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This page contains all of the posts and discussion on MemeStreams referencing the following web page: The America will vote for Bush. You can find discussions on MemeStreams as you surf the web, even if you aren't a MemeStreams member, using the Threads Bookmarklet.
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The America will vote for Bush
by Decius at 11:54 pm EST, Feb 18, 2004 |
] There is a grain of truth in the backlash stereotype of
] liberalism. Certain kinds of leftists really do vacation
] in Europe and drive Volvos and drink lattes. (Hell,
] almost everyone drinks lattes now.) And there is a small
] but very vocal part of the left that has nothing but
] contempt for the working class. Should you ever attend a
] meeting of a local animal rights organisation, or wander
] through the campus of an elite university, you will
] notice that certain kinds of left politics are indeed
] activities reserved for members of the educated upper-
] middle-class, for people who regard politics more as a
] personal therapeutic exercise than an effort to build a
] movement. For them, the left is a form of mildly soothing
] spirituality, a way of getting in touch with the deep
] authenticity of the downtrodden and of showing you care.
] Buttons and stickers desperately announce the liberals
] goodness to the world, as do his or her choice in
] consumer products. Leftist magazines treat protesting as
] a glamour activity, running photos of last months demo
] the way society magazines print pictures from the charity
] ball. There is even a brand of cologne called Activist. Most leftist don't understand that the right is poor. |
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RE: The America will vote for Bush
by k at 12:26 am EST, Feb 19, 2004 |
Decius wrote:
] Most leftist don't understand that the right is poor. [ I disagree. The Right *is* poor (although it may be more accurate to say that the poor are *Right* given that the policy makers tend to have money)... leftists know that, but too many still think, like M. Villepin, that the unwashed masses, so to speak, respect education, erudition, fine talk and logical argument. They don't. They simply don't. They act with instinct, based on Image, and generally dismiss anyone who *appears* pedantic or superior. I've just demolished my ability to ever run for office because the previous statement is so elitist that any leak of it would convince people that i don't respect "regular people". In fact, if "regular" means "willfully ignorant" then they'd be correct, i don't respect them, but the Right doesn't either, at least no further than the rancher respects his cattle -- they're just devious enough not to say so out loud. The Right has managed to put forward a commoners face, while the bastards get rich off the populace they consistently hoodwink. The left gets all huffed about the illogic and hypocracy, but manage to convince no one because they can't control the image. There's a lot to be said about framing the issues too, as someone said on NPR the other evening -- the right is quite good at making it sound as if your (leftist) position is atrocious (see, for example, "Death Tax", "Pro-Life" and "War on Drugs"). This is another major battle we need to start winning. -k] |
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The America will vote for Bush
by k at 11:12 pm EST, Feb 18, 2004 |
] There is a grain of truth in the backlash stereotype of
] liberalism. Certain kinds of leftists really do vacation
] in Europe and drive Volvos and drink lattes. (Hell,
] almost everyone drinks lattes now.) And there is a small
] but very vocal part of the left that has nothing but
] contempt for the working class. Should you ever attend a
] meeting of a local animal rights organisation, or wander
] through the campus of an elite university, you will
] notice that certain kinds of left politics are indeed
] activities reserved for members of the educated upper-
] middle-class, for people who regard politics more as a
] personal therapeutic exercise than an effort to build a
] movement. For them, the left is a form of mildly soothing
] spirituality, a way of getting in touch with the deep
] authenticity of the downtrodden and of showing you care.
] Buttons and stickers desperately announce the liberals
] goodness to the world, as do his or her choice in
] consumer products. Leftist magazines treat protesting as
] a glamour activity, running photos of last months demo
] the way society magazines print pictures from the charity
] ball. There is even a brand of cologne called Activist. [ This is a really good look at some major failings among the liberal left... the more i read and see, the more obvious it is to me just how much the left has fallen down on the job in this country. It's like we'd prefer to be martyrs, the righteous paragons of Truth, tormented by the variform demons of our movement -- the uneducated blue collar, the vicious and sneaky republican, the unjust and unethical Media. We'd prefer to beat our breasts and make a show than to modify our tactics, tone down the righteousness, and convince people to see things our way. Clearly the rebpublicans are good at this -- as this article indicates, they've managed to make the richest, most priviledged people on earth *appear* to be populist, the friendly guy-next-door who has your interests at heart, Mr and Mrs MiddleAmerica. As many liberal commentators have noted recently, it's time to steal that page of the republican book, as much as it may offend our sense of self-righteousness, and begin to reverse course. I don't have the answer, but i'm damn sure gonna keep looking. -k] |
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