# Asking middle class (and lower) Dopers why they vote Republican. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 12, 2010, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402 "2010-11-12T06:56:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/1 "2010-11-12T06:56:00Z")
Really simple, and I’m genuinely curious. If you have an income of less than $50,000 a year and you’re single, or less than $75,000 a year for a couple or family and you **consistently** vote Republican, I’d like to know the top three reasons why. It’s in GD because it’s politics and if it goes anywhere it’s likely to get debate-y. Thanks in advance for your honest replies. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/2 "2010-11-12T08:54:59Z")
Although I don’t vote consistently Republican any more, I did in the 90’s, so I’ll answer about those times. I turned 18 in 1991 and was huge into politics. I was a lot more socially conservative and cared more about social issues than economic issues, so I voted Republican. In 1994 the Republicans had the Contract With America. I thought it was great then, and still do. Under them we got a balanced budget, welfare reform, and a few other things. Back then they were the party of ideas, and I agreed with most of them. 2000 - Present. I’ve become much more moderate socially and now disagree with some conservative view points, but I’m still pro-life, so that’s an important issue, at least for national elections. The wording of the OP clearly indicates that you think Republicans are bad for lower income and middle class income people. I don’t think that’s true, but at any rate as mentioned earlier, with a few exceptions, when I did vote consistently Republican it was more for social issues than financial issues. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/3 "2010-11-12T09:10:44Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Really simple, and I’m genuinely curious. > > If you have an income of less than $50,000 a year and you’re single, or less than $75,000 a year for a couple or family and you **consistently** vote Republican Why do you assume economy is the sole element that goes into deciding where one puts his vote? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/4 "2010-11-12T09:31:01Z")
I’m Canadian, but I’ve voted Conservative my whole life and I was active in politics in my teens for libertarian/conservative causes, even though I came from a poor family and lived paycheck-to-paycheck in lower middle class until I was close to 30. Why would my income or wealth have anything to do with it? Good government isn’t, or shouldn’t be, about getting goodies from politicians. I vote for the government that I think is best for my country - that will result in the most freedom, the most long-term strength and health of the society I believe in. Far too many people today treat government like a piggy bank, and their vote as part of the key for opening it up and dispersing favors to them and their cohorts. It’s entirely what’s wrong with the public’s relationship with its government today. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/5 "2010-11-12T09:43:39Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > Why do you assume economy is the sole element that goes into deciding where one puts his vote? I don’t. That’s why I am asking. I don’t care what well-off-to-wealthy people say is their non-financial reasoning for voting Republican, because it doesn’t matter. I just sincerely want to know why working class people choose to consistently support Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/6 "2010-11-12T09:47:23Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I vote for the government that I think is best for my country - that will result in the most freedom, the most long-term strength and health of the society I believe in. This is a completely generic answer that could apply to either party. Can you, would you please, be more specific about what policies lead to what definition of freedom, strength, and health? Thank you, I genuinely appreciate the effort if you give it. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/7 "2010-11-12T09:50:04Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > but I’m still pro-life, so that’s an important issue, at least for national elections. Do you genuinely believe, in your heart of hearts, that conservatives would, if they could, find some legal means to make abortion illegal? And if you do believe that, how much are you willing to sacrifice personally and nationally to achieve that goal? ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/8 "2010-11-12T10:28:40Z")
I don’t know if it will every become illegal. Probably not. The best I can hope for is to put the issue in the hands of the states and let them decide. What am I willing to sacrifice personally and nationally? I’m not really active in the pro-life movement. I was when I was younger, but not any more. I’ll donate money if I have it, and I’ll take into account candidate’s stance on abortion if they actually have the power to do something about it. Like a congress person who can confirm or deny any new Supreme Court justices. But for someone like the Mayor of my city, he’s pretty powerless, so I don’t take his stance into consideration. So basically I’m on the sidelines. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAlecCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SmartAlecCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlecCat)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/9 "2010-11-12T12:48:52Z")
