So I avoid politics on my channel, but this isn't my channel so I figured I would speak up, as my parents, and basically half my family, votes republican. The other half votes democrat, and yes, this makes for some VERY interesting family gatherings around the holiday season... especially in election years for state/national elections (nobody seems to argue over the local elections, which actually impact them more than the national ones do, but I think that's because no matter who runs things in our town, nothing seems to change and life is fairly peaceful).
That being said, I have been to rallies on both sides of the isle in the state of wisconsin because of my family. I have been to conventions on both sides. Several times. Although religion (in our families case, Roman Catholics) is very prevalent in all of my family and nearly everyone goes to church, there doesn't seem to be a real connection between them all being roman catholics and what they vote for, since as I said, they all go every sunday and every church picnic and church event, but they all vote different ways. I am setting the table a little to help explain my perspective, as this isn't one that is based in city living, but rather out in the areas that are typically considered to be heavily red.
The reason I want to address this is because while my parents and others did definitely vote for Trump. Twice, I think people massively misunderstand why a lot of people vote the way they do. Much of the internet focuses so heavily on social issues. Racism, Bigotry, LGBTQ+ rights, equality, work place treatment, and sure... abortion rights are a big one right now. A LOT of people online really heavily focus on this stuff. And that's fine - for many people these are the things that decide how they vote.
But others have different things they value most. As an example, my parents voted trump purely because the tax laws under him help them keep more of the money they make (in particular, my dad). This matters, because my mom is handicapped and my father getting to keep even more of his paycheck helps him support taking care of her as they are a one income family. You may go that's a stupid reason to vote trump - but when you have issues you deal with personally one one side over another side is going to be able to best help you out in your given situation, you sort of overlook all the other stuff because in many of the areas in wisconsin that are heavily red leaning, the issues the internet drones on about doesn't seem affected here.
As an example, we have a quickly growing black and hmung community (I think that's how it's spelled) and they are never looked down upon here and work in good jobs like everyone else. We have a pretty vibrant gay community that nobody seems to give any gruff too, even at the bars. My sister literally had gay friends in her wedding in a Catholic Church. I think what gets lost on many is they have a narrow view of what being a republican means because they are so focused on whats happening in the highly dense and populated areas of the US, that when they look out towards rural america (in at least my areas), these issues are huge non factors and thus not something people are focusing on when they vote. Instead they are focusing on who's going to get our roads fixed and snow plows running, who's going to give us the most tax breaks. For others who aren't as fortunate, they vote based on what's best going to benefit them too.
It so happens most people who vote democrat here are also living off wellfare and popping out kids like crazy to keep the checks coming. So when you see this, it can greatly influence that why would you want to support a side that's allowing this to happen and keeps giving them more and more of the money that they earn? That's the gist of how voting lines work on here. Those that make even 50k+, vote Republican. Those that make less, vote democrat. And the split on the line isn't a social disagreement over abortion/rights laws, it's purely because both sides want money. Republicans want to keep theirs, democrats want more free money from the government.
I am not saying this applies to both parties on the whole nor can I say this applies to say, rural areas in alabama and other southern states. I can only speak for rural areas of wisconsin, minnesota, and michigan. And none of this applies to cities.
You can argue it's socially and collectively irresponsible to vote based purely on your own self interest rather than the interest of every person on the whole, nit of we're REALLY honest, a lot of us vote for that very reason anyways. It just so happens whatever that self interest is may not be driven by money. It might be driven by abortion rights or whatever thing you prioritize more than money.
But it is my experience that a majority of republicans I know literally don't care about racism, don't care about abortion laws, don't care about bigotry. Because basically... we don't really have issues with this stuff overall in our area. It's not something they are seeing every day.
So they vote based on what helps them live a better life - which is generally about money. It's why it's so hard hearing people online say if you vote republican it means you support all this crazy stuff, and then the right will fire back and say if you vote democrat it means you support people being lazy and living off government aid instead of working for a living, etc.
All of these views, just like my own, are skewed by where we live and what our upbringing is. So to add perspective: Everyone is my family are very nice people, have never talked down or looked down upon another person in their lives, all of them donate to charity, work at soup kitchens, volunteer time for the homeless, and do IMHO, a lot of good. But because some of them voted to keep the money they make, they get grouped with a bunch of other people.
I think in reality, there is a HUGE chunk of people on both sides that would love a legit 3rd party that will give them what they want and stop with the BS that goes both ways, but because the two party system is so engrained it's really hard to vote anyone else and actually get what you want. So you can call the reason some of my family votes the way they do short sighted, but I also think the amount of people that are extreme isn't as large as you think, and the only reason the Republicans hold power is because a lot of peopl emaking money want to keep their money. If you flipped ideologies and instead, republicans were for giving handouts and democrats for tax breaks for wealthier people, but then both sides KEPT their ideologies on rights? I almost think the democratic party would landslide the entire country like 70-30. But that's just not reality. The money issue is what keeps so many republicans on that side.
I know this too, because for a little while all of wisconsin went blue, and it went blue because the democratic governor's policy promises included tax breaks to let people north of 50k keep more of their money.
Over time however, too many extremist found their way into politics and power, and it's a crap show.
As for my political affiliation? Completely independent. I am seen a lot of bullshit on both sides. I voted Andrew Yang for the last presidency, as I believe and still do to this day, that he was ACTUALLY the right man for the job. But, who cares what I think lol.
Speaking about Jack Black, the autism speaks stuff is the #1 charity that shows up in every single search engine in the world for autism, and their websites and claims all seem above board and without a deeper dive, it appears to be a worthy charity to help autistic people. And, the real issues of that charity are not very well covered. Most of what he supports and where his money goes is partly determined by an agent, and they worry a lot about public image. Most people that are famous supporting autism speaks likely do so because they think it's actually a pretty good charity that's making a big difference.
I have no clue if they actually are, but I know as someone who isn't autistic and knows nothing, if it wasn't for people on the internet tell me it's bad, I wouldn't know any better tbh. And with the amount of popularity someone like Jack Black has, I can't blame him if he isn't listening to the public, and the public online will say a lot of conflicting things when you're that popular. He probably mostly focuses on his movie/music career and his kids. He ain't wasting his days arguing online and reading comments.
