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It does explain something of a paradox - why do poor middle Americans support policies that harm them in the short term? Why does the guy who lost his job when

It does explain something of a paradox - why do poor middle Americans support policies that harm them in the short term? Why does the guy who lost his job when a PE firm bought his factory vote for a party that supports a very low tax rate on the PE carried income? (This is ignoring whether it's right or wrong in the broader sense) Why don't the poorer 51% unanimously vote tax hikes on the wealthier 49%? I assumed it was because they still wanted to support the party that appeared stronger on defense, or lined up with their social values. This article uses behavioral economics to suggest a different interpretation.

yummyfajitas 15y ago
However, this article fails to explain a similar paradox - why do rich blue state Americans support policies that harm them in the short run? I've always gone with "expressing tribal affiliation" as a good explanation. Since your vote doesn't matter, why not try to raise your status by voting in order to raise your status and signal tribal loyalties?
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- jbooth 15y ago
  In my personal case, it's a belief that I benefit from a better national infrastructure, a balanced budget, and a more stable society where we don't have a ton of people on the verge of poverty. I don't support taxes that are "redistributive" and don't think we really have them.. to the extent that the rich pay higher taxes (which they barely do at all on a % of income basis), they're getting more value from the system.
  - ddw 15y ago
    Exactly, and I wish more people would understand this. You benefit from society/government not only when you get a check from it in the mail, but when you can profit from it indirectly. Once people agree with this premise, everything changes. Unfortunately 30+ years of Reagan's "government is the enemy" agenda have pushed us back too far.
jerf 15y ago
"why do poor middle Americans support policies that harm them in the short term?" Actually, asking the question that way leads you to another answer; they believe the policies will benefit them in the long term. Some people may observe, for instance, that an extensive welfare state may have an apparently economic beneficial effect in strictly monetary terms for those on the bottom but that it has a very corrosive effect on almost every other social measurement. Or that the growth penalty you take in supporting the welfare state is complicit in itself keeping the welfare recipients poor enough to need welfare in the first place. Or an awareness either conscious or otherwise that a democracy can't survive long with the majority voting themselves benefits from a minority, regardless of what other arguments in its favor it may have. This paradox is better phrased as "people are voting against what I think is their best interest, what gives?" in which case the answer immediately becomes obvious: They don't agree about what constitutes their self-interest. And given that they are where they are and you aren't, perhaps one might take at least a moment to consider a motive other than stupidity or error.

yummyfajitas 15y ago

However, this article fails to explain a similar paradox - why do rich blue state Americans support policies that harm them in the short run? I've always gone with "expressing tribal affiliation" as a good explanation. Since your vote doesn't matter, why not try to raise your status by voting in order to raise your status and signal tribal loyalties?

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jbooth 15y ago
In my personal case, it's a belief that I benefit from a better national infrastructure, a balanced budget, and a more stable society where we don't have a ton of people on the verge of poverty. I don't support taxes that are "redistributive" and don't think we really have them.. to the extent that the rich pay higher taxes (which they barely do at all on a % of income basis), they're getting more value from the system.
- ddw 15y ago
  Exactly, and I wish more people would understand this. You benefit from society/government not only when you get a check from it in the mail, but when you can profit from it indirectly. Once people agree with this premise, everything changes. Unfortunately 30+ years of Reagan's "government is the enemy" agenda have pushed us back too far.

jerf 15y ago

"why do poor middle Americans support policies that harm them in the short term?" Actually, asking the question that way leads you to another answer; they believe the policies will benefit them in the long term. Some people may observe, for instance, that an extensive welfare state may have an apparently economic beneficial effect in strictly monetary terms for those on the bottom but that it has a very corrosive effect on almost every other social measurement. Or that the growth penalty you take in supporting the welfare state is complicit in itself keeping the welfare recipients poor enough to need welfare in the first place. Or an awareness either conscious or otherwise that a democracy can't survive long with the majority voting themselves benefits from a minority, regardless of what other arguments in its favor it may have. This paradox is better phrased as "people are voting against what I think is their best interest, what gives?" in which case the answer immediately becomes obvious: They don't agree about what constitutes their self-interest. And given that they are where they are and you aren't, perhaps one might take at least a moment to consider a motive other than stupidity or error.