On Point | Podcast How the Left lost the working class
Jul 31, 2025
Joan Williams, a renowned scholar on social inequality and author of 'Outclassed,' explores how the Democratic Party has alienated working-class voters. She discusses a revealing Wall Street Journal poll showing increasing disconnection and disapproval from the party. Williams analyzes the class culture gap, cultural values disparities, and shifts in political allegiance, highlighting the necessity for Democrats to reconnect authentically with everyday Americans. She advocates for a focus on relatable issues and understanding the diverse economic concerns that impact voter loyalty.
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Stability Drives Working-Class Distrust
- Middle-class voters value stability because their economic situation is fragile and change is often associated with loss.
- Wages for non-college workers stagnant since 1989, fostering distrust towards parties that don't secure economic stability.
Butter Under the Bed Anecdote
- Joan Williams shares humorous cultural differences with her husband's working-class family around habits like putting butter under the bed.
- This highlighted to her the profound class culture gap impacting social and political divides.
Class and Culture Divide
- Class differences also reflect cultural gaps, such as values in religion, military, and traditional gender roles.
- Middle status people take pride in traditional institutions that confer portable social status unlike economic class.
