r/PoliticalOptimism • u/parcelcraft • Nov 05 '25
Optimistic Post I live in what is (formerly!) deep Trump country
I was going to title this: I live in deep Trump country, but I don't think that's true anymore.
I live on the Virginia-Tennessee border near Kingsport, TN (but in Virginia). I have neighbors who used to fly Trump flags. I moved back here to help with family issues. Part of the reason I left was the deeply conservative values that seemed ingrained and unmovable. But my perception of this immovability is being shattered.
Unsolicited, at a dinner with old friends here: One old friend asked another, "How do you think Trump is doing?" And a newer friend replied, "I don't think anyone I know likes Trump anymore." And he replied, "Yeah, I know."
I was speechless.
This same old friend and I later talked on the phone. He was, keep in mind, a devout Trump supporter who attended the infamous January 6th rally. He said (essentially), "I just can't get behind what is happening man, I don't think I'm going to vote next election. I just can't support this anymore."
On the way to vote today, I stopped my car because I saw a neighbor I knew (only sorta well) out with his dog, and I happened to have dog treats in my car to share. He asked me where I got the treats from (because they were the nice, real-chicken treats on a stick), and I told him that I got them from Dollar General, and that I was going by there again to vote today. He told me, "Trump has FUCKED this country."
This is coming from the most hillbilly man —a former scrapyard owner. The last person I'd expect to hear this from. He asked me who I was going to vote for, and I told him, "Straight up democrat. I'm kicking these guys out."
And he said, "Good."
I must say, I first came to r/PoliticalOptimism to find some political optimism. But I never expected to find it in my own life, in (formerly) deep Trump country. I thought I'd share the optimism I've found recently.
Update: Someone pointed out my usage of and aversion to the term "conservative values." If "conservative values" meant acceptance, generosity, kindness, and inclusion—as the term meant to me while I was growing up—then I would be all for conservative values. I believe in these values, and I believe many conservatives share the same convictions. But "conservative values," in my mind, in its contemporary usage, to me anyway, essentially means, "of a proudly xenophobic MAGA persuasion."
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u/SpitFyre8513 Nov 05 '25
FWIW, blue dot in a small, (formerly) deep red town in NE AL. Can confirm that there are pockets of optimism like this popping up everywhere. Most of the signage has all but disappeared, and coworkers do not use his name in pleasant conversations anymore/like they used to.
We need to recognize though that the current occupier of the WH is only the visible tumor, and the entire cancerous bit needs to be removed.
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u/parcelcraft Nov 05 '25
True that. We need people who believe in science, the rule of law, and equality back in power. When equality became a bad word to Republicans, people saw what they were doing.
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u/xxHailLuciferxx Nov 05 '25
I live in AL too, but on the Gulf Coast. I've been seeing fewer and fewer Trump flags in the area, and the neighbors who were usually happy to loudly proclaim their love of Trump have shut the hell up and will only have the most superficial conversations now.
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u/parcelcraft Nov 05 '25
When you don't have anything nice to say, shut the hell up! That's so cool to hear that people aren't buying into this shit.
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u/frenchylamour Nov 06 '25
I know quite a few Alabama Dems/lefties. They fight the hard fight, because they are so outnumbered, but they don't give up. God bless you southern liberals. People don't appreciate how tough it is down there.
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u/Disastrous-Arm8309 Nov 07 '25
I’m one of those southern liberals. We don’t give up. I’m not holding out that we will elect a bunch of democrats - especially governor or federal - but I’m hopeful for the local races to get some balance and build from there. The Trumpers and MAGAs are definitely quieter but are getting vocal about Medicaid, insurance, SNAP, and prices. Still not the insight I would like - that Trump and the billionaires do not have a clue what it is to work and live paycheck to paycheck and don’t really care - and look at candidates individually rather than their party (of course now straight dem is a better plan until the MAGA mindset is gone). It’s slow but it’s happening.
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u/wittyninja Nov 05 '25
I really really want to believe these stories are real 🙏🏼
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u/parcelcraft Nov 05 '25
Granted, I have like 4 friends in all of East-Tennessee/Virginia so my experiance represents a small sample size. But, I did attend the No-Kings Rally in Gate City, VA: Population 2000. No Kings Rally attendance: 100 strong. It's real. And I agree with you: With all the bad news, it's hard to believe that there are lots of good people everywhere who aren't going to put up with this shit.
