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Originally Posted by Red Slinger
Okay, so you state two reasons why the working class is leaving the left:
1) Economic anxiety, and;
2) Political correctness/identity politics
So, what's the solution for #1? Most left-leaning politicians and parties tend to argue that taxes for the middle class and poor should be lowered while taxes for the wealthy should be increased. Most left-leaning types argue that social safety nets should be in place for those displaced by automation or other economic circumstances. They also argue that, at least in the case of the US, healthcare should be universal and a trip to the ER shouldn't bankrupt a family.
What solutions are right-leaning types offering for this economic anxiety? If anything, it's the stuff that doesn't actually help those suffering from it. Instead, they wrap their programs with lies and tell the gullible that it's actually good for them when it's not.
Regarding #2:
The argument that political correctness is running amok has been overstated. Every case is reported in the media like it's a plague. If each case of campus rape was reported in the media like it is for campus censorship there would be a massive outcry. Yes, censorship happens and it usually sucks. So what is okay censorship? Is the "N" word okay to say? Not in most circles. We censor ourselves. The loudest cry against political correctness and censorship is usually by those that have 'deplorable' things to say.
Additionally, I don't buy the "identity politics" is driving people to the political right. The right uses identity politics just as much, if not more, than the left. The argument of identity politics just ends up being a convenient excuse to say and do stupid stuff.
So, you've presented two points of view as to why the WHITE working class is leaving the left. Both of which are, as New Era stated, mostly due to "stupidity and lack of self-awareness". You seem to beat this drum fairly regularly. What are you suggesting for a solution? Or to put it more crudely: what's your point?
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At the end of the day modern left-wing economic philosophy is failing the working and even middle classes. Current economic policy makes things easier for upper and upper middle class and panders to interest groups.
The USA is a great example, as they just had 8 years of one of the most left wing presidents in history and it now being followed up by a very non-left wing president, in Trump.
The unfortunate reality is that growth for the working class in America was stagnant during Obama's administration. They watched globalization push real estate out of their grasp and force jobs out of America. The wealth gap between the rich and the working class grew to new heights. Under Trump things are much better economically for the working class. Part of this may just be luck and outside economic conditions. Obama, however, did little to challenge globalization and outside forces like China.
The very unfortunate part of all of this is that Trump is likely to get re-elected, as America is in a much better position economically right now. The world is going to be stuck with everything that goes along with Trump.
If the Democrats could realize they need to take a more pragmatic approach and also abandon their entrenched political establishment (ex. Hillary), they could decimate the Trump voting block. It consists of a vocal minority of ignorant fanatics and a large group of voters who are holding their noses. It would be so easy to separate the good from Trump's economic approach and combine it with a message of tolerance. This would likely, however, require a significant philosophy change and resulting purge within the Democrat party, which I don't see happening.