Thread by @criener

On Tuesday, from 6am to 8am, my son and I sat under a Democrat tent outside (40ft) a precinct here in very red Hanover County. We were polite, said "good morning" and "thank you for voting" to all who walked past.

But most didn't speak to us first, most stopped at the other tent to get a sample ballot from the (maskless, chatty and boisterous) men at the other tent. That precinct ended up going over 80% for T.

This was rich and poor, old and young, men and women, teachers and farmers. Just lots and lots of white people voting for Trump. I couldn't help but overhear a few conversations.

One couple was a bit confused about the (supposedly) anti-gerrymandering amendment. The GOP tent guy tried to explain that gerrymandering was bad,both sides do it, and this would get it out of the hands of the politicians (it won't really, just empowers VA State Supreme Court).

But the couple sort of joked that it was only bad when the other side did it. GOP tent guy tried to insist on some sort of hypothetical impartial process, as the other man more seriously said he would be fine if Rs did whatever it took to gain more power.

You could see some people's annoyance with masks. One woman, after chatting with the GOP tent, said she hoped "we wouldn't have to deal with these stupid things next week"

My point (and I do have one) is that I quite resent being told to reach out to these people to heal our divided nation. Yes, they are my neighbors, my kid's teammates and teachers. I will work to strengthen our public institutions. I will be polite.

But my energy will not go to persuading them that black lives matter more than their lawns. My work will not go into explaining how science says masks prevent viral spread. My time won't be spent on urging them to see process of democracy as more important than their money&power

If this country wants healing, we need to repair harm, empower the disempowered, reduce poverty and oppression. Not reach out to the small business owner who wants to keep exploiting his workers. Not reach out to the suburban white voter with brains poisoned with fear.