I’m basing my comment on memory of polls showing that more Black men voted for Trump in 2020 than in 2016. And I seem to remember the same was true for Hispanic men; more swung over to Trump. It’s hard to reconcile that with what was revealed about Trump during his four years as president. I could imagine taking a chance the first time; but after those four years?
I’m basing my comment on memory of polls showing that more Black men voted for Trump in 2020 than in 2016. And I seem to remember the same was true for Hispanic men; more swung over to Trump. It’s hard to reconcile that with what was revealed about Trump during his four years as president. I could imagine taking a chance the first time; but after those four years?
I can see why Hispanics would vote for him. Look at South and Central America. The most successful and popular leaders are authoritarian dictators. They respect the bully.
I think you’re right about that. I was naively astonished when I read Alexander Vindman’s book to learn that Russian immigrants in the U.S. are very supportive of Trump, including his own father - past tense for him.
There’s a lot about human nature that seems irrational to me; why would you uproot your whole family and move to the other side of the world to escape authoritarianism, and still feel favorably toward an authoritarian - when you have a choice? I think it must be the comfort of the familiar? Or perhaps the machismo of the background culture is too embedded to eradicate? But then, why leave in the first place?
Which brings me back to my own assessment of Trump followers; they think THEY will be in charge of “the libs”. They don’t imagine themselves on the receiving end of tyranny. They want to dish it out, but not take it. They embrace authoritarianism through the lens of the oppressor, not the oppressed. “Freedom for ME, not THEE.”
I really do believe it's cultural. The most conservative Black and Hispanic want to live like white conservative Americans. I have friends who are very middle-class and socially conservative, who are the children of illegal Mexican immigrants. And I experienced the same when I lived in Chicago among Polish immigrants. The people who I knew in that community are ardent Trump fans and would support him as President for life, in spite of the fact that they value being American and having American values.
Very interesting. It’s a paradox. I do believe that Democrats in general have been under the assumption that immigrants mostly lean left, politically. It would be interesting to know how the next generation trends, assuming there’s any trend at all.
Another cultural trait that seems to linger in some immigrant communities is an acceptance of corruption and graft, and in some cases the practice of it individually.
My brother sheltered some refugees from Chechnya (he speaks Russian) years ago and was surprised to find them oblivious to the fact that electricity, water, and other utilities cost money. They would leave the lights on, and the water running when they left a room. And they found my brother’s adherence to “rules” to be hilarious. They also had an unfortunate and disappointing strong sense of entitlement. The land of milk and honey was their expectation, I guess.
It’s such an interesting topic! Thanks for the discussion!
I’m basing my comment on memory of polls showing that more Black men voted for Trump in 2020 than in 2016. And I seem to remember the same was true for Hispanic men; more swung over to Trump. It’s hard to reconcile that with what was revealed about Trump during his four years as president. I could imagine taking a chance the first time; but after those four years?
I can see why Hispanics would vote for him. Look at South and Central America. The most successful and popular leaders are authoritarian dictators. They respect the bully.
I think you’re right about that. I was naively astonished when I read Alexander Vindman’s book to learn that Russian immigrants in the U.S. are very supportive of Trump, including his own father - past tense for him.
There’s a lot about human nature that seems irrational to me; why would you uproot your whole family and move to the other side of the world to escape authoritarianism, and still feel favorably toward an authoritarian - when you have a choice? I think it must be the comfort of the familiar? Or perhaps the machismo of the background culture is too embedded to eradicate? But then, why leave in the first place?
Which brings me back to my own assessment of Trump followers; they think THEY will be in charge of “the libs”. They don’t imagine themselves on the receiving end of tyranny. They want to dish it out, but not take it. They embrace authoritarianism through the lens of the oppressor, not the oppressed. “Freedom for ME, not THEE.”
I really do believe it's cultural. The most conservative Black and Hispanic want to live like white conservative Americans. I have friends who are very middle-class and socially conservative, who are the children of illegal Mexican immigrants. And I experienced the same when I lived in Chicago among Polish immigrants. The people who I knew in that community are ardent Trump fans and would support him as President for life, in spite of the fact that they value being American and having American values.
Very interesting. It’s a paradox. I do believe that Democrats in general have been under the assumption that immigrants mostly lean left, politically. It would be interesting to know how the next generation trends, assuming there’s any trend at all.
Another cultural trait that seems to linger in some immigrant communities is an acceptance of corruption and graft, and in some cases the practice of it individually.
My brother sheltered some refugees from Chechnya (he speaks Russian) years ago and was surprised to find them oblivious to the fact that electricity, water, and other utilities cost money. They would leave the lights on, and the water running when they left a room. And they found my brother’s adherence to “rules” to be hilarious. They also had an unfortunate and disappointing strong sense of entitlement. The land of milk and honey was their expectation, I guess.
It’s such an interesting topic! Thanks for the discussion!