https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 11:18:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/5#post-2652679 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 14:13:31 +0000 GoGoSnoGirl 2652679@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up in a rural area of a purple state &amp; now live in a very progressive state. I feel for both "sides" &amp; am also bitter toward both parties for not understanding what is truly best for the whole country. I have zero faith in most of our government to recognize, let alone act in our best interest. I believe career politicians just want to line their own pockets &amp; retire with their self-voted benefits. Hillary was untrustworthy to too many dems &amp; Independents, &amp; Trump was the chance at change. I do not, however, believe he "gets" rural America, either, nor is he a compassionate person capable of doing good for others if he won't directly benefit himself. He has his own Ivory Towers, sends his own manufacturing off to Mexico &amp; China, and belittles everyone different from himself in any way. I would love to see some positive change, though, so if he can be the ripple that gets a fire lit under EVERYONE then we might have something. The outrage people are displaying MUST be turned into positive action, whether small &amp; local, or on a much bigger scale. One thing that particularly bothered me in the article that @Adira: shared (though I could generally empathize) is that we cannot simply "go back" to the 50's &amp; everything will be great again. For one thing, our environment cannot sustain our current trajectory--let alone go back to the mindset of the 50's in terms of us being global citizens. And as for the depressed economies where factories &amp; coal mining (&amp; other industries) have gone away, what is it that blinds those people &amp; areas that they have nothing else to offer. Innovation &amp; progress (think solar energy, conversion of waste into 3D printed goods, more organic local farming/bee keeping, etc) doesn't HAVE to be centered in big progressive cities. We cannot be expected to be taken care of--we are America, we have to pioneer our own change, not wait for our government to hand it to us. Do good &amp; demand better. For ALL of us. There isn't a finite amount of "good" (prosperity, rights, respect, opportunity, education, whatever) out there, or at least I refuse to believe so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/5#post-2652654 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:35:53 +0000 gotkimchi 2652654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: but if you lost a manufacturing job and now had trouble providing for your family and someone said they were bringing jobs back I think people were willing to try it even if it's far fetched </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/5#post-2652651 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:33:44 +0000 Adira 2652651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: Yeah, I'd need to do more research about the voter suppression and how it played a role in this election. It definitely could have contributed to part of the problem. I do think apathy and a dislike for Hillary also played a part. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/5#post-2652648 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:29:46 +0000 gotkimchi 2652648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: yes exactly. And for many of these people debates aren't the best way to reach them. They work 2 or 3 shift, they work two or 3 jobs. Many don't come home at 5 and turn a debate on so I think she could have done a better job with that. Obama said he spent 87 days in Iowa going to every vfw etc and that's what we needed this time </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/5#post-2652647 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:28:21 +0000 sunny 2652647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: While HRC and the Dems do have some soul searching to do to understand why their turnout was lower, I'm sure you can directly attribute some of it to voter suppression engineered by the Republican party. </p> <p>I also don't understand why rural america thinks Trump is bringing the jobs back and how his policies will economically benefit them. How is lowering tax rates on the wealthy supposed to help them? How is repealing the estate tax supposed to help them? A trade war with China will just mean that manufacturing shifts to Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia, etc. It doesn't mean that $25/hr manufacturing jobs are coming back to Ohio. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/5#post-2652646 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:25:58 +0000 looch 2652646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My personal view is this: I get it, Hilary is the establishment, she is everything that we dislike about the political elite. Was she the right candidate, probably not. Her mistake was that as candidate, she ignored the middle class people, the ones that have been hard hit by jobs moving away from where they live. She expected them to fall in line and vote the party line. They didn't.</p> <p>Now, do I think Trump is going to all of a sudden bring back jobs? Probably nothing significant, at least not in any quick amount of time. The jobs that do come back will likely require highly skilled workers and I am not sure that group of people has the skills for it. So then what?</p> <p>I would love to hear why people voted Trump...what of his policy spoke to them? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/5#post-2652645 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:21:57 +0000 Adira 2652645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: Yeah, I hear what you are saying. I thought she got some of her message across in the debates, but if you don't spend time campaigning to the people you need to vote for you, it's kind of a hard sell. