I’m Better Off, but Not the Country

 

This is the tale of two questions:

.

Is this a contradictory outcome? No, it is not. It seems to me that the answer is evident: President Trump was elected and has done pretty much what he promised to do and generated the results that have benefitted so many people. But important segments of the country have persistently opposed the President through fair means and foul. They have stirred up antagonisms that few countries can survive. It is an open question whether our country can survive it. The President’s opponents have told America that there is no peace so long as President Trump remains in power. The opposition to Clinton/Obama was never this shrill or threatening.

The average American knows that policies pursued by President Trump have been good for them personally. The threats of the opposition portend things that are not good for the country. The people have what may seem a hard choice to make: reestablishment of prosperity or peace. I hope they choose prosperity.

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  1. GrannyDude Member
    GrannyDude
    @GrannyDude

    They won’t get peace anyway. Half the country will be angry (the Trump half), and more so than usual because of the treatment meted out to their candidate over four years…and that’s before you factor in any actual or perceived vote tampering. 

    And, as I repeatedly remind anyone who’ll stand still long enough, the #BLM/Antifa nonsense did not begin with Trump, and it will not end just because 10% Joe has taken up residence in the basement of the White House.  And Kamala and Joe have see-sawed between “violence? what violence?” and (in so many words) ” once they have justice, we’ll all have peace.”  Appeasement has already been demonstrated, in the present context, not to work. 

    • #1
  2. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    GrannyDude (View Comment):

    They won’t get peace anyway. Half the country will be angry (the Trump half), and more so than usual because of the treatment meted out to their candidate over four years…and that’s before you factor in any actual or perceived vote tampering.

    And, as I repeatedly remind anyone who’ll stand still long enough, the #BLM/Antifa nonsense did not begin with Trump, and it will not end just because 10% Joe has taken up residence in the basement of the White House. And Kamala and Joe have see-sawed between “violence? what violence?” and (in so many words) ” once they have justice, we’ll all have peace.” Appeasement has already been demonstrated, in the present context, not to work.

    That, and what they view as “justice” is not attainable.

    • #2
  3. Stina Inactive
    Stina
    @CM

    GrannyDude (View Comment):
    and it will not end just because 10% Joe has taken up residence in the basement of the White House

    I absolutely love that you just called him that!

    • #3
  4. DonG (skeptic) Coolidge
    DonG (skeptic)
    @DonG

    I think the country is much better off.  The Swamp is partly drained and fully exposed.  The Media has been exposed.  Education Inc. has been exposed. …    It is like saying you are healthy after a hidden disease has been diagnosed and treatment has begun than you were before the diagnosis.  It a battle of good v. evil it is important to know who stands where.

    • #4
  5. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    It’s also a case where people know that their own lives are better, but they believe what the media is telling them about everyone else’s lives.

    • #5
  6. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    You are correct. The response is not rational. It’s all about people being better off, yet they can’t stand Trump and hold him in disfavor. Who do they think made their lives better?! Hello?!

    • #6
  7. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    You are correct. The response is not rational. It’s all about people being better off, yet they can’t stand Trump and hold him in disfavor. Who do they think made their lives better?! Hello?!

    Well, I’ve mentioned it before, but it bears repeating:  some of my ex-neighbors in Phoenix believe that the improving economy, lower unemployment, etc, are all leftovers from Obama.

    • #7
  8. GrannyDude Member
    GrannyDude
    @GrannyDude

    kedavis (View Comment):

    GrannyDude (View Comment):

    They won’t get peace anyway. Half the country will be angry (the Trump half), and more so than usual because of the treatment meted out to their candidate over four years…and that’s before you factor in any actual or perceived vote tampering.

    And, as I repeatedly remind anyone who’ll stand still long enough, the #BLM/Antifa nonsense did not begin with Trump, and it will not end just because 10% Joe has taken up residence in the basement of the White House. And Kamala and Joe have see-sawed between “violence? what violence?” and (in so many words) ” once they have justice, we’ll all have peace.” Appeasement has already been demonstrated, in the present context, not to work.

    That, and what they view as “justice” is not attainable.

    Exactly. 