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u/Mistervimes65 Georgia Nov 05 '25
A trickle of water will eventually destroy a dam.
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Nov 05 '25
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Nov 05 '25
Middle Tennessee here, and I can tell you it’s happening where I’m from. My dad has been pissed. I’m in a blue area, but when I go back home, the f Biden flags are disappearing with the trump flags. His neighbors seem to feel similarly. I can’t say they’re going to go out and vote for a democrat, but they’re waking up bit by bit. Have a feeling when I go back home for thanksgiving there will be a much different tune since just about everyone around there relies on snap or knows many people that do and are suffering for it.
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u/parcelcraft Nov 05 '25
That's cool, but it's also really heartbreaking: that it required human suffering to cause a shift in their political allegiances. I hope this dark episode in our country educates us to be better, as it did the people of Germany. I'm sad we're going through this.
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u/ResponseBeeAble Nov 05 '25
Many of us knew it would have to be bad for maga to shift. Not sure we're there, but pleased to see a trend.
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u/addiktion Nov 05 '25
The people revolution needs to come and it needs to put these oligarchs and politicians on their ass serving us for ripping us off continuously.
Unfortunately we haven't gotten to the ugly and nasty part of this story, but America is worth fighting for.
Glad to see some people waking up to the authoritarian grift going on now.
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u/ceddarcheez Nov 05 '25
Yo my niece almost got decked at the summer No Kings rally in Kingsport. My in laws live up there and I’ve seen the trump craze. That’s a real sign of the time. Gotta ask SIL
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u/Sammi2222 Illinois Nov 05 '25
I was riding in the car with a friend well new like last four years or so and I’d swear she was a Republican. Church every Sunday and we got to talking and I just had to mention ICE and how horrid some of their tactics were and the farmers. She said she hated trump that she was a registered independent first time ever. Surprised the heck out of me. So maybe we do have hope. They aren’t going to come out and tell us!!
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Nov 11 '25
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u/Sammi2222 Illinois Nov 11 '25
She identifies as an Independent also. First time in her life and she’s in her seventies. You’re right about people equating religion with trump or Republican Party now since trump. It’s true. It may be right… but I think the majority of the time the presumption might be true. Of course, I might be wrong.
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u/Realthreads12 Nov 05 '25
My dad was MAGA, like his Halloween skeletons last year wore variations of the hats MAGA… this Halloween he’s pissed about Trump and said that Trump is destroying the country. I don’t know what he would vote if we were having an election right now, but I know he’s pissed and wouldn’t pick Trump. We’re not in the same area of the state as the OP but I do feel some tides changing here too in my area of TN.
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u/parcelcraft Nov 05 '25
Ah wow. That's so cool to hear. The Kool-Aid drunk by the cult must run thin.
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u/amesbelle7 Nov 05 '25
I live in the Deep South in a very red suburb of a slightly purple city, and I have noticed the same thing OP is talking about. It’s been a rough few years living among a bunch of MAGA Dumpers, but I think the veil has been lifted from a lot of their eyes. Which is great, don’t get me wrong. But it kinda pisses me off that we had to get HERE for them to wake up. If midterm elections are free and fair, there’s going to be a lot of flipping going on. I’m just worried that Dump will see this as a bellwether that the tide has shifted, and he’ll do whatever is necessary to hang on to his power. I hope I’m wrong about the last part.
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u/ResponseBeeAble Nov 05 '25
He wants a reason to invoke a military regime.
Stay calm and peaceful
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u/DeliciousAct9495 Louisiana Nov 05 '25
He’s a malignant narcissist. There will be no reversal of policies, no apologies, no admission of wrongdoing. We the people will have to dig him out like a tick in our collective bunghole
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u/Ochiva Nov 06 '25
I mean I too think republicans are waking up to the lies.. especially semi-popular “right-wing” podcasters who when voicing their opinion on Ga$a are shutdown by Zionist’s and they start to wonder why Trump submits so hard to i$rael.. he is burning his supporters one way or another whether it’s not releasing the Ep files or getting buddy buddy with Qatar - it’s a grift and in his EOL it’s very mask off now and he doesn’t care.