Answers to the same question I’ve posed to some acquaintances: Girl in my class at community college is out on prison release, gets money for books from government program, buys iPad at the school book store on government and sells on the street. Blame liberals for giving money to someone I don’t think is worthy of it, so I vote Republican. Generic welfare baby mommas live better than I do. Liberals just tax us working folks and give the money to the lazy good for nothings. The government is taking over things (healthcare mainly) that I think people/free market should be taking care of. Everything the government runs wastes lots of money. (Yes, evidence to the contrary is ignored.) Lots of chain emails with gross lies. (I get forwarded these constantly, and almost always reply with a link to [snopes.com](http://snopes.com) or [factcheck.org](http://factcheck.org), but the responses never seem to make it back through the email chains.) This is a Christian country and only the Republicans support Christianity. Things were great when prayer was in schools. (that’s the real cause of the recent rash of school bullies, btw – we didn’t have bullying like that when prayer was in schools and God was in peoples lives) Evolution is evil since it contradicts the bible. Creationism should be taught in schools instead of evolution. Abortion is evil. If I vote Republican enough, abortion will get outlawed. If it is outlawed, people will just stop having abortions. (Correct me if I’m wrong, but did the Republicans outlaw abortion when they controlled the presidency, both houses of congress, a majority of the SC and I just didn’t notice?) I could go on… ---
**Author:** ![SmartAlecCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SmartAlecCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlecCat)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/10 "2010-11-12T12:50:59Z")
They also know so-and-so who works for the government. He makes a lot of money, but is lazy. The liberals are the party of more government, the republicans the party of less government. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/11 "2010-11-12T12:57:41Z")
It seems that you’re implying that if one’s income is below a certain threshold, voting Republican is voting against one’s interests. Why? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/12 "2010-11-12T13:04:03Z")
What a bunch of whiners! Sorry for the hijack, but it’s a straightforward question getting more hostility than a straightforward question deserves. You’re being put on the spot? Don’t answer her question. Jesus! Back to your regularly scheduled Debate. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/13 "2010-11-12T13:13:22Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > It seems that you’re implying that if one’s income is below a certain threshold, voting Republican is voting against one’s interests. Why? I really don’t have time to get into it right now. I might next week. The question is sincere. I’d really like to know, as specifically as possible. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/14 "2010-11-12T13:22:49Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > It seems that you’re implying that if one’s income is below a certain threshold, voting Republican is voting against one’s interests. Why? That’s an easy one. People associate the Republican party with being good for business. Low regulation. Low taxes. Free markets. They associate Democrats with welfare and hating white rich people. The thinking of a lot of people I know (who make well over six figures) is that they work harder than people who make $50k a year and shouldn’t feel they have to be punished for it with high taxes. They also feel that the Democrats with their regulations and mandatory health care are bad for the businesses they work for (mostly finance and finance related companies). Working middle and lower class Americans seem to vote Republican because they tend towards more conservative values. Guns, anti-abortion, traditional family values, pro-religeon. And from what I’ve observed, they tend to be a bit homophobic, racist and xenophobic in general. Not necessarily in a Klu Klux Klan sort of way. More like they have a way of thinking about “those people” where they clearly see them outside the mainstream of America. Similar to rich Republic voters, they believe that big government means higher taxes that ultimately go to “those people” who don’t work as hard or have “traditional American values”. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/15 "2010-11-12T13:25:56Z")
Back when I met your criteria, I often voted Republican because they were the major party that sometimes presented candidates who believed that the federal government does too much and should do less. I believed that then and still do, but I have given up believing that any federal elected official is going to reduce the reach and scope of the federal government. The Bush years turned me into a registered democrat, but I vote for candidates of both parties. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/16 "2010-11-12T13:31:33Z")
> [@SmartAlecCat](#): > > Lots of chain emails with gross lies. (I get forwarded these constantly, and almost always reply with a link to [snopes.com](http://snopes.com) or [factcheck.org](http://factcheck.org), but the responses never seem to make it back through the email chains.) Funny you should bring that up. Some friend of a friend on Facebook I’ve never interacted with before got all up in my face yesterday and started in on the…well, let me share it, because it’s pretty jaw-dropping: > [@](#): > > Friend of my Friend: > Bush, although not my favorite prez, did less harm than the jackass currently on his $200 million dollar A DAY trip to India, et. al., with his 34 warships and specially built tunnel at the Gandhi museum, not to mention 3,000 guests just for the ride along…that’s the person responsible for breaking the back of the nation. And, it’s not the trip that I am talking about. It is his endless spending, social programs, and his plan to transform the country by redistributing hard-earned money that I am speaking of. Feelings and accusations without facts are vacuous. Dig a little and you might be surprised just who’s to blame. Me: > [@](#): > > Ummm.. may I suggest that if you are going to be watching Fox or