Being mixed in with “those people” (not that I'm voting for Trump, just that I'm kind of surrounded by Trump supporters) let me add some nuance here.
- take a pill for that lump
Relationship with health care is complex. On the one hand, many people do take that pill for this lump or that because they’re afraid of what it can be and are hoping for an easy fix. They often trust their doctors because doctors are supposed to be a source of authority.
On the other hand, a lot of the times they don’t go to the doctor. They don’t trust those pills will work. They don’t trust the doctors know what they’re talking about. They see all of those lawsuit ads on TV and all of those medicine ads with a novel’s worth of notices and disclaimers. They don’t have insurance and when they do they’re afraid of the bureaucratic process of handling billing. Many just don’t go out of apathy. If I took a poll of my peers and asked them the last time they’ve been to the dentist for example, I’d half bet the average would number in three or four years. Maybe longer.
- cheer for this team and you're a winner too
Sports are a source of regional and civic pride. When we support our local high school football teams, we’re supporting our kids and our cities. When we support major league teams, we’re bonding with each other and create a source of excitement. The world series is going on right now. Chicago and Cleveland are probably bursting with energy and enthusiasm at the moment. By vicariously enjoying the success others have, and encouraging them to succeed and showing support, we make ourselves feel better.
- blame those "other" people for your limitations
Not touching that one. Obviously.
- "Immigrants are taking your jobs!" vs "Immigrants are a burden on the welfare system!"
"Reduce government spending!" vs "Our corn farmers need subsidies to stay afloat!"
"Reduce the size of government!" vs "Legislate against lifestyles I don't identify with!"
"Environmental regulation is killing business!" vs "My tap water is giving my baby cancer!"
"Products are too expensive!" vs "Trade deals are hurting our local industry!"
"Provide a level playing field for business!" vs "But give me this subsidy, or I won't vote for you!"
There are a lot of problems and concerns in the world and no easy answers and not everyone holds contradictory opinions, even if they appear to be so on the surface. Many times, they're a lot more nuanced. Just because someone or a group of someones doesn't strike you as sophisticated, it doesn't mean that they aren't.
- Billybob is arming himself to overthrow the government that gives him the social security and disability checks he uses to buy guns and ammo.... but first he's gonna stop at Arby's in his Ford F-350 that has never been off-road or pulled anything more than a trailer with jet skis, and use some of his sweet sweet government check to feed the gaping maw of his nagging self doubt that he isn't actually a special snowflake, at all, and may be culpable for his own lot in life.
If you’re ever on the road and find that you might be in Redneckistan and you know one of us Hubskiers is near by, shoot up a flare. We got some good folks to introduce you to.
Thanks for the thoughts. And I share them, as well. Like I told KB, I have an extremely close friend who is an honest-to-God Iowa corn farmer, and we have these talks. I bought a motorcycle a couple of weekends ago, and riding home I rode through Trump territory. It's no more than 40 minutes, MAX, from my house.
Hell, my MOM was head of the western states' US Chamber of Commerce for 15 years, and the only more Republican organization than that is probably the Heritage Foundation. We avoid talking politics because it never goes well.
- They don’t have insurance and when they do they’re afraid of the bureaucratic process of handling billing.
I basically have insurance now for the first time in my life. This describes me perfectly. I know I have it, but I also know it won't pay for shit, so I don't use it. Ever. I pay cash out of pocket. Out of simple fear of the system.
But Americans have been raised to believe anything can be cured with a pill. Take a close look at the opiate addiction problem, for a microcosm of what is wrong with the entire way medicine is practiced in the USA. And yet, the moment the Democrats look at a Republican's program, say, "Hey. Now there's a Good Idea!" and then go to implement it... who tells us every single day that it is destroying America? Yeah.
- Sports are a source of regional and civic pride.
And a huge scam, that has been perpetrated by the construction industry. And, the way sports are supported in the USA, are simply a brutal form of tribalism. When I played rugby overseas, after a match both teams went out the bar and got drunk together and talked shit about the game. Everyone walked off the field and left the game on the field.
Americans? They riot. And brutalize each other. All so the construction industry can build more ridiculous shit on the back of the taxpayers, by selling them a load of bullshit.
