An American Dialogue.

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Here, Jerry Hough of Durham, NC responds to Paul Krugman, of New York City, NY:

Jerry Hough is a trusted commenter Durham, NC July 22, 2016

Everyone knows the Upper West Side is doing well. The basic thing wrong with Krugman is that he thinks the Upper West Side is America except for some cranky old nativist white men.

It is not just "some Republicans." The last WS Journal-NBC poll says 73% of all Americans think the country is on the wrong track. That includes minorities. Of course, there are the 27% on the Upper West Side and Marin County in California--basically the people who have stocks in their 401 ks.

The market has tripled since 2009 while the Fed says wages for the bottom 90% have fallen during that period adjusted for inflation. That includes blacks and other minorities. When people answer Reagan's question "are you better off the last 8 years," the great majority will say no.

Trump has done a brilliant job of persuading anyone that he will introduce change. Last night he was brilliant. The nativism is code language for wages. He (Pence did so beautifully in his speech) says Hillary is the status quo and more of the same. Krugman is their chief spokesman. His criticism of Sanders said any significant change is impossible, but Trump will introduce radical change. Krugman frankly told Hillary to forget horizontal inegalitarianism (broad economic issues) and concentrate on identity issues centering on women and minorities. That is 25 years old, and people are sick of them. Black Lives Matter is Krugman's gift to Trump.

The only real question is whether Trump will win by 5 points or closer to 10.

Here is what Krugman wrote, to which Hough objected:

If you want to feel good about the state of America, you could do a lot worse than what I did this morning: take a run in Riverside Park. There are people of all ages, and, yes, all races exercising, strolling hand in hand, playing with their dogs, kicking soccer balls and throwing Frisbees. There are a few homeless people, but the overall atmosphere is friendly – New Yorkers tend to be rushed, but they’re not nasty – and, well, nice.

Yes, the Upper West Side is affluent. But still, I’ve seen New York over the decades, and it has never been as pleasant, as safe in feel, as it is now. And this is the big bad city!

The point is that lived experience confirms what the statistics say: crime hasn’t been lower, society hasn’t been safer, in generations. Which, of course, leads us to the Trump gambit from last night. Can he raise 1968-type fears in a country that looks, feels, and is nothing like it was back then?

I wish I were sure that he can’t. A lot of Republican-leaning voters apparently believe that the economy is terrible in the teeth of their own experience – that the pretty good job market they see is a local aberration. And “crime” may not really mean “crime” – it may just be code for “brown people.”

My guess is that it won’t work, if only because the Democratic coalition is fundamentally bigger than the Republican coalition, and Trump will be an excellent get-out-the-vote motivator. But a little certainty would be very welcome.

George H. Blackford of Michigan similarly pushes back at Krugman's anecdote with facts:

The extent to which Democrats are out of touch with reality is astounding.

They adopted a conservative philosophy with Carter and began compromising with right-wing fanatics. The policies that led to the mess we are in today were passed by a Democratic congress through 94, and the legislation signed by Clinton made things worse.

Democrats managed to accomplish nothing after taking over in 06 leading up to Obama’s election; and all Obama accomplished before he lost congress was to pass the Heritage Foundation’s healthcare program. In the meantime average income of the bottom 90% fell from $37,017 in 07 to $33,068 by 2014; the labor-force participation rate fell by 3 percentage points; the Tea Party rose to become the dominant force in the Republican Party; and Trump is the Republican nominee. http://www.rweconomics.com/blame.htm

People are mad and want change while you and your friends supported a more of the same, let’s compromise candidate while the people want someone they can believe in, who is willing to stand up and fight for them. The only person in the race that met that standard was Sanders, who you belittled relentlessly. http://www.rweconomics.com/Sanders1.htm

The middle class has been virtually destroyed since the 70s, and you think that your “lived experience confirms what” what a few cherry-picked “the statistics say” should make a difference? Silly you! Come to Flint, Michigan and we’ll talk about it.
http://www.rweconomics.com/Deficit.htm

and finally, a reader in Idaho recommends Paul skip the American journ-O-list spin, and read what the Guardian reporters are finding by talking to Krugman's fellow Americans:

VPS Idaho July 26, 2016:
Maybe PK should read the Guardian piece written by a journalist who walked from Detroit to Cleveland and talked to everyday citizens that are voting for Trump, "I walked 170 miles to the RNC to talk to Trump supporters. They surprised me"

Subtitled: "The verdict: people simply don’t care about Melania’s plagiarism when they’re worried about paying the mortgage"

Paul should spend more time in the flyover country.