Farmers Are Chumps
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TL;DR
- American farmers depend on imports for inputs and exports for profits, making trade wars detrimental to their economic well-being.
- Despite this, farmers have consistently voted for candidates who advocate for trade wars, such as Donald Trump.
- The agriculture sector is experiencing a recession, with declining farm incomes and increasing bankruptcies.
- The article questions why farmers vote against their apparent self-interest, referencing theories that cultural issues override economic concerns.
- It suggests that economic self-interest has a weak effect on voting behavior across various demographics, including educated voters and affluent individuals.
- The author argues that voters, including farmers, often make policy choices based on "mistakes" rather than rational self-interest.