Explain Like I'm Five

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ELI5: What in the hell did Trump tap into that is almost causing a second civil war in america? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

A lot of old-fashioned "good old homegrown" folks who feel that the world is changing and the economy is leaving them behind. Think of coal towns, mid-west mining towns, etc...

Insert a republican who tells them enough times that it's not the fault of big business screwing literally everyone over, it's actually the fault of the immigrants/LGBTQ+/Mulsims/Blacks (insert marginalised group of choice here) coming and taking what should rightfully go to Good Honest Working Folk/Christian Evangelicals (Insert the group you're trying to court here) and then promise to change that.

The low-key greatest quote came from LBJ in an off-hand remark to an aide. Not even from a speech.

"If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."

True then. True now. And true internationally. There is no country where the Conservative Right Wing doesn't play by that exact rulebook.