Is there hard evidence of this? Like more poor people's DNA in the polling stations? Otherwise, it is not convincing.
Why are professors liberal?
(38 posts) (1 voice)-
Posted 10 months ago #
-
Nope the gap between rich and poor voting republican is larger in poor states. That is, in poor states, voters vote their pocketbook. Look up the data. Franks thesis is bunk and we all know it.
Posted 10 months ago # -
The lower three quintiles consistently vote in favor of Dems -- particularly at the Presidential level. The problem that plagues Dems is that voter turnout declines as income declines.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Why should people necessarily vote their economic interests? Why wouldnt other values emerge as more important, especially with something as abstract as, say, voting for president? Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity isn't connected in any direct way with my economic interests, yet it seems like a reasonable thing to do. It doesnt mean I wont be thrifty or rational when it comes to buying my own home or balancing my personal household budget. One can hold those apparently inconsistent values quite comfortably. Being a college professor allows one to live with the same kinds of apparent inconsistencies....living a reasonable middle class lifestyle while holding liberal views about the role of government in promoting opportunities forth poor, for example.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Why wouldnt other values emerge as more important, especially with something as abstract as, say, voting for president?
It is interesting and telling that you would cast voting for president as "abstract". This position suggests that the presidential campaigns and federal politics are outside of people's influence. Welcome to 21st century America!
Posted 10 months ago # -
Good point. Maybe "comparatively abstract" would be more a more accurate expression of my position. Compare these actions: shopping for a new car (and making the down payment), buying groceries, giving money/volunteering to a local charity, voting for President. The latter seems more abstract to me. Perhaps not for millions of other Americans
Posted 10 months ago # -
^^ Ignore the ILP of course
Posted 10 months ago #