State of the Union - pre/post election & whatever...

[Winnie]

What I MEANT about coal is that the only industries in this area were coal for the gentlemen and dressmaking for the ladies.
Democrats colluded along with the Chsmber of Commerce to keep other higher paying industries out.
Then, when the Knox coal mine disaster (Google it, I went to school with the daughter of one of those killed) shut down the mining in the area, and clothes could be made cheaper overseas (again thank you CoC), the area got fucked. God knows why, but Democrats were responsible for it, and they thrived. Basically because Republicans were just happy to be allowed to carry on the charade of a 2 party system.
Only an idiot (i.e. Someone from West Virginia) wants coal back.
I hope there's a special circle in Hell for the politicians, democrats and republicans, who sent our manufacturing overseas, since that's what economy is all about. Jefferson thought it was agriculture, but that's only half right.
Right now, in this area, the only building construction going on us hospitals, nursing homes and drugstores. And everyone STILL votes Democrat.
Both parties lie, the Democrats are more blatant. Republicans lie that they can be more efficient doing what the Democrats want.

That's why I'm a Whig. A Northern Whig. Slaves are too expensive, and they'll turn on you. Democrats love slaves. Always have, even today.

[rebelyell2006]

Democrats and the Chamber of Commerce? Opposites attract, I guess. All of the chambers of commerce I have seen in New Mexico, Georgia, and Texas were very conservative and very CEO-friendly.

[kyotebue2]

I don't think Union City, has a chamber of commerce. I do know the Mayor and she's a Republican.

[Winnie]

Democrats and the Chamber of Commerce? Opposites attract, I guess. All of the chambers of commerce I have seen in New Mexico, Georgia, and Texas were very conservative and very CEO-friendly.

Ideology has nothing to do with it. It's a natural alliance between those who control the economy and those who control the politics.
Chamber of Commerce fights to keep new businesses they can't control out of the area, and the Democrat union bosses (mobbed up of course) keep control of the workers.
I'm surprised it's not more universal, but that's how my area is/was.
UMW mobbed up? Of course. ILGWU mobbed up? You kidding me?
Occasional strikes for appearance sake, followed by sweetheart deals. Strikes build solidarity. You don't like what your Union did? Want to go to work tomorrow?

[kyotebue2]

You mean Pennsylvania, is not a right to work state?

[rebelyell2006]

Pennsyltucky sure sounds like a hell-hole. Perhaps you have unusual Democrats? They aren't like that at all in New Mexico, and the union bosses here aren't controlling at all.

[Macunaima]

God knows why, but Democrats were responsible for it...

And that about sums up the entirety of your argument, doesn't it?

Here's the thing, OFM: "communists" like me have been saying it's a one-party system for a hound's age. Now, once-prosperous white working class men have found this out and what do they do? They DOUBLE DOWN on the very beliefs and attitudes that fucked them over in the first place.

So yeah, I get it: the Democrats suck. No shit. So let's vote for a man who is everything we hate in Democrats dialed up to eleven. Yeah, that'll give us some change, for sure. And while we are at it, let's call everyone to the left of Himmler "communists" and "terrorists" and let's make excuses for Nazi thugs who go marching through the streets because, golly, their hair might have been mussed by some adolescent antifas.

I can only laugh -- bitterly -- when I see Trump-voting family members now scared shitless because they'll lose the only health care they ever had. What, they didn't think the man meant what he said? Oh, no, I get it: they thought he was just going to go after those free-loading immigrants and niggers, not them! They're good patriotic white Americans! Surely Trump wouldn't turn on them?

I get the anger at the Democrats, I really do. But when you're political response is to vote for a man who'll put you in a worse place and much quicker.... then you're a fool and an idiot.

Kinda hard to not feel scorn for a substantial portion of the white American working class -- which is my background, by the way -- when their go-to solution for everything is and always has been "I will sell other workers who don't look like me down the river if only you'll give me some guns and let me take a few potshots at them first".

GUNS are more inportant to your average yahoo than any other issue out there. That's because the illusion of being a citizen and being free to fear-monger about people who don't look or act like you has always been way more important to the majority of the white American working class than actual freedom.

[Winnie]

God knows why, but Democrats were responsible for it...

And that about sums up the entirety of your argument, doesn't it?

Here's the thing, OFM: "communists" like me have been saying it's a one-party system for a hound's age. Now, once-prosperous white working class men have found this out and what do they do? They DOUBLE DOWN on the very beliefs and attitudes that fucked them over in the first place.

So yeah, I get it: the Democrats suck. No shit. So let's vote for a man who is everything we hate in Democrats dialed up to eleven. Yeah, that'll give us some change, for sure. And while we are at it, let's call everyone to the left of Himmler "communists" and "terrorists" and let's make excuses for Nazi thugs who go marching through the streets because, golly, their hair might have been mussed by some adolescent antifas.

I can only laugh -- bitterly -- when I see Trump-voting family members now scared shitless because they'll lose the only health care they ever had. What, they didn't think the man meant what he said? Oh, no, I get it: they thought he was just going to go after those free-loading immigrants and niggers, not them! They're good patriotic white Americans! Surely Trump wouldn't turn on them?

I get the anger at the Democrats, I really do. But when you're political response is to vote for a man who'll put you in a worse place and much quicker.... then you're a fool and an idiot.

Kinda hard to not feel scorn for a substantial portion of the white American working class -- which is my background, by the way -- when their go-to solution for everything is and always has been "I will sell other workers who don't look like me down the river if only you'll give me some guns and let me take a few potshots at them first".

GUNS are more inportant to your average yahoo than any other issue out there. That's because the illusion of being a citizen and being free to fear-monger about people who don't look or act like you has always been way more important to the majority of the white American working class than actual freedom.

This is you at your most obnoxious, condescending and superior self.
You assume racism when it isn't there.
Straw man arguments.
And so on.

[kyotebue2]

Pennsylvania is not a right to work state.

[Adam Smiths left Nut]

As I explained to Apathy, people in cities vote for democrats because the conservatives disdain city people.

Simple as that.

With a few exceptions high population density areas vote Democrat while low population density votes Republican.

Why would you vote for someone who openly disdains you?