- Just because someone or a group of someones doesn't strike you as sophisticated, it doesn't mean that they aren't.
This is where the Republicans and Democrats really differ. (Well, until Trump.) The Republicans have always had a well-oiled machine that could change direction on a dime. Spin anything.
With the Democrats? Well, as they say, the easiest way to beat a Democrat is to put two of them in a room together.
Ha ha ha.
But seriously, Democrats (who I do not identify with, by the way) are wonks. They argue details and nuances and projection methods.
Republicans just make shit up that sounds good in a sound byte - even if it contradicts their position yesterday - and then suddenly every one of the talking heads is using the exact same script. It's ridiculous. They'll say anything because of their cynical view of the American populace as being dumb and easily distracted.
- If you’re ever on the road and find that you might be in Redneckistan and you know one of us Hubskiers is near by, shoot up a flare. We got some good folks to introduce you to.
I've got lotsa good folks in the flyover states, but am always happy to add more to the list!
- And a huge scam, that has been perpetrated by the construction industry. And, the way sports are supported in the USA, are simply a brutal form of tribalism. When I played rugby overseas, after a match both teams went out the bar and got drunk together and talked shit about the game. Everyone walked off the field and left the game on the field.
Americans? They riot. And brutalize each other. All so the construction industry can build more ridiculous shit on the back of the taxpayers, by selling them a load of bullshit.
Uhm. I'm sorry. What point are you trying to make here? That sports are imperfect and rednecks are at fault? You're from Seattle, right? A stereotypical liberal haven full of rich millenials and the tech elite? Do the names "Seahawks" or "Mariners" mean anything to you? Did a bunch of conservative business cronies sneak on to the city board overnight and vote for policies to create and support these teams? Did the same thing happen over in Boston, home of the stereotypical ivy league liberals? It's not a Republican/Democrat thing bro, it's a politicians are a bunch of fuck heads thing.
As for Europe? Dude, the UK coined the term Hooliganism when it comes to sports. Hell, in Europe and Africa, racism and soccer crowds seem to go hand in hand.
And fucking shit. Sports isn't the only industry taking advantage of Americans. Healthcare costs rake millions of people over the coals every year and Obamacare was a sellout to the insurance agency. The banking crisis is just the tip of the iceberg of Americans getting screwed and I'm pretty positive it was Bill Clinton who repealed Glass-Steagall which lead to that crisis. You see any Republicans creating laws to fight predatory lending? Probably not. Then again, I don't see any Democrats tripping over themselves in an attempt to do the same.
Oh the whole sports stadium scam is a personal annoyance of mine.
Like the Olympics, their construction is sold to the city as a big money-making venture, so there is a referendum and the public is convinced to vote for it. I was going to link to all the recent articles about the lack of value these new uber-stadiums actually bring to cities, but a simple Google search of "stadium fiasco" brings up tens of thousands of results.
Heck, I remember the Kingdome getting paid off 15 years after the building was demolished and replaced by a new stadium.
- You're from Seattle, right? A stereotypical liberal haven full of rich millenials and the tech elite?
That's funny, actually.
All those tech companies came from somewhere else about 10 years ago.
I grew up here in the 1970's when most Americans couldn't find Seattle on a map, and when our industry was logging and being a shipping port. The day Boeing passed Weyerhauser in employees, revenues, etc, was a big shift. 1st Ave through the center of town was known as the most perverted place in the USA, with more strip clubs and XXX rated movie theaters than most states.
Shit. I used to ride dirtbikes in the forest where Microsoft was eventually built.
Those millenials you talk about? The ones that moved here from somewhere else to work for Silicon Valley companies like Google, Adobe, Expedia, and the others? Ten years ago they were wearing diapers.
Yeah, there are a lot of hipster Amazon programmers wandering around like they own the place, but their entire life takes place within a 5 mile diameter circle. Step outside of downtown Seattle, and they simply do not exist.
Same as Minneapolis. Or Austin.
- Did a bunch of conservative business cronies sneak on to the city board overnight and vote for policies to create and support these teams?
In actual fact, yes.