Arthur Goldstein, veteran New York City teacher, analyzes what the election says about the country, our fellow Americans, us.
He writes:
It’s remarkable what Donald Trump gets away with. He can say the most vulgar and offensive things and a America says, “I’m good with that.” He can separate children from their parents. He can send these children back, alone, to Mexico, even if they aren’t Mexican. America says, “No problem. That’s what they get for being rapists and drug dealers.”
Trump can view a neo-nazi rally and declare there are good people on both sides. America says, “Yes sure, there’s good in everyone.” He can continue to insist on the guilt of the Central Park Five, even after they’ve been demonstrated to be innocent. America says, “Well, maybe that DNA evidence was false. After all, Biden might listen to scientists instead of the voices in Donald Trump’s head, and we all know what that means.”
Trump can get up from his television at 2:30 AM and declare that he’s won, though there’s absolutely no evidence to support his contention. He can tell us he wants to halt counting in states where he’s ahead and continue it in states where he’s behind. He can say he’s going to his hand-picked Supreme Court to make sure that happens. America says, “Yeah, let’s allow the court to decide. After all, they have those black robes so they must know what’s right.”
Trump can discount foreign meddling in US elections. He can blame it on his opponents. He can express admiration for vicious dictators in North Korea and Russia. He can look the other way when it appears Russia has place a bounty on US soldiers. He can then stand in front of an American flag and declare his support for the troops, and America says, “Wow. Look at all those flags. This guy is really patriotic.”
Trump can preside over the deaths of well over 200,000 Americans. During a pandemic, he can drop out of the World Health Organization. He can ignore the recommendations of his own CDC. He can hold massive indoor rallies that turn out to be super spreader events. He can actually catch the virus himself and force Secret Service agents to be with him so he can drive around and wave to people. He can say don’t fear the virus. America says, “Gee what a gutsy guy he must be,” and continues to follow the idiotic practices that have led us to become the worst COVID casualty in the entire world.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
There are no principles to live by any more. . . . save the Principle of Trump.
This means that Trump is not against the democrats. Rather he’s just against anything that is against Trump.
And that, my friends, pretty-much defines a megalomaniac fascist. CBK
I think Heather Cox Richardson’s Letter for November 3 affords us a good measure of understanding how our electoral not-much-fun-house mirror delivers a greatly distorted image of Who We Are As A People and What Our Will As A People Really Is.
Interesting. Richardson’s letter made it sound like it was all Jefferson’s fault, but I expect she was summarizing, & telescoping developments that occurred over 25-30 yrs. I found details here: https://www.fairvote.org/how-the-electoral-college-became-winner-take-all
Early in adult life, tutored by a racist father who raised Donald to be “a killer and a king,” and squired into Manhattan power circles by the criminal power-broker lawyer Roy Cohn, Trump learned how to work the system, how open the status quo was to grifters, cheaters, liars, and criminal business men whose MO was to see how much they can get away with. He is certainly not the only thug businessman to go far in the money river of Manhattan, but he became a prominent and charismatic celebrity thanks to evading prosecution, to signature enterprises like Trump Tower, and to his mass media extravaganzas(“You’re fired!!”). Americans do not love thugs, bullies, and grifters even though Hollywood thrives on aestheticizing their violence and life styles. Americans also have had alternative political org’s and leaders violently crushed by official govt. forces, and unofficial vigilantes. The Democratic Party has always been a weak tool for defending democratic rights; large opposition outside the status quo is the stronger tool for compelling change inside the status quo.
I think it would be valuable if people reflected on what working Americans might dislike about the Democratic Party, and if the only answers you can come up with are that they’re stupid and racist, to reflect some more.
With all due reflection, benefit of the doubt, and countless attempts at rational dialogue … nope, racist and stupid pretty much covers it.
What working people don’t like about the Democratic Party:
They promise health insurance for all or at least more;
They want to raise the federal minimum wage;
They want to take action against threats to the environment;
They support unions.
Diane . . . and Democrats’ fundamental symbols are the Statue of Liberty and the Blindfolded Lady Justice, not Wall Street, “winners,” and the size of your bank account. CBK
Voters in Florida, which Trump carried, just voted to raise the minimum wage. Things could be more complicated than the usual “us versus them” narratives.
