Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Lonestarblue

(11,906 posts)
Sun Nov 10, 2024, 08:52 AM Nov 10

None of the conventional explanations for Trump's victory stand up to scrutiny

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Emile (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: The Guardian

“I propose a different explanation than inflation qua inflation: the Covid welfare state and its collapse. The massive, almost overnight expansion of the social safety net and its rapid, almost overnight rollback are materially one of the biggest policy changes in American history. For a brief period, and for the first time in history, Americans had a robust safety net: strong protections for workers and tenants, extremely generous unemployment benefits, rent control and direct cash transfers from the American government.

Despite the trauma and death of Covid and the isolation of lockdowns, from late 2020 to early 2021, Americans briefly experienced the freedom of social democracy. They had enough liquid money to plan long term and make spending decisions for their own pleasure rather than just to survive. They had the labor protections to look for the jobs they wanted rather than feel stuck in the jobs they had. At the end of Trump’s term, the American standard of living and the amount of economic security and freedom Americans had was higher than when it started, and, with the loss of this expanded welfare state, it was worse when Biden left office, despite his real policy wins for workers and unions. This is why voters view Trump as a better shepherd of the economy.“

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/09/trump-victory-explanation-scrutiny



Interesting article and the first explanation I’ve seen that makes some sense for why voters think Trump will be better for the economy.
6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
None of the conventional explanations for Trump's victory stand up to scrutiny (Original Post) Lonestarblue Nov 10 OP
The author doesn't seem to understand that they're the same thing FBaggins Nov 10 #1
Did I miss this glorious period of democracy??? travelingthrulife Nov 10 #2
It does seem odd FBaggins Nov 10 #4
Yeah, Farmer-Rick Nov 10 #5
i think the trauma we all had whether we caught covid or not is having an impact on our psyches. mopinko Nov 10 #3
After an alert to the hosts, locking. Emile Nov 10 #6

FBaggins

(27,760 posts)
1. The author doesn't seem to understand that they're the same thing
Sun Nov 10, 2024, 09:02 AM
Nov 10

The inflation was the direct result of the spending.

travelingthrulife

(859 posts)
2. Did I miss this glorious period of democracy???
Sun Nov 10, 2024, 09:05 AM
Nov 10

This seems like total bs.

FBaggins

(27,760 posts)
4. It does seem odd
Sun Nov 10, 2024, 09:08 AM
Nov 10

The people who received “social safety net” funds didn’t have extra to enjoy because it didn’t replace their lost income

The people who felt richer were those of us who retained our income but received government checks anyway. That’s not a “robust safety net”… it’s just inflationary spending

Farmer-Rick

(11,491 posts)
5. Yeah,
Sun Nov 10, 2024, 09:16 AM
Nov 10

I may have gotten $600 during COVID. To do what with? I was stuck at home due to my age and idiot non masking Trumpers surrounding me. I couldn't safely visit family or friends. I worried constantly of catching the disease and possibly dying. I worried constantly that fam

Where was the glorious period of democracy?

mopinko

(71,907 posts)
3. i think the trauma we all had whether we caught covid or not is having an impact on our psyches.
Sun Nov 10, 2024, 09:05 AM
Nov 10

it affected the mental health of the nation.
i think they rigged it, but if it turns out it was legit, i think covid is at the core.

Emile

(30,282 posts)
6. After an alert to the hosts, locking.
Sun Nov 10, 2024, 09:20 AM
Nov 10

Statement of Purpose

Post the latest news from reputable mainstream news websites and blogs. Important news of national interest only. No analysis or opinion pieces. No duplicates. News stories must have been published within the last 12 hours. Use the published title of the story as the title of the discussion thread.

It states in the linked article that it's opinion.

Feel free reposting this in General Discussion

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»None of the conventional ...