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/5#post-2652641 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:14:59 +0000 gotkimchi 2652641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: when you say Hillary addresses those needs Id like to point out that I live in a battleground state that trump won that Obama had won before. Hillary didn't spend a single day campaigning here. Not one day. So she didn't get her message to the people and when peopLe here say Hillary doesn't care about us it's hard to respond </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/5#post-2652626 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 12:39:06 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2652626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I work in rural America and the article you shared is exactly why I am not holding a grudge about the voters who help elect Trump. Granted I still don't like the culture clash on what I consider basic civil liberties, but I get the hope that people see when they elected Trump. There was an article on FB that talked about how rural America has felt liberal ideas (marriage equality for example) has been pushed down their throats and the Trump vote was a fight back. I wish we could all get to a place where discrimination is stamped out and realize how one person lives their private life does not impose on someone else. Perhaps I am missing something on that argument too. Articles like these are a good start for understanding each other though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/5#post-2652625 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 12:38:42 +0000 Adira 2652625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another thing that I think might be important to mention is that Trump didn't win by some overwhelming majority. Racists and misogynists didn't come out of the woodwork to vote him into office. He had similar votes to John McCain in 2012, less votes than Mitt Romney in 2008, and less votes than George W. Bush in 2004.</p> <p>It's the Democratic Party that has failed. We had 8 million LESS votes than 2012. 4 million less votes than 2008. It's our party that didn't turn up and allowed a man like Trump to be elected. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/5#post-2652592 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 11:30:36 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2652592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know for the rural families I know they vote on the party line because that's when the jobs come back. They realize that those plans that may not directly impact them, put money back in the middle class which helps their little economies (people invest, buy things, build things, etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/5#post-2652577 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 11:08:33 +0000 Adira 2652577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: I do think that in some ways, it's a fortunate position to be in to be able to prioritize social issues. But for some people, if it's between prioritizing a social issue or putting food on the table, that's the choice they have to make.</p> <p>Unfortunately, I really don't believe Trump is going to help these people all that much, unless he's putting them all to work building the wall. His tax plans seem to benefit wealthier families and corporations much more so than the lower middle class or the poor. I hope I'm wrong, but that's just how I see it now. Presumably if Trump fails on his promises, he'll be voted out in 4 years.</p> <p>The other thing that's frustrating to me as a liberal is I felt like Hillary tried to address many of the concerns of rural communities and those that have been left behind. She seemed to have real concrete plans for what to do. I'm not sure why people ended up choosing Trump over her. Maybe her message fell flat among those people. Maybe she really wasn't addressing many of their concerns. Maybe she wasn't offering nearly as much change as they wanted to see. Whatever it was, liberals and Democrats need to hear that message and do better. We need to address those real needs moving forward. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/5#post-2652516 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 09:37:21 +0000 ShootingStar 2652516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I read a similar article a couple days ago. I don't really love the tone of this one but the point still stands. Hillary supporters get frustrated with people who have no concern over social issues (like racism and gay rights) and Trump supporters struggling to put food on the table get frustrated with those who prioritize social issues over economics. </p> <p>I don't know what the solution is. But I wish those didn't have to be the choices. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/4#post-2652506 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 09:24:47 +0000 youboots 2652506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: interesting. I live in a farming county/community in a blue state. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/4#post-2652501 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 09:13:24 +0000 arosebyany 2652501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: this was a great article, thank you! Like @gotkimchi: I've also been following along, but not chiming in. I live in one of those extremely red rural areas, I voted for trump. I have no desire to discuss why, but I wanted to stay that that article expressed much of the sentiment I see day to day! Thanks again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/4#post-2652493 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 08:48:54 +0000 gotkimchi 2652493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: this was a good article, I've been following along but not commenting because I've been finding it hard to put into words how I feel. I grew up in a rural community and I think to label all trump supporters racist is to have such a narrow scope of this issue. The issues are deep and real and misunderstood by many. Many people think trump will give them a chance. Wether that's true or not, we'll see. But until someone's walked in these shoes i find it hard to judge them. I voted Hillary but I'm not surprised trump won - life is tough out here and people want to be heard. Trump made them feel heard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/4#post-2652490 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 08:36:01 +0000 Adira 2652490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I read a fantastic article that really helped explain to me part of the appeal of Trump. I think all liberals should give it a read!