Whether the result of blind luck, serendipity, or careful and calculated mind control through constant messaging, Republicans own the souls of the poor, working class.
Amongst the struggling working poor, it is rare to find a democrat, much less a liberal, and there are no card carrying Bolsheviks to be found (most do not even know what a Bolshevik is). With few exceptions, they are cold, bitter conservatives filled with Hannity-speak. They blather dronish, anti-government rants ad nauseum. If they have progressive tendencies, it is unspoken.
Given the actual history of the middle class and the Democratic party's prominent role in creating the middle class (the New Deal, the Great Society and pro-union legislation), the working poor's allegiance to Reaganomics and to libertarian boloney (liberty and freedom) is a grand victory for the GOP.
"I am sort of an independent asshole," said Sam, a 49-year-old retail employee. Sam rents a bedroom of a house and shares the kitchen and bathroom with two roommates. It is all he can afford. The defiant conservative does not believe in the minimum wage, loaths unions, and cannot afford the healthcare premium offered at his job.
Right wing talking points race from his mouth. "If we raise the minimum wage, a cheap loaf of bread will go from $1.00 to $2.50 and nobody will be able to afford a Big Mac." When given the truth about raising the minimum wage to $12 (a Big Mac is estimated to go up about 8 cents), Sam just shakes his head defiantly signaling the end of the conversation.
"I should not have to pay for someone else's healthcare. I have been working since I was fourteen and always paid my own way," said Dave, a 45-year-old co-worker of Sam.
Dave is the father of two adult daughters. The eldest had a serious health incident in 2013. She was in and out of the hospital and had months of therapy. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), she is covered by Dave's healthcare coverage until age 26 (a change written in the law).
So, it is ok for everyone else to pay - through higher premiums - for Dave's daughter's healthcare, but not for Dave to support others in need. You see why? Dave has always done everything on his own (sarcasm inserted here). Note: Dave had a union job for the best seventeen financial years of his life. Probably a coincidence...
If challenged on his political views, Dave loves to throw out the old tried and true insult, "You sound like a Commy. We need Reagan to come back and clean this mess up." Yeah, let's bring back the godfather of the trickle-down movement to save the middle class.
When challenged about his ability to be open minded about differing opinions, he said, "I am open minded. I just do not want to hear it." Conversation over.
"I hate unions!" raves Willy. The 30-year-old, non-voting husband and father is living paycheck to paycheck, as his wife has lost her job and he is now the sole provider. Willy and his family have taken to selling off furniture to put food on the table (if he has not sold it).
It has been four years since Willy has seen a raise. He says until unions start going on strike, wages will not go up for him either. When asked if this gives unions any favor in his mind, the answer is, "I hate unions." Conversation over.
It was not difficult to find the pro-conservatives mentioned above. They represent 75 percent of the afternoon staff in a department of a retail store. I have heard spins on these stories hundreds of times. In spite of the working poor's tendency to cut off its nose to spite their face, the Republican's messaging machine has won the class war. Unfortunately, these type of conservatives heavily populate work environments. They dominate lunch time conversations; they are not rare.
Hey Democrats, I heard Frank Luntz is looking for a job.