Bill Clinton’s famous campaign slogan, *"It’s the economy, stupid (iites)!"* resonated deeply with voters by addressing the everyday financial concerns closest to them—what’s within “three feet” at their kitchen tables. This practical focus helped secure his election, underscoring how personal economic issues drive voting decisions. However, during her campaign, Hillary Clinton’s idealistic approach missed this critical connection, famously dismissing some voters as "deplorables" and failing to emphasize kitchen-table issues. According to reports, Bill was so frustrated by her strategy that he threw 17 cell phones, as he had urged her to address the core economic worries of everyday Americans.

When it comes to mass movements, elite idealism often misses what the masses are actually grappling with. As one writer observed, "Economic issues are as essential as day-to-day survival. When there's no money, everything is tough; when there’s money, everything gets easier. If money is already a problem, how can any other money-related issues be solved?"

An old friend recently sent me a message about inflation, sharing how $10 in the U.S. today buys almost nothing compared to what it used to. I’ve been saying this myself: a shopping cart that used to be filled with tens of dollars now costs hundreds, and it’s still half-empty. Prices rise to cover increased costs, making people feel the pinch.

Once upon a time, takeout didn’t ask for tips, and restaurant tipping was discretionary. Now, even fast food requires high tips. Restaurant prices have risen, and so have wages and expenses for business owners. Maintaining a restaurant has become much harder: good business doesn’t mean high profits, and poor business can lead to a cycle of declining food quality, ultimately resulting in closure.

It’s a reminder that economic pressures impact us all at the most fundamental level.

**** H/t: **** 

 

Kamala Harris 的落败，给了民主党迎头一击。很快民主党人就陷入了相互指责中：一些人将失败归咎于奥巴马时代的顾问和战略家的历史影响，“这些人停留在2009年”；另一些人则指责拜登没有更早退出。在分歧背后，民主党失去工人阶级已成为不争的事实：他们先失去了底层白人，现在又失去了拉丁裔和黑人工人。有评论称，“（工人们）宁愿领特朗普任下的最低工资，也不愿领哈里斯任下的失业救济。”这些声音直指哈里斯在选民最关心的“提高最低工资标准”上含糊不清，反而在“堕胎、捍卫民主和抨击特朗普”上用力过猛。https://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2024/11/07/125859259.html 

 

民主党深陷“内讧”，哈里斯父亲的自白点醒众人？

 

有今届倒戈支持共和党的女性选民表示，民主党在许多问题上的不足才是让她感到失望的真正原因，她说：“民主党人试图表现出『川普反对女性、贺锦丽支持女性』，但我不认为这是问题所在，这归结于更多的政策，而不仅仅是堕胎问题。”许多选民的确对经济、医保和犯罪等更广泛的议题更加关注，这一点或许更有利于川普。

还有内华达州的女性选民明言更希望看到川普胜出，她说：“川普的经济搞得很好。没有战争，我们有和谐与和平，我们都有工作，汽油价格也是正常的。他是个了不起的人，热爱他的国家，我们会让他重新回来的。”

其实，选前早有分析指出，贺锦丽最终能否顺利入主白宫，还得看她在经济和移民这些议题上，能否拿出具体方案来说服选民。
在本届选举中，最重要的选举议题离不开经济与就业、通胀、美墨边境非法移民问题，而这些问题一直是拜登政府的短板。儘管拜登任内美国经济有所好转，但面对中国电动车的激烈竞争，美国汽车业不敢贸然投资，通用汽车甚至要宣布裁员，铁鏽带工人最关心是当局是否有政策保障汽车业。

 

可惜，贺锦丽在选举过程中未能拿出像样的经济政策，反倒更多是“检察官上身”，冀以立法来应对经济问题，例如她说一旦当选会禁止哄抬食品杂货价格，打击操纵价格和牟取暴利行为等，让不少美国人感到失望。

哥伦比亚广播公司的选前民调也显示，56%人认为川普能更好地处理经济，只有43%人认为贺锦丽做得更好。说到底，这或许才是川普真正二主白宫的最大原因。

https://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2024/11/07/125859570.html

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https://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2024/11/07/125859492.html

 

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"In every country I've reported on, no matter where in the world, people vote based on what’s within three feet of them—what’s on the kitchen table every day. Economic issues are that fundamental.”#

 

This idea echoes Bill Clinton’s famous campaign slogan, "It’s the economy, stupid!" which resonated with voters and helped secure his election by focusing on everyday financial concerns *.

 

# "我并不支持社会的独裁，但我相信单纯提倡民主，以为民主可以超越国民本身的素质治愈百废，那是一再被证明的错误" = (people vote based on what's within three feet of them—like what they sit down to at the kitchen table every day. Economic issues are that fundamental.) 任何一个国家，无论是世界上的任何地方，人们都在他们面前的三英尺和他们每天坐在厨房的桌子上投票，经济问题是如此根本，而且经验其中，

When coming to mass movements, elite idealism doesn't know what the mass struggle is about. 

 

So what? 

前几天一个微信上的老朋友发了一个消息给我，是生活在美国的人写的，说，以前十块钱能买不少东西，现在买不了什么了。

这个我早就说过的，以前在超市买东西几十块钱一大车，现在几百块也装不满一车，通货膨胀。朋友问我，是真的吗？

我说，过去时薪4块，现在时薪12甚至更多，各种涨价，东西不涨价老板花钱、赔钱？花钱的人都想便宜，但赚钱的人都想多赚，这不就是这样的吗？成本的不管升高，让大家都感觉得到钱紧。"

"过去外卖不收小费，过去餐馆小费是客人看着给，现在连快餐都收小费还收得特别高。餐馆就更别说了，饭菜都贵了，消费也贵了，收入呢？老板食材贵，房租贵，雇人贵，自家开销呢？

 

所以，餐馆维持起来很不容易了，生意好的赚不来太多钱，生意不好的食材不新鲜恶性循环，慢慢也就倒闭了。"

 

# H/t #2: 

https://blog.wenxuecity.com/myblog/57970/202411/5038.html