When Republicans Talk of Poverty...

[calamity]

Few of them dare talk about the rural poor.

...It is not that he critiques the culture of the urban poor (a well-established code for black people); it is that Ryan does so to the exclusion of everyone else.

Does he do that because he’s a racist? Probably not. However, it’s pretty clear he’s doing that because it’s “safe” for someone from his party to bash heavily-Democratic minorities like blacks. If he applied the same critique to rural whites, part of his party’s base, he would likely be losing votes and support from people he needs to win elections.

Why Don’t Republicans Talk More About The Rural Poor? « The Dish

 

[Summerwind]

Few of them dare talk about the rural poor.

If only this were news. I guess it's good that it's being exposed, AGAIN, as this has been the case with Repubs for decades. I can recall actually sort of being part of that hateful perspective back when I was a Repub. The idea conveyed to me at those young years was that we could separate the two because inner city meant a proximity to opportunity whereas deep rural Texas did not have the same proximity and were at the mercy of the weather as most were share croppers or the like.

It wasn't until I worked for a private company doing Texas welfare in east Texas that I began to realize that the explanation was complete crap.

 

[Dittohead not!]

Few of them dare talk about the rural poor.

and the rural poor is made up of.. what again? Rednecks? Lots of black people live in rural areas too.

Around here, it's mostly Hispanics, but then, most of the population, rural, urban, poor, well off, are Hispanics so that may not be a representative sample.

 

[WCH]

There are poor people everywhere but, the vast majority (as with people in general) live in urban areas.

"liberals are far too quick to attack opponents with the sexist/racist/homophobic label"

That I agree with.

 

[Ray410]

Few of them dare talk about the rural poor.

What is it you want done about the poor? Be specific.

 

[whysoserious]

What is it you want done about the poor? Be specific.

I would prefer if we would quit attempting to paint the picture that they are only poor because they are lazy, not smart, or didn't work hard enough. It's easily one of the most fallible arguments I've ever seen and it's embarrassing, frankly.

Let's start with that picture, and then once we've attained that, we can skip to what we could do to actually help their lives.

**Not that you asked me**

 

[opendebate]

Few of them dare talk about the rural poor.

I think it is probably easier to demonize the urban poor. The stereotypes make it easy for most hyperconservatives to loath them. They're just thugs and slackers with no moral compass who are looking for a free ticket. It's harder to put those kinds of tags on more rural folk.

 

[Summerwind]

I think it is probably easier to demonize the urban poor. The stereotypes make it easy for most hyperconservatives to loath them. They're just thugs and slackers with no moral compass who are looking for a free ticket. It's harder to put those kinds of tags on more rural folk.

I agree, it's really weird. I've been dating on and off for the past few years. Using the date sites to meet people as I gypsied around the West to determine where I wanted to relocate now that I'm homeless and unemployed and have specific geographical needs for the biz I'm trying to get started. My age group for dating was 55-70, and unfortunately most were very conservative it turns out.

So as the initial date conversation would ultimately turn somewhat political as we were trying to determine suitability and all... they would rant just exactly, I mean quotably, FoxNews talking points regarding the poor, the homeless, the unemployed. And I say, "uhm, but I'm poor, homeless, and unemployed and have been for a couple of years now. You know this because I was honest about it before we agreed to meet. Are you directing those ideas at me?"

"Well of course not!" they'd say pretty much to a man, "You just fell on hard times. They're a bunch thugs and losers."

Hmmm, I need no other proof to feel that your presentation is 100% accurate. It's not exactly racial, but there's definitely a difference in the way they view an essentially white middle aged woman, and anyone in the inner city.

 

[opendebate]

I agree, it's really weird. I've been dating on and off for the past few years. Using the date sites to meet people as I gypsied around the West to determine where I wanted to relocate now that I'm homeless and unemployed and have specific geographical needs for the biz I'm trying to get started. My age group for dating was 55-70, and unfortunately most were very conservative it turns out.

