Why is this battle for the soul of America even close to even?
The Right has spokesmen like Liddy (convicted felon who served a President that resigned in disgrace, mainly because of Liddy's actions), Limbaugh (loudmouthed, racist drug addict), Oliver North (another convicted felon who betrayed his country just like Liddy did), Bennet (preaches family values then admits to a multi-million dollar gambling addiction), and the list goes on.
Why is it that with spokespeople like that on their side we can't get the American people to reject their philosophy?
although not all repubs are as bad as the list you mentioned. but better yet - why based on the issues alone, are people not rejecting their ideas?
That answer to that question wouldn't fit into a comment thread, but here's a summary.
I think it is partly because they manage to exploit the worst part of human nature - greed, selfishness, and fear. They also exploit nationalism under the guise of patriotism.
and that is quite a concise and smart way of putting it.
but i think its more than that. as i get older (im 34) i find that in some ways and on certain issues i am getting more conservative and would consider myself center-left instead of hard left when i was younger.... why is that?
They say... There's that nebulous 'they' again. They say people become more conservative as they age. I guess that makes sense in a lot of cases. People begin to be more concerned with holding on to what they have instead of trying to get more. That applies to aspects of society also. It's not all about 'things'.
I was never what I would call conservative, but I was more conservative when I was younger than I was in my 30's. I've become more liberal the older I get. I think in my case it has been partly because of all of the injustice and inequality I have witnessed. I also hate bullies with a passion and am quite anti-authoritarian. Neither of those suits me for the conservative camp.
I've taken some of those political philosophy test and found that I fall right between Gandhi and Nader in the lower left quadrant - fairly far-left/libertarian. I did a quiz that was supposed to match you with a candidate and ended up matched with Kucinich. I think I'm a closer match to John Edwards. Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin are two of my biggest heroes, after my dad. I'm a fan of Thom Hartman and agree with him on many issues. That should tell you pretty much where I stand politically.
I think this country has been on the wrong track since the day Reagan took office, except for a break of 8 years while Clinton was president. I think we are headed to a future where the disparity in wealth in this country will match that of many countries in South America. I think that's the goal of the 'haves' in this country. I think Cheney is their most powerful advocate.
I believe what Gramm said yesterday is the way those people think. "How dare you criticize this country. I am doing fine and so are all my friends. There's nothing wrong." They couldn't care less about 50,000,000 people without health insurance. They couldn't care less about the 10's of millions that are below the poverty line. They are perfectly happy with the way things are as long as they have their caviar and their beach houses. The closest they come to the common masses is when the flight attendant opens the door between first class and coach.
There, I'm done with my rant for the day.
i was thinking that maybe it was because i was becoming more cynical? or the fact that i had children? hmm...
i agree though - my views on injustice and inequality will never change and therefore i guess - ill always retain some of my idealism ;)