</p> <p><a href="http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-reasons-trumps-rise-that-no-one-talks-about/" rel="nofollow">http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-reasons-trumps-rise-that-no-one-talks-about/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/4#post-2651627 Sat, 12 Nov 2016 13:53:32 +0000 Kemma 2651627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@YogiRunner: I read a great quote somewhere that said something like "we can't control what happens in the White House but we can control what happens in our own house".</p> <p>I'm not American but we all need to be the change, stand up for those people being marginalised, treat others with kindness and teach our children to be good, kind and honest citizens of the world. What we do everyday will surely make more of a difference than what Trump does or doesn't do while in office. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/4#post-2651589 Sat, 12 Nov 2016 09:15:24 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2651589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not for nothing, I don't need anyone to justify their vote to make me feel better about them as a person. Asking someone to tell me what was Trump's appeal is different because with all of his rhetoric I just didn't get it. Every person gets a vote and how individuals exercise their right is fine by me. We clearly weren't listening to one another's grievances before the vote and now we are.</p> <p>One thing I would like Trump to do now is unequivocally come out in support of civility. Grabbing at women's head scarves as they walk down the street is unacceptable. This country is better than that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/4#post-2651585 Sat, 12 Nov 2016 09:02:14 +0000 winter_wonder 2651585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@YogiRunner: well said. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/4#post-2651576 Sat, 12 Nov 2016 08:32:22 +0000 YogiRunner 2651576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The title of this post is "What do we do now?" Whether we wanted our vote to cause it or not, there is real hate and real sadness erupting everywhere right now. One thing everyone on this thread (and beyond) can agree on is that we all want what's best for our kids. Can we agree to take at least a small tangible step to help stamp out any signs of a culture of hate and combat it with love? There are so many great examples given above - teach your kids about privilege and equality (beyond what you normally do), give to a cause that is meaningful to you, commit acts of kindness, wear a safety pin. For me, one thing I'll do today is find my son books with female protagonists and themes of diversity (I was sent a short list if anyone is interested).</p> <p>Can we all commit to at least one thing as a way to move forward? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/4#post-2651563 Sat, 12 Nov 2016 06:25:00 +0000 petitenoisette 2651563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this is the type of thing we're looking for from trump supporters :</p> <p>"I voted for trump despite my strong disagreement with his disparagement of women, minorities and muslims. I truly thought that those who believed in what he was saying about those groups was a tiny minority. I am now so saddened to see how his election has emboldened this group of people and that it is apparently a much larger group of individuals than I realized. In particular since my vote contributed to condoning the hateful words behind this behavior I will work to condemn it when I see it and speak out against anyone trying to whitewash what is happening right now in our country." </p> <p>Instead this is what I think many of us here are experiencing on other platforms:<br /> -stop whining, you're just upset you didn't get a trophy (just no)<br /> -denial that the hate crimes are occurring (gaslighting)<br /> -false equivalency between any bad behavior by anti-Trump protesters and the hate crimes mentioned above<br /> -Trump voters being sad and angry that they're being called racists, etc. (you care about hateful rhetoric only now that it's being used at you)</p> <p>I do want to come together and heal as a nation but there is work to be down to get there and it's not going to be painless or comfortable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/4#post-2651537 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 22:56:33 +0000 Mama Bird 2651537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@katsupgirl: It's SO not about him being a Republican! Actually I rather like a few of his policies (who doesn't like the idea of bringing jobs back home, if it works?) and the fact that he's one of the very few non-politicians to make it into office. But this long ago stopped being about one party vs another for me. There are a couple of people I'd never vote for no matter which ticket they were on and what they promised, and he's the second one. Anyway, it's a done deal. We do need to start healing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/4#post-2651521 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 21:35:44 +0000 Madison43 2651521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@katsupgirl: I'm going to bow out after this because as I mentioned, its circular at this point. But just to clarify MY position, (i) I never said she and fellow Trump supporters were hateful (see my comment that its not that people endorsed his behavior, but voted in spite of it) and (ii) I was also explicit that this isn't a partisan issue for me, and I'm sorry, but if you think that we are all having this conversation because we wouldn't vote for a republican anyway, you're missing the point. </p> <p>If the answer is that people voted for him because his policy proposals were more important to them than the impact of HIS hateful rhetoric, then fine. As I said, I'd like to understand, but I don't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/4#post-2651517 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 21:14:00 +0000 katsupgirl 2651517@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Madison43: I get that you really do want to understand but I think @Mrs D: has already explained her position in this thread and previous ones. For most people here her answer is never going to be good enough because they wouldn't vote for a republican anyway. </p> <p>I get that people are upset and need to vent but it needs to be tempered. I think people channeling their energy into supporting programs they believe in is productive but generalizing and labeling a large group of people as hateful is not. How do you expect Trump supporters to not be silent when the angry voices keep yelling and vilifying them? