- One reason is Trump has a particular, well-documented hatred toward Haitians.
- Another reason is Trump and Vance appear not to be interested in helping anyone in Springfield, or anywhere else for that matter.
- Trump’s and Vance’s statements reveal a belief that it would be better to leave dying towns in the Midwest to wither away than revive them and have to share that prosperity with people who are Black, and they seem to be betting that enough American voters in enough swing states agree that it would be better to be broke than integrated.
they seem to be betting that enough American voters in enough swing states agree that it would be better to be broke than integrated.
That’s sadly not a bad bet to be making. It could easily pan out for them.
I live in Wisconsin, and last year we reelected Ron Johnson (who I think may just be the dumbest person alive). Everyone has a reason it happened, but very few folks will acknowledge that part of the problem was that his opponent, Mandela Barnes, is a black man. Middle America is still incredibly racist, and for some reason we aren’t comfortable just calling it out.
Not even middle America.
I grew up in Eastern Washington state, a place with a lot of farms and farmers. Due to that also a lot of immigrant labor.
I grew up in the “progressive” Pacific Northwest with lots of local businesses that had “English Only” signs, making clear to immigrants that they’re not really welcome in such establishments. It hasn’t really gotten better.
Please forgive my trifling quibble, but isn’t that the Intermountain West (which is rarely if ever described broadly as progressive), not the Pacific Northwest – since you were east of the Cascade range?
