You have managed to summarize the points of many history and political books in a few, pithy paragraphs. A racist Southern strategy, disdain for the have-nots, and more and balder approaches to retaining power have been in the works since Nixon's 1968 election. We coasted along on relatively mild disdain for the poor and hatred for blacks until 1980, when Reagan picked at that scab. Finally, after Barack Obama became president, we ditched civility entirely to support a supposed "disruptor" who was actually the embodiment of every prejudice Republicans had. Thank you, sir. You're like the cover of the New Yorker. You always get it right.