The derogatory term "white trash" as explained by wikipedia

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According to sociologist Allyson Drinkard, writing in The Social History of the American Family, to be considered "white trash" in modern American society is different from simply being poor and white. The term

...conjures up images of trailer parks, cars on blocks, drug and alcohol abuse, family violence, neglected children, stupid adults, fist fighting, loud and abrasive language, poor dental and physical health, garishness, promiscuous women, rebel flag regalia, incest, and inbreeding.[1]

Drinkard writes that as economic inequality continues to grow in the United States, the number of poor white people in both rural and urban areas will continue to grow. At the same time, as white privilege declines in general and minorities continue to hold a growing percentage of jobs in a declining job market, the poor white segment of the population will continue to be caught in the paradox of being a part of a privileged class, but without being able to benefit from their supposed privilege. Being white will no longer enable them to get and hold a good job, or to earn a suitable income. Poor white people, like other oppressed minorities, are born trapped in poverty, and – again, like other minorities – are blamed for their predicament, and for not being able to "raise themselves" out of their social conditions and economic status. Meanwhile, upper- and middle-class whites will continue to label them as "white trash" in order to solidify their feeling of superiority by making sure that "white trash" people are seen as outsiders.[1]

Historian Nancy Isenberg, author of White Trash: The 400-Year Untold Story of Class in America, says that

White trash is a central, if disturbing, thread in our national narrative. The very existence of such people – both in their visibility and invisibilty – is proof that American society obsesses over the mutable labels we give to the neighbors we wish not to notice. "They are not who we are." But they are who we are and have been a fundamental part of our history, whether we like it or not.[88]

I'm highly skeptical of anyone who tries to present themselves as left-leaning but s**ts all over poor people.

Which is precisely why I don't trust the left either. Hillary Clinton referred to people like us as "deplorables", a term still used by the left today (and even she herself admitted later it was a "political mistake") and people wonder why these same people they insult went flocking to Trump's side.

I'm not saying I agree with that of course... but I understand why poor whites would choose a leader who feeds into their grievances over the leaders who look down on them and dismiss them.

I don't think Hillary was entirely wrong, there are a lot of people who would rather stew in their grievances rather than see changes that might help them or anyone else be implemented.

But, even if some of their grievances are nonsense others have merit. If they're blaming non-whites or queers doing better for why they're struggling, that's nonsense, but when they complain that things are biased in favour of better-off people they're not wrong.

It's hard to help people who are bitter and resentful, because some of them become accustomed to feeling that way and don't want any help. That doesn't mean those people are monsters but it can mean you'll find yourself dragging them kicking and screaming towards any attempts at making things better.

When those people embrace a crabs in a bucket mentality and try to undermine any attempts at helping anyone it's easy to see them as deplorable and in that context it's not wrong to call them what they are, but one needs to remember that's only a limited context and not the entirety of who they are.

I agree with much of what you say, but still It's hard to ignore the condenscending attitudes of classist snobs who pretend to care about those who are disadvantaged in life when they really don't care about us, although I understand why some of it is brought on ourselves...

I think they care to an extent, but also believe personal responsibility plays a role.

They'll happily build a trough, fill it with water and let the horses know there's water to be had.

They'll just get bent out of shape when some of them don't seem interested in drinking, especially if they view that behaviour as a choice. They also like to ignore any other factors that play into that decision and often seem to think shaming is the most effective way to change people's minds.

I don't think people respond well to being shamed though because it creates bitter resentment, and one of the problems is that just like with any stereotype that lumps people together it lumps every poor white person living in a trailer park who comes from an unstable family life as that "other" that isn't worthy of any redemption or help. Not everyone who grows up like this fits the stereotype of the bigoted Confederate-flag waving MAGA, but that's exactly how my family tends to get treated and we're not like that.

I'd agree with all of that.

It does often seem like a portion of people are only interested in helping what they view as 'respectable people', which means that anything they deem to be trailer park or ghetto culture will lead to negative judgments and a lack of empathy.

Exactly, it's really sad both ways which is why I believe we should focus on America's often ignored issue with classism in addition to our long and unfortunate history of racism.

Maybe classism is really the wider issue but one that tends to get swept under the rug? Because at times it feels to me like anyone in this country who grows up impoverished whether white or black gets treated badly.

This is the problem with most "progressive" politicians. Their policies are informed by the class struggle between workers and their bosses, but have nothing to say to some autistic guy who makes a living by sweeping out his brother's gas station.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_trash

The term was invented by the British aristocracy. its largely used by wealthier educated whites to describe poor uneducated whites. If you are looking for somebody to blame then go to the motherland.