Trump’s popularity with his base isn’t the result of economic anxiety, as many claimed in 2016. It’s about race and demographics.

TO UNDERSTAND THE rise of Donald Trump, you don’t need to go to a diner in the Midwest or read “Hillbilly Elegy,” J.D. Vance’s memoir.

You just need to know these basic facts:

In 1980, white people accounted for about 80 percent of the U.S. population.

In 2024, white people account for about 58 percent of the U.S. population.

Trump appeals to white people gripped by demographic hysteria. Especially older white people who grew up when white people represented a much larger share of the population. They fear becoming a minority.

  • Nougat
    9•1 month ago

    This has nothing to do with “ageism”, which is an statistical idea applied individually.

    While I disagree with that statement, especially in this context, I’m glad to see that you understand the difference between discussing statistics about a demographic population (identified by observation of past events) and inappropriately applying those statistics to an individual.

    When you said

    The elderly need to SIT DOWN. It’s not their planet anymore, and they need to get over it.

    You were insisting on specific future actions (“SIT DOWN” and “get over it”). Actions are taken by individuals. Age is a characteristic that individuals do not have control of. It is not a decision, and we don’t cast aspersions on people for things they do not have control of.

    I think there are better ways to say the thing you intended to say, without being ageist.

    • @credo
      -8•1 month ago

      Lol. This is a stretch.

      Again… it’s not agesist when you literally call out the entire population for doing the thing that population does. You were wrong, get over it too.

      • Nougat
        6•1 month ago

        Again… it’s not agesist when you literally call out the entire population for doing the thing that population does.

        There it is again.

        The entire population - every individual who is a member of the specified population - does not do the thing which is observed to be in the statistical majority for that population (if that’s even the case here).

        • @credo
          -7•1 month ago

          Ok, school time. You are conflating the “entire” population with “every member” of the population. Perhaps you should actually learn about the thing you are trying to correct others about.