Monday, April 21, 2008
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A Difference Without a Distinction
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Posted by:
Carol Platt Liebau at
4:59 PM
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Thomas Frank, the author of "What's the Matter with Kansas," has a piece today in the Wall Street Journal titled "Obama's Touch of Class."
In it, he essentially argues that "The landmark political fact of our time is the replacement of our middle-class republic by a plutocracy. If some candidate has a scheme to reverse this trend, they've got my vote, whether they prefer Courvoisier or beer bongs spiked with cough syrup."
In other words, he's not all about supporting elitist intellectuals -- he's about supporting left-wing redistributionists. Get the distinction (or not!)?
Ultimately, my beef with Frank's theory -- that blue-collar workers are being distracted by the wedge issues purveyed by evil Republicans from voting in their own economic self-interest -- is as follows (as I first noted here):
But even to . . . agree that Barack was simply arguing that small town people aren't voting in their own best interests -- well, isn't that condescending, too? Doesn't that imply that someone believes these people are too dumb to know what's really good for them?
And isn't it possible -- just possible -- that some Americans hold their social views very dear, and are willing to forgo the opportunity to vote for more government goodies because of their other beliefs?
After all, even if they vote against (what some consider to be) their economic self interest in order to promote their social views, isn't that what rich "tax me" liberals (like Kennedy, Kerry, and the Clintons, for that matter) do routinely?
Or is it "principled" when rich social liberals do it, and "stupid" when poor social conservatives do?
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...reduces every issue to money. You'd almost think they were accountants, and not ministers.
They should maybe go back to their own cultural and political folklore:
"Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses." --Bread and Roses, The Song (1976) by Mimi Fariña (Joan Baez's sister)
Life is about much more than the number of government handouts you get. What the Left always fails to appreciate is Man's hunger for dignity, and dignity only comes from self-reliance. Dignity never comes in a government handout.
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Art of Possiblities.
"The Left" is so oft a manifestation created to inspire others. While there are many who support scant liberties and government intervention, on both sides of the ideological fence, the article is clearly not a call for such rhetoric.
What is interesting is that many Conservatives are comfortable, only via surrogate and safe distance, to agree that Blacks Who Faithfully Vote Democrat are Still Living On The Plantation, never stating such directly (LOL)... And this is not regarded as Condescension, but a Wake Up Call. However, when Mid Westerners are informed that they are not voting in their best interests, the Messenger is Elitist.
What I Learned This Week (http://whatilearnedthisweek.wordpress.com/) |
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"In other words, he's not all about supporting elitist intellectuals -- he's about supporting left-wing redistributionists. Get the distinction (or not!)?"
It's not resdistribution when you are simply giving what has been earned.
Conservatives often seem to think that the left is all about handouts when in fact we are often more about fairness.
If you are denying the plutocratic trends of our country then it's not just small town american that doesn't understand what they are voting for.
What we have seen unfold in or financial institutions is nothing less then a trillion dollar high tech robbery. Are you telling me that you and small town America both understand this and are willing to vote for more of the same to supposedly protect the sanctity of your marriage from the democratic party?
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"But even to . . . agree that Barack was simply arguing that small town people aren't voting in their own best interests -- well, isn't that condescending, too? Doesn't that imply that someone believes these people are too dumb to know what's really good for them?"
Is it condescending when the EXACT SAME LOGIC is applied to blacks by conservatives?
"Are you too dumb to know that the Dems don't really care about you, just your vote?" |
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