No I am a working stiff, but instead of football I follow politics. By trade an engineer. I was interested earlier in my political life with the topic of American Exceptionalism, to explain why there is no socialism movement in America, as in Europe. In European democracies a socialist or social democratic party contends for power or holds it each election, a la, Francois Mitterand, or as in the upcoming German election.
One academic, about 1900, attributed the exception to roast beef and apple pie, or to the relative abundance of America, that permitted most common folk to afford a level of living that few in Europe could obtain. Subsequent observers have attributed low voter turn out to the same cause: Those who would be voting socialist in Europe, were here simply satisfied being well fed and housed and, hence generally indifferent. They did not vote, and hence the "hole" in the electorate.
But a crisis might change this equilibrium. I was simply opining that the present crisis could participate greater voter turnout - of a kind that would be non-traditional for American politics. Of course other things also influence voter turnout: strong labor unions, may be a necessary condition. Notice Democratic Party influence declined when union membership declined. It is on the sickbed now. Anyway strong unions might be required to energized the inert. Signs of activism or new strength are visible to some, witness the popularity and public support for the recent UPS strikers, and new leadership visible in the AFL-CIO, in the form of John Sweeny which have stopped the decline of union numbers.
By now you know I hold liberal views, so I hasten to add another opinion about why our politics are so conservative. Our constitution itself is very conservative. Its provision for having each state sent just 2 senators now means that 10% of the population vote for the majority of the Senate: those living in small rural states. This would also tend to keep our politics very conservative.
Liberty and groceries in 2000.
Regards,
Jarrett |
