I got just a few thoughts about US politics on the eve of the Iowa primary. I am ashamed to say that I cannot get excited about the 2016 presidential election. I think it is because I am still demoralized from watching Scott Walker destroy my home state of Wisconsin. In fact, in 44 years of closely watching presidential politics I have never been this disinterested. (Yes, I was paying attention in 1972.)
I could type a paragraph about Citizens United, corporate money, voter suppression, gerrymandering, and other issues that discourage voters, but I think we at DKos have covered that ground.
Why am I so discouraged? No work and no hope. In the 1980’s the family farmers lost their land, and the major high-wage factory jobs were sent overseas. In the 1990’s some of us got to work in the tech sector, but it collapsed in 2001. For a while I worked at companies that no longer offered pensions to NEW hires, but offered 401(k) and health insurance. But now, IT employers are offering no benefits at all – not even health insurance.
So … I am the Target Audience for the Trump Campaign: the older, White, unemployed and jaded worker. I am supposed to follow Trump’s lead and “Hate All but the Right Folks” – and that will “Make America Great Again.” (Cue Tom Lehrer song.)
Unfortunately for Trump, I know who is responsible for collapse of the US job market. I won’t fall for the age-old trick of getting working people to turn on each other.