Why do blue collar Americans vote against their economic interest?

Question

Are Americans so swayed by negativity and fear tactics that they will give up their constitutional rights and economic security for "right wing manufactured" moral rights? Do middle class American families making under $150,000 a year see their dollars doing more than they did eight years ago? With foreclosures, inflation, and unemployment at an all time high, how could any average American vote Republican?

Answer 1

History has shown the larger government becomes the more unscrupulous people are attracted to government officials and the more likely there is for chicanery.  Big government means big money and big bureaucracy.  Scams and other government ripoffs result leaving the taxpayer holding the bag.  Has the Department of Education improved the education in this country.  No.  More dropouts than ever.  Has the Department of Energy developed a comprehensive energy program.  No.  We depend on foreign countries for 70% of our energy.  Has the Environmental Protection Agency done its job.  No.  Has FEMA done it's job.  No.  Has the Department of Labor improved the lot for American workers.  No.  Congress never is held to account for all the many many programs and departments they create.  Instead, when something doesn't fix the problem, they create ANOTHER department or program.  Blue collar Americans like white collar Americans need to realize government is not able to solve every little problem.  Conservatives seek smaller government and when we slim the bloated government we will solve many of our problems.

Answer 2

My blue collar hunny works his butt off, and should reap the benefits of that hard work. His money shouldn't be taken from him and handed to someone who chose to ignore their education and/or chooses not to work. The majority of foreclosures are due to bad decisions by the individual - the blame can't be placed on Republicans or Democrats. But people who make good decisions (like me and my blue collar hunny) are taking advantage of the opportunity to buy a home while they are on sale.

He votes Republican because it IS in his best interest. But even if it weren't, it is in the best interest of the nation as a whole.

Answer 3

Voting for a Democrat is voting against you own interests if you work hard for a living. At at 5.5% unemployment is no where near an all time high, in fact is closer to record lows but nice try.  As for foreclosures, seem to remember those rates being almost as high in the mid 90's during the Clinton years, seem to recall buying my 1st house for a sweet price too. How can any WORKING American vote Democrat?

Answer 4

you talk about fear tactics, then spew them yourself.

Answer 5

Mainly it is due to the two parties, neither of which is doing anything to benefit the middle class.  If the blue collar workers are shifted down a notch to the welfare class, then the Democrats might help them.

If they move up a notch to the wealthy class, the Republicans might help them.

If they voted for a Libertarian, their taxes would be reduced, deficit spending would end and their jobs would not be outsourced and illegal immigrants would not provide employers a cheaper labor source than wages American blue collar workers can live on.

Answer 6

Ideal Republican policies tend to be more economically friendly by encouraging capitalism, reducing taxes (for everyone), and shrinking the federal government. What are the Democrats offering? They want to raise taxes, punish capitalism and expand government programs which will require more taxes as those programs inevitably expand.

Foreclosures are due to individuals borrowing more than they could afford, inflation is the result of low interest rates which are set by the Federal Reserve, not by any political party and unemployment is nowhere near all time highs.  

Answer 7

Their interests are low taxes, and that's what McCain will give them.

Answer 8

Because many of us are smart enough to know the Democrats are selling snake oil.

Low taxes will not only help me but also my employer which also helps me.

Answer 9

The economic interests of blue collar americans is for the companies they work for to stay viable and competitive in a global economy. That will only happen under a Republican president.

Higher taxes to pay for social programs will stifle the economy. We need smaller government and fiscal responsibility.

Unemployment is not at an all time high. Foreclosures are up because the lending rules were relaxed under Bill Clinton, and banks were encouraged to loan money to people who could not afford it. Inflation is up because fuel costs are up. Fuel costs are up because we won't drill our own oil.

I think maybe you have been swayed by negativity and fear tactics.  

Answer 10

If you break the economic engine of the country, no one will do well.  The republicans have lowered everyones tax rates.  The democrats raise taxes.

fs

Answer 11

Home Foreclosures:  It's a fact that there were many people taken advantage of by crooked brokers and bankers...I hope they're all caught and rightfully punished.  However, the vast majority of foreclosures are investment properties or houses bought by people who are--I'm sorry to say--too stupid to be buying houses.  There is a very simple equation to determine the exact amount your mortgage payments will reach at it's absolute highest...it's a federal law that limits how much an interest rate may go up in a certain period of time, so this is a constant.  I would think that anyone making the largest and most important purchase of their life would want to get all of the info that they possibly could.  On top of that, how many people REALLY had to move?  How many of these people could have avoided this situation entirely if they didn't take full advantage of incredible interest rates and a strong economy?  Seems like THEY are to blame (again...not ALL, but a d**n big number).  You make it out to be like it was a political decision to make the real estate market tank.  Fact is, it's a cycle, just like every other financial market, and it can be very easily trended even by the most simple minded among us.  

Unemployment--while rising in response to rising fixed costs for most companies--is still incredibly low.  People want to compare this economy to the extremes of the Great Depression...where unemployment reached 25%.  The current world unemployment estimate is 30% (seems we beat that) and every lefty's darling, the European Union is at almost 7%.  Most economists consider 3-4% unemployment FULL employment, or ideal, considering all of the variables created by unemployment benefits and an inherently lazy society who prefer to milk the system rather than participate in it.  

Inflation is happening in response to the dollar and interest rates, both of which are moving in opposite directions from before in order to curb the current inflation trends...pay attention.  

And gas and oil?  Are you a War For Oil type?  Because I'm fairly certain that the oil market has many more important variables to deal with than the big, bad republican, like shoddy energy policy, high taxes (both gas and corporate), the binding and stalling of R&D within the oil companies, the complacency of dealing with oil suppliers who are sworn enemies and millenniums of conflict in the most oil rich region on earth that have nothing to do with politics or economics, but spirits in the sky that none of us have met.  I'm gonna guess those are our biggest problems...not partisan politics.  

How can the average person still feel like anyone in Washington cares about them anymore?  All of this change and hope talk, and what did you get...the same thing both parties have offered for decades now.  Give up and demand a REAL change, not just sound bites.