An equally good question is why to poor people vote republican? Because they want to belong. And through financial osmosis people who vote republican become rich, right? That is the thinking anyway.
Wait, where did you read that poor people vote republican? I would've guessed otherwise.
The Logic of “Stupid” Poor People
11–20 of 214 posts
Re: The Logic of “Stupid” Poor People
#12Re: The Logic of “Stupid” Poor People
#13Irrationality of consumers is great for the retail economy, though, and while it defies years of economic logic, behavioral economics has been in the spotlight for many things these days, more so than simple rational-consumer theory.
(perhaps it's simply the logic of smart poor people in a stupid/deranged society?)
Re: The Logic of “Stupid” Poor People
#14An equally good question is why to poor people vote republican? Because they want to belong. And through financial osmosis people who vote republican become rich, right? That is the thinking anyway.
"Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires." -- John Steinbeck
Re: The Logic of “Stupid” Poor People
#15An equally good question is why to poor people vote republican? Because they want to belong. And through financial osmosis people who vote republican become rich, right? That is the thinking anyway.
"Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires." -- John Steinbeck
Re: The Logic of “Stupid” Poor People
#16An equally good question is why to poor people vote republican? Because they want to belong. And through financial osmosis people who vote republican become rich, right? That is the thinking anyway.
Wait, where did you read that poor people vote republican? I would've guessed otherwise.
Then, messaging to voters becomes "I LOVE GOD!" instead of "All your money flows up to me." The "poor people vote republican" line of thought follows from people believing poorer/more-religious people vote only on religion above all else without regard for how much their representatives also want to exploit/maim/kill/cancer them.
Recent evidence doesn't entirely support that conclusion, but it makes for a convenient story.
What we end up with is the representatives not keeping up to date with reality. The reps stay "god god god religion god god jesus" while the world drifted more to "Uh, actually everything is pretty okay. Just stay out of our way." You can see that effect in southern "we hate all the gays" politicians while most real people don't want oppression/repression/persecution of them at all.
But—to get your way—all you have to do is scaretivate (scare+motivate) a small vocal base into voting for your overton candidate. (See: 2004 GWB election where "kill the gays" was set as a constitutional amendment in a dozen states along with "Vote for GWB!" — Drag the crazies out to vote for their delusional pet social bigot issue while also catapulting your candidate pet back to victory (well, victory against a droning sedated sloth, but victory nonetheless))
Re: The Logic of “Stupid” Poor People
#17Anyone who wants to "belong" to a league of people who would waste 2500$ on a handbag IS stupid. Whether they are poor or not is immaterial. It is also a huge leap to say that being "presentable" is the same as wasting money you do not have on status symbols. They aren't the same thing.
Re: The Logic of “Stupid” Poor People
#18Firstly, you are dismissisive to the point of bigotry if you ever refer to someone as stupid, I don't care if they are rich or poor. And while I'm all for personal responsibility and accountability...how many classes in public schools teach things like money and lifestyle management? Home Ec? Pretty sure all I learned there was how to cook and omlette. This country refuses to blame the parents yet we do nothing to as…
Re: The Logic of “Stupid” Poor People
#19I read the whole article and do not agree. Here in Silicon Valley the importance of appearances has become marginal. Yes, you have to be clean, presentable, but that's it. After that you need the skills, talent, knowledge and aptitude to perform your job. And you need that everyday, to keep your job, in this hyper-competitive environment. I was a poor starving immigrant student at one point. I did fine without even m…
Re: The Logic of “Stupid” Poor People
#20I personally think people make bad decisions to buy things or do things not on the premise of it being an "investment", but because most of us are very weak.
We do the things we do because we are victims to advertising and peer pressure. You think they spend billions on advertising for nothing?
If you read this and you are thinking, "No I am not." You are 1) in denial 2) above average. If you are above average, then you should realize averages exist because half of the people are below it.