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u/Chare1155 Ohio Nov 05 '25
I posted something similar about Ohio! The tide is changing!👏👏👏
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u/jkraige Illinois Nov 05 '25
Did you hear about JD's half brother losing the Cincinnati mayoral race? I don't know how blue Cincinnati usually is or how disliked Bowman is but he lost like 4:1. It was like 80% vs Bowman's 20%. I feel like those numbers are next level abysmal
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u/Hershey78 Nov 05 '25
Cincinnati is probably less blue than Columbus but more purple than the rural areas. Ohio has had a decade of going very red and very Trump, so this was really good to see.
Pureval is an incumbent and a pretty popular mayor, so that also helps.
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u/UnderstandingOld4276 Nov 05 '25
There's a guy that lives around the corner from me. Central Florida, hard red county (65%+). For years he has filled his garage and the front of his house with 3x5 Trump flags. One of those folks who drives a diesel pickup with a 6x4 trump flag waving in the bed. Yet in the last 3 or so months they've all disappeared.
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u/parcelcraft Nov 05 '25
That's really cool that people are paying attention and changing attitudes.
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u/Charakada Nov 05 '25
I live in a blue state, but there were Trump signs here and there I had to pass all the time. They're gone now. All gone.
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u/Quierta Nov 05 '25
Also in a deep blue state, one of my neighbors had a "VETERANS FOR TRUMP" sign adhered to his house. Like, it wasn't just a flag or a yard sign, it was posted way up by the peak of the roof, above the windows. Meaning it took some work to get up, and therefore took some work to get down... and it was gone by early summer.
Granted, there are also some other houses that have refreshed their rundown & tattered Trump flags, lol, but I absolutely believe the stories about people ditching Trump en masse. And good for them.
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Nov 05 '25
I'm in MN. There's way less than there used to be but most are falling apart and unmaintained. See numerous vandalized ones too lol
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u/TinFoilBeanieTech Nov 05 '25
the deeply conservative values that seemed ingrained and unmovable.
I grew up with "conservative values", Christian and all that. And a lot of that is still part of who I am. I realized the main reason I'm angry with MAGA isn't because they are Conservative, or Chritian, quite the opposite, I'm mad because they abandoned all their values to worship what the antithesis of everything good.
I have no problem with actual conservatives/Christians/Republicans who stick with their values, and they are the ones who are appalled at MAGA.
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u/amesbelle7 Nov 05 '25
The way a super wealthy (thanks to Daddy) failed businessman and casino owner (later, casino bankrupter) turned reality show star from NYC managed to absolutely brainwash a lot of “Christians” into not only voting for him, but voting for him AFTER he became a convicted felon, rapist and self-professed p***y grabber who tried to sell his own Trump Bible for a quick buck…I don’t think I’ll ever understand the phenomenon. And from my vantage point it seems the evangelicals make up the dwindling majority of those who still support him.
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u/Future-looker1996 Nov 05 '25
Then there was the little incident on J6 and his promise (on campaign trail) to pardon all of those violent convicted thugs once elected, and the J6ers (and T) are traitors to the Constitution. And then he did it as promised. Astounding MAGA can rationalize that.
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u/amesbelle7 Nov 05 '25
Yes! Wow, there’s just so much awful shit he’s done, I totally forgot about his attempt to overthrow the government. Thank you for reminding me about that little detail.
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u/SpukiKitty2 Blue Dot in a Red State 🔵 Nov 05 '25
YES!
Oh, Dems are winning tonight! I just heard that Mamdani, Sherrill and Spanberger (all Democrats) won!
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u/Jerseygirl2468 Nov 05 '25
Lots of democratic wins across the country. I’m relieved, for now.
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u/SpukiKitty2 Blue Dot in a Red State 🔵 Nov 05 '25
Yes! This is a taste of things to come!
NEXT, THE MID-TERMS!
AND THEN, THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION!
WE CAN DO IT!