    • #8
  9. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    GrannyDude (View Comment):
    They won’t get peace anyway. Half the country will be angry (the Trump half), and more so than usual because of the treatment meted out to their candidate over four years…and that’s before you factor in any actual or perceived vote tampering. 

    Even if they win, the anti-Trump half will hate Trump and his followers more than ever, due to the wrong they have done to him and them. 

    • #9
  10. MISTER BITCOIN Inactive
    MISTER BITCOIN
    @MISTERBITCOIN

    Are you better off?  It’s a more direct question with an almost unequivocal response

    Is the country better off?  More ambiguous because everyone has a different definition of what that means… 33 percent of the country will always say the country is worse off until there is Medicare for All and other kinds of nonsense

    As Isaac Newton said, I can measure the movement of stars but not the madness of men.

     

    • #10
  11. RyanFalcone Member
    RyanFalcone
    @RyanFalcone

    Very interesting post and well thought out.

    I don’t know the answer. I’m better off for the most part but I’m filled with more doubt and dread than before. Is that bad though? Maybe what I’m experiencing is clarity and knowledge.

     

    The country is experiencing greater conflict within. Maybe this is the fever that the body needs to fight the infection. Times are rough. Maybe all this is the process by which we grow and become stronger but in this moment we feel weaker?

     

    Just my rambling thoughts as I slog my way through 2020. I wonder how it will all look in hindsight.

    • #11
  12. Jim McConnell Member
    Jim McConnell
    @JimMcConnell

    This is the result of the MSM telling us daily how terrible things are because of the Trump administration.

    • #12
  13. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    kedavis (View Comment):

    It’s also a case where people know that their own lives are better, but they believe what the media is telling them about everyone else’s lives.

    This is a long term phenomenon. People routinely perceive their own circumstances as more positive than larger circles.

    • #13
  14. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    It’s also a case where people know that their own lives are better, but they believe what the media is telling them about everyone else’s lives.

    This is a long term phenomenon. People routinely perceive their own circumstances as more positive than larger circles.

    And it works the other way too:  people thought things were better with Obama than they actually were, at least in part because they could feel (emptily) good about having a (half-)black president.  Even though, I think I read recently, current unemployment rates EVEN NOW are STILL better than with Obama.

    • #14
  15. Stina Inactive
    Stina
    @CM

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    You are correct. The response is not rational. It’s all about people being better off, yet they can’t stand Trump and hold him in disfavor. Who do they think made their lives better?! Hello?!

    Is this reflecting Trump support?

    I know these typically do, but I’d likely be one of those splitting the baby on these two questions.

    I’m better off, but the rioting and protesting, the influx of CRT into the mainstream business world and politics, BLM, Antifa, supporters of the president being targeted and killed, lock downs that are destroying entire states…

    The country is in a very bad place.

    But that doesn’t correlate to “vote Trump out.” Not for me, anyway. 

    It’s an interesting statistic but I don’t think it will be as good an indicator for how people vote that it’s been in the past.

    • #15
  16. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Rodin: Is this a contradictory outcome? No, it is not. It seems to me that the answer is evident: President Trump was elected and has done pretty much what he promised to do and generated the results that have benefitted so many people. But important segments of the country have persistently opposed the President through fair means and foul.

    I think COVID plays a big part in this.  The “protective measures” taken killed off a lot of jobs and business, and severely damaged the economy.  We’ve come roaring back, but there’s still a ways to go.  One way to check on this would be to see the pre-COVID polling numbers for the exact same question.

    • #16
  17. DrewInWisconsin, Man of Constant Sorrow Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Constant Sorrow
    @DrewInWisconsin

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    You are correct. The response is not rational. It’s all about people being better off, yet they can’t stand Trump and hold him in disfavor. Who do they think made their lives better?! Hello?!

    Well, I’ve mentioned it before, but it bears repeating: some of my ex-neighbors in Phoenix believe that the improving economy, lower unemployment, etc, are all leftovers from Obama.

    Generally, I haven’t been too impressed with the views of Arizonans.

    • #17
  18. DrewInWisconsin, Man of Constant Sorrow Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Constant Sorrow
    @DrewInWisconsin

    My wife had no awareness of this poll, but during the debate last night she turned to me and said “Even as bad as things are, we’re doing better now than we were under Obama, don’t you think?” And I had to agree.

