@ToolGuy the irony

Quite true. There are many people who can never imagine needing great help from others, whether it be financial or in services, due to failed health, going broke, becoming jobless, losing their home in a disaster, etc. Therefore, an attitude of "we are all in this together" is foreign to them and they vote accordingly with this irrational optimism. Another related reason people vote against their interests is the irrational belief that either they or their children are destined to become rich, therefore they are against changing the economic or tax system from the status quo because it might penalize them financially in the future. Talk about counting your chickens before they hatch!

The most confounding thing to me is the belief of people who are struggling financially yet are dead set against single payer or universal healthcare for all because they are racist or resentful of undocumented people, who they refer to as all Mexicans, receiving free or affordable healthcare as part of any new reform. Even tho this type of reform would improve things immensely for poor whites in America, these people would rather cut off their nose to spite their face....In this situation, you can't fix stupid or racist......

@TomMcGiverin a third cultural belief, more prevelent in the east coast, is "protestant ethic" and the perceived belief that hard work, individualism, and fatherly stewardship, from your boss and your elected officials, will somehow result in a greater morality, which will naturally evolve into things like health and wellness for all.

@MarkiusMahamius That kind of "belief" is just as magical and full of shit as believing in the sky fairy, but it's their life...as long as they don't force it on me thru their politics.

@TomMcGiverin true, but it drives poltical systems just like the other two you mentiiined,