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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#157076: Nov 20th 2016 at 11:36:42 AM

Influenced by the Protestant work ethic, rural American culture places tremendous value on manual labor as a mark of good character. The jobs being offered are largely in fields that do not involve manual labor, which, for members of the rural working class, undermines their sense of self-worth, hence the reluctance to retrain, and the dislike of undocumented immigrants doing a large part of agricultural work in the United States.

edited 20th Nov '16 11:37:31 AM by CaptainCapsase

IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#157077: Nov 20th 2016 at 11:48:36 AM

[up]Is there any kind of manual labor they can be retrained into (at least until their children can be educated to do something useful and they're sent into retirement) that's somewhat viable right now?

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#157078: Nov 20th 2016 at 11:49:09 AM

Not really

Oh really when?
IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#157079: Nov 20th 2016 at 11:50:03 AM

[up]Not even some kind of construction project that's not a fucking useless wall?

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#157080: Nov 20th 2016 at 11:50:11 AM

Re sports programs: I don't really understand it either. I love sports as much as the next guy, and am part of a couple small school athletic teams myself, but I don't get why high schools and colleges have this strange obsession with try to one-up each other's athletic facilities.

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
Soopor Agent Peacock from Talon IV (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Agent Peacock
#157081: Nov 20th 2016 at 11:50:28 AM

I hail from Louisiana, and will be casting my vote for Campbell as Senator. Hopefully he makes it in, and then the Republiican majority of the Senate will be less of a threat. In such a scenario, any time just three Republicans vote against Trump in the Senate, it would stop his proposed legislature. A lot to hope for, but it would be better than nothing.

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#157082: Nov 20th 2016 at 11:50:47 AM

Eh, maybe if Clinton's big infrastructure thing went through.

But they just gotta realize their industry is dead and it's gonna be dead forever. It's on them at this point.

Oh really when?
Irene (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Crazy Cat Lady
#157083: Nov 20th 2016 at 11:52:47 AM

However, we still should be trying to find jobs for everyone. They did screw up, but they're still human beings and need a way to live. Best we can do is give options, even if they don't like 'em. We can't force 'em to work for stuff they don't like, but we can't give their favorite option back.

I just can't support any instance of "turn our back on 'em", though. It's not in me to be apathetic.

Shadow?
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#157084: Nov 20th 2016 at 11:55:18 AM

I don't disagree but there's only so much we can do. Especially if they keep voting against their own interests and refuse to face reality.

Oh really when?
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#157085: Nov 20th 2016 at 11:57:08 AM

[up][up][up] See, that attitude (which incidentally also stems from the Protestat work-ethic) is precisely why (or at least a big part of) so many working class voter cast their ballot for Republicans against their own economic interests.

It's essentially an internalized inversion of Never My Fault; the emphasis on self-reliance and belief that hard work begets prosperity means that, at least from the point of view of rural America, if you aren't prospering, it's your own fault, and you should be working harder.

edited 20th Nov '16 11:58:48 AM by CaptainCapsase

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#157086: Nov 20th 2016 at 12:02:13 PM

Sorry, Cap, but I will forever hold these 60 million idiots in total contempt for what they've done. They don't get a pass for fucking over the human race long term because of their prejudices and ignorance.

New Survey coming this weekend!
Irene (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Crazy Cat Lady
#157087: Nov 20th 2016 at 12:10:07 PM

We shouldn't stop trying to provide them legitimate jobs, regardless.

That's really all we can do, keep trying.

Shadow?
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#157088: Nov 20th 2016 at 12:11:32 PM

Eh, maybe if Clinton's big infrastructure thing went through. But they just gotta realize their industry is dead and it's gonna be dead forever. It's on them at this point.

Given the lack of proper education opportunities and the resulting lack of perspective associated with rural communities I am pondering exactly how one is supposed to get through to them.

Like, it's pretty transparent at this point that this lack of education and perspective is what led them to vote Trump in the first place.

edited 20th Nov '16 12:13:45 PM by Draghinazzo

Jasaiga Since: Jan, 2015
#157089: Nov 20th 2016 at 12:13:19 PM

What I don't get it's what's wrong with changing towards a new job that will likely last and possibly pay more money in the long run AND save the planet simultaneously?

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#157090: Nov 20th 2016 at 12:16:57 PM

Stubbornness and pride.

The impression I'm getting is that a lot of rural and blue-collar americans are essentially still stuck in a cultural bubble. They live in small, predominantly white communities, with only TV and maybe a radio to show them what's going on in the outside world.They want things to be 50's america, but it's not 50's america anymore. And reality is being very quick to remind them of that by eroding that bubble. Their way of life isn't really feasible anymore.

Trump has only accelerated the erosion of that bubble, so they're in for a very rude awakening sooner rather than later.

edited 20th Nov '16 12:17:50 PM by Draghinazzo

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#157091: Nov 20th 2016 at 12:19:10 PM

They probably don't see anything wrong with it either, they just think that the environmentalists are being alarmists and that global warming isn't a thing that's happening, and also that jobs are being stolen from them as power plants move onto other sources. They aren't looking at it the same way.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#157092: Nov 20th 2016 at 12:19:38 PM

It's not so much "economic anxiety" as cultural anxiety.

Disgusted, but not surprised
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#157093: Nov 20th 2016 at 12:38:52 PM

[up] Oh, there's an economic aspect to it as well, along with a reluctance or inability to relocate, there's fewer and fewer jobs out in the country and in many of the rust belt suburbs. Jobs are becoming increasingly concentrated in major coastal metropolises, leaving the American interior out in the cold. Though I suppose you could call that geographic.

edited 20th Nov '16 12:39:07 PM by CaptainCapsase

nervmeister Since: Oct, 2010
#157094: Nov 20th 2016 at 12:39:49 PM

[up]America's slowly becoming Australia. tongue

AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#157095: Nov 20th 2016 at 12:48:11 PM

The impression I'm getting is that a lot of rural and blue-collar americans are essentially still stuck in a cultural bubble. They live in small, predominantly white communities, with only TV and maybe a radio to show them what's going on in the outside world.They want things to be 50's america, but it's not 50's america anymore. And reality is being very quick to remind them of that by eroding that bubble. Their way of life isn't really feasible anymore.

You're more or less right there. It's just as bad in parts of Canada, honestly. The rural area that I'm from is very similar.

Jetyl The Dev Cat from my apartment Since: Jan, 2013 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
The Dev Cat
#157096: Nov 20th 2016 at 1:04:29 PM

so I have a general question. what happens when a government acts completely counter to the cultural momentum of the state?

like, the current US set up is looking at a supremely regressive government for at least 2 years, when the popular culture is only getting more progressive. like, that just sounds like a recipe for government breaking down to me.

I'm afraid I can't explain myself, sir. Because I am not myself, you see?
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#157097: Nov 20th 2016 at 1:07:15 PM

[up] It depends. Will the Republicans nuke the fillibuster, and start mucking around with the electoral process to suppress democratic voting blocs, or will this be a normal Republican administration?

Note that the democrats have very little prospect of taking back the senate much less the house in 2018.

edited 20th Nov '16 1:10:43 PM by CaptainCapsase

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#157098: Nov 20th 2016 at 1:08:10 PM

Why?

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#157099: Nov 20th 2016 at 1:08:40 PM

[up] The democrats are defending like 23 seats versus around 9 for the GOP.

Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#157100: Nov 20th 2016 at 1:09:02 PM

Gerrymandering and control of state governments most likely.

[up]Are you sure you're not think 2018?

edited 20th Nov '16 1:09:48 PM by Mio


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