How Could this Happen?

 

As the situation in the US worsens and becomes increasingly scary, I was thinking about a dinner of family and friends shortly after the presidential election.  The group was mostly working class democrats.  Teachers, a nurse, an engineer, a social worker, etc.  As far as a I know, none voted for Trump. The general conversation was "How could this happen?"   How could Trump possibly be re-elected?

I asked a few questions.     

• Do you support DEI and affirmative action?  The collective response was that it has been taken too far.  Biden seemed to have a DEI quota even for appointing his cabinet.  The group was opposed.

• Should there be control of immigration and closed borders?  There was a consensus - the open borders that flooded Texas and larger US cities with illegal immigrants was wrong.  The wide open border created  social services crises in Texas and many US cities.  People should be vetted before they are allowed entry.  We don't want MS13 and other criminals.

• Student loan forgiveness?  A resounding no here.  Where's my $10,000?  How can the government just give $10,000 to certain people?  It's not fair.  

• Trans rights? - Everyone agreed that people have the right to change their gender and should not be discriminated against.  Everyone also agreed that allowing a MTF to play on a female sports team is unfair.  One person said they don't want their daughter or wife to be in a locker room with a person who has male genitalia.

• Pronouns? - General consensus is that it's confusing and unnecessary.  There are two genders.  Especially the singular of they.

• Size and efficiency of government?  General consensus that government is bloated and inefficient, government workers don't work very hard and there is a lot of waste.  One family friend worked at the State Dept for thirty years and would tell us shocking stories of government waste.

• Crime?  It's bad and often the punishments are often a joke.  Defunding the police is just ludicrous.

• Abortion?  About half supported women's rights to have choice.  Some Catholics at the table. No one agreed with total ban and the prosecution of doctors who provide abortions.  There are circumstances when it should be allowed.  

• Biden?  Looks senile and never should have run again. 

IMHO, this is how it happened.  This is why Trump won.  So many people I've talked to have told me that they think Trump is a bad person, but they voted for him anyway because of their mostly ideological agreement.  I've been shocked at some of the people (who I thought were smart) and have told me they voted for Trump.

I think Trump is a horrible human being to the core.  

Here's a reality:  The US is fundamentally conservative.  If a Biden or Harris clone arrives to run for President in 2028, they will likely lose.  They are too far left.  If a Republican or Democrat shows up who is a little right of center, they have a shot a winning.  Otherwise people will hold their nose and vote Republican.  We might have JD or Marco as our next President  (unless Trump destroys them first).