When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Sunday, September 07, 2003
Al From heads up the Democratic Leadership Council, the organization that claims to know what's good for those of us who aren't Republicans. (These days, they're thinking Joe Liebermann would be good for us. Every Democrat I talk to can't stand Joe Lieberman. I can't imagine why they think he's so good. He should run in the Republican primary if he's that hot.)
Mainly what the DLC is good at is analyzing the electorate and the issues, placing their bets, and getting a win. Lest their genius go to their heads, however, I want to note a couple of little flaws in their analysis.
In other words, he's saying the Demos should play the same strategy as Bush -- pretend to be moderate. Except the Dems should pretend to be conservative!
Perhaps it is clear to you how he can tell us to stay away from the liberal side of the Democratic field because of the conservative tilt of the electorate discovered in the Gallup poll... and yet not wonder why Bush felt it necessary to pretend to be moderate, not conservative-- and won with that strategy.
It sure beats me.
I offer as a counter analysis and strategy:
a) that voters have come to believe that 'conservative' is better than 'liberal' and they don't actually know what those words mean; that they themselves are 'moderate' but ought to call themselves 'conservative.' In fact everyone thinks he's moderate -- we measure the lefts and rights by their position in relationto ourselves, not by any objective standard.
b) In reality, many of these same people are liberal or progressive-- or would be if anybody ever told them the truth. By that I mean:
*Now don't go and tell me 'Gee but the kids are just kids! Adults have to support themselves!' Remember when the majority of women stayed home and let their husbands support them? What changed that? It was not men and it was not Republicans who sent women out to work-- it was women themselves who wanted to be independent and self-reliant. I believe most people would prefer to be self reliant and we don't need a harsh system to force peple to work. What we need is jobs!
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
National Purpose by Al From
Al From heads up the Democratic Leadership Council, the organization that claims to know what's good for those of us who aren't Republicans. (These days, they're thinking Joe Liebermann would be good for us. Every Democrat I talk to can't stand Joe Lieberman. I can't imagine why they think he's so good. He should run in the Republican primary if he's that hot.)
Mainly what the DLC is good at is analyzing the electorate and the issues, placing their bets, and getting a win. Lest their genius go to their heads, however, I want to note a couple of little flaws in their analysis.
Democrats won't win by polarizing the debate. Bush is a staunch conservative, not the moderate he claimed to be in the 2000 campaign. But Democrats who believe the way to counter his conservatism is by moving left to sharpen the contrast -- to offer, in the words of failed presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, 'a choice, not an echo' -- are wrong. A recent Gallup poll revealed that on social issues, 37 percent of Americans identify themselves as conservatives, 23 percent as liberals. On economic issues, it's 43 percent conservatives, 15 percent liberals. Running to the short side of the field is not a winning strategy.
In other words, he's saying the Demos should play the same strategy as Bush -- pretend to be moderate. Except the Dems should pretend to be conservative!
Perhaps it is clear to you how he can tell us to stay away from the liberal side of the Democratic field because of the conservative tilt of the electorate discovered in the Gallup poll... and yet not wonder why Bush felt it necessary to pretend to be moderate, not conservative-- and won with that strategy.
It sure beats me.
I offer as a counter analysis and strategy:
a) that voters have come to believe that 'conservative' is better than 'liberal' and they don't actually know what those words mean; that they themselves are 'moderate' but ought to call themselves 'conservative.' In fact everyone thinks he's moderate -- we measure the lefts and rights by their position in relationto ourselves, not by any objective standard.
b) In reality, many of these same people are liberal or progressive-- or would be if anybody ever told them the truth. By that I mean:
- They would support some sort of national health care.
- They would be delighted with not a minimum wage, but rather a maximum wage.
- They would be happy if the US cooperated with other nations and built up the UN.
- They would like it if people treated one another with respect and kindness.
- They really wouldn't mind if we applied the same value nationally that we nearly all do in our families, ie the people who bring home the wages (Mom and Pop mostly) support those who don't (the kids). *
- They would be thrilled if we could return to the kind, outgoing, and generous reputation we once had around the world.
- People would like a modest but adequate income to support them in their old age, without worrying that the company they worked for will change hands and change its mind about the pensionand health benefits it once promised.
- They would love it if democracy was returned to the people and the corporations kept out of it.
- Support for small business -- loans or grants, few of the numbing regulations for startups -- would make more sense than letting giant conglomerates run the world.
- They want to sense fairness in what the government and the social system do.
*Now don't go and tell me 'Gee but the kids are just kids! Adults have to support themselves!' Remember when the majority of women stayed home and let their husbands support them? What changed that? It was not men and it was not Republicans who sent women out to work-- it was women themselves who wanted to be independent and self-reliant. I believe most people would prefer to be self reliant and we don't need a harsh system to force peple to work. What we need is jobs!
Palema
5:49 PM
Comments:
Post a Comment
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
|
|