Chris Anderson
@midwestdude.bsky.social
Midwest prickly. Reefer mad. Chock full of mental illness (ADHD, OCD, depression, etc.) and not at all bitter about it.
Politics, Packers, computers, sci-fi... Nerd stuff.
SocDem. Not a fan of "teaching Dems a lesson" at the expense of the poor.
Politics, Packers, computers, sci-fi... Nerd stuff.
SocDem. Not a fan of "teaching Dems a lesson" at the expense of the poor.
We're a country with citizens who don't read, who need a savior to pull them out of a shitty system.
November 16, 2025 at 11:39 PM
We're a country with citizens who don't read, who need a savior to pull them out of a shitty system.
It's frustrating to identify structural issues that prevent change, and watch people complain about how the same things keep on happening, with no idea as to why.
It's frustrating to observe that lack of curiosity, especially when it's mixed with this "righteous anger."
It's frustrating to observe that lack of curiosity, especially when it's mixed with this "righteous anger."
November 16, 2025 at 11:35 PM
It's frustrating to identify structural issues that prevent change, and watch people complain about how the same things keep on happening, with no idea as to why.
It's frustrating to observe that lack of curiosity, especially when it's mixed with this "righteous anger."
It's frustrating to observe that lack of curiosity, especially when it's mixed with this "righteous anger."
... voting system.
I'll be seeing social media posts in 2032 complaining about the Dems/the DNC, and we'll still have 20% or less voter turnout in the Democratic Party primaries.
I'll be seeing social media posts in 2032 complaining about the Dems/the DNC, and we'll still have 20% or less voter turnout in the Democratic Party primaries.
November 16, 2025 at 11:32 PM
... voting system.
I'll be seeing social media posts in 2032 complaining about the Dems/the DNC, and we'll still have 20% or less voter turnout in the Democratic Party primaries.
I'll be seeing social media posts in 2032 complaining about the Dems/the DNC, and we'll still have 20% or less voter turnout in the Democratic Party primaries.
In our current first past the post voting system, the only way for a progressive to win in most districts is to run in a Democratic primary.
Most people will never reckon with this fact, and will be mad at Democrats forever without knowing what needs to be changed: replacing our first past the...
Most people will never reckon with this fact, and will be mad at Democrats forever without knowing what needs to be changed: replacing our first past the...
November 16, 2025 at 11:31 PM
In our current first past the post voting system, the only way for a progressive to win in most districts is to run in a Democratic primary.
Most people will never reckon with this fact, and will be mad at Democrats forever without knowing what needs to be changed: replacing our first past the...
Most people will never reckon with this fact, and will be mad at Democrats forever without knowing what needs to be changed: replacing our first past the...
... on the left. Sometimes it leads to such a feeling of disenfranchisement that people don't vote at all.
November 16, 2025 at 11:29 PM
... on the left. Sometimes it leads to such a feeling of disenfranchisement that people don't vote at all.
... (*There should have been a comma in the last post, but I ran out of room) leads to that candidate not getting enough votes in the primary (because of our voting system and people's justified fears of losing lifesaving benefits like Medicaid/Medicare or SNAP), which leads to voter apathy...
November 16, 2025 at 11:28 PM
... (*There should have been a comma in the last post, but I ran out of room) leads to that candidate not getting enough votes in the primary (because of our voting system and people's justified fears of losing lifesaving benefits like Medicaid/Medicare or SNAP), which leads to voter apathy...
The unfortunate part about running that kind of candidate is that they're more likely to moderate without a strong left flank to pressure them.
The really unfortunate part is that running the kind of candidate that attracts the kind of people who don't normally vote, at least on the Dem side...
The really unfortunate part is that running the kind of candidate that attracts the kind of people who don't normally vote, at least on the Dem side...
November 16, 2025 at 11:26 PM
The unfortunate part about running that kind of candidate is that they're more likely to moderate without a strong left flank to pressure them.
The really unfortunate part is that running the kind of candidate that attracts the kind of people who don't normally vote, at least on the Dem side...
The really unfortunate part is that running the kind of candidate that attracts the kind of people who don't normally vote, at least on the Dem side...
If we're going to win those voters, we're going to need the same superficial charisma and good vibes that Clinton and Obama had.
November 16, 2025 at 11:24 PM
If we're going to win those voters, we're going to need the same superficial charisma and good vibes that Clinton and Obama had.
It's really depressing to know that the average person wants conformity and "order" (e.g. conformity) more than liberty and justice, but the average voter is kind of dumb and kind of an asshole.
November 16, 2025 at 11:22 PM
It's really depressing to know that the average person wants conformity and "order" (e.g. conformity) more than liberty and justice, but the average voter is kind of dumb and kind of an asshole.
The people who regularly vote generally vote for what they view as the "cultural moderate."
Somehow, Republicans won the issue battle in 2024 over immigration and the economy. Somehow, much of the public thinks of them as more moderate on some issues.
Somehow, Republicans won the issue battle in 2024 over immigration and the economy. Somehow, much of the public thinks of them as more moderate on some issues.
November 16, 2025 at 11:20 PM
The people who regularly vote generally vote for what they view as the "cultural moderate."
Somehow, Republicans won the issue battle in 2024 over immigration and the economy. Somehow, much of the public thinks of them as more moderate on some issues.
Somehow, Republicans won the issue battle in 2024 over immigration and the economy. Somehow, much of the public thinks of them as more moderate on some issues.
The difference between what educated people know about candidates and how candidates "code" is vast. People thought Kamala was "too left."
How does that happen?
How does that happen?
November 16, 2025 at 11:18 PM
The difference between what educated people know about candidates and how candidates "code" is vast. People thought Kamala was "too left."
How does that happen?
How does that happen?
