So many of us here seem to continuously invoke this idea that America is moving inexplicably to the Right. Sure, we rail against it, cry about it, wail and gnash our teeth because of it, but we can't help acknowledge it, even if we don't believe it. We overwhelming agree the answer to this "problem" is NOT to move further Right ourselves, as the slimy DLC weasels would have us believe. No, the consensus is, "The line must be drawn here. This far, no farther."
In the neverending battle to prevent asses being made of you and me, I propose we take a step back and really analyze whether or not the country is moving Right, and, in doing so, perhaps we can identify better strategies for ensuring the success of the progressive agenda.
More below the fold...
First, we should really analyze what we consider "Left". After all, if what we are is "Left", then "moving Right" means that America is becoming more opposed to our ideals. So, here are some general defining characteristics of the Left in 2005:
- A belief that an unfettered free-market is innately harmful to the country, as well as itself, so we must establish certain ground rules to protect us, as well as the ecomony itself.
- A belief that all persons, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or handicap are equal, and therefore, should be treated equally before the law.
- A belief that no person should ever be used as a means to end, but that all are ends to themselves, so the rights of workers must be protected from corporate interests.
- A belief in the universal, unquestioned right to vote freely and secretly.
- A belief in conservation and environmentalism, because corporate interest rarely, if ever, coincides with the safety of the environment.
- A firm committment to the freedom of speech, of assembly, and of the press, the right to protest, and the separation of church and state.
- A right of each person to do with their body as they choose, and, therefore, right to sexual privacy, access to contraceptive methods, and access to safe and legal abortions.
- The right of all citizens to access affordable, reliable health care, as well as a guaranteed government pension upon retirement.
- A recognition that, in order to finance a well-run, functional government, taxes must be levied, and that a progressive taxation system is not only the most solvent, but the least burdensome to the working poor.
- A belief that education is the great leveler and true barrier to a class system, that public education is necessary, and that advancements in the Arts and Sciences are vital to the growth of the nation.
(If I missed something, or you disagree with something, please don't jump down my throat. This is for the purpose of exercise, and is not intended to be all-inclusive, not is it intended to apply to every reader.)
Here's Casey Kasem, turning back the clock all the way back to 1855. That's right, just 150 years ago. 6 generations into the past. In the scheme of history, not a very long time.
Now let's take our guidelines from above, and we'll say that we hold them all just as strongly as we do now. Sticking to our principles, let's look at everything we will accomplish in the next 150 years (in no particular order)...
The abolition of slavery, universal suffrage regardless of race, end to poll taxes, child labor laws, 40-hour work week, minimum wage, OSHA and workplace safety standards, regulation for the safety of food and drugs, women's suffrage, the NTSB and transportation safety, fairer immigration quotas, 18-yr-old voting age, the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Equal Opportunity Employment, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Roe v. Wade, an end to sodomy laws, a progressive Income Tax, Anti-Trust laws, the Nat'l Labor Relations Board, union rights, the FDIC, end to school prayer, the National Parks Service, the EPA, public schools nationwide, Land Grant colleges, the National Science Foundation, NASA, PBS, NPR, The National Endowment for the Arts, Welfare, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid... that's all I can think of right now.
Wow. What a bunch of pinko commie bastards we all are, huh?
The above exercise shows that, at our heart, we ARE a liberal country. We have the minds of the people on our side.
That doesn't mean that we have won, or that we can be complacent. The past 4 years have shown exactly what can happen when we let down our guard. The forces of fascism will always be nipping at our heels, because they have money and desire for power. That desire it what separates us from them, and it is what makes them so dangerous. The aggression of warmongers, imperialists, and fundamentalists cannot be combated unless we prepare to fight with all we have, because they certainly will.
To bring us back to the original question: no, the country is not moving to the Right. As is always the case, human beings are generally good, kind people. However, they are vulnerable to fear. The Right has wielded this fear to advance some of its agenda (namely, to repeal everything in our list above). Big Business struck a deal with Big Religion to convince the common man that bad things were on their way unless you elected their Commander-in-Chimp.
History shows that no society is safe from this fearmongering. Nazi Germany didn't happen in a day... nor did it happen that everyone stood in unison and said, "We hate Jews, we love Hitler, we want Lebensraum, let's kill half of Europe!" Progressive reforms will always be the thorn in the side of those that wish to control and manipulate. Constant vigilance is required. The world doesn't need a repeat of the Dark Ages.