So as the initial date conversation would ultimately turn somewhat political as we were trying to determine suitability and all... they would rant just exactly, I mean quotably, FoxNews talking points regarding the poor, the homeless, the unemployed. And I say, "uhm, but I'm poor, homeless, and unemployed and have been for a couple of years now. You know this because I was honest about it before we agreed to meet. Are you directing those ideas at me?"

"Well of course not!" they'd say pretty much to a man, "You just fell on hard times. They're a bunch thugs and losers."

Hmmm, I need no other proof to feel that your presentation is 100% accurate. It's not exactly racial, but there's definitely a difference in the way they view an essentially white middle aged woman, and anyone in the inner city.

I think that's because the preconceived ideas they have about the poor and about minorities are in alignment. (lazy, bad work ethic etc) I believe it is nothing more than a way to justify their inhumanity and selfishness. They have to make people undeserving, then it's okay even "right" to turn your back on them.

 

[Summerwind]

I think that's because the preconceived ideas they have about the poor and about minorities are in alignment. (lazy, bad work ethic etc) I believe it is nothing more than a way to justify their inhumanity and selfishness. They have to make people undeserving, then it's okay even "right" to turn your back on them.

Exactly! Unless of course it's a white middle-aged, used to be upper-middle class woman you're sitting across the table from, then of course we are excluded from all that hatred....

Afterthought, BTW those same men seemed to want to assure that I had signed up for all the government assistance I could, which I didn't. I did take SNAP for 1 year and stretched that one year of benefits to supply me food for 3 years, that's just how I roll. But seriously they were to a man trying to get me to go to their state's HHR and get every possible government assistance. One even said if it would help for me to get SSDI he knew a doctor and lawyer that could make that happen.

 

[opendebate]

Exactly! Unless of course it's a white middle-aged, used to be upper-middle class woman you're sitting across the table from, then of course we are excluded from all that hatred....

Afterthought, BTW those same men seemed to want to assure that I had signed up for all the government assistance I could, which I didn't. I did take SNAP for 1 year and stretched that one year of benefits to supply me food for 3 years, that's just how I roll. But seriously they were to a man trying to get me to go to their state's HHR and get every possible government assistance. One even said if it would help for me to get SSDI he knew a doctor and lawyer that could make that happen.

I think this is a really good example of the kind of privilege (which creates advantage) that people don't often realize they have. People will easily give you the benefit of the doubt simply because you are a middle aged white woman. This creates opportunities for you that some simply won't have access too.

 

[Summerwind]

I think this is a really good example of the kind of privilege (which creates advantage) that people don't often realize they have. People will easily give you the benefit of the doubt simply because you are a middle aged white woman. This creates opportunities for you that some simply won't have access too.

Except in employment right now. Middle aged women as a whole, (I'm pretty sure I've read that I'm not the only one) and middle-aged men who are unemployed due to losing a business particularly (ie the primary references they have for their resumes are themselves) are having a real hard time getting jobs quite yet. One fellow I met is so distressed after not finding a job for just over a year, and facing losing his home and any remaining assets, asked to buy my gun so he could just off himself. Of course I didn't give or sell it to him and I haven't heard from him in over a month, so I think maybe he found another avenue. The reason I didn't relinquish the gun is because if I run out of resources, don't get the biz off the ground, and still can't find a job in a year, I'll be using it on myself. I'm way too conservative in my personal values to do anything else. Besides, I was born dead, so I figure every day was one I wasn't supposed to have and in spite of the horrors of my youth, I raised two pretty good kids, ended a legacy of family abuse, and really could die today with a clear conscience.

 

[opendebate]

Except in employment right now. Middle aged women as a whole, (I'm pretty sure I've read that I'm not the only one) and middle-aged men who are unemployed due to losing a business particularly (ie the primary references they have for their resumes are themselves) are having a real hard time getting jobs quite yet. One fellow I met is so distressed after not finding a job for just over a year, and facing losing his home and any remaining assets, asked to buy my gun so he could just off himself. Of course I didn't give or sell it to him and I haven't heard from him in over a month, so I think maybe he found another avenue. The reason I didn't relinquish the gun is because if I run out of resources, don't get the biz off the ground, and still can't find a job in a year, I'll be using it on myself. I'm way too conservative in my personal values to do anything else. Besides, I was born dead, so I figure every day was one I wasn't supposed to have and in spite of the horrors of my youth, I raised two pretty good kids, ended a legacy of family abuse, and really could die today with a clear conscience.

