The Bush Non-Millionaire White Base

The working white poor, the class most likely to suck it up and drink another Bud and blame the Mexicans (anyone speaking Spanish is Mexican), blame the Blacks, and any other non-white foreigner, and liberals too are at blame. They support Bush policies because they don't understand but can remember the one-liners BushCo gives as reasoning. They like SS privatization because they're eager to be their own stockbroker, investment advisor, and portfolio watcher. A few of them might be competent, but the majority are not, and will make stockmarket choices the way they choose between "Lucky Day" pull-tabs or scratch off "Red Hot Cash." Their jobs are generally janitorial, laborer, nursing aides, delivery drivers, convenience clerks, burger flipper, menial menial menial labor which generally makes them mean mean mean. This class in decades past were considered the "salt of the earth." Good friends, good neighbors, hardworking and poor. Now indignant and resentful, feeling injured by their status and eager for scapegoats to stake to the post. They graduate high school, get GEDs, even a year of community college or tech school. Their church going patterns vary but always Christian. They prefer the rolling and speaking in tongues when they are born again. This group is not likely to turn against BushCo vision of America. Little physical and emotional stamina and the fight for survival keeps their short attention span addled. Some know what's politically going on but don't care. They vote only when the Bush Team riles them up. They say things like "kill 'em all."

The nickel millionaires. Accustomed to hanging on by threads. They have filed bankruptcy at least once, more likely twice. They buy brand name imitations of the rich and famous and splurge their tax refunds on plasma screens, downpayment on a car for junior, or perhaps a trip to Vegas or Cancun which gives them travel stories for years to come. They firmly believe they're superior and in the upper middle class. The medicine cabinet is filled with meds for migraine, acid reflux, insomnia, and depression, and that's just for the kids. Their work carries more prestige. Teachers, cops, firemen, office workers, Wal-Mart managers, secretaries, salesmen. They don't have a pot to piss in but several tasteful window treatments (bank owned) to throw it out of. They're pretty sure Bush fiscal policies will not effect them. Afterall, they receive no welfare or government handouts. They have jobs and insurance. The ripple effect of cutting federal funds to states doesn't occur to them, or at least not often. The prices of energy, food, and rise in State taxation hasn't hurt yet. They forget that Bush policies will effect funds going to grandma's nursing home, or little Johnny's learning problems or special education, or even that grandpa's Meals on Wheels is largely government funded. They will not raise a voice against Bush policy, they have supported it and must continue to do so. False pride and ego. Unless Fox News offers them justification to turn away from Bush, they will continue to support their own demise. They may be what's left of the middle class. They have surface knowledge on everything. They say they would vote for Colin as president (knowing it will never happen) but laugh at Sharpton and rant at Jesse. They may have college degrees and pretend that means something when half a brain and money for textbooks is all it takes. The distinction between them and the working class poor are a few dollars. They say things like "Saddam Hussein was another Hitler."

The next group includes realtors, entrepreneurs, doctors and attorneys, contractors, management executives, business owners; many have inherited from parents, even if nothing more than a paid off home and the dirt it sits on. They take more and better trips and have more credit cards and investments. Paper rich and dollar poor, many feel resentful they do not have more; aware the slightest economic breeze could blow their modest wealth away ala Enron or one good tax audit. They know they cheat and fudge on many things but justify it. They blame the "system" that isn't distributing the burden fairly but they would feel burdened if they paid zero taxes. They have many pots and windows and aren't sure what they really want since all they have is not enough, but know themselves are not to blame for anything. They did a lot of cocaine in the 70s and 80s and lived in the fast lane but today present an image of moral superiority to their own kids and anyone else who will believe it. They trust the government is heading in the right direction because they like the gunslinger machismo. Sometimes with advanced degrees, they pose as experts and scholars. They say things like "we had to remove Saddam."

All support Bush and will do so if for no other reason than it is the path of least resistance. Most wouldn't care if BushCo made the Middle East a ghost town with pipeline running straight to Shikmim Farm. Most would rather go through a "hazing" at Abu Gharib than admit BushCo is immoral, illegal, and evil. They will sacrifice their sons and daughters to Bush Wars because martyrdom has appeal. Afterall, the rightwing has told their white base, over and over, they are the victims of the anti-Christian leftwing, reverse discrimination, illegal immigrants, welfare queens, and Black crime. They believe they are the "good Americans."