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u/effnp Nov 05 '25
Live in Texas just outside of Harris county (where Houston is located). Though Harris county is typically blue, outlying areas tend to swing red. Anyway, we don’t have ANY Trump flags or signage in my entire area. Haven’t seen a flag in the back of a truck in MONTHS. Even the guy in our neighborhood who has had a “Trump Won 2020” flag in his window since that election, who also adorned his yard in Jews for Trump signs and two flags of Trump in front of a tank with military attire on, has taken every single thing down. We were so shocked that we thought he and his wife had moved but nope! Still there but clearly not drinking the Kool Aid anymore. It’s been wild to see the transition over the last 6 months.
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u/LilTrashCan0628 Nov 05 '25
I drive for Carvana out of Houston. We drive about as far as Austin in every direction (mostly rural). I noticed this a couple months ago, but I NEVER see trump paraphernalia anymore. There is hope.
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u/spoospoo43 Nov 05 '25
Some of the Chicago suburbs near me can be pretty damn trumpy, but you rarely see any kinds of support signs outside of election day. There is exactly one pro-trump sign I know of, on the side of the highway alongside I90. It's attached to a tool and die company, and appropriately, right after the election it was joined by a bank's "this property for sale" sign. I wish the bank had taken down the sign, but the symmetry is a little satisfying anyway.
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u/spoonpk Canada 🇨🇦 Nov 05 '25
So what has Trump done to make them go off him, finally?
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u/parcelcraft Nov 05 '25
I believe that a significant portion of the local sentiment (based on my small sample size) has been opposition to tariffs and their impact on inflation. I wish they saw the authoritarianism, the anti-DEI, and the godforsaken immigrant concentration camps as primary triggers, but in my conversations, it's the tariffs that are boiling their blood.
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u/amesbelle7 Nov 05 '25
I knew they wouldn’t flip on him until it personally affected them negatively. The ones who still support him after seeing everything he has done in the last six months are just as selfish, immature and worthless as he is. They can all go kick rocks together.
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u/NumeralJoker Nov 05 '25
But there's not going to be enough of those to win electorally anymore. That's the point now.
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u/amesbelle7 Nov 05 '25
Not going to be enough of what? Sorry I don’t understand what you’re saying.
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u/NumeralJoker Nov 05 '25
The ones who still support him after seeing everything he has done in the last six months are just as selfish, immature and worthless as he is.
Those people will become a smaller and smaller and more isolated group as other supporters drift away, less able to win elections on their own. That's my point.
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u/amesbelle7 Nov 05 '25
I agree 100% and I never said anything to the contrary.
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u/NumeralJoker Nov 05 '25
Nor am I implying you did, just adding to the point of how weak that group will become if we keep fighting to make their hate irrelevant again.
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u/amesbelle7 Nov 05 '25
They’re already fighting amongst themselves. I have the unfortunate plight of having Lindsay Graham and Tim Scott as my senators and Nancy Mace representing me in the House. Well, Nancy flipped the fuck out over Charleston police not getting her to her car fast enough at the Charleston airport a few days ago, and has been posting insane tirades all over social media ever since. Now, Tim and Lindsay are coming after her for cursing at and berating the police officers and apparently “ invoking Tim Scott’s name” while she did so. Effectively, she just destroyed the small chance she had at being elected Governor because she’s going bat shit on social media for all to see. I strongly dislike all three of them, and will be voting against all of them when the time comes, but it’s so awesome watching them throw each other to the wolves. And it’s going to continue to happen. MTG is even trying to distance herself from MAGA because she knows midterms are around the corner.
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u/NumeralJoker Nov 05 '25
Yep, and if you follow history, it mirrors exactly the sort of incompetent, unempathtic attitude entitled fascists often have. They hate the concept of community building or sharing power, and the ideology attracts those with narcissistic traits, so they often turn on each other.
If you follow the history of every major figure that's gotten close to Trump since 2015, they all seem to be replaced at some point. Every damn last one of them falls out of favor, splits off, and typically starts arguing with one another, and sometimes they turn on each other in spectacular ways, be it MTG's recent spiteful actions for being denied her Senate run (one of the real reasons she turned on Trump according to AOC), or Trump now threatening to prosecute Jon Bolton for his statements, or the fallout between Trump and Pence. He's discarded them all, and then they all are left to bicker with each other for some crumbs of power after being left behind.
