In response to an FT article by Gillian Tett on 25th November 2016, entitled “‘Shy’ voters: the secret of Trump’s success”
‘A vote for Trump was like eating ice-cream laced with whisky for breakfast — something people did not want to admit to…
Last week, UBS released a survey of 1,200 of its American clients and their attitudes towards the US election. It revealed some striking insights — after the election, for example, the proportion of investors who were bullish about US stocks jumped from 25 per cent to 53 per cent, while those who were bullish about growth rose from 39 per cent to 48 per cent. There was, however, an even more important detail: 36 per cent of respondents said that they did not tell their friends and family who they voted for, because they wanted to “fend off arguments or avoid judgment”.
Yes, you read that right. Among these wealthy and (presumably) educated UBS clients, more than one-third were apparently too nervous or embarrassed to reveal their election choice. Call it, if you like, a plague of squeamish silence” – Gillian Tett
Thanks Ms Tett - you've raised an important topic.
We have...people who do not wish to be branded as 'racists'...hiding from people who think they are being 'liberal' when they brand people as 'racists'...The irony of this still escapes the majority, including many from the so-called educated liberal elite, who appear oblivious to their own thinking processes and/or have lost the ability to self-reflect.
Just the other day we had someone here vehemently claiming that anyone who voted for Brexit had blood on their hands for the death of Jo Cox. During the Brexit debate itself, I was informed by another reader that if I voted to leave the EU, I would be personally responsible for the upcoming rape of Polish women.
Fortunately for me, I have no doubts about my motivations, my personal beliefs, or my personal history...so a number of things occurred:
1. I recalled my history of campaigning against 'real' racists from the NF and the BNP, being spat at and having to deal with racism up close and personal on a number of occasions
2. It dawned on me that I was dealing with a person who had fallen into a blind prejudicial state of mind...which they were projecting onto me
3. I communicated my 'truth', stood my ground, and would not allow myself to believe for one instant, the 'emotional blackmail' that I was being presented with
I am not intimidated by bullies; neither do I buy the 'victim' routine that is becoming increasingly common on the left, much of which is a form of 'virtue signaling'. But I don't expect everyone to be as used to dealing with conflict as I am - many people would, and do, just shy away.
So whilst I hope that the 'shy' people do learn to speak out Ms Tett, I also hope that it dawns on people from the left of the political spectrum, at least the ones who use these labels, that they are partially responsible for losing the US election - because of their phony moral superiority, and their refusal to engage in real debate about real issues.
Thanks again for raising an important topic.