But voters in California may have voted against Prop 15, results not final, which would have raised taxes on comical real estate to produce billions for the state’s underfunded schools.
Those sound like things working people would like and want. 🤔😮
I know. That’s why it’s crazy that so many of those who would benefit from Biden’s policies voted for Trump, who cut taxes of the very richest.
The problem is that you are more around people like this:
…and not like this:
Try getting out of the city and spend a day going to Targets and hardware stores in the rural suburban Midwest and South. Better yet, go to some public golf courses in those places.
And why “working Americans”? What about just plain Americans? Is “working” a euphemism for something else? What about an American who can’t find a job or is underemployed because of skin color, disability, how they speak or look? What about people who live in poor, dangerous neighborhoods that are food deserts and the only businesses in their areas are pay day loansharks, liquor stores, and Dollar-esque stores (which are built on a business model of profiting off entrenched poverty)? Do your “working Americans” get outraged about corporate welfare–also known as selective socialism for the overprivileged? Or do you continue to buy the lie about “welfare queens?” Which one should “working Americans” care about? Should I reflect some more if they choose the latter?
I use the term “working” to refer to people who work for a living, as opposed to the independently wealthy. People who may have a little in the bank, or nothing at all in the bank, but regardless would fall on very hard times if they lost their employment.
It’s probably true that my current environment shapes my views. But I didn’t always live here. I grew up in a conservative area in a sprawling blue-collar family that includes many current Trump supporters. They’re not all bad (though some are), they’re not all stupid (though some are), and they’re not wrong about everything.
Sorry for being aggressive there. I’m still as angry as I have ever been in my life. I feel like I’m the rabid dog from Breaking Bad right now.
I hear ya.
You raise a fascinating question, FLERP. I’ve been wondering whether part of the answer might be this:
When I was a kid, I thought that people grew up, but in my adult life, I’ve been fascinated by the extent to which people are still driven by stuff that happened when they were children and teenagers. Most adults seem to me, once you scratch the surface, simply older children.
Trump does very, very well among the uneducated (“I love the uneducated,” he once said, for lacking any internal editor, he says what crosses his tiny mind).
I suspect that a LOT of what’s going on is resentment on the part of white people, and especially white men, who themselves did badly in school against those who did better, got all the gold stars, and then went on to make a lot of money, leaving them behind. This might be the source of the appeal of a guy like Trump, with his 600-word vocabulary, his terrible spelling and grammar and usage, his pretend populism, his constant railing against “the libs” and the establishment nd the know-it-all media, doctors, scientists, experts. Although Trump is in reality a privileged, always pampered guy who looks down upon and wouldn’t be caught did with the very kinds of people who make up his base, those things that we ridicule in Trump–his profound ignorance, his mangling of the language, his lack of decorum/crudeness–are signals to these disaffected Americans–those who suffered the constant blows to their self-worth in high school, that he is one of them, and like them, HATES the suck-ups who got the As.
Trump reminds me continually of the fiercely angry, sullen, withdrawn boys I encountered as a high-school teacher who were teetering on the cusp of dropping out, who were barely squeaking by. His behavior is precisely that of such boys when the teacher’s back is turned. it’s a great big FU to authorities.
The very Americans who adore Trump are the ones who spent four years in high school, watching as the teacher passed out the graded exams, knowing that they didn’t get the A or the B but the Cs, Ds, and Fs. The ones who suffered these constant humiliations. That’s a whole lot of undermining of self esteem, requiring a lot of construction of defense mechanisms and leading, most often, to a lot of lashing out. And it’s easy to see why such people would hate “the elites” and the know-it-alls and be attracted to a guy who most definitely IS NOT knowledgeable about the stuff taught in school. And, ofc, Trump also had an abusive, belittling father.
cx: wouldn’t be caught dead, ofc.
At any rate, there;s a lesson there for educators.
Agreed.
