Economist Robert Reich provided an explanation on Real Time with Bill Maher last Friday night: the reluctance among the Democratic Party to make criticisms of the business or upper class in America stems from a belief that, if one isn't a member, one could one day be a member of that class. Implicit in this belief is the reality that many Americans function, to some extent, under this delusion of believing they could one day be rich so why should the rich be penalized for achieving the social status they have achieved in society. How else can you explain Americans' belief that tax cuts for the top 2% in America should not be brought to an end?
Values voters and Tea Partiers have a message. They have a
carefully crafted story to tell. They have religion, revisionist American
history, and so-called American family values or traditions. Their message puts
fearful Americans at ease. And so, their strategy for animating Americans is to effectively put the fear they
aren't doing enough for God or country in Americans' hearts and then ease
up and inform Americans that their lives can be secured if they never forget where
America came from.
The stories values voters tell invade culture and make it tougher to campaign for an egalitarian society that makes economic emancipation possible for all. These culture warriors are trained to understand they will be abused, attacked, defamed, mocked, smeared, etc. So, they continue their campaigns to cleanse and purify society without any consideration for their impact on the kingdoms of Earth.
Meanwhile, progressives can barely make headlines. The union organizing, environmentalist action, and Democratic Party activism, etc., which animates and energizes the Left, rarely gets the attention a handful of Tea Partiers now routinely get when they call a protest. And, they struggle to gain the legitimacy Tea Partiers have gained at least privately among GOP establishment politicians.
To those of you willing to help develop an answer so America's future is not wholly hijacked by values voters and Tea Partiers: How should petulant, unrealistic and unreasonable fringe people carve out a space in American politics? What should this faction be doing to combat the impact of candidates who wage assaults on reason by perverting economic realities with verses and proverbs from the Bible, which they believe to be literal truth?
Petulant, unreasonable, unrealistic fringe people
unsatisfied with Obama, what is the story those filled with anger and
disappointment should be telling? Or, have you nothing constructive to offer to ensure the future of this troubled democratic republic?
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