Perhaps these best book on the political paradox of white voters hurting themselves

The author makes an well thought out position regarding the adverse effects of maintaining white privilege leading to self-harm including gun death suicides, lack of health care access even with federal funds offered, and starvation of schools and infrastructure just to prevent sharing public resources with the nonexistent migrant hoards. And tax cuts for the very wealthy to prop up a nonexistent American Dream. Sadly those most affect by self-inflicted prideful suffering so “the others” may not be helped - are the ones who won’t read this book. For the rest of us, it at least helps to understand the intractable problem of red vs blue states in America.

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Detailed research and strong argument

This carefully researched book examines three US states through a specific policy to demonstrate how underlying racially informed motivations to protect white privilege and rights is actually increasing white (male) mortality. Metzl examines gun policy in Missouri, health policy in Tennessee and tax policy in Kansas. In each case he examines how each policy is informed by racial bias. The consequence of reducing gun legislation (Missouri) , rejecting health care expansion (Tennessee) and slashing state expenditure through tax cuts (Kansas) has resulted in quantifiable increased white mortality in each state. Metzl mentions Booker T. Washington's quote: "You can't hold a man down without staying down with him”, and this book clearly demonstrates that fact. I fear, however, that the careful balanced scholarly argument developed in this book will limit its ability to change the current direction US politics is moving. This would be a deep shame, since the research is carefully presented to make the point that investment in health, education and social infrastructure and the development of appropriate gun laws can benefit and protect all Americans.

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