fear
i read recently an article about why the poor and the middle class vote for tax cuts for the rich. the reason given was that they're afraid of becoming the poorest. as long as they keep voting to take money from everyone and give it to the richest, they'll be poorer. but they won't be the poorest. not sure if i buy it or not. but the punchline was great. fear makes people do irrational things. like vote republican.