Strangers In Their Own Land Analysis

Strangers in Their Own Land: The Forgotten Population of the American South In a 2012 survey performed by CBS and the New York Times, it was found that almost 40% of Tea Party members were from the South, with more than three quarters of the members being older whites (Montopoli). Many people outside of the Tea Party share similar views about its members: they are just a bunch of Bible-thumping, backwards hicks and rednecks who do not respect others’ opinions. This view is analyzed and debunked by Arlie Russell Hochschild in her book, Strangers in Their Own Land. Hochschild visits different towns in Louisiana to meet with self-identifying members of the Tea Party and to understand why they vote and feel the way they do. Hochschild meets with

Louisiana is a hub for new nonrenewable energy sources, like oil and natural gas. For Louisianans, voting in the pro-oil government members is the most logical response for small government. Hochschild explains this logic, “The more oil, the more jobs. The more jobs, the more prosperity, and the less need for government aid. And the less the people depend on the government—local, state, or federal—the better off they will be” (Hochschild 73). This quote gives insight as to why there are so many people in Louisiana, and across the country, who are so against environmental regulations. Madonna Massey, a woman from Lake Charles interviewed by Hochschild, goes further and says if she “had to choose between the American Dream and a toad,” she would take the American Dream (Hochschild 122). This thought process goes to show that being successful and having fewer regulations is better than having a government trying to control one’s every move, even if that controlling nature prevents environmental disasters from occurring. One question that is raised in Strangers in their Own Land is “Where does this hatred for big government come from?” Nearly everyone who is interviewed by Hochschild knows someone using federal assistance or thinks “If it’s there, why not use it.” However, this thought process goes against their loathing for big government. One answer that Hochschild hints at in her book is the communal aspect of these smaller towns she visited. Though many people had the “why not use it” way of thinking, many also believed in their own community to help resolve their problems. The deeply rooted religious aspect of life let these people believe that the church and God will protect them from all of their