The explanation for the Trump phenomenon: a culture of resentment
Much, much for educators to learn from this, from the Culture of Resentment that accounts, to a large extent, I suspect, for the Trump phenomenon
The Grinch who stole Christendom
Trump is the Grinch
Whose heart never grew
Began as a pinch
And shrank out of view
Bob in my experience this factor didn’t loom large for older Americans.
The social attitude was completely different: it was recognized that some were good at “book-learning” & some weren’t, period. It didn’t mean you were going to be a flop at life, just that you wouldn’t be a lawyer/ doctor etc. Most breadwinners in my growing-up world were not college grads. Not just farmers, factory workers & craftsmen: there was a whole layer of sorta-white-collar non-college-grads in sales, insurance, real estate, retail/ grocery mgt, et al. Even in the ‘70’s/ ‘80’s when I worked in procurement at an engrg co, the best buyers were not the newly-minted bus grads but the experienced non-college-grads [my dad’s generation & up to a decade younger]. By then, they were being closed out of mgt by college-grads, but made very healthy salaries. AND the co’s then paid for you to continue your ed if you wanted to get on mgt track.
FLERP!,
I have spoken to Trump voters (relatives, childhood acquaintances) and they all have one thing in common:
To a last person, everyone one of them acts as if they are in a cult. They believe whatever President Trump or the right wing media tells them. They do not accept any facts except the ones that the right wing media says are true.
It is impossible to talk to them about healthcare or the minimum wage. No matter what, any idea from a democrat is either “socialist” or a lie. If they like it — like minimum wage or healthcare – they say that Trump is giving it to them.
One reason I talk about the media so much is that the so-called legitimate media has done great harm because they legitimized and gave credibility to people who in the past would have been marginalized and shunned (white supremacists, John Birchers), these groups have new names and have complete respect.
The far right spent years spewing the most outrageous things and it was dutifully reported as a statement that “partisan democrats” disagreed with.
That is now internalized. That is now normalized. That is now legitimized. And thus Trump voters ‘know’ what to believe and nothing will convince them otherwise. Trump loves them and is for them, the democrats are evil socialists who can’t be trusted on anything.
There are many like that, no doubt. But I do know many Trump voters (in recent weeks I’ve been surprised how many) who have few illusions about Trump — they think he’s a buffoon and an embarrassment — but pull the lever for him anyway because of their own financial interests and/or because they think a Democratic presidency would be worse for various reasons. I also would say I know a lot of people on the left who act as if they’re in a cult.
Again, WHY do they think a Biden victory would be worse for them? Because they have internalized the propaganda that is directed to them.
They are the very same people who, during the Obama administration, definitely told you that they were absolutely concerned about big budget deficits. Because that was the propaganda they followed in their cult-like way. Now they forgot that deficits mattered because that is the propaganda they repeat as followers of the Trump-cult.
I am actually shocked that Biden didn’t win a bigger victory, because I have never heard so many Republican friends who were anti-Trump while still being quite conservative economically. But that is because they don’t believe lies and actually believe facts. Something that is impossible to say about any Trump voter I have known who all believe things that are blatantly untrue!
I guarantee you that every single person you know who voted for Trump believes at least 10 things that are simply not true about Trump’s economic policies.
Ask them about the budget deficit. They will blame the pandemic despite the fact that the deficit was at a historic high last December because of Trump’s terrible economic policies and the economy was already slowing tremendously.
I don’t blame those propagandized Trump voters who claim they are more than willing to accept fascism and racism for a good economy, since the entire NYT reporting staff has been propagandized to believe that huge tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans are good for the economy. Paul Krugman is just a partisan hack, but Trump economists have important things to say because trickle down just might work, and not one of those journalists actually thinks history matters nor should it be mentioned.
Some want lower taxes. Some like conservative judges. Some don’t like affirmative action.
Some don’t like “defund the police.” Many are tired of identity politics (turns out sooner or later, white people get sick of the term “white” being used as a term of derision). You can say they’re all wrong, but they think you are, too. These people exist, they have their views, they vote. It is what it is.
