What does the white working class want?

[DeminPennswoods]

19. Look to Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Last edited Mon Dec 5, 2016, 10:26 AM - Edit history (1)

Here's the hierarchy from lowest to highest:

Lowest: physiological (food, water, warmth, rest)
Next: safety (security, safety)
Next: belonginess and love (intimate relationships, love)
Next: esteem (prestige, feeling of accomplishment)
Highest: self-actualization (achieving full potential, including creative activities)

This segment of Americans is now at the lowest two levels, the basic needs. They used to be at the belonging and esteem steps, but have been slowly slipping back. They are grasping at any straw. First it was Obama's "hope", now it's Trump, but it's the same thing they want - keep us afloat, then get us to shore, then get us back on our feet.

The sad part is, these old manufacturing jobs with good pay and benefits aren't coming back. They need a dose of the hard truth, but also to know that their government won't abandon them. I think proposals like a basic income guarantee would go a long way toward re-assuring these displaced Americans who are simply too old and lack the skills to survive in the current tech economy. You could couple a basic income guarantee proposal with a plan to eliminate "welfare" since you won't need it anyway. Everyone getting an income would be preceived as fair whereas welfare is preceived as unfair.