A Nation of Closet Liberals
A post on Tom Paine cites a number of polls that all point to a surprising conclusion — Americans are progressives at heart. For example:
67% want sex ed classes to include information on contraception
84% support an increase in the minimum wage
69% say the government should guarantee health care for all
76% would give up the Bush tax cuts to guarantee health care for all
So if Americans talk the progressive talk, how come we walk the conservative walk? Sez Tom Paine:
The answers are manifold. Skillful use of wedge issues by conservative politicians. Advantages in fundraising. Political gerrymandering. An establishment media that rarely asks hard questions. A war on terror that trumps pedestrian domestic concerns.
And let's not forget the biggie — money trumps popular opinion. To get the America we apparently want, we have to take money out of politics.
Comments
I think that will solve a lot of the problem too, but then we have to do something about our corporate directed media that keeps pushing ideas that benefit big business at the expense of the little guy.
We also have to do something about that term "liberal." As you point out, a lot of people are in the closet politically, but I suspect that's only because they've let the "values crowd" convince them being liberal is a shameful thing.
I'm biased of course. My idea of shameful is a conservative who stands by while soldiers die in a war based on lies, children go to bed hungry, seniors choose between medicine or food, etc.
Posted by: Kathy | June 15, 2007 12:55 PM
"take money out of politics."
Never heard of such a thing. Actually it is fascinating running a low budget campaign and finding other ways to get the message out.
Still, we are looking forward to pulling more than a paltry 4% and getting money back for the effort :)
Posted by: Cartledge | June 15, 2007 03:41 PM
You're right, Kathy. Very talented demagogues like Limbaugh and Coulter and Hannity have convinced people that it's shameful and stupid to be liberal, or have intimidated liberal-leaning folks from speaking out. In fact, I think blogs have helped convince some closet liberals that our ideas aren't so foolish after all, and lots of people share them. So keep blogging...
Cartledge, taking money out of politics would change the currency of politics from cash to ideas, leveling the playing field for guys like you and your brother.
Posted by: abi | June 15, 2007 06:17 PM
abi, I have to tell you it is such a buzz using creativity and language to overcome the money in politics issue.
We really love the concept that there are a percentage out there who will relate to our position.
We don't expect an outright win, but we do expect to set some of the agenda.
Posted by: Cartledge | June 17, 2007 02:55 AM
We don't expect an outright win, but we do expect to set some of the agenda.
And that's quite an accomplishment. You deserve a lot of credit for that.
Posted by: abi | June 17, 2007 08:44 AM