The author explains why some Americans support policies and politicians that are clearly against their own self-interests, and concludes that the cause is largely underlying racism.

Fascinating study of how white people in certain states have attitudes and vote for politicians and policies that are against their own and their communities' best interests. The author focuses on Missouri, Tennessee, and Kansas where state-level policymakers enacted laws or made decisions that negatively affect middle-class and poor whites in the areas of gun violence, health care, and public education. An alternate view: I recently heard a speaker whose point of view is that such people understand their best interests to be identifying as white and clinging to that identity despite the obvious and destructive downsides. So interesting, and sad.