listening to Hannity that you make Snopes your friend? > > [President Obama's Asian Trip - $200 Million per Day? | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/india.asp) And FoMF replies in a manner that makes clear any further engagement could not possibly be more wasted: > [@](#): > > Snopes can never be my friend, Stoid. The are biased to cover for the Big O and Sasquatch. I could give you lots of credible sources if you are interested in factual information. How much do you think it costs to take 34 warships on the trip? Hows much for the hotel and food? How much for the tunnel built specially for the King? The money is borrowed to boot! Hello, I pay taxes, and I resent Obama and his minions cruising the world in luxury, while Americans are out of jobs, food and housing. He is an arrogant ass. And, by the way, the other president who was over the top as quoted by Snopes in your link was Billy Clinton, another Democratic operative. You should be more careful in who you cite. Someone just might read what you post. Oh. Really? From Wiki: > [@](#): > > Snopes aims to debunk or confirm widely spread urban legends. The site has been referenced by news media and other sites, including CNN,[11] FOX news,[12] MSNBC[13] and Australia’s ABC on its ‘Media Watch’ program. Snopes’s popular standing is such that some chain e-mail hoaxes claim to have been “checked out on ‘[Snopes.com](http://Snopes.com)’” in an attempt to discourage readers from seeking verification.[14] As of March 2009, the site had around 6.2 million visitors per month.[15] > The Mikkelsons have stressed the reference portion of the name Urban Legends Reference Pages, indicating that their intention is not merely to dismiss or confirm misconceptions and rumors but to provide evidence for such debunkings and confirmations as well.[16] Where appropriate, pages are generally marked “undetermined” or “unverifiable” if the Mikkelsons feel there is not enough evidence to either support or disprove a given claim.[17] The Mikkelsons say many of the urban legends are mistakenly attributed because of common problems associated with e-mail signatures.[18 > > … > > Snopes receives complaints of both liberal and conservative bias, but insists that it applies the same debunking standards to all political stories. FactCheck reviewed a sample of Snopes’ responses to political rumors regarding George W. Bush, Sarah Palin and Barack Obama, and found them to be free from bias in all cases. FactCheck noted that Barbara Mikkelson was a Canadian citizen (and thus unable to vote in American elections) and David Mikkelson was an independent who was once a registered Republican. “You’d be hard-pressed to find two more apolitical people,” David Mikkelson told them.[25][26] When someone dismisses Snopes as nothing a tool of the Obamas, they’ve officially declared their membership in the League of the Willfully Ignorant, whose anthem goes something like “la la la la la la la la la …I can’t hear you…la la la la la la la la” It’s very sad. (Gotta love her line: “Feelings and accusations without facts are vacuous.” Wow. The irony is so thick I can barely breathe..) But hey, I got a solid hour of Rachel and Jon tonight. That was a nice offset. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/17 "2010-11-12T13:38:34Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > It seems that you’re implying that if one’s income is below a certain threshold, voting Republican is voting against one’s interests. Why? My family was big in local politics when I was growing up and their favorite phrase was: “A poor man voting republican is like a chicken voting for col Sanders.” ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/18 "2010-11-12T13:42:38Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > a chicken voting for col Sanders. In their defense, Sanders did provide a lots of jobs for chickens. And the better KFC was doing, the more chickens there would be working at the lower rung of his empire. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/19 "2010-11-12T13:44:42Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > In their defense, Sanders did provide a lots of jobs for chickens. And the better KFC was doing, the more chickens there would be working at the lower rung of his empire. I have always contended that there are no dead-end jobs in fast food, but I think you have changed my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402/20 "2010-11-12T13:53:08Z")
I’m not in the income range specified, but I was at one point, and I voted mostly-though-not-exclusively Republican. Limiting my reasons to strictly economic ones, it was because I wanted a good business climate so as to maximize my chances of finding and retaining a good job. Because it is true that “a rising tide lifts all boats” - it certainly lifted mine. That’s why so much of this “the richer got richer and the poor didn’t rich nearly as much” rhetoric is bullshit. Over time, the bottom quintile of income is not comprised of the same people - they age out and move up. I’ve been poor (by US standards) but I didn’t stay that way. And not because of a lot of government handouts, either. People don’t move up into the middle classes and beyond on welfare payments. It’s the same as it’s always been, or more so. If you are poor, and you don’t want to be, [ul][li]Graduate from high school[/li][li]Get married and don’t get divorced[/li][li]Don’t have children until you are married and able to support them[/li][li]Get a job, any job, and stick with it for at least a year. Don’t quit until you have another job lined up.[/ul][Cite, for all the good it will do.](http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba428)[/li] You make it sound like voting on principle is unheard of. It isn’t, although it isn’t as universal as it should be. Regards, Shodan [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-middle-class-and-lower-dopers-why-they-vote-republican/560402.md?page=2)