I think Reich starts his narrative too late. I would say it started in the late 60s through the 70s. I’m pretty sure a substantial number of working poor whites were, at least by todays standards, socially conservative (at the time, they probably would have self-identified as “normal” or even “liberal” for the wife working part time outside the home). If you’re a blue collar worker in the early 70s and a bunch of mostly college educated liberals who look down their noses at you culturally are trying to consciously re-order society, are you really going to vote for the party they identify with? Are you really going to vote for the person that tells you “I represent the working people. I’m on your side! Oh, and by the way, your daughter should be able to get an abortion and she’s going to be bussed across town instead of going to the school a few blocks away. Also, if you disagree with that you’re a horrible human being”?
2 Likes
