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Politics is not just about being right. It's about convincing others you are. That's where the left has failed (if you agree with their positions). Agreed, the

Politics is not just about being right. It's about convincing others you are. That's where the left has failed (if you agree with their positions). Agreed, the left has real ideas for solutions to middle America. But these ideas are not what people want, so the burden is to prove that they work. Unfortunately for many of those ideas, such as universal income, it is still too early to say. Meanwhile other ideas, such as the current implementation of healthcare, is actively being rejected by voters after it was tried, i.e. it does not work (they're like a product customers do not buy, even if it's good for them). You're also right that Trump's voters all not all poor and living in trailer parks (they also weren't all old people). I haven't seen data on socioeconomic background, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were essentially middle of the road. But for good reason, they are afraid for their economic futures. It's a justified fear, and it's good cause for feeling desperate.

hga 10y ago
Unfortunately for many of those ideas, such as universal income, it is still too early to say. As others have noted in this subthread, that's not a desired solution for many of these people. They want to earn their money, not "get a handout". Look at McGovern's 1972 campaign "Demogrant" proposal, $1,000 to every citizen, that's 5,750 in official 2016 BLS CPI dollars. As I saw them at the time, the most effective political ads against him showed toy soldiers, ships and I assume planes, on a board (maybe of world?), and then a hand wiped off a large fraction of them, putting into visual language his (anti-)defense proposals, which I'll note weren't copied by Jimmy Carter, even before the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. But the second most was on the Demogrant, although all I can remember about it is some iron worker, maybe eating his lunch, high up on the side of a building frame, and I think it was in black and white. I don't think enough Americans have changed, especially the Rust Belt ones that carried him over the top, that universal income is going to fly with them. That you think it has a chance suggests one of us is not in touch with these people. Then again, I find the idea personally abhorrent for what I believe to be the same reasons, but on the third hand I'm pretty old, at least by HN standards.
- sudoscript 10y ago
  Oh, I definitely agree. I am not a UBI supporter by any means. Still, I think if the left can prove that it works on a smaller scale, and change people's mind, I'd be willing to reconsider (which is my default position on almost anything -- prove it and I'll believe it). But it's a long shot.

hga 10y ago

Unfortunately for many of those ideas, such as universal income, it is still too early to say. As others have noted in this subthread, that's not a desired solution for many of these people. They want to earn their money, not "get a handout". Look at McGovern's 1972 campaign "Demogrant" proposal, $1,000 to every citizen, that's 5,750 in official 2016 BLS CPI dollars. As I saw them at the time, the most effective political ads against him showed toy soldiers, ships and I assume planes, on a board (maybe of world?), and then a hand wiped off a large fraction of them, putting into visual language his (anti-)defense proposals, which I'll note weren't copied by Jimmy Carter, even before the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. But the second most was on the Demogrant, although all I can remember about it is some iron worker, maybe eating his lunch, high up on the side of a building frame, and I think it was in black and white. I don't think enough Americans have changed, especially the Rust Belt ones that carried him over the top, that universal income is going to fly with them. That you think it has a chance suggests one of us is not in touch with these people. Then again, I find the idea personally abhorrent for what I believe to be the same reasons, but on the third hand I'm pretty old, at least by HN standards.

sudoscript 10y ago
Oh, I definitely agree. I am not a UBI supporter by any means. Still, I think if the left can prove that it works on a smaller scale, and change people's mind, I'd be willing to reconsider (which is my default position on almost anything -- prove it and I'll believe it). But it's a long shot.