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/4#post-2651506 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 20:40:00 +0000 ShootingStar 2651506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: I'm going to try to explain how I feel and how a lot of us feel and I don't intend this to be a personal attack. </p> <p>We are not stereotyping all the people who voted for Trump. We are not saying that you are going to be yelling at Muslims to get out of the country. What I'm saying is that people who for the candidate who inspires these behaviors are still part of the problem. There are nuances to racism and white privilege. The privilege to feel "well, he's not targeting me so it's not that big a deal." The privilege to feel economic issues can trump hateful speech and ideas in a candidate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/4#post-2651502 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 20:35:04 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2651502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: I think it would go a long way, for me as a christian who did not vote for trump, for people who did to clarify out loud that they do not condone the comments he had made throughout his campaign and the hate crimes that are rampant right now. It feels to me that people who voted for him knowing that this was his character endorsed this behavior, and I think actively stepping up now to say you (a figurative you) will not tolerate it would help ease a little of the hurt and anxiety. It feels like a vote for trump was a vote for hatred, so I do think it is on the people who elected him to help put a stop to this. Hate has become socially acceptable, and of the vast majority of trump supporters arent actually this hateful (which I hope and pray that they arent) I think standing up to this type of behavior will take away that acceptability and drown it out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/4#post-2651501 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 20:34:24 +0000 Madison43 2651501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: I fear this is going in circles, but I - and most others on this thread I assume - understand that many people, like you, did not support Trump for the terrible and inexcusable things that he said. What we don't understand is how you could support him, through your vote, in spite of the things he said. </p> <p>I understand all of many valid reasons people vote for a republican platform over a democratic one. And I understand not voting for Hillary. But I really, really don't understand why Trump's hateful rhetoric didn't disqualify him as a candidate for rationale people like yourself. Yes, everyone has issues that they feel passionately about and those issues themselves can be intensely polarizing but I liked to thing that we were all bound by a common sense of decency and understanding of what kind of person was fit to lead us. Some hyperbole here, but if David Duke rolled out a economic plan that solve the national debt without raising taxes or cutting services, I still wouldn't vote for him, because...David Duke. </p> <p>A previous poster mentioned the coal industry and I actually get that - if the difference between one candidate or another is the immediate threat that you may not be able to food in your kid's mouths because the alternative supports eliminating your industry, ok, I get why you may not support him but still vote Trump. I don't expect people to be saints, and I'd pick feeding my kids every time too. </p> <p>But then we talking about a small percentage of reluctant supporters...it doesn't explain everyone else to me. I want to understand I do....but I just don't. :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/4#post-2651499 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 20:22:15 +0000 Mrs D 2651499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: can you clarify what action you would like or expect? Serious question...I'm trying to understand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-we-do-now/page/4#post-2651498 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 20:19:54 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2651498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: I cant speak for anyone else, but I shared this on facebook today because it very eloquently puts into words what I have been feeling but having a hard time expressing. I feel that the entire letter spoke for me, but this part in particular...</p> <p>"I know that you are not racist, sexist, or hateful. I know you are loving people. But the truth is many Trump supporters aren't like you. If you are silent, your vote for him will be a vote for them, because they are not silent. So speak out against hate. Show grace and support to those who are afraid. You can, I know you can, because I know you are wonderful people. I know you, and I love you, but this cannot be the end of your political action. This is not a vote you can cast and forget. You have a responsibility to follow through and take ownership for this administration."</p> <p><a href="http://www.heatherrosewalters.com/new-blog/open-letter-to-conservatives" rel="nofollow">http://www.heatherrosewalters.com/new-blog/open-letter-to-conservatives</a> </p>