The Despair of Poor White Americans
I) The original underclass - often mislabeled as white working-class voters by politicians and pollsters Typically used to define anyone without a four-year degree describes over a third of the electorate totally ignores differences in geography, ethnicity, and culture 2) label actually a kind of Stock story where they are envisioned as salt-of-the-earth citizens, living and working in wide open spaces between coasts CONNOTES VIRTUE/INTEGRITY 3. Actually, it is the less privileged white Americans in crisis a. social breakdown of families and community, much like that which impacted African Americans decades earlier b) rates of out-of-wedlock births and male joblessness rising sharply. c) rising mortality rates (including suicide) among middle-aged whites d) opioid addiction II) On the Right we find Barely suppressed contempt characterized muc...