    • #18
  19. Stina Inactive
    Stina
    @CM

    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Consta… (View Comment):

    My wife had no awareness of this poll, but during the debate last night she turned to me and said “Even as bad as things are, we’re doing better now than we were under Obama, don’t you think?” And I had to agree.

    The raw milk is separating and the cream is rising to the top.

    It fills me with optimism to see the best of the black community rising up in solidarity against the progressivism that seeks to destroy. It gives me pride to see hispanics rising up in vocal support of Trump and against socialism and communism. It feels like we are pulling ourselves together and unifying and facing the challenge with optimism and joy.

    I love it so much. It feels so American. All those things we had before Obama that he took a wrecking ball to feel stronger and more united than they did before.

    • #19
  20. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Consta… (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    You are correct. The response is not rational. It’s all about people being better off, yet they can’t stand Trump and hold him in disfavor. Who do they think made their lives better?! Hello?!

    Well, I’ve mentioned it before, but it bears repeating: some of my ex-neighbors in Phoenix believe that the improving economy, lower unemployment, etc, are all leftovers from Obama.

    Generally, I haven’t been too impressed with the views of Arizonans.

    The issue wasn’t that they were Arizonans, the problem is they were Democrats, and – as usual – not very bright ones.

    • #20
  21. Terry Mott Member
    Terry Mott
    @TerryMott

    kedavis (View Comment):

    GrannyDude (View Comment):

    They won’t get peace anyway. Half the country will be angry (the Trump half), and more so than usual because of the treatment meted out to their candidate over four years…and that’s before you factor in any actual or perceived vote tampering.

    And, as I repeatedly remind anyone who’ll stand still long enough, the #BLM/Antifa nonsense did not begin with Trump, and it will not end just because 10% Joe has taken up residence in the basement of the White House. And Kamala and Joe have see-sawed between “violence? what violence?” and (in so many words) ” once they have justice, we’ll all have peace.” Appeasement has already been demonstrated, in the present context, not to work.

    That, and what they view as “justice” is not attainable.

    Neither is it justice.

    • #21
  22. DrewInWisconsin, Man of Constant Sorrow Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Constant Sorrow
    @DrewInWisconsin

    kedavis (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Consta… (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    You are correct. The response is not rational. It’s all about people being better off, yet they can’t stand Trump and hold him in disfavor. Who do they think made their lives better?! Hello?!

    Well, I’ve mentioned it before, but it bears repeating: some of my ex-neighbors in Phoenix believe that the improving economy, lower unemployment, etc, are all leftovers from Obama.

    Generally, I haven’t been too impressed with the views of Arizonans.

    The issue wasn’t that they were Arizonans, the problem is they were Democrats, and – as usual – not very bright ones.

    Sure sure . . . you Arizonan, you!

    • #22
  23. Goldgeller Member
    Goldgeller
    @Goldgeller

    Interesting post. People typically do make these distinctions. It isn’t really anything that can be laid on this current environment. People tend to attribute most of their success to themselves and give the current party in power only a small share of the credit. For that reason the evaluation of the country just doesn’t correlate that much with how well respondents feel they are doing: they try to separate themselves from the country because they believe it was largely their own success that largely them better off. Partisanship informs that second evaluation to some– but not a large degree– but the differences in the two measures isn’t really something that has much to do with anything specific to Trump. It’s fairly generic in the west.

     

    EDIT: typo corrected

    • #23
  24. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Consta… (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Consta… (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    You are correct. The response is not rational. It’s all about people being better off, yet they can’t stand Trump and hold him in disfavor. Who do they think made their lives better?! Hello?!

    Well, I’ve mentioned it before, but it bears repeating: some of my ex-neighbors in Phoenix believe that the improving economy, lower unemployment, etc, are all leftovers from Obama.

    Generally, I haven’t been too impressed with the views of Arizonans.

    The issue wasn’t that they were Arizonans, the problem is they were Democrats, and – as usual – not very bright ones.

    Sure sure . . . you Arizonan, you!

    Not any more!  I left at the end of July.

    • #24
  25. DrewInWisconsin, Man of Constant Sorrow Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Constant Sorrow
    @DrewInWisconsin

    EDIT: Heck, I’ll make this its own post.