NYC PS parent These are the same people who HATED “Obamacare,” who didn’t know it was the same thing as the “affordable care act,” and then turned around and loved it when it was implemented . . . the same who say “I hate the government deep state, but don’t take my Medicare away.” The propaganda lives in the same mental room with what they also know is best for them. . . . only the propaganda wins. CBK
They want lower taxes on billionaires and not for themselves? Why? Because they “know” that it is only if billionaires pay the lowest tax rates in history and we increase the federal debt to the highest in history,that they will thrive? Think about how absurd that is. But they believe it with every fiber of their being. Because it doesn’t matter how many times trickle down economics has failed and tax cuts for the richest Americans fail to do anything except cause a huge budget deficit, those voters are positive that repeating the Bush/Cheney ideas will make America great again and it is the only way this economy will thrive! And they also “know” that Obama “ruined” the economy by raising taxes on the wealthy, while Bush/Cheney’s tax cut made the economy great.
I can’t argue with their racism because if deep down they are racist and thus are absolutely positive that there is no racism in policing and Black Lives Matters is just about allowing criminals to roam free and commit as many crimes as they want, then Trump is their guy. But if they fancy themselves non-racists who just “know” that there is no racism issues in America, that speaks for itself. And again, Trump is certainly the man for them as he says what they believe deep down.
With regards to affirmative action, I get that people are looking for scapegoats and the far right has given angry Americans who are struggling an easy scapegoat — the only reason they aren’t rich like Trump is “affirmative action” — but that doesn’t make it true. It just means that nothing will convince them that the sole reason for their lack of success is entirely the fault of those from under represented groups. After all, they are posotive that the Kushners and Trumps “earned” their seats but the kid from the poverty was “undeserving”.
As I say, you can’t argue with cultists who “know” that Trump and Kushners are deserving but the poor kids from the most struggling middle schools who get seats in specialized high schools are really academic failures who would “ruin” their school by their mere presence. Trump shares their values. And he loves that they share his.
NYC Also, how about “trickle-up”? WHEN people can work all day and make a decent living and support their family, and when those who are sick and need help can get it through public services, THEN the entire culture can have a sense of belonging and well-being and so provide a much better basis for less resentment and for trickling up from that basis a peaceful and civilized culture. It’s not a cure all . . . but . . . CBK
NYC public . . . meets with my experience of my relative whom I have spoken about here before. There’s just no getting in. CBK
The vote shows we are a house divided, and we have a great deal of work to do.
If the USA remained totally Indigenous People, some or most today’s issues would still apply. Division is free will, which can’t be totally controlled. 😐
That is one reason I believe so strongly in good public schools where different types of people and groups come together. Hopefully, students will learn that they have more in common than the differences between them. That has been my experience in working with students from all over the world. We can all learn from each other, and a big life lesson is acceptance and perhaps friendship.
Hi retired teacher. In Chicago, I think, that depends if the area is integrated by choice, regardless if the school is public or private. 😐
If America was all White or all Native American, there would be division. ☹️
Haiti, Zimbabwe and Nigeria are divided and they’re Black. ☹️
It’s freewill. 😐
Agreed that Trump is evil and represents America at is worst. Fortunately there are millions of Americans who have stood up for decency, inclusion, opportunity and justice.
Thanks to FLERP for pointing out the Florida vote FOR a minimum wage.
Delighted that Mn went for Biden/Harris, and re-elected a Democrat to the US Senate. Here too, there were some Republican gains, as well as loses.
Delighted that Wisconsin and Arizona have been “called” for Biden/Harris….hoping for the same result in Michigan and Nevada, which would (with help from a number of others), put them over 270.
Yes, expect court challenges. I agree with Retired Teacher” we have a great deal of work to do.” But it is encouraging, at least to me, that the millions and millions of Americans REJECT Trumps vulgar, racist, divisive statements & actions.
Vlad wanted someone who would divide the US and the NATO alliance. He certainly got that. We haven’t been this divided since the Civil War.
The fight never stopped after the Civil war. Only the war stopped . . . And here we are in 2020.
The Biden campaign choose a progressive platform, influenced by Warren, Sanders and AOC supporters, attracting younger voters and the progressive wing of the party.
They miscalculated.
Middle of the road voters were far more influenced by “defund the police,” BLM, climate change initiatives perceived as job killers. And, of course, the subtext of every conversation is race, gender and class.
