dagblog - Comments for "Explaining White Working-Class Republicans or Why Bernie is Best"

It's not about winning - it's

PeraclesPlease — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 06:23:15 +0000

In reply to I'll give you this PP you're

It's not about winning - it's about informing and persuading. If you expand your view with new understanding to improve it, you've won - same for me. Sadly, I suspect "worn me down" implies something different.

I'll give you this PP you're

HSG — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 00:36:35 +0000

In reply to Let's see Vietnam or

I'll give you this PP you're relentless and have worn me down. You win.

Let's see Vietnam or

PeraclesPlease — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 22:26:16 +0000

In reply to People believe in creationism

Let's see Vietnam or Guatemala compete with John Deere, Caterpillar or Boeing.

If you never get into specifics, you think the reality is much scarier than it is. We only have 140 million non-farm employees. Caterpillar and Boeing have over 100,000 employees each. General Electric has 300,000. United Technologies has 200,000. These are all doing quite well, whatever wages there are abroad.

Wages are based on factors like the particular industry, skillsets required, amount of production, competition & demand, along with bargaining power. You look at 1 factor, but it's certainly not very informative.

Despite 70 straight months of job growth, wages have not grown very much. Still, wages earned are far above the countries earning 1/20th, and with unemployment down to 5%, we're almost back to full employment. (Long term unemployed or those who've given up looking still means full employment isn't here yet).

People believe in creationism

HSG — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 21:26:32 +0000

In reply to Was there something you

People believe in creationism. So I guess I shouldn't be surprised that people actually believe that "free trade" with countries where wages are one twentieth of what they are here isn't a problem for our working class.

When looking at this Pew

moat — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 21:19:27 +0000

In reply to Explaining White Working-Class Republicans or Why Bernie is Best

When looking at this Pew Research Study, it doesn't seem like the views of those most strongly aligned to their parties are going to change their thinking about the causes of economic suffering on the basis of the Sander's platform. If their is room for persuasion, it would seem to be in that group they call, Less Partisan and Less Predictable who are nonetheless engaged enough politically to actually vote.

As a contrast of volatility conditioning the GOP message, this study claiming Trump's appeal relies on a substantial number who are not typically considered "engaged" is interesting.

(edit added missing link).

Was there something you

PeraclesPlease — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 21:06:02 +0000

In reply to The chart shows a huge drop

Was there something you updated?

The figures are from the St. Louis Fed - hope you're not going to pick a fight with them, seeing as anyone who has more than $5 in their pocket seems suspect.

The chart shows a huge drop

HSG — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 20:12:47 +0000

In reply to On Trade Agreements from

The chart shows a huge drop-off in manufacturing jobs since NAFTA was enacted but you somehow have concluded that it really was good for working people. Oh, now I understand, the National Association of Manufacturers says it so that must make it true. The Heritage Foundation, the US Chamber of Commerce, and Forbes all agree too. What could possibly go wrong? For a contrary viewpoint. http://www.epi.org/publication/fast-track-to-lost-jobs-free-trade-agreem...

Gerrymandering is only

PeraclesPlease — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 19:53:14 +0000

In reply to You're trying to deflect the

Gerrymandering is only illegal if the courts disallow it, which hasn't happened too often. Yes, Democrats have done it too. The Republicans have been much more concerted and successful at it of late. Both practices of course are evil.

You're trying to deflect the

Peter — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 19:40:50 +0000

In reply to There's more to politics than

You're trying to deflect the conversation towards another topic that may or may not be relevant to minority voter turnout. In fact Black voter turnout increased the most in the Reddest states in 2012.

Gerrymandering is illegal and even in Texas some of their redistricting was rejected by the courts. Are you claiming that only Republicans use redistricting for control of their legislatures and that Democrats, when in power, refrain from using this political tool?

The chart shows a huge dro

PeraclesPlease — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 19:13:31 +0000

In reply to The chart shows a huge drop

The chart shows a huge drop-off in manufacturing jobs since the dotcom crash, prolonged when Bush was elected, *not* since NAFTA was enacted. There's a 6 year difference. (manufacturing jobs & exports held tight even during the 95 peso crisis)

Suggest you return to the graph-reading portion of your studies for revision.

Re: the EPI, the chart shows the numbers as the guys stated - no job loss for 6 years after NAFTA started. To mangle Groucho, "who ya gonna believe, you/the EPI or your lying eyes?"