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 Trumps 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 Ive seen that makes some sense for why voters think Trump will be better for the economy.
FBaggins
(27,760 posts)The inflation was the direct result of the spending.
travelingthrulife
(859 posts)This seems like total bs.
FBaggins
(27,760 posts)The people who received social safety net funds didnt have extra to enjoy because it didnt replace their lost income
The people who felt richer were those of us who retained our income but received government checks anyway. Thats not a robust safety net
its just inflationary spending
Farmer-Rick
(11,491 posts)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)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
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It states in the linked article that it's opinion.
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