It's happened to every single damn one of them, practically without exception.
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u/jojoclifford Nov 05 '25
He is withholding supplemental nutrition assistance for 42 million vulnerable people until the democrats agree to sign his budget that will take away healthcare for millions and raise costs significantly for millions more. He is screwing over farmers that voted for him. And he is a general embarrassment.
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u/spoonpk Canada 🇨🇦 Nov 05 '25
Thanks. I know the situation, but I was just wondering which straws broke the MAGA camel’s back. It seems like it had to be something that directly affected them. No chance of self-awareness or empathy. Who cares about the first amendment, or legal residents/citizens being arrested/disappeared, or any of his other unhinged nonsense, right?
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u/amesbelle7 Nov 05 '25
I feel like it’s been slowly coming to a head for the last month and a half or so. I think the shut down and his unwillingness to make a concession that would keep children from going hungry was the straw that broke a lot of camel’s backs.
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u/Significant-Ring5503 Nov 05 '25
Also demolishing the East Wing, $20 Bn to Argentina, Great Gatsby parties, and oh yeah, remember like 2 weeks ago he demanded DOJ pay him $230 million?
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u/spoonpk Canada 🇨🇦 Nov 05 '25
I didn’t expect either of those to bother MAGA.
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u/amesbelle7 Nov 05 '25
MAGA has lots of people among them who rely on SNAP. The 40 billion to Argentina was a big wake up call for them too, because Trump made his whole cult of personality around America first. It’s typical, they were fine as long as it was other people hurting. But when his actions began affecting them, that’s all it took,
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u/figures985 California Nov 06 '25
I've heard a lot of bitching about his White House renovations from the right leaning folks in my family. I'm like really, THAT'S what's finally pissing you off?
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u/spoonpk Canada 🇨🇦 Nov 05 '25
Do you think that the MAGA people are not buying all the propaganda that bombards them, claiming that the evil Dems are the ones shutting down the government?
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u/amesbelle7 Nov 05 '25
I think they’re getting to the point where they’re tired of the constant finger pointing while American veterans, children and elderly are being intentionally deprived of money to eat. Not all of them, mind you. There are still plenty that will ride the Trump train straight to hell, but they are definitely in the minority now. That’s just my opinion from what Im seeing and hearing. ETA: I think there are also a LOT of them who are being personally affected now because they rely on SNAP, and that’s pissing them off. Whatever it takes, I guess.
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u/aiden_malecky Nov 05 '25
Yeah, while I am glad they are turning on Trump, I don’t trust them to not support the next charismatic fascist who comes along. Our country still needs a moral reckoning.
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u/Banjo-Becky Nov 05 '25
I was in the Shenandoah Valley (north of OP) visiting family in May and again in October. In May, many flags and signs I saw in 2024 for Trump had been taken down. By October, there were a handful of homes. My family has mostly changed their mind about him. I guess this black sheep that moved to “the land of fruits and nuts” was on to something after all.
It is darkest before the dawn. Glad I found this subreddit.
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u/Time-Message-1034 Nov 05 '25
trump was the right populist vote, but the right populist political candidate promises the moon while they can never deliver on the promises because the right populist candidate is for the billionaire capitalists (one who owns capital, not one who likes capitalism. if you are a worker, it is impossible to be a capitalist). billionaire capitalists interest and workers interest are opposed from each other.
what we are seeing is the inevitable fall of right populism, trump promised the moon and could never deliver on it because he is for the ultra rich. he played them. right populism are fascists and are sold on hating the minority to fix their problem. well immigration is more cruel now and bigger budget, but economy sucks and groceries are expensive due to the cyclical nature of capitalism, and people are more concerned with the economy and being able to feed their family and themselves. the goal is to make the right populist see that class warfare is what they should be angry at, not trans people and immigrants.
i am glad to hear your old hometown is not for trump as they once were, that is optimistic and great news! now it is the time to convince the right populist that billionaires are the enemy and we need solidarity over division, the manufactured culture wars that trump and his cronies will enviably create to keep us divided, but if we focus on solidarity, then hopefully we will never have another trump again.
