I've seen a number of posts essentially saying "fuck people who are now sorry they voted for Trump."

[thucythucy]

I can certainly understand the sentiment, especially from people who have been direct victims of Benedict Donald, his policies, and the toxic atmosphere of racism, misogyny, homophobia and xenophobia he's fostered.

As someone at added risk to the virus i share much of that feeling. And I don't excuse those who voted for Trump (and will likely vote for him again) precisely because he validates their own bigotry.

I think there is a demographic though that Democrats lost, starting in 1980, that is worth an effort to understand and reach. And these are less educated, low information voters who deep down feel intimidated by anything intellectual and/or academic, and respond to candidates such as Reagan, Bush Jr., and Trump who tell them "Don't let those smarty pants elites intimidate you. Your ignorance is just as valid as their knowledge."

I've known several of these folks, including members of my own family. They all share a number of traits:

Did poorly in school, often failing classes like English and math, as a result were turned off to "book learning." None of them went beyond high school, a couple dropped out because they were tired of being treated like they were inferior. One grew up in a family where English was a second language, and was offered no bi-lingual programming to help him along. Another had undiagnosed dyslexia, and grew up feeling she was "retarded."

As a result they don't like to read (and thus get all their information from cable TV or, more recently, Facebook, talk radio and such).

Feel intimidated in the presence of people who don't share this specific demographic, going all the way back to childhood.

Work at jobs that are low paying and/or require them to work long hours, so that doing the "homework" involved in being an informed citizen feels too much like, well, homework.

Luckily, we have a candidate in Vice President Biden who appeals to these folks. He is smart without being intimidating, meets people at their own level. One measure of how good Biden is at this is his ability to talk to children without sounding like a condescending jerk. He treats them with the same measure of respect, infuses in them the same sense of dignity as any head of state he might meet.

I'm hoping we can bring many of these folks around. I know I've had some (limited) success doing this in my own little circle. It involves not starting with an attitude of contempt or dismissal.

Of course, like I said, those for whom Trump's racism, sexism, homophobia, corruption and climate denial are a feature, not a bug, are more or less hopeless, and not worth the investment of time and energy.

Just a bit of rambling this crisp autumn morning.