I'm guessing, Reg, that the nihilist you spoke to has no idea how fortunate he and his children are to be in the United States. I'm sure the terms "infant mortality rate", "life expectancy", "per capita GDP", and "literacy rate" wouldn't ring any bells. But if he did understand even these most basic economic metrics, he'd realize that our standard of living, even for those on the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum, far exceeds the vast majority of humanity. Hell, in sub-Saharan Africa, many people subsist on $2 per day. Does he really want to live such a Hobbesian existence (short, nasty, brutish, etc)? I think many Trump supporters have their identity and ego too intertwined to Trumpism to admit they've been played. Some just lack basic facts, and are glad for their ignorance. Many probably grew up with the hatred spewed by right wing media (garbage in/garbage out). This election is such a litmus test of our values, for what is decent, honorable, and genuinely patriotic. Trump flags continue to proudly fly on three houses on the street next to mine. Ignorance in action is truly frightening. 

Peter T.