different.” [3]
Another Gold explains that a lack of diversity in working class rural America contributes to a lack of empathy. He says his home town in Ohio was 97% white, and the first openly gay person he got to know was his roommate when he left home and went to college. “When you grow up in rural America, denying rights to people is an abstract concept.” Their priorities and concerns lie elsewhere. “They are anxious about a changing world and less economic opportunity.”[4] (Note: that while there seems to be high correlation between Middles and Conservatives, some Golds are Conservatives and not Middles.)
I expect Golds to a much less degree than the Blues consider the Marginalized population as part of their circle of concern and influence. In addition, according to the Pew report Golds consider the issue of racism and sexism to be much less serious than Blues.
Only 6% of Golds agree to the statement, “Racial discrimination is the main reason blacks can’t get ahead” as opposed to 55% of Blues. [5]
31% of Golds agree with the statement, “There are still significant obstacles that make it more difficult for women to get ahead than men.” as opposed to 72% of Blues. [5]
I’ve also heard from Gold’s concerns about “abortion once the baby is viable or ‘last minute,’” and that “Most important is who gets in appoints the next judge(s).” [6]
The one issue that unites the Golds is an economical concern:
“I support the Democratic Party’s position on abortion, same-sex marriage, and climate change. But I am a single mother who can’t afford health insurance under Obamacare…I see rural America and ordinary Americans, like me, still struggling to make ends meet, after eight years of the Obama administration.” [7]
This is supported by PEW report data which finds 81% of Trump supporters feel, “Life for people like me today is worse than it was 50 years ago.” (versus 18% of Clinton supports). [5]
In Trump, the Golds saw a champion. Someone who came to their town, talked to them face to face, and felt their pain. They saw Trump as a person who was not in the pocket of lobbyist or part of the political machine and promised them real change. Trump’s entire campaign was built upon the recognition that the Golds had been left behind economically and that things were not so great for them anymore.
Once the Golds had latched onto Trump as their champion, they turned a blind-eye to his faults. No matter how egregious his transgressions, it did not alter the fact that he was putting the Middle first, and that by electing him president he might bring about real economic change for them and their families.
With the election of Donald Trump the growing divide between the Blues and the Golds exploded into a vast chasm. The Blue position is clear: “The worst part about Trump isn’t that he’s a racist, sexist, ignorant bigot. It’s that his supporters know that and don’t care.” [8] The Gold position is: “We are not racist, sexist, ignorant bigots. We are putting our economic renewal first. Period.” [9]
In the presidential election aftermath it has been nearly impossible for Blues and Golds to have civil, productive interchange. Both sides are coming from a position of fear and pain. For the Blues, the Trump victory has felt like a sucker punch to decades of equal rights progress. For the Golds, the resistance to this victory feels like a threat to the fulfillment of a promise of much needed economic advancement.
The lack of communication is not because we have incompatible goals, it is because we are too hurt and angry to try to hear where the other side is coming from, understand what they want most, and help them to get it.
Blasé Pascal provided great wisdom in how to argue effectively and come to agreement in the most contentious of circumstances. He said, “When we wish to correct with advantage, and to show another that he errs, we must notice from what side he views the matter, for on that side it is usually true, and admit that truth to him, but reveal to him the side on which it is false. He is satisfied with that, for he sees that he was not mistaken, and that he only failed to see all sides.” [10]
This may blow your mind, but just consider the following. If Blues could try to think like Golds and further their agenda and Golds could try to think like Blues and further theirs, perhaps together we could to begin to clean up this terrible mess we’ve gotten ourselves into.
What does it mean for a Blue to think like and talk to a Gold?
For a moment put aside the truth that Trump is fatally flawed and explore why the Golds think they’ve been neglected by the political system, need a champion, and how they hope Trump may serve this purpose.
You may want to ask your Gold counterpart: Tell me about you and your situation. How can I better understand the economic plight you’ve been going through over the past 50 years? How do you think the new government can help? How can I help to ensure that this happens?
What does it mean for a Gold to think like and talk to a Blue?
For a moment put aside the truth that Trump is a champion and explore why the Blues think he is fatally flawed and the impact they fear it will have on women and marginalized populations.
You may want to ask your Blue counterpart: Tell me about you and your situation. How can I better understand the plight women and marginalized populations have been going through over the past 50 years? What concerns do you have about the new government compromising progress that has been made? How can I help to ensure that we do not lose ground and continue to make progress in equal rights?
And for both Blues and Golds…Can we all agree that Trump did not win this election because of his racist, sexist, bigoted rhetoric, but in spite of it? Can we agree that this is not who we are as Americans? Can we agree that economic opportunity for all is our most important goal? Can we agree that equal rights for all is our other most important goal? Could we pledge to be kind to one another, respect one another, and work together on both goals? If so, we might just be okay.
REFERENCES
[1] http //www npr org/2016/09/10/493427601/hillary-clintons-basket-of-deplorables-in-full-context-of-this-ugly-campaign
[2] http //www huffingtonpost com/
[3] Anonymous Facebook post
[4] Essay be Patrick Thornton, I’m a Coastal Elite from the Midwest: The Real Bubble is Rural America, www rollcall com, November 10, 2016.
[5] http //www pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/10/20/6-charts-that-show-where-clinton-and-trump-supporters-differ/
[6] Anonymous Facebook post
[7] Essay by Asra Q. Nomani. “I’m a Muslim, a woman and an immigrant. I voted for Trump.” www washingtonpost com, November 10, 2016.
[8] Anonymous Facebook meme
[9] Anonymous Facebook posts
[10] Quote from Blasé Pascal, http //qz.com/778767/to-tell-someone-theyre-wrong-first-tell-them-how-theyre-right/
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