Bear in mind that Biden is likely going to win this election.
The Senate and House races are another matter. Do you think the Biden platform, BLM, defunding the police, green new deal — that these things were a drag on Dem. congressional candidates?
No, FLERP!, I think, in IL, at least, that the Groveling Old Penumbras who so support it45 wanted to maintain control of the Senate & flip the House, because the it45 vision is SO centered upon the welfare of the American people &–now that they have SCotUS in their pockets, well, why not have Congress, as well?
If Biden has a win they will–as they did with Obama–stymie him at every turn, esp. now. BTW–it45 already suing PA (& WI, too, I think).
& for people who say it’s gonna leave the country, I don’t think any country will take it45. (partially, owes the ones he could go to too much money).
Maybe Argentina? Perhaps they enjoyed it’s “Covida” moment!
(Although more so because they harbored WWII criminals.)
The way you frame “‘defund the police,’ BLM, climate change initiatives perceived as job killers” and “the subtext…” comes right out of the reactionary playbook. Defund the police means reinvesting in communities, not getting rid of the police. It means that the majority of a local government budget should not go to the police (just like the majority of the federal discretionary budget should not go military spending). The idea of the Green New Deal, translated into policy, would be the equivalent would focus on the last two words as much as the first–a huge job creator and investment in science focused on a sustainable future. The “job killers” are those who won’t loosen their grip on an unsustainable future. And “the subtext” is not a subtext for people pigeon-holed by others through race, gender, class and sexual orientation. It is a subtext for those who use those terms as reason for their reactionary mindset. This comment is a perfect illustration of the lowest common denominator obfuscation dominating our politics and governing that I cited in another post comment. By accepting the terms of debate of our opponents, we will lose every time. It’s like the horse and buggy industry complaining about new fangled horseless carriages.
Some people in Chicago want the police totally gone. 😐
GregB wrote: “The way you frame “‘defund the police,’ BLM, climate change initiatives perceived as job killers” and “the subtext…” comes right out of the reactionary playbook.”
Yep.
That’s how the Republicans win. They get supposed non-Republicans to frame everything the way they want.
I think Democrats miscalculated the Latino vote. They need to do more outreach with these voters. Latinos are not a monolith. There are so many variables in an election. It is hard to say progressive issues were a negative. We do not really know at this point. I do think the fracking issue is what is hurting Biden in western Pennsylvania. Fracking represents jobs to people there.
& voters in ILLAnnoy (again w/this spelling, because I am ticked off) voted against an amendment for a graduated tax, because billionaire Ken Griffin spent soooo much $$$$
on ads, using “middle class, regular people” (er, actors?) to convince middle & low income people that billionaires are SO concerned about giving us a fair shake. 55%-45%.
Close, but no cigar.
Or relief. This will have a devastatingly negative impact on school funding, not to mention families.
Governor Pritzker might have been better off using executive order or having legislators vote on “Fair Tax”. Life isn’t fair anyway. 😐
Most Americans think the Green New Deal will prevent them from buying their truck …. think cities are being ravished by mobs and dems want to defund the police leading to anarchy …. they don’t read the Atlantic or the New Yorker, love sports …. Rule # 1: Identify your voters and get them to the polls …. I agree, climate change is destroying the planet, police in too many cases are abusive, etc., Trump appealed to fears, and triggered implied bias …. campaigns have to appeal to emotions more than minds
Religion, anywhere in the picture or, was NPR’s program on WBOI, 10-26- 2020 about Trump voters just an exercise in blowing smoke?
Mr. Goldstein explains who we are and why, but I would also add that many (not all) of our “differences” in each of our “camps” are largely fictitious, and are the result of a well oiled propaganda machine put forth by the ruling class, brainwashing the American public to have them yield ever more their power and wealth. This has been the ruling class’s way to hold onto power in a relatively bloodless and inexpensive way. Divide, divide, divide, and and hyper-focus on identity and labels rather then wealth distribution, the latter of which is the universal umbrella covering all subgroups and sub-issues.
