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[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

The third party voter this time around is a Bernie Bro. Or someone like me, who isn’t swayed at all by this ad. I’m more inclined by this ad to see a straight up power game, quite honestly. I remain unswayed that we are in an existential crisis. I see a clown accidentally causing the curtain to be pulled back and the power game to seen in stark relief.

I think the real fear among those claiming concern Trump is an existential threat is that the stabilized system that has held together a system that delivered predictably for them is now shown to be bankrupt and designed to funnel money upward to professional classes like us at cost to those below. Between Bernie and Trump, they’ve shown neoliberal economics practiced by both right and left does not value or care about the success of the middle.

The little guy is learning how we of the top 10% have directed all the gravy to ourselves.

Your harping on 3rd patty voters is infused with a lot of self interest. Some see opportunity in change, in entropy. So please, don’t bullshit about this or any other time not being one in which to take chances. (I realize you’re not making that explicit point, but commenting that it’s the point of the ad. But you have made that point endlessly since 2016.)

ETA: I’m sympathetic, by the way. Keeping a status quo that delivers for the top 1-20% at cost of higher taxes to placate those losing out below is usually a good bet. You make far more on the gains accruing to asset holders than the taxes you pay to keep those rendered redundant by the trade policies and tech that delivers for you displaces. And you get to say you favor safety nets and you pay your “fair share.” And when the losers complain, you can tell them Adam Smith says that, while they’re fucked, their grandkids will enjoy the jobs of the future!

You know why so many middle class voters embrace Bernie and Trump? Neither is slow playing them. Trump’s actually been crazy enough to try to keep his promises, and Bernie’s admitting the middle is so fucked it needs democratic socialism. We who tsk tsk about how we need a sensible moderate like Joe are very obviously stating, “we want to keep our franchise, at the top.”

I don’t think the real middle class person is nonplussed about Trump. I think the somewhat affluent but still-has-to-work person who benefited from prior economic policies, particularly trade, is the person who’s exercised here.

No mas