> Which politicians have ever proposed a feasible plan for finding meaningful work for the working class in Rust belt areas? <

Bingo. A protest vote (in, in this case, a decision not to vote) reflects not the most rational decision but an emotive one.

As the article on automation points out quite well, it is Red state cities where the fear of automation is palpable, and the professionals of Blue state cities is considered with some disdain at best.

The mainly macro 'blog piece was superb, an starkly illustrates the difference between the US and other countries.