    • #25
  26. Henry Castaigne Member
    Henry Castaigne
    @HenryCastaigne

    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Consta… (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    You are correct. The response is not rational. It’s all about people being better off, yet they can’t stand Trump and hold him in disfavor. Who do they think made their lives better?! Hello?!

    Well, I’ve mentioned it before, but it bears repeating: some of my ex-neighbors in Phoenix believe that the improving economy, lower unemployment, etc, are all leftovers from Obama.

    Generally, I haven’t been too impressed with the views of Arizonans.

    Is that a diss at John McCain?

    • #26
  27. Henry Castaigne Member
    Henry Castaigne
    @HenryCastaigne

    Stina (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Consta… (View Comment):

    My wife had no awareness of this poll, but during the debate last night she turned to me and said “Even as bad as things are, we’re doing better now than we were under Obama, don’t you think?” And I had to agree.

    The raw milk is separating and the cream is rising to the top.

    It fills me with optimism to see the best of the black community rising up in solidarity against the progressivism that seeks to destroy. It gives me pride to see hispanics rising up in vocal support of Trump and against socialism and communism. It feels like we are pulling ourselves together and unifying and facing the challenge with optimism and joy.

    I love it so much. It feels so American. All those things we had before Obama that he took a wrecking ball to feel stronger and more united than they did before.

    I hope you are right. I have seen some signs of hope. Also, many homosexuals are now quite sick of being victims and want to become mainstream Americans. The Trump rallies usually have a few gay couples from what I’ve heard.

    • #27
  28. DrewInWisconsin, Man of Constant Sorrow Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Constant Sorrow
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Henry Castaigne (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Consta… (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    You are correct. The response is not rational. It’s all about people being better off, yet they can’t stand Trump and hold him in disfavor. Who do they think made their lives better?! Hello?!

    Well, I’ve mentioned it before, but it bears repeating: some of my ex-neighbors in Phoenix believe that the improving economy, lower unemployment, etc, are all leftovers from Obama.

    Generally, I haven’t been too impressed with the views of Arizonans.

    Is that a diss at John McCain?

    et al

    • #28
  29. Stina Inactive
    Stina
    @CM

    Henry Castaigne (View Comment):

    Stina (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Consta… (View Comment):

    My wife had no awareness of this poll, but during the debate last night she turned to me and said “Even as bad as things are, we’re doing better now than we were under Obama, don’t you think?” And I had to agree.

    The raw milk is separating and the cream is rising to the top.

    It fills me with optimism to see the best of the black community rising up in solidarity against the progressivism that seeks to destroy. It gives me pride to see hispanics rising up in vocal support of Trump and against socialism and communism. It feels like we are pulling ourselves together and unifying and facing the challenge with optimism and joy.

    I love it so much. It feels so American. All those things we had before Obama that he took a wrecking ball to feel stronger and more united than they did before.

    I hope you are right. I have seen some signs of hope. Also, many homosexuals are now quite sick of being victims and want to become mainstream Americans. The Trump rallies usually have a few gay couples from what I’ve heard.

    The running theme of the WalkAway movement seems to hinge on at what point did they see the media as lying to them. Those already conditioned to distrust mainstream media were his initial supporters. As we’ve become more jaded, his support goes up (not necessarily his approval).

    • #29
  30. Henry Castaigne Member
    Henry Castaigne
    @HenryCastaigne

    GrannyDude (View Comment):
    GrannyDude

    They won’t get peace anyway. Half the country will be angry (the Trump half), and more so than usual because of the treatment meted out to their candidate over four years…and that’s before you factor in any actual or perceived vote tampering. 

    The Trump isn’t mad because they lost the election. The Trump half is mad because a large percentage of the country hates them for not being progressive. 

    Since the late 1960s, the left has accused mainstream Americans of being conformist, small minded bigots. Trump is the natural result of that. 

    @rodin Gotta disagree with this part of your article. “The people have what may seem a hard choice to make: reestablishment of prosperity or peace. I hope they choose prosperity.” The Wokist left will not stop if Joe Biden is elected. Remember that the Wokist left made race relations worse when Barack Obama won the White House. They will not stop trying to burn everything down. There might be more riots in the short term if Trump is elected but there will be more unrest in the long-term if Biden is elected.  

     

     

    • #30
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