"socially patterned defects" that enabled large groups of people to adjust themselves comfortably to a system that, humanly speaking, is "fundamentally at odds with our basic existential and human needs".
Moyers on PBS had an author on who had written a book about what was wrong with Kansas. He maintains that in the last 30 years, the Republicans have managed to separate cultural issues from economic issues. Cultural issues include abortion, school prayer, etc. while economic issues include things like living wages.
The Republicans have managed, basically through extreme dedication, to make the "culture" the important issue while ignoring economic issues. They've managed to paint Dems as liberal, elitist, latte-sipping, volvo-driving aliens and themselves as righteous, religious, family-oriented neighborly types.
By splitting culture from economics, the Republicans get huge support from the vast middle class heartland even while they're gutting the economic future of the vast middle class heartland. The problem with Kansas is that the county that is the most poverty-stricken in the country voted overwhelmingly for Republicans.
THIS is the vast right-wing conspiracy. THIS is how the right-wing gets people to VOTE AGAINST THEIR OWN ECONOMIC SELF-INTERESTS.
The vast moderate-and-left-wing conspiracy is the Dems turning into economic Republicans (Clinton on NAFTA, deregulation, etc.) in order to fight the cultural war. That's the theory at any rate.
Frankly, I think it's the religious cross-waving schtick the Republicans have adopted. It's a very devious way to force people to stick with you while you gut their jobs and deplete their bank accounts. If you're a true flag-waving family-loving Christian then you have to vote Republican even while they're taking away your healthcare and forcing you to subsidize the ultra wealthy.
Oh yeah, the Dems have zero spine. This is probably the reason why the populist in Edwards is so refreshing. Imagine, talking about healthcare, jobs, living wages, poverty instead of abortion, gun control, gay marriage, flag burning and school prayer. |
