The uses and gratifications theory can travel quite far in explaining voting behavior, imho, much further than any of the rat-choice models, of which "economic self interest" is one variety. I really do not have time now to do any data analysis to find support, but some of those days I may.
Wojtek
On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 2:28 PM, Alan Rudy <alan.rudy at gmail.com> wrote:
> There's much to like here but one major flow.
> You argue that the "hoi polloi" pursuing dignity and self-respect - defined
> by the macho toughness and hard-nosed ways of doing business they value -
> vote for Repugs because they project that image of macho self-respect and
> hard-nosed dignity.
> First things first, are you saying that such a perspective is organic to
> the
> hoi polloi, somehow? That it is distinct from an anti-feminist
> reinscription of "traditional masculinity" wrought by the economic AND
> cultural sides of neoliberalism in the US intended to deepen incipient
> sexism and racism tied to historical prejudices, fears exacerbated by
> economic stagnation and reinforced by the intended political economic
> restructuring planned by neoliberals and their neoconservative allies?
> Second, what was the role of "its the economy, stupid" and "I feel your
> pain" in 1992 or of hope-y changy-ness in the context of negative reactions
> to warmongering and economic implosion in 2008?
> Third, is your position validated by polling data focused on women's voting
> or did you just completely masculinize the hoi polloi?
> Fourth, aren't there two central myths in the US - one about macho,
> hard-nosed, cowboy/entrepreneurial competitive individualism and one about
> affective, familial, religious/communtarian mutualist populism? The
> confusion all around, it seems to me, lies with the contradictory
> manipulation of these myths by any number of elites and the wildly uneven
> and highly contingent permutations and combinations of their up-take,
> socialized mediation and public expression by the hoi polloi.
> Yours in sociology,
> Alan
>
> On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 1:26 PM, Wojtek S <wsoko52 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > RE: " hoi polloi are taking positions against their own interest because
> > they are being fed false information and being denied accurate
> information
> > -- and would think and act in their own interest if they had access to
> the
> > actual facts"
> >
> > [WS:] It is quite naive, if not arrogant, to think that the masses act
> > against their own interests due to misinformation. It assumes a model of
> > rationality in which people ought to maximize material self-interest, the
> > very same model that Milton Friedman used to equate capitalism with
> > freedom.
> >
> > For most people, the main motive is to project and defend their dignity -
> > not to maximize their material self-interests. They will sacrifice their
> > material possessions and their own well being to gain respect of their
> > peers. What looks like irrational violence of street thugs, irrational
> > discrimination against unpopular minorities, irrational spending and
> > consumption, or irrational voting pattern of 'hoi polloi' is often a very
> > rational i.e. purpose-oriented behavior to project a desirable social
> image
> > associated with dignity - honor, respect, independence, machismo,
> > prosperity, "coolness" etc.
> >
> > People vote for a political party not because they expect that party to
> > line
> > up their pockets. Only business schmucks seeking political protection do
> > that. People vote for a political party because they perceive that party
> > as
> > a reflection and embodiment of the values that make up their own dignity.
> > The 'hoi polloi' tend to value macho toughness and hard-nosed was of
> doing
> > business. Since the Repug party's image embodies macho toughness and
> > hard-nosed way of doing business, they tend to get the 'hoi polloi' vote,
> > even though their policies are detrimental to the 'hoi polloi' wallets.
> >
> > Likewise, those who value compassion, cooperation, and conciliation tend
> to
> > vote for Democrats, because these values are an integral part of the Dem
> > public image. They do so even if Dem policies are detrimental to their
> > material self-interests.
> >
> > People are quite rational in their public/political behavior, and they
> know
> > what they are doing. It just that thier goal and means of achieving them
> > are different from what many Leftists think they should be.
> >
> > Wojtek
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Jun 11, 2010 at 8:52 AM, John Gulick <john_gulick at hotmail.com
> > >wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > Chip Berlet says:
> > >
> > > "Astroturf is not the same as manipulated groups of people numbering in
> > > the millions that would be what Chomsky calls the Propoganda Model."
> > >
> > > JG asks:
> > >
> > > Incidentally, Chip, doesn't Chomsky's "Propaganda Model" assume that
> the
> > > hoi polloi are taking positions against their own interest because they
> > are
> > > being fed false information and being denied accurate information --
> and
> > > would think and act in their own interest if they had access to the
> > actual
> > > facts? If so, this model doesn't seem to apply to the vast majority of
> > Tea
> > > Partiers, either...
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _________________________________________________________________
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> > >
> > >
> >
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>
>
>
> --
> *********************************************************
> Alan P. Rudy
> Dept. Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
> Central Michigan University
> 124 Anspach Hall
> Mt Pleasant, MI 48858
> 517-881-6319
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