General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Being liberal on social issues yet subscribing to a corporate controlled economic vision [View all]hfojvt
(37,573 posts)the "Reagan Democrats" were white collar workers or very well paid blue collar workers. Reagan's votes came from above the median income. He did not lure them by a promise to "settle the hash of hippies". Reagan lured them with $$$$. The further you were above the median income, the more you stood to gain from Reagan's tax plan. And some parts of the working class, thanks to their unions, were well above the median income.
Exit polls 1980 http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/elections/how_groups_voted/voted_80.html
exit polls 1976
http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/elections/how_groups_voted/voted_76.html
In 1976, the bottom 41% of voters by income went for Carter, the middle 35% was split 50-50.
In 1980, the bottom 27% went for Carter, the middle 30% dropped to 54-39 against.
In 1976 union households went for Carter 62-38. In 1980, they only went for Carter 48-45.
In 1980, median household income was $16,200. So those in the $15,000 - $25,000 range who went from 50-50 for Carter to 39-54 against were the tipping factor, and many of them were - above the median income drawn in by the lure of easy money.