Why Do Most People Seemingly Vote Against Their Own Interests?
I have often wondered why millions of middle-class and lower-middle-class voters consistently cast their ballots for right-wing candidates and policies, even though left-leaning platforms often promise direct benefits to their economic well-being. Social programs, affordable healthcare, education funding, and worker protections are cornerstones of progressive agendas - programs that would seemingly improve the lives of many who instead align with a political ideology that opposes them. Yet, across the world, people seem to be moving more and more to the right.
There are several interesting modern theories that I have studied that explain this. A recent one I studied in a course on politics, which I thought was quite compelling for America, was what Hochschild talks about in her book "Strangers in Their Own Land".
Summary: imagine a white American male waiting in a long queue for the American Dream - steady jobs, homeownership, and good schools for children. They have worked hard, played by the rules, patiently waited, and yet, feel stuck in place. Then, they see others or "outsiders" - women, minorities, or immigrants - starting to "cut ahead" of them in line. They feel that the "outsiders" are taking their rightful place, and the government appears to be helping them do so.
For these voters, the left’s promises of social programs feel like a betrayal. Instead of recognizing these policies as a safety net for everyone, they are perceived as unfair advantages for the undeserving. The emotional response is powerful: resentment, frustration, and a deepening sense of alienation. Voting for the right becomes an act of defiance, a way to restore a sense of fairness and reclaim a cultural identity that feels under siege.
This dynamic highlights a key reason why people stop thinking logically about their material self-interest. For many, voting isn’t just a transaction; it’s a declaration of values. And the right - with its rhetoric of personal responsibility, patriotism, and cultural preservation - offers a narrative that resonates emotionally, even if it contradicts with their economic realities.
Hochschild suggests that the roots of this paradox lie not in economic calculation but in deeply felt emotions and perceptions of fairness. Her book covers this in detail, and there youtube videos that talk about this in case you are interested.
