A Main Street, not Wall Street, response

The traditional Democratic Party characterization of the Republican Party is that it is primarily made up of wealthy, Wall Street oriented types.

From what I can tell, this recent election defied that description. In fact, much of the support for Donald Trump seems to have predominantly come from less-affluent citizens, many of whom represent so-called "blue collared" workers.

Whether or not you agree with the outcome of this election, and many card-carrying Republicans did not, the rejection of the current administration's policies is unmistakable. That's the program Hillary Clinton ran on.

The central disconnect, as far as I can tell, is that the job market has stagnated with many labor intense industries, i.e. coal mining, textile, and appliance factories, steel making, etc. disappearing and/or going overseas. This has led to wide-spread disillusionment and downright hardship for many.

The "make America great again" theme has solid resonance for this group that has felt left behind. It remains to be seen whether Donald Trump has the answer to this dilemma, but he obviously found a hopeful audience for his message and subsequent election. This is not Wall Street, but a main street response.

James Mooney

Arlington Heights