# Trump voters explain themselves **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 4, 2017, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307 "2017-01-04T13:50:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/41 "2017-01-04T23:20:33Z")
Canada? The horrors of socialism? Is there something in the DSM about socialism-derangement syndrome? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/42 "2017-01-04T23:31:44Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > You are correct in that republicans don’t care if they actually are representing the will of the voters. They have not won the senate popular vote in quite a few cycles, in fact this last one was 51 million to 40 million. That’s democrats with the 51 million votes. How is the senate currently set up? Is the party that had 25% more votes than the other party in charge? The “senate popular vote” is an especially-meaningless stat. For example, this year, California’s Senate general election featured two Democrats running against each other. [Harris won with 6,495,907 votes to Sanchez’ 3,918,486](http://www.cnn.com/election/results/states/california/senate). The total was 10,414,393 Democrat votes and 0 Republican votes, which, conveniently for this argument, pretty much explains the Dems lead in the “Senate popular vote”. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/43 "2017-01-04T23:41:39Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Canada? The horrors of socialism? > > Is there something in the DSM about socialism-derangement syndrome? The argument you’ll get is a variation on American Exceptionalism; you can’t compare the US to other countries (especially if this comparison shoots down the thesis that government, regulations or less tax is a good thing) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/44 "2017-01-05T00:37:29Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Over at [The Concourse](http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/trump-voters-explain-themselves-1790711999) a writer asked Trump voters to email him to explain their reasons for voting as they did. Many replied and the various reasons are fascinating. Wow. That’s fascinating. > [@](#): > > A Democrat who voted for Trump because he thought he would be a disaster and sink the Republicans Hahahaha! It’s interesting - and telling - how few there voted for Trump because he was Trump (and one was a Democrat). Note also that many were voting against Clinton rather than for Trump. Apart from the idiot Democrat, I think you all may be drawing the wrong conclusion about the lack of deep thinking: remember that these are excerpts from emails, and emails are often short. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/45 "2017-01-05T01:50:55Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I get to amortize equipment purchases, letting me take a tax break on them for the next 5-20 years. I think you mean depreciation, not amortization. Amortization is for intangibles, not equipment. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/46 "2017-01-05T03:55:17Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Canada? The horrors of socialism? > > Is there something in the DSM about socialism-derangement syndrome? The truth about Canadian _gulags_ is so horrid, no one ever believes it. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/47 "2017-01-05T06:33:27Z")
I have a hard time accepting the “my taxes are too high” explanation. Trump and Clinton both put forth their tax proposals. Trump’s plan will raise the lowest tax rate from 10% to 12% and lower the highest tax rate from 40% to 33% (he originally proposed dropping it to 25% but backed off of that). Clinton’s plan was the reverse; her plan would have reduced the lower tax rates while raising the higher tax rates. Now you can argue the pros and cons of both plans. But the point is that there were voters who complained that their taxes are too high so they voted for Trump - even though his plan will increase their taxes and Clinton’s would have lowered them. That’s not _“I voted the way I did because of taxes”_ - that’s _“I voted the way I did because I didn’t know what I was doing.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/48 "2017-01-05T07:58:53Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > In all fairness, more American voters voted for Clinton than Trump. And that’s not a fluke; the Democratic candidate got more votes in six of the last seven presidential elections. I’d be very interested to know what you make of **John Mace’s** response to this argument in post 29. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/49 "2017-01-05T10:00:48Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I’ve been wrong about many things this past election cycle. (I think I even predicted Clinton would opt not to run). But I’ll eat my hat if she run in 2020. Ever read Chesterton’s _Tales of the Long Bow_? You may want to, if you like making that kind of bet. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/50 "2017-01-05T12:49:12Z")
Does the reason for his popularity, the reason why people voted for him, mean that what he does in office(or indicates what he is going to do through his appointments and speeches) is right? Is the OP assigning blame, or cheerleading for Trump? ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/51 "2017-01-05T12:56:32Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Does the reason for his popularity, the reason why people voted for him, mean that what he does in office(or indicates what he is going to do through his appointments and speeches) is right? Is the OP assigning blame, or cheerleading for Trump? Neither in this instance. I’m simply sharing an article which I happened to find interesting and thought others might. My politics are irrelevant in this case although, as I suspect you know, they lean to the right. Some of those emails I find embarrassing for anyone of any intelligence. