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We need to understand that Liberalism is dying quickly. Militant Progressivism and facism have taken its place and have set the first world back a century or 2.
SOMETIMES it seems as if liberalism is slowly caving in. Western democracies are battered by partisanship and populism. Inequality is undermining social cohesion. Governments are unconvincingly shoring up expensive welfare states that have failed to match their promise. Meanwhile, the running is being made by places such as Turkey, which has an intolerant majority, and China and Russia, where power cannot be contested. “Liberalism” by Edmund Fawcett is not only a gripping piece of intellectual history, it also equips the reader to understand today’s threats—and how they might be withstood.
I heard someone interviewed on NPR this morning who was saying something similar, that the US of today resembles Russia more than anything (money rules, oligarchy, etc.).
Tea party is not far right by any stretch when you consider the "far left" to be socialist dictators.
We have a fiscally right leaning country. The problem is the republics went further right on social issues and left on the size of government to become a hybrid. Libertarians have started to fill part of the role of traditional republicans (small government) while staying center on social issues.
People seem contradictory sometimes. They are voting for people who want to end Social Security and Medicare but they say they don't want those services cut. From their answers it seems like they don't believe those programs will be cut (some that I have spoken to). I am not sure what they are wanting or voting for exactly.
Because the Klan is an embodiment of far right ideologies in the US.
That's also an indication of why there needs to be a multiple-axes way of describing political positions (which are not the quite same thing as ideological positions). What do you really mean by "far right" in terms of what a poltician really intends to do?
For instance, Communists have been considered "far left" but "conservatism" is considred "right." But when the Soviet Union was collapsing, what did you call the hardline Communists who were resisting change? Were the hardline Communists then "left" or "right?" Were they "conservative" or "liberal?"
America is a right-wing nation, and sadly not in the ways that might be good.
We've abandoned responsibility in favor of selling out to corporate interests - both parties do this - and are now stuck debating various hot button issues. You know a nation is hosed when it can't get it's economy in order no matter who is in power, and yet the people are still stuck debating if other religions should be tolerated, if gays should be treated as citizens, if science is worth believing, and if "legitimate rape" is a real thing... That's the mess we're in now. Neither party has answers, and those of us in the middle are now stuck devoting our energy to fighting back the right-wing extremists who are determined to roll back all social progress made in the past 100 or so years.
So, yes, America is a very right-wing nation. We're still debating things that children in other nations know, and even our most "leftist" leaders would still be considered - rightly - corporate sell-outs in other nations. We have a long way to go to regain our lead in the world, and we'll only be able to start down that path when the "party of stupid" knocks off the bad behavior, tells the extremists to pound sand, and gets with it to present valid alternatives to what we have.
I think the most troubling thing to me is the fact that most people work and work hard, but they can't get ahead because of income inequality and the destruction of mechanisms to fight it (unions, etc.) and the promotion of outsourcing. Wages stagnate, prices keep rising. It's shocking to me how we've gone downhill over the last 34 years economically (not the wealthy of course; the majority). Hammered by high prices, the cost of housing. It makes me wonder how bad it will get.
The reason why most are right wing or better definition is Conservative. Most Conservatives believe in the traditional Family, limited Gov, low taxes and a strong Defense. Most would prefer to lead their lives with being told and controlled by gov, excessively.
In a nut shell!
I must be a hybrid then, since I believe in a healthy family, a robust government with a strong social safety net (which I trust far more than the profit sector, given my experience with both), progressive taxes and a strong defence. I've been told that Americans distrust government more than Canadians, but it's unclear to me why, if true. Maybe the capitalist tradition.
I think the most troubling thing to me is the fact that most people work and work hard, but they can't get ahead because of income inequality and the destruction of mechanisms to fight it (unions, etc.) and the promotion of outsourcing. Wages stagnate, prices keep rising. It's shocking to me how we've gone downhill over the last 34 years economically (not the wealthy of course; the majority). Hammered by high prices, the cost of housing. It makes me wonder how bad it will get.
Exactly.
This is what troubles me as well. Vested interests - big business, big religion, and assorted radical groups from both the "left" and the "right" - have taken over this nation. As our rights and earning power erode, jobs vanish, and hope fades. Now, to top it off, we're stuck defending our nation from an assault of right-wing lunatics who want to undo 100 years of social progress. Note that I'd be just as offended by left-wing lunatics, but one need only look around this forum to see the type of hate - and from what party it originates.
So, while "legitimate rape" is tossed around in some circles, hate-filled nuts cry out about how badly they want to see their fellow citizens starve to death, and others try to pretend that the separation of church and state doesn't apply to *their* religion, our nation grows poorer and poorer, jobs bleed away, and hope disappears. It is a disgrace.
I think the most troubling thing to me is the fact that most people work and work hard, but they can't get ahead because of income inequality and the destruction of mechanisms to fight it (unions, etc.) and the promotion of outsourcing. Wages stagnate, prices keep rising. It's shocking to me how we've gone downhill over the last 34 years economically (not the wealthy of course; the majority). Hammered by high prices, the cost of housing. It makes me wonder how bad it will get.
They can't get ahead because they haven't learned a skill someone is willing to pay for. The economy changes, those who adapt thrive, those who don't post on this forum about how it is someone else's fault.
I must be a hybrid then, since I believe in a healthy family, a robust government with a strong social safety net (which I trust far more than the profit sector, given my experience with both), progressive taxes and a strong defence. I've been told that Americans distrust government more than Canadians, but it's unclear to me why, if true. Maybe the capitalist tradition.
People do not trust government because the history of humans is filled with governments who destroy it citizenry. Distrusting government is like saying the sun is going to come up tomorrow, ages of occurrences that predict future results.
The USA is slightly different because it's founders were wise enough to try and empower the people and limit government, but eventually that will not be able to stop the beast that is bureaucracy. Nothing more dangerous than someone who thinks they have the moral authority to make decisions for others.
They can't get ahead because they haven't learned a skill someone is willing to pay for. The economy changes, those who adapt thrive, those who don't post on this forum about how it is someone else's fault.
Well, education should be free then, subsidized by progressive taxation, so that we can all do better. I don't want a country where there are vast numbers of poverty-stricken people and a comparatively few rich. I don't like to see people suffer for one thing, and for another they can't buy my goods and services if they are just surviving day to day.
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