I saw someone post on the other site that most people don't realize the median voter wants someone like Bill Clinton as president, and I don't think they're far off.
November 16, 2025 at 11:16 PM
I saw someone post on the other site that most people don't realize the median voter wants someone like Bill Clinton as president, and I don't think they're far off.
... media has amplified grievance culture--some of which is justified--and people were angrier, and more visibly angry, than they'd been in the past (e.g. during the 2008 GFC).
That's the lens through which I read Will's criticisms.
We do agree on the state of economic literacy.
That's the lens through which I read Will's criticisms.
We do agree on the state of economic literacy.
November 13, 2025 at 7:53 AM
... media has amplified grievance culture--some of which is justified--and people were angrier, and more visibly angry, than they'd been in the past (e.g. during the 2008 GFC).
That's the lens through which I read Will's criticisms.
We do agree on the state of economic literacy.
That's the lens through which I read Will's criticisms.
We do agree on the state of economic literacy.
I disagree that Will doesn't acknowledge people are struggling. I think he disputes the extent to which that struggling, relative to past periods, determines how people feel about the economy vs. how media--especially social media--determines how they feel about it.
Personally, I think social...
Personally, I think social...
November 13, 2025 at 7:50 AM
I disagree that Will doesn't acknowledge people are struggling. I think he disputes the extent to which that struggling, relative to past periods, determines how people feel about the economy vs. how media--especially social media--determines how they feel about it.
Personally, I think social...
Personally, I think social...
I wish I'd cared about economics in college.
The way the world is made up, it seems like it's basically "economically literate assholes exploit people who are economically illiterate/get them to vote against their own interests."
I'm glad I'm learning more about it now.
The way the world is made up, it seems like it's basically "economically literate assholes exploit people who are economically illiterate/get them to vote against their own interests."
I'm glad I'm learning more about it now.
November 13, 2025 at 7:43 AM
I wish I'd cared about economics in college.
The way the world is made up, it seems like it's basically "economically literate assholes exploit people who are economically illiterate/get them to vote against their own interests."
I'm glad I'm learning more about it now.
The way the world is made up, it seems like it's basically "economically literate assholes exploit people who are economically illiterate/get them to vote against their own interests."
I'm glad I'm learning more about it now.
The current consensus is "Trump is now destroying the economy," because, like you said, most people aren't economically literate.
They're complaining on social media.
They're complaining on social media.
November 13, 2025 at 7:40 AM
The current consensus is "Trump is now destroying the economy," because, like you said, most people aren't economically literate.
They're complaining on social media.
They're complaining on social media.
If I didn't make it clear how big of a role social media plays in our current "media" ecosystem, it plays a huge role, far bigger than legacy media.
Trump rode a wave of economic goodwill for a few months after the election because the social consensus was "Biden destroyed the economy."
Trump rode a wave of economic goodwill for a few months after the election because the social consensus was "Biden destroyed the economy."
November 13, 2025 at 7:38 AM
If I didn't make it clear how big of a role social media plays in our current "media" ecosystem, it plays a huge role, far bigger than legacy media.
Trump rode a wave of economic goodwill for a few months after the election because the social consensus was "Biden destroyed the economy."
Trump rode a wave of economic goodwill for a few months after the election because the social consensus was "Biden destroyed the economy."
When has Will said it was "just" vibes? His argument is that inflation doesn't fully explain people's anger, which was outsized relative to wage gains. His argument is that something--the media/vibes--is magnifying that anger in a way that hasn't happened before.
November 13, 2025 at 7:34 AM
When has Will said it was "just" vibes? His argument is that inflation doesn't fully explain people's anger, which was outsized relative to wage gains. His argument is that something--the media/vibes--is magnifying that anger in a way that hasn't happened before.
100% agree.
And I think people who understand the economy better voted in a way that reflects that.
People who don't reflexively blame whichever party is currently in charge for global disruptions are probably less likely to be reactionaries whose opinions are molded by other people.
And I think people who understand the economy better voted in a way that reflects that.
People who don't reflexively blame whichever party is currently in charge for global disruptions are probably less likely to be reactionaries whose opinions are molded by other people.
November 13, 2025 at 7:27 AM
100% agree.
And I think people who understand the economy better voted in a way that reflects that.
People who don't reflexively blame whichever party is currently in charge for global disruptions are probably less likely to be reactionaries whose opinions are molded by other people.
And I think people who understand the economy better voted in a way that reflects that.
People who don't reflexively blame whichever party is currently in charge for global disruptions are probably less likely to be reactionaries whose opinions are molded by other people.
... are the biggest driver in how people vote, not social consensus.
November 13, 2025 at 7:23 AM
... are the biggest driver in how people vote, not social consensus.
If the only thing that motivated Harris voters was being wealthy enough to insulate themselves against the negative effects of inflation, why would there be a difference in voting preferences between poor people of different backgrounds?
They should all swarm to Trump, if material conditions...
They should all swarm to Trump, if material conditions...
November 13, 2025 at 7:23 AM
If the only thing that motivated Harris voters was being wealthy enough to insulate themselves against the negative effects of inflation, why would there be a difference in voting preferences between poor people of different backgrounds?
They should all swarm to Trump, if material conditions...
They should all swarm to Trump, if material conditions...
Poor whites and poor non-whites voted quite differently in 2024, as one would expect. Curious behavior if the only thing they are able to think about is an up or down vote their feelings on their economic situation.
November 13, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Do you think better educated people are generally more economically literate?
November 13, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Do you think better educated people are generally more economically literate?
Do you think the 10% of voters who understand economics voted for Harris because they understood that providing stimulus/having temporary inflation was preferable to letting the economy crater?
November 13, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Do you think the 10% of voters who understand economics voted for Harris because they understood that providing stimulus/having temporary inflation was preferable to letting the economy crater?