I have said for the longest time and with great repetition in this and many other forums that our government is a reflection of who we are . . . how willing we are to get informed, to know our officials’ governance records, philosophies, and platforms, to hold them accountable with robust communication and watchdog groups, and to be willing to have honest, open conversations about private interests, competition, capitalism and individualism vs. what it takes to maintain and expand a robust public commons and social safety net based on progressive taxation.
Distribution of wealth and power are at the core of ALL of this, and this will ALWAYS remain a lesson and parable for the American people far more than it will be for elected officials.
Change starts from within.
As these words have been immortalized, I offered them now: Be the change you want to see happen in the world . . .
The Atlantic reported last month that 1 out of 4 voters cited abortion as the deciding factor. Those who think the GOP alliance plans to stop at Roe v. Wade, don’t have much foresight.
Those who think they plan to stop their assault on union with Janus also lack foresight.
I agree, Arthur and Linda. There is mostly overlap but definitely not complete overlap , and where there is no overlap, the differences and intensities are pronounced.
Arthur
Biel v. St. James school is also not the end of the alliance’s plans to exempt the U.S.’ 3rd largest employer from civil rights employment law.
Citizens United is a BAD Law. Sorry, but I take exception. Money and free speech are NOT the same.
Thank the UN-Supreme Court: “A 5-4 majority of the Supreme Court sided with Citizens United, ruling that corporations and other outside groups can spend unlimited money on elections.”
I agree. Citizens United gives the wealthy more power. We need to figure out a way to work around this as it is unlikely we can amend Constitution.
Even the name Citizens United is Orwellian
It would be more aptly called Corporations United
Corruption of language is at the core of our current predicament.
Fake news might be limited but fake language is everywhere you look.
Fake Language
Language is fake
But meaning is not
Meaning is “take”
When word says you “got”
Citizens United is a BAD Law. Sorry, but I take exception. Money and free speech are NOT the same.
Thank the UN-Supreme Court: “A 5-4 majority of the Supreme Court sided with Citizens United, ruling that corporations and other outside groups can spend unlimited money on elections.”
This law needs to go. It promotes BIG MONEY interests and payola.
It’s obscene.
“What liberals don’t understand about pro-Trump Latinos” (The Atlantic, 10-29-2020)
The article is primarily about voters of Mexican descent. “Many are lifelong Republicans…Trump’s economy-first message and opposition to abortion rights resonates with them”. Btw- the article mentions charter schools several times.
I’m Chicago and suburbs, Mexicans and Mexican Americans are mostly Democratic. 🤓😁
“The anti-abortion movement’s latest strategy worked on election day”. (Vice, 11-4-2020)
The article is about Louisiana’s ballot initiative. Louisiana is the southern state with the largest number of the protected religion’s members. New Orleans recently closed its last remaining public school.
Some religious Latinos that are mostly Catholic support Trump for his “pro-life” position.
Donald: time to pull out the magic Sharpie!
–My mother
What do you mean “We”?
“We” are not “we”
It don’t include me
It speaks for the three
When six there would be
Un-tied States
United States
Are not united
Un-tied States
Is more decided
United Red States of America (URSA — The Bear)
Untie states a little more
Open up the exit door
Let them leave, if so inclined
United Red States, really fine
Civil War is not for me
What’s the point? I just don’t see
Let the Red decide their fate
Even Lone Stars, really Great
“Un-tied” perfect.
Contemplation of a scenario in which the south successfully seceded 260 years ago.
There is a big difference, of course, between the situation then and now.
back then, there was a legitimate reason for a civil war: eliminating slavery — although that was not the actual reason at the start.
Now, there is certainly no reason for a war between the states. It would make no sense at all and there would be significant positives associated with a much looser association of individual states, not least of all a significant reduction (if not elimination) of foreign military adventurism like the Iraq war, which was a catastrophe for everyone.
A catastrophe for everyone — unless you consider military corporations people, of course.
Then” meaning just before the Civil War, not 260 years ago.
Keyboard digit slippage to the right, correct to 160 years.
That’s how I originally read it anyway.
The election may not have been called, my haiku trite, and the presidency on ice yet I stand by my words.
He stands for nothing
Intemperate hubristic rapacity
character ignored.
This is the only one showing in my reader allowing comments. How is the bunch of you? Are you still blogging?