The Thoughts of a Frumpy Professor

............................................ ............................................ A blog devoted to the ramblings of a small town, middle aged college professor as he experiences life and all its strange variances.

Wednesday, November 09, 2016

Still Reeling

Lost



I am traditionally very used to the ups and downs of elections.  Some we win and some we lose.  That is a given. 

However, I am having a REALLY hard time with the election result today.  I truly feel physically ill.  I have no focus, and I have no sense of hope or joy.  To me, it very much feels similar to the way I have felt after a relative or friend has died.  This is a very unexpected type of feeling for me.

I think that my gut reaction is reflective in part of how the election of Donald Trump was so very, very unanticipated by me that I cannot believe this has happened.  In my wildest nightmares, I never thought that he would have been able to be elected. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

In thinking this through, I think that unfortunately, what caused Hillary Clinton to lose was not really her actions or her opinions, or even her scandals.  What I believe caused her to lose was one very specific lack of action on her part:

1.  Hillary did a good job of showing support and care for many of her traditional Democratic supportive groups (the college educated, various minority groups, etc).

2.  However, Hillary in many ways virtually ignored one of her traditional Democratic supportive groups.  This group is the blue collar worker and the unionized blue collar worker.    I believe that had she shown care and support for the blue collar worker plight, she would have been able to win.

The one clear, real message Donald Trump made was one that expressed support and care for the blue collar worker.... the problems with NAFTA, GATT, and other such free trade agreements that has decimated the previously stable, blue collar sector.  The blue color worker and their family's standar of living has been in decline since Reagan's union busting policies of the 1980s and was further painful through Bill Clinton's work on NAFTA and GATT in the 1990s.  I know many blue collar folks who have felt hurt and ostracized for the last 35 years.  It has been very, very rough for a helluva lot of folks, but is a group most politicians are usually unwilling to talk about.  

Donald Trump will likely not do a damn thing to help the blue collar worker.  He will likely be a puppet for some more traditional Republicans working behind the scenes.  But, the blue collar workers elected him because he was able to make them believe he cared about them. 

Hillary never focused on the blue collar worker.  She, IMO, felt they were locked in to vote for her and so did not warrant any care or attention.  This was her downfall, IMO.

I feel rudderless.  I feel hurt.  I actually feel very worried and frightened, mostly because Donald Trump is a wild card and I cannot anticipate what he may do.  I fear the next four years will be frightening chaos.   I am angry at Hillary for not trying harder.  I think she should have worked to speak to the blue collar worker.  I think she should have formed a Clinton/Sanders partnership.  If those two things had happened, the results, I believe, would be now very different.  She would have gotten blue collar support if she showed she cared, and she would have gotten more of the millennial's support if Bernie would have been on the ticket.  

PipeTobacco

10 Comments:

Blogger MRMacrum said...

Process the pain. Take your time. Then move on. we have definitely taken a new fork in the road. Being sharp and ready for it is what we need to focus on.

Wednesday, 09 November, 2016  
Blogger Sharon said...

Hillary was her own worst enemy and that's all I am going to say about her besides the fact that I never liked her.

I'm sure the powers that really be are already working on pulling out the wedgie they received in the early morning hours.

Wednesday, 09 November, 2016  
Blogger E. Rosewater said...

face it, we have become ungovernable.

Wednesday, 09 November, 2016  
Blogger peppylady (Dora) said...

I have to say I was shock by the result. But I do have some worried about the out come but also this isn't the place to talk about them.
There more to life then politics. Work on my crafts and took a short walk.
Also had trouble sleeping last night.
Coffee is on

Wednesday, 09 November, 2016  
Blogger Jane said...

https://www.good.is/articles/moore-five-point-plan

Wednesday, 09 November, 2016  
Blogger Gorilla Bananas said...

Very persuasive analysis, Professor, given the results in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan. I'm confident that American democracy will be strong enough to curb and ultimately shake off a con man like Trump.

Thursday, 10 November, 2016  
Blogger yellowdoggranny said...

I agree..but there is nothing that Trump did or stood for should have made them vote for him.
thanks for stopping by and saying howdy..

Thursday, 10 November, 2016  
Blogger BBC said...

Are you liberal democratic drama queen intellectuals adjusting to your trauma yet? I think shit just got interesting.

Friday, 11 November, 2016  
Blogger Forsythia said...

I am not happy about the outcome of the election, but we'll muddle through, It will be an interesting four years.

Saturday, 12 November, 2016  
Blogger BBC said...

On December 19, the Electors of the Electoral College will cast their ballots. This could change the outcome, interesting shit. Hey, it has happened before, they can decide to change how they vote.

Saturday, 12 November, 2016  

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