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Serious thread: I might get hate for saying this, but all these âlook at these right-wing idiots, protesting because theyâre whiny babies who canât handle staying insideâ posts concern me. Yes, some of these people are idiots! But focusing on them ignores a vital bigger picture:
As is the case with almost every problem in Americaâs political landscape, rural America, suburban America and urban America are practically several different countries. We make decisions based on lack of exposure to these other two worlds and screw each other over in the process
Individuals in rural areas are not going to be impressed with the same sense of seriousness about the virus that an individual in an urban area would. Likewise, suburban or urban middle class people will have a different quarantine experience than rural working class people
The most vocalized personal economic concern Iâve seen from my leftist community has been about dealing with landlords, freezing rent, etc. This is an urban/suburban problem. Those in rural environments are in a different economic situation
What Iâm saying is that a middle class single person in a city apartment in quarantine is not in the same situation as a working class father in a house in the country trying to feed a whole family in quarantine, especially if he was living paycheck to paycheck
So this paycheck-to-paycheck father is now, like so many Americans, unemployed, except being in a rural environment, stay-at-home work is more scarce than it would be elsewhere. This is where the government should provide him with enough money to get by during the pandemic.
But the problem is, this isnât happening. Right-wing America was convinced that a one-time $1200 check was more sensible and frugal than the âoutrageousâ idea of paying everyone a continual monthly amount throughout the crisis.
The $1200 check was presented and accepted as the Trump administration going above and beyond to help. Basically it served the purpose of excusing the government from any further responsibilities to the working class people who, in a closed economy, have no lifeboat.
So when these people are convinced that the government has done all it can to help, then in their minds the only thing thatâs preventing them from putting food on the table is the economy being closed in the first place. And so they protest for it to be reopened.
In my leftist community I see these people portrayed as idiots who are unaware of the dangers of the virus. I believe they are fully aware. They would simply rather risk exposure to the virus, and sickness and death, for a chance at survival, as opposed to starving in quarantine.
Here's the thing. If the government gave them enough money to survive, they would not have to leave quarantine at all. No one has to die from the virus, no one has to die from poverty. To the "socialism is bad" American though, this doesn't occur as an option.
These people are used to providing for themselves and now they're in a situation where they are unable to do that and their pattern of thinking has not prepared them to acknowledge the necessary alternatives.
What makes me mad about this "haha dumb American protestors" angle is that you're blaming the victims instead of going after the failed system that's causing this. Even worse, it's a system which has brainwashed them into disregarding that the system itself may be the problem
We have an opportunity to connect with a suffering working class and instead echo chamber internet politics has us making fun of their suffering, when we should really be understanding how the system has failed them and more importantly help them understand this. END OF THREAD.
