The PR problem: "government did not do anything for me."

The election we had focused on issues Trump brought up and had the supporters thinking about for the entire year. A good portion did not vote based on any practical issues, such as the economy, but on so called cultral issues. The fact that those issues weighed more is largely due to the fact that the same voters believed that "government does not do anything for me." I will address the issue of Democrats at the end.

The MAGA voters did not think Harris was going to help them. Either the government does not help them but helps other groups (illegals, those on food stamps). Or the things it does are way too far into the future and will not help them one bit (green energy).

Government has not done anything for them, they claim. What was it supposed to do? Most of them don't pay much federal income tax. Their biggest tax is probably property tax, which is local. We just get the feeling they think the government is only doing things for someone else.

The problem came up with actor Craig T Nelson. We know him as Coach.

His famous quote on Fox:

“They’re not going to bail me out,” Nelson said. “I’ve been on food stamps and welfare. Anybody help me out? No. No.”

It was an epic rant, in large part because the actor didn’t seem to recognize the flaw in his observation. Taxpayers helped him out by paying for his food stamps and welfare, but in Nelson’s mind, no one helped him out. As far as he’s concerned, food stamps and welfare just don’t count.

(more text by Steve Benen, google it)

So the working poor know there are some forms of welfare. But it just makes you feel worse, a loser, to take it.

A good number of people that used to work for a company end up as some kind of independent worker. Lawn care, a plumber retired from industry, electricians. They all get healthcare through ACA if they are undr 65.

Government just is not a business. They do not have to funds to advertise what they did. Only senators and congressmen in their campaign ads on TV. Where the Republicans claim supporting things they voted against.

The government is there to support you in many aspects of life. Things to do with your every day life. Buying a home. Home loans are still guaranteed by the government, and rates are lower. Veterans get benefits.

Elizabeth Warren has passed bills that helped get financial support and protect you in every possible investment situation. 

The government will also help out in retraining for a new skill. Locally there may be support for every high school student going on to at least two years of college.

All of this is actually going to go away if Musk and Ramaswamy do what they plan to do. Strip down every cabinet to a point where they no longer work. Trump is not going to send fire fighters to California fires anymore, because there won't be any fire fighters. They come from 

-U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service and U.S. 

-Department of the Interior and others.

Trump will personally need to save the USDA if they go after it. The Farm Bill and that department are essential for rural America. There are issues like crop insurance which will never make it to a national platform. Because they are not as important as transgender bathrooms.

There are countless things in life that the government is involved in that seem a nuisance, but are there to protect you. They are there at all times even if you do not know. Think of goverment as the oxygen mask that comes down when you need it. You can then make a safe landing in a short while.

Democrats

The complaint about Democrats not doing anything for the working class may be true, but on the other hand voters have given them very slim majorities. Social Security reform (actually simple: tax higher income) cannot be done. Compare that to a Republican win. Social issues and scare tactics got Trump elected. The result is giving more power to corporations and the rich. This happens over and over, every GOP president and under Clinton. It is just inching year after year to extreme capitalism. Denial of their own healthcare by profit making insurance companies is one more thing that the MAGA voters voted for.