cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/53941212
A Maryland hairdresser who voted for Donald Trump in 2024 after believing his promises to lower living costs said she has since lost her home and car, struggled to pay her credit cards, and watched customers disappear from her business. Now, she bitterly regrets helping return him to the White House, declaring that only the devil could govern with such cruelty.
Celia Salmerón, 58, accused the Trump administration of bringing hardship rather than the financial relief he promised voters. She immigrated from El Salvador as a child, and now runs a hair salon in a working-class Maryland neighbourhood with a large Hispanic population.
‘He promised to give us money. But he didn’t give us anything. What he gave us this time were problems,’ Salmerón recently told a media outlet, adding that she had been unable to keep up with her debts and had lost almost everything she worked to build.
‘Ever since Trump came in, I have been bankrupt. I have lost everything: my house, my car. I can’t pay my credit cards,’ she said.
Let’s say even if liberal politicians do recognize that, how would you even appeal to that kind of person? There’s a certain delusion there where rational thinking doesn’t even apply…
I dont know, but I do know it can’t just be ignored. Delusion isnt something you can really snap someone out of cause our brains dont work that way. It takes time for things to get wired up, and time for things to rewire. It might feel good to tell someone like this that they are an idiot, but it doesnt help. You just have to gently chip away at them as hard as that is.
The problem is essentially just a lack of solidarity. I know someone from an immigrant family who is far right. As far as I know, it hasn’t been a problem for anyone in their family (yet). I just try to make it clear that I see them the same as any other immigrant family (which they probably hate) in non-political discussions.
Stuff like “immigrant families like yours always have cool traditions” or “your _____ immigrant community is so tight knit”, or “I’d hate to lose immigrant communities like yours”.
I basically want it to set off their alarm bells that if society is coming after immigrant communities, they’ll be next, but I want them to come to that conclusion by themselves.
It’s not ideal since it is a little stereotype-y, but I dont know a better strategy from an outsider.