Charles

The White underclass is a miracle, and probably why the West has succeeded. Thomas Frank wrote “What’s the Matter with Kansas” to explore why poor Whites don’t vote for socialist policies that would (narrowly, in the short-term) benefit them. Of course he concluded it was about racism, as he was predetermined to do by his ideology. But I actually think he highlighted an incredibly important fact: poor White Americans, uniquely among underclasses globally, don’t vote for socialism. The typical dynamic is rich people trying to keep what they have and poor people trying to take it. But the American lower-class White does not behave this way, because he has a deontological aversion to government interference. The collection of attitudes and beliefs described as “rugged individualism” are often assessed in terms of how they impact the individual, but I think it’s much more important to consider how they impact a nation. (White) America has the world’s least resentful or grasping underclass. This is a treasure. They should be preserved and rewarded. Many might be net-negative fiscally in a narrow sense, but they are hugely net-positive if you consider their votes. Trump famously said “I love the poorly educated.” He was right to say this. Every nation has an elite. No other nation has such a high quality of virtuous common people.