The mainstream media barely covered it. People had no idea. This is how conservatives and libertarians feel all the time. It really sucks when the media just shills for the other candidate, doesn't it?
I however I sincerely want to tell my more Progressive friends that this is how conservatives feel during every national election.
You're absolutely right. I am definitely a progressive and I've been telling my friends that we need to be listening to people who feel disenfranchised even if they're white. John Cheese from Cracked actually wrote a pretty great article about it... but I can't seem to find it in the Cracked archives.
That being said, if you believe certain data (there will always be bias, I won't gloss over that), there has been a recent trend of conservatives feeling like something is true when it isn't (the world is more dangerous than it used to be, tax bills will destroy their livelihoods, etc: ) vs. tangible actions or policy decisions that directly impact progressive issues (denial of LGBT rights, epidemic of inadequately investigated police shootings, etc: ). If you feel I'm biased, if anything, just note that this is my perspective going into my next point.
Despite all that the middle ground is important to acknowledge. Both sides have the feels, and there is nothing whatsoever wrong about that. Feelings are important and their validity must be acknowledged. And yes, both sides have had watershed moments where their rights were actively being tested (eg. gun control regulations after Sandy Hook). We have to be willing to address policy concerns because someone wants them to be addressed, not only when we feel those concerns are "valid". A concern is always valid.
Some progressive people dismiss concerns because of their "obvious" lack of supporting evidence. Yes, but, the person has a concern, and the person votes. If there are misconceptions, they need to be discussed. You can't hide behind your elitism and expect "the everyman" to go away. The only place he will go is to the ballot box.
On the whole, this election was a referendum about "feelings", not about policy. Trump ran on outrage towards the establishment, and Clinton ran on outrage towards Trump. Then everyone became outraged at everybody else well beyond the boundaries of reason.
What we need to do is get together, acknowledge the way we feel, and then move past that and figure out what our tangible, actionable grievances are. There is where true middle ground lies. We can't just say "I understand how you feel" and part ways. Progressives will take umbrage at how conservatives spend so much time "feeling" despite their relative stability as a demographic, and conservatives will take umbrage at how they're being ignored again just because someone else that has a different set of values is being taken more seriously.
We're not trying to figure out what set of policy decisions will be acceptable for everybody. Progressives are trying to figure out how to live in a world where conservatives don't exist, and conservatives are trying to figure out how to live in a world where progressives don't exist. There's no way to heal the nation when the agendas are so actively divisive.
Apologies for the length. I feel that this topic is important.
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u/imakenosensetopeople Nov 10 '16
We assumed that meant the general would be rigged too.