JuanPaVerified account

If you're wondering how poor, exploited white people could vote for a dude with a golden elevator who will fuck them over, here's how.

They don't see themselves as poor. They don't base their identity on it. They see themselves as "temporarily embarrassed millionaires."

The stigma against poverty is incredibly strong. It is shameful to be poor, to not have the comforts of the middle class. So they pretend--

That they aren't poor. They are willing to lie to make it seem like they aren't poor. They purchase things to make it seem like they're not.

In my town, wealth wasn't associated with greed, but with hard work and inherent goodness. You are blessed if you have material wealth.

When they see Trump, they don't see an extortionist who is rich because of the very conditions that keep their own communities in poverty.

They see someone who worked hard and was justly rewarded with wealth. Most men, especially, think they too could be Trump were it not for

@jpbrammer Also, where in OK are you from? I grew up there.

@brittanieshey Cache, OK! Have you heard of it?

@jpbrammer Near Lawton, right?

@brittanieshey yes! About 15 minutes or so from me

@jpbrammer I moved to Houston when I was 23 and now live in Amsterdam.

@brittanieshey I'm a NYC gay now, heading back to OK in a couple days for Thanksgiving

@jpbrammer Hey man -- be safe, okay? I know it sounds weird from a complete stranger who never lived in OK, but these are not normal times.

@jpbrammer Wow. Thank you for this. So insightful.

@jesseleesoffer thank you for reading!

@jpbrammer Read the whole thread. Awesome. Would be interested to hear how religion plays a role.