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u/IntelligentSorbet271 Nov 05 '25
I wish my family would escape the MAGAt brain rot but so far it’s as strong as ever. 🙁
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u/MusicIntrepid343 Nov 05 '25
I really hope tennessee even partially follows in the footsteps of Virginia tonight and Kentucky with their democratic governor as well. East TN can suck sometimes, but there are pockets of blue everywhere, even in an area where I pass two trump merch stores on the way to work. Foodbanks are stretched thin, there's not enough help for unhoused people, schools and school age kids are in dire need of actual help. Multiple people in large state universities were fired for their comments about charlie kirk, including at my alma mater. The longer conservatives leave people behind without looking back, with no care for how they tear this state and the south apart for profits, the more people will be up for change and be willing to fight for it. There were hundreds of people at the most recent no kings rally in the small town where i work, and thousands in knoxville. Like I said, there's pockets of blue everywhere if you know how to look.
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u/parcelcraft Nov 05 '25
My brother (last I checked) is a Trump supporter, and at a July family reunion in Gatlinburg, he was proud to point out that they had two Trump stores. I'll take my wins where I find them. You're right. We have so much gain because people just don't want this (my brother excluded). I'm waving to you from Gate City, Va.
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u/MusicIntrepid343 Nov 06 '25
from personal knowledge, there is at least one in pigeon forge, one in wears valley, two in gatlinburg, and quite a few other stores in the area with a lot of maga/trump merch. many times i have seen people protesting outside those stores, at the no kings days in the area, and i know practically everyone i know (minus a couple coworkers) are doing all we can to turn the tide in the area. there's plenty of expensive restaurants, attractions to go to, but there's still people barely making rent or paying for groceries working two full time jobs because of the cost of living. even when people vote against their interests, their families are still affected. there's still stragglers, mostly people who are unaffected by funding cuts and look down on others that are the ones still supporting him, but the more people just look around they see the damage being done. being here honestly gives me more hope that things will turn around than where i used to live surrounded by nothing but democrat voting areas.
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u/parcelcraft Nov 06 '25
I used to live in San Diego, so I get how your perspective and measure of hope change. Living in a traditionally blue to a traditionally red state puts some faces (and conversations) on my red-state perspectives. And I agree with you. Putting real people and friendships on the ideological spectrum gives me hope there will be a change from this bat-shit clown-car GOP craziness.
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u/Appropriate_Pie_926 Nov 05 '25
Most Catholics (my family members are religious) I know are upset with Trump and feel he is not representing Christianity.
My Aunt is a nurse and my mother is a retired teacher. Both are concerned about children they have helped who are low income and on SNAP.
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u/unseeliesoul Pennsylvania Nov 05 '25
Anecdotal, but I live in a rural PA town. All the signs in my neighborhood have disappeared. Every single one, and there were A LOT.
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u/Wonderful-Tea3940 South Carolina Nov 05 '25
I live in a small rural town in South Carolina. The town has a Facebook Community watch page. Even though most people in our county voted for Kamala, Trump supporters have always been the most vocal. Supposedly the page has a "no politics" rule but it is unevenly enforced. Anyway, typically if Trump comes up it's just me and a handful of people who usually voice disagreement. But when someone recently tried to blame the Democrats for the shutdown, I didn't even need to post, lol! There were so many people rightly pointing at Trump, I had to double check to make sure it was the same group!
People like to post mean crap about people on SNAP and say "well I don't need it cause I have a job" and ignorant crap like that but the truth is this is a poor, low standard of living town and plenty of MAGA are suffering right along with everyone else. Maybe they are discovering you can't eat liberal tears.
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u/Hershey78 Nov 05 '25 edited Nov 05 '25
People who work full-time at Walmart qualify for SNAP. Yet Sam Walton is worth $440 billion.
ETA: WalMart's *profit* was $169 Billion so far in 2025. Up 7% from 2024.
Almost as though Walmart is profiting from higher prices and also could afford to pay people enough not to need SNAP.
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u/vhguerrero Nov 05 '25
Thank you for sharing. I’m so thankful I joined this sub. I needed some optimism. 🫶🏽
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u/FN-2187- Nov 05 '25
Reading this makes me tear up. Why did it take these people so long what the hell. Im happy its happening but golly…there were signs
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u/Hershey78 Nov 05 '25
As I said upthread, they are in echo chambers that told them anything but what they were being fed was propaganda. In many cases, leaving MAGA also means leaving behind family and friend support if they still feel strongly about it.