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/52 "2017-01-05T13:42:44Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > I think you mean depreciation, not amortization. Amortization is for intangibles, not equipment. Actually you are correct, mostly. Stuff is bought on credit, and not everything bought is a tangible, so it all goes on the same amortization/depreciation table, so if I am not really thinking about it, I think of it all, collectively, as amortization, even though the majority of it is is actually calculated as depreciation. It doesn’t really matter how I think about it, as I hand everything over to my accountant, and he juggles the numbers for me, so I really don’t need to get any more involved than that. Anyway, would that be one of those things that bone is considering as far as tax policy that can hurt business? The fact that I do have to have a CPA, and that tax policy is not simple enough for me to do it myself? If that is the case, I would not disagree, I do have to pay him about a thousand a year, but I am curious as to how you would change tax policy (while having one at all) in such a way that a business would have as simple taxes as an individual? (I have had no trouble at all doing my own taxes for the last 20+ years [fed taxes anyway, strangely, it was local taxes that caused me the most vexing some years back, though once again, not something effected in any way by national policy].) I suppose there is also the business inefficiency that I thought of. Every year, I find myself buying a bunch of stuff in December to offset my profits from the year a bit. That timing is not the most efficient that I could do, as the bills for such hit right before the busy season starts again. So, I am curious as to whether any tax policies (other than not having taxes) would help with that type of inefficiency. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/53 "2017-01-05T14:42:06Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > Well, if they’re so stupid, we don’t _want_ them ! _stamps foot_ Stupid, stupid, stupid heads ! > > They are going to suffer greatly for their stupid choice of that big old stupid meanie, and we’re glad, glad, glad ! When they come crawling back we will offer to educate them, because we’re so clever, and they will humbly listen and then vote for their wise teachers. It’s funny. You tell the average person “I wouldn’t go and try and bench press the same 300lb weight as that professional bodybuilder”, most people would listen. And yet people seem to have no problem putting someone with no experience, education or propensity for critical thinking into a position where they will need to make complex, nuanced decisions requiring a deep understanding of the problem. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/54 "2017-01-05T16:50:56Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > It’s funny. You tell the average person “I wouldn’t go and try and bench press the same 300lb weight as that professional bodybuilder”, most people would listen. > > And yet people seem to have no problem putting someone with no experience, education or propensity for critical thinking into a position where they will need to make complex, nuanced decisions requiring a deep understanding of the problem. I actually wouldn’t mind letting Donald Trump try to bench-press the 300lb weight, except that when his sweaty little pygmy fingers slip and his flabby arms buckle, the bar is coming down on all of our necks. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/55 "2017-01-05T17:17:28Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I actually wouldn’t mind letting Donald Trump try to bench-press the 300lb weight, except that when his sweaty little pygmy fingers slip and his flabby arms buckle, the bar is coming down on all of our necks. You’re spotting him wrong. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/56 "2017-01-05T17:18:18Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I actually wouldn’t mind letting Donald Trump try to bench-press the 300lb weight, except that when his sweaty little pygmy fingers slip and his flabby arms buckle, the bar is coming down on all of our necks. Nah, he’s good, Putin will spot him. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/57 "2017-01-05T17:43:33Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > It’s funny. You tell the average person “I wouldn’t go and try and bench press the same 300lb weight as that professional bodybuilder”, most people would listen. > > And yet people seem to have no problem putting someone with no experience, education or propensity for critical thinking into a position where they will need to make complex, nuanced decisions requiring a deep understanding of the problem. And yet when the pilot passes out, the passengers voted for the worrying fat loudmouth businessman with boundless confidence _sans_ any experience to the droning boastful expert amateur pilot with a perfect record of flying planes directly into mountainsides. She really did fuck up everything she tried. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/58 "2017-01-05T17:48:30Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > And yet when the pilot passes out, the passengers voted for the worrying fat loudmouth businessman with boundless confidence _sans_ any experience to the droning boastful expert amateur pilot with a perfect record of flying planes directly into mountainsides. > She really did fuck up everything she tried. You miss her, don’t you? You must. Given how often you mention her. I mean, a drink or two and it’s blah-blah-blah Hillary this, blah-blah-blah Hillary that. She must have really broken your heart. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/59 "2017-01-05T17:58:44Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > And yet when the pilot passes out, the passengers voted for the worrying fat loudmouth businessman with boundless confidence _sans_ any experience to the droning boastful expert amateur pilot with a perfect record of flying planes directly into mountainsides. > She really did fuck up everything she tried. No, it’s more that they voted to put the loud mouth in charge of the plane because he promised the passengers more peanuts, so they took him over the actually trained and experienced pilot. So he sits up in the cockpit, eating the peanuts he promised the passengers, until the plane is just about to run into the mountain, and his last act as he bails out is to blame the pilot for letting him fly the plane. [just going by analogy logic, the person with more bankruptcies under their belt would be the one with the greater propensity to be running into mountainsides, so your “perfect record of flying planes directly into mountainsides” really doesn’t fit.(in fact, if you lost the last 3 words of your first paragraph, and lost the last line of your post, you would be pretty well on track).] ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307/60 "2017-01-05T18:10:59Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > And yet when the pilot passes out, the passengers voted for the worrying fat loudmouth businessman with boundless confidence _sans_ any experience to the droning boastful expert amateur pilot with a perfect record of flying planes directly into mountainsides. > She really did fuck up everything she tried. Perhaps. I’d still rather have someone who actually knows how to fly at the controls, rather than the biggest asshole in first class. Also, it’s not really fair to blame the pilot after the last rich asshole already lost a wing, ran out of gas, steered the plane towards a mountain and then said “here, take over”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-voters-explain-themselves/776307.md?page=4)