Good luck with everything Summer. Life is hard, there's no doubt about it.

 

[Summerwind]

Good luck with everything Summer. Life is hard, there's no doubt about it.

I gave up on luck, but I still have hard work and tenacity. There's hope yet.

 

[calamity]

I think it is probably easier to demonize the urban poor. The stereotypes make it easy for most hyperconservatives to loath them. They're just thugs and slackers with no moral compass who are looking for a free ticket. It's harder to put those kinds of tags on more rural folk.

Absolutely. Urban poor is the enemy--think Blue districts on the electoral map--rural poor either don't vote or vote "values", translated as solidly red districts.

 

[calamity]

There are poor people everywhere but, the vast majority (as with people in general) live in urban areas.

"liberals are far too quick to attack opponents with the sexist/racist/homophobic label"

That I agree with.

It's a fatal flaw. Liberals, like extreme republicans, push people away who refuse to march to their "tolerance" agenda. A good example is when someone speaks out against transvestite rights--you know like when a M2F trans wants to participate in female sports or use female lockerroms--in an LGBT friendly crowd. Suddenly we're tranny-phobes.

Alec Baldwin... A true liberal if ever there was one--found out recently just how intolerant that crowd is to diverse thought.

I guess die-hard liberals piss off a lot of centrists just like staunch Conservatives do.

 

[calamity]

What is it you want done about the poor? Be specific.

Education would be a good start. Also, when towns die and mining companies leave, helping to people get out would not be a bad idea.

 

[WCH]

It's a fatal flaw. Liberals, like extreme republicans, push people away who refuse to march to their "tolerance" agenda. A good example is when someone speaks out against transvestite rights--you know like when a M2F trans wants to participate in female sports or use female lockerroms--in an LGBT friendly crowd. Suddenly we're tranny-phobes.

Alec Baldwin... A true liberal if ever there was one--found out recently just how intolerant that crowd is to diverse thought.

I guess die-hard liberals piss off a lot of centrists just like staunch Conservatives do.

This is true. What's sad is that in some states the results from extremists attitudes end up in the creation of insane laws that people on all sides have to live with.

 

[Del Zeppnile]

I would prefer if we would quit attempting to paint the picture that they are only poor because they are lazy, not smart, or didn't work hard enough. It's easily one of the most fallible arguments I've ever seen and it's embarrassing, frankly.

Let's start with that picture, and then once we've attained that, we can skip to what we could do to actually help their lives.

I'm all for helping the poor as long as it doesn't cost tax dollars. Helping the poor is what charities are for.

 

[apdst]

Few of them dare talk about the rural poor.

Most rural poor are white Southerners. You hate Southerners.

 

[apdst]

Education would be a good start. Also, when towns die and mining companies leave, helping to people get out would not be a bad idea.

Maybe the government should stop trying to shut down industries they don't like.

 

[apdst]

I think this is a really good example of the kind of privilege (which creates advantage) that people don't often realize they have. People will easily give you the benefit of the doubt simply because you are a middle aged white woman. This creates opportunities for you that some simply won't have access too.

Then, those people need to learn how to exhibit the qualities that employers are looking for.

Believe it, or not, looking and acting like a street punk is the worst way to get a job.

 

[calamity]

Maybe the government should stop trying to shut down industries they don't like.

No argument from me. I like energy. So, I'm a big fan of extracting it.

 

[calamity]

Most rural poor are white Southerners. You hate Southerners.

It's more complicated than that. It's like my thoughts on Lincoln. I hate that he created a Union in his own image, but I like that his actions transformed the country into one which no longer has legal slavery.

In regards to Southerners, I hate backwards thinking, but I love Americans. They are so much better to deal with than Pakistanis or folks from Yemen.

 

[apdst]

No argument from me. I like energy. So, I'm a big fan of extracting it.

A Liberal that favors coal and oil production? You can knock me over with a feather right now!