But then how do you reconcile it with the fact that those who share those reactionary view are people who are relatvively well off even by this country standards, lawyers, engineers, office workers, firefighters, shopkeepers, skilled workers, veterans, etc? By contrast, the lumpenproletariat tends to be apathetic and nihilistic rather than reactionary. All they care is day-to-day marginal existence (eat, get high, copulate, sleep) and anything beynd that simply escapes them. They do not know what will happen to them in a few days down the road, let alone show any awarness of anything smacking of politics.
It is petit bourgeoisie - people with moderate income, some education, and some social position - that are the staunchest reactionaries, racists, and bigots. I can see a number of good sociological explanations of that phenomenon - reference group, downward class mobility, or simple indoctrination. But I am also trying not to loose th ehuman agency dimension from the sight, which brings me to th equestion "How can otherwise not-so-bad -off and not-that-dumb people be so full of learned ignorance, hatred, and bigotry?"
Wojtek