J.D. Vance
J.D. Vance
Full Name and Common Aliases
J.D. Vance is a well-known American author, venture capitalist, and former Marine Corps helicopter pilot. His common aliases are Jonathan David Vance.
Birth and Death Dates
J.D. Vance was born on August 2, 1984. Unfortunately, we could not find any information about his death date.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Vance is an American author, venture capitalist, and former Marine Corps helicopter pilot. He has also worked as a commentator and policy analyst.
Early Life and Background
J.D. Vance was born in Middletown, Ohio, to two parents who struggled with addiction. His family moved frequently during his childhood due to their father's struggles with depression and addiction. Despite these challenges, Vance's family instilled in him the importance of hard work and self-reliance.
Growing up, Vance witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of poverty and opioid addiction on his community. These experiences would later shape his writing and policy goals. After graduating from high school, Vance attended the United States Military Academy at West Point but left to attend the University of Tennessee.
Major Accomplishments
Vance's accomplishments can be divided into two main areas: military service and writing.
Military Service
In 2009, Vance graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in philosophy. He then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a helicopter pilot for four years. During his time in the Marines, Vance was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Writing
After leaving the military, Vance attended Yale Law School, where he earned his law degree in 2013. However, it was not until the publication of Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis that Vance gained widespread recognition as an author. The book, published in 2016, became a bestseller and launched a national conversation about class, culture, and identity.
Notable Works or Actions
Vance's work has been widely praised for its candid portrayal of life in rural Appalachia. His writing often explores themes of social mobility, economic inequality, and the decline of working-class America.
In addition to Hillbilly Elegy, Vance has written several essays and articles on topics such as education reform, economic development, and healthcare policy. He has also been a vocal advocate for conservative policies aimed at addressing poverty and income inequality.
Impact and Legacy
J.D. Vance's impact can be seen in both his writing and policy work.
Writing
Vance's Hillbilly Elegy has had a profound impact on the national conversation about class and identity. The book has been praised for its unflinching portrayal of life in rural Appalachia, as well as its nuanced exploration of the complex factors that contribute to poverty and social mobility.
Policy Work
As a venture capitalist and commentator, Vance has used his platform to advocate for policies aimed at addressing economic inequality and promoting social mobility. His work has been praised by both conservatives and liberals for its emphasis on individual responsibility and community development.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
J.D. Vance is widely quoted and remembered due to the impact of his writing and policy work. His Hillbilly Elegy has sparked a national conversation about class, culture, and identity. His advocacy for conservative policies aimed at addressing poverty and income inequality has made him a prominent voice in American politics.
Vance's unique perspective as a product of rural Appalachia, combined with his education and experience as a lawyer and venture capitalist, make him a compelling and influential voice on issues related to social mobility and economic development.
Quotes by J.D. Vance
Mamaw felt disloyalty acutely. She loathed anything that smacked of a lack of complete devotion to family. In her own home, she'd day things like "I'm sorry I'm so damned mean" and "You know I love you, but I'm just a crazy bitch. But if she knew of anyone criticizing so much as her socks to an outsider, she'd fly off the handle. "I don't know those people. You never talk about family to some stranger. Never.
The moms and dads and grandparents didn’t wear suits like the lawyers and judge. They wore sweatpants and stretchy pants and T-shirts. Their hair was a bit frizzy. And it was the first time I noticed “TV accents”—the neutral accent that so many news anchors had. The social workers and the judge and the lawyer all had TV accents. None of us did. The people who ran the courthouse were different from us. The people subjected to it were not.
...bad neighborhoods no longer plague only urban ghettos; the bad neighborhoods have spread to the suburbs.
I tried to go to a counselor, but it was just too weird. Talking to some stranger about my feelings made me want to vomit. I did go to the library...
We can easily create a welfare state that accepts the fact of a permanent American underclass, one where family dysfunction, childhood trauma, cultural segregation, and hopelessness coexist with some basic measure of subsistence. Or we can do something considerably more difficult: reject the notion of a permanent American underclass.
...intricate stone carvings and wood trim gave the law school an almost medieval feel. You'd even sometimes hear that we went to HLS (Hogwarts Law School).
...Mom equated money with affection...but I never cared about the money. I just wanted her to be healthy.
For kids like me, the part of the brain that deals with stress and conflict is always activated...We are constantly ready to fight or flee, because there is a constant exposure to the bear, whether that bear is an alcoholic dad or an unhinged mom (p228)....I see conflict and I run away or prepare for battle. (p246)
But yeah, like everyone else in our family, they could go from zero to murderous in a fucking heartbeat.
There is nothing lower than the poor stealing from the poor. It's hard enough as it is. We sure as hell don't need to make it even harder on each other.