This race is just so surprising to me. Truly, I do not understand how we are on the precipice of another potential Trump White House.
Ignore the fact that Trump is just a huge waste of skin.
Ignore the fact that he is blatantly corrupt to both business and foreign interests.
Ignore the fact that he fails to listen to experts and knowledge leaders.
Ignore the women's rights issues.
Ignore the immigration/deportation issues.
Ignore the religious kowtowing.
Ignore the environmental issues.
Ignore all those, you have the potential mind of a white suburban male voter, who's main issue in this election (like all elections) is "allegedly the economy. Let's call this voter Bob.
Bob is not a deplorable. He's not a Trumpist. He leans Republican at the best of times because its good for the economy (he tells himself). Bob does not work in Coal or Oil and Gas. He's got a good job. He's "middle class"
To vote for Trump over Harris, Bob has to further ignore:
- the record growth in the USA over the last 4 years of Biden/Harris
- the recent news of a potential soft economic landing
- Global inflation rates and the USA coming out as one of the better countries in this regard.
So no, bob is voting purely on future economic policy, which includes:
For Harris:
- Boosting the federal minimum wage;
- tax credits for parents;
- building more homes (we all know how these promises work)
- and small business loans.
Of course these are promises, but essentially a steady-as-she-goes approach to the last 30 years of US economic policy since Clinton.
For Trump:
- Mass deportations.
- Insanely high tariffs on all imports.
- tax breaks and giveaways (valued at approximately 8 billion).
Radical economic changes, 1930's style tariffs which most experts predict could have disastrous effects to the US economy, including increasing inflation and a further pronounced affordability crisis.
It should be noted that neither party seems to care, nor do anything about the rising deficit and debt obligations - a pretty standard complaint by white, male voters in every country.
So tell me how. How is a voter like Bob actually standing in the vestibule on election day truly making a rational decision to vote for Donald J. Trump.
I'll answer my own question. It's not rational. it's actually insane. there is no other reason.
There are voters that will vote for trump for a variety of reasons - even white men who feel they have been left behind for some reason. That's fine. that's a minority of voters.
But how does someone like Bob do it? How is this race THAT close.
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