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dbg_was_here 's review for:
Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right
by Arlie Russell Hochschild
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
The Story
“You see people cutting in line ahead of you. You’re following the rules. They aren’t.”
Imagine your hometown bayou has been poisoned by oil & gas companies, too toxic to fish in, and the lawless rich send spies to disrupt your efforts to hold corporations accountable for the environmental disaster.
Hochschild introduces us to Louisiana’s conservative right to explore the unseen issues influencing their vote. These people may not be perfect, but they’re disenfranchised, too.
My Verdict
Difficult, but necessary
Enlightening, empathetic, effective.
What I Learned
- It’s inaccurate to paint every conservative voter as “dumb” or “racist.” Some are trapped by the current system with no way out.
- Trust died when politicians sold out Louisiana residents left with nothing after corporate-led environmental disasters.
- Empathy to understand varied priorities allows us to find new solutions for all.
What You’ll Love
- Very relatable (and memorable) profiles of folks whose lives have been worsened and limited by the federal government.
- Going beyond buzz words to have more collaborative political conversations.
- Answers about how a political party convinced folks to vote against their needs for the sake of their fears and beliefs.
This review has been repurposed from content first published on my Instagram, so it may be missing elements that would complete the presentation. To see more or follow other reviews, meet me on Instagram at @dbg.was.here.