk to has a context. It means other Americans you weren't already in contact with, not to imply excluding you and us here from the category itself.

Remember Matt, we spectral folks have to try harder to discern implicit context.

Regular Americans, real Americans, yes those have context - going back to the building of the Lost Cause myth after the civil war.  You see the real Americans were just protecting their way of life and culture, which government overreach and powerful people who only thought about problems, and according to the myth never got their hands dirty with real work, who were the latte drinkers of their day, tried to destroy.  The real or everyday Americans are not confined to the south, any more than confederate flags, the romanticization of Scarlett O'Hara, or the defense of monuments to 3rd rate secessionist generals to preserve "our" history are. 

We are definitely meant to be excluded. If I mention that I live in California (now), or that I am a dem, well, I couldn't possibly understand regular America. 

Your point has its validity but is tangential to mine and the thrust of the diary. Which is about getting around and talking to more kinds of people.

Oops got mixed up, my bad. You were tangential to my own point but aligned with OP. Which again, that stands on its own but doesn't negate the usefulness of talking more to those outside our bubble.

From one regular everyday American to another, thank you.

I will never forgive tRump voters. I have no space for them in my life. It makes work a real challenge, other than that dismissing them is easy.