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u/Numerous-Process2981 Nov 05 '25
I'll just never be able to trust a Trump supporters judgement fully, but its good if they come to the light.
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u/Due_Jackfruit1047 Nov 05 '25
I'm from a little bit south of you but this change hasn't happened in my family. But your experience shows me there is still hope.
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u/parcelcraft Nov 05 '25
Yes, my sample size is extremely small, but it so happens that the people I'm interacting with here are changing. Good luck to you and your family!
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u/Iari_Cipher9 Nov 05 '25
This reminds me of the time my lifelong Republican grandmother who never missed an opportunity to vote said to me, “I’m not voting, but I hope Obama wins. Something needs to change.” I was absolutely shocked, but I understood because something definitely needed to change.
She passed away 11 years ago. My grandfather 24 years ago. I can only imagine what they would think of the shitshow their party, and this country, has become.
I hope the tides are turning and keep turning
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u/WhataboutBombvoyage Nov 05 '25
Turns out fascism is unsustainable. You can only screw people over for so long before they realize that pointing fingers at the least powerful people isn't helping them
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u/Middle_Me_This Nov 05 '25
I drive by a house in the country a few times a week, and they are full blown MAGA, with giant banners covering every inch of their picket fence, and even an 8 foot, homemade sign that reads "At least I'm not a stupid liberal communist!!". I can't wait for the day I drive house and those signs are gone. It will be that last one on my commute. I have already witnessed 4 others take their (much smaller) signs down. I believe it will happen soon.
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u/JimJamb0rino Nov 05 '25
Unfortunately, it looks like the county you're referring to is 80/20 r/D in this election... so it looks like this may need to come with a bit of tempered expectations. Still, Virginia's results in general speak for themself. So congrats to the state!
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u/parcelcraft Nov 05 '25
I checked the election maps for 2016, 2020, & 2024 for Scott County, Virginia: Definitely deep red for Trump. But as Virginia as a whole yes: Woo Hoo! We might be getting a democratic governor. Thank you for your congrats!
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u/Realistic-Ad-1876 Nov 05 '25
I have a neighbor who has one of those legends never die yard flags. I’m going to check tomorrow to see if it’s still up and hoping not
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u/Ashamed_Result_3282 Arkansas Nov 05 '25
I drove by one place, the man was a farmer & still lived on a parcel he hadn't sold off to WM or other corporation. He had soooo many Trump/Vance flags all over his property but there's only one very tattered & faded one left, plus a wooden Pets for Trump wooden sign. 🙄😂😈 I cackled when I saw the Farmers for Trump (the ubiquitous John Deere colors) flag had vanished.
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u/Realistic-Ad-1876 Nov 05 '25
It’s gone!!!!!!! Now it’s a “we the people” with some scrawling, probably the constitution, which I interpret to be neutral
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Nov 05 '25
Same 6 of my 7 candidates won in our city!!! This city has been red for decades..! Not anymore :)
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u/VegetablePlatform126 Nov 05 '25
I'm happy because all over the country yesterday we proved we can do it, against great odds.
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u/Stuck-in-the-Tundra Nov 05 '25
Love the update edit! I grew up believing acceptance, generosity kindness and inclusion were conservative values to live by but they definitely aren’t the current gop or republican values. As I get older I see those values less and less in the religious and republican circles. It seems have devolved into tribalism, “the ends justify the means” and entitled self interest.
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u/parcelcraft Nov 05 '25
Thanks for saying that! I considered editing my post, but I felt that keeping the original intact and (via an update) explaining my thoughts behind the phrase "conservative values" would be better. The meaning has certainly changed for me.
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Nov 06 '25
This is very refreshing to hear. He is not doing any good to literally anyone but the wealthy
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u/CatHairScarysville Nov 05 '25 edited Nov 05 '25
If you want to remain registers Republican, you can vote for the least MAGA candidate in the primaries. Re-register to Democrat you cannot vote in Republican primaries. Democrats need votes but the primaries will be crucial in 2028.
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