alt Hacker NewsThere is too much to unpack here. Perhaps you'd like to make your point in something other than identity politics anecdotes and personal attacks?
If you don't like my phrasing of "boot on their necks", feel free to substitute your own when constructively responding to the point. The frustrations that have led to Trumpism are certainly palpable and understandable, so don't feign like I'm using hyperbolic language out of nowhere.
But no, in general I am comfortable modeling Trump's second term as a complete self-own on the part of voters - regardless of whether they've realized it yet, or ever will. As a libertarian who partook in both red and blue tribe media and was both sidesing through 2020, I have not come to this conclusion lightly. There has simply been no way I've been able to steelman it.
I’m not attacking you, I’m criticizing your analytical approach. You’re starting from the values that you think should matter to people, then faulting them for not making decisions you think are rational according to those assumed values.
Your dismissal of “identity politics” is a good illustration of that. Identity is a dominant force in politics! Around the world and throughout history, identity trumps almost everything else when it comes to conflict between humans.
I mentioned the demographic factors because those demographics (young white women and young non-white men) had notably different trend lines in the last couple of elections, despite having pretty similar economic circumstances. It’s worth considering whether those kids aren’t irrational and actually just value different ends than what you think they should value.