Materially, it makes little sense for blue-collar workers to vote for Modi, Orban, or Trump, a billionaire whose platform is to cut taxes for the rich. Hitler and Mussolini had their share of support from the poor too.

What are some of the theories of why this happens?

I know scapegoating foreigners for poverty is part of it. Wilhelm Reich wrote The Mass Psychology of Fascism but I haven't read it.

  • spectre [he/him]
    ·
    2 years ago

    They literally quip about "if you want free healthcare and stuff, just cross the border illegally cause the stupid libs will give you whatever you want"

    I think in their mind, they are poor cause all the taxes they pay go to supporting illegal immigrants. It's obviously not very well thought out.

    • NephewAlphaBravo [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      Imagine if instead of taxes withheld, your paycheck had to list surplus value withheld.