rstrong wrote:I would define the solution on a more basic level: Reverse the switch from ideology to tactics.
Margaret Thatcher's greatest contribution to politics, and the foundation of the right’s political success over recent decades, was not ideological but tactical. She was the first politician to grasp the fact that with the decline of the old working class, it had become possible to win elections on a platform that simply ignored the wishes and needs of the poor. There weren’t as many of them as there used to be, and the poorest among them usually failed to vote at all.
This insight was key to the success of President Ronald Reagan in the United States in the 1980s, and to the triumph of conservative parties in many European countries in the same period. It continued to be a major factor in the calculations of parties both on the right and on the left: You cannot count on the poor to win an election for you.
But suddenly that changed:
In the 2008 election there was a great effort to get the poor vote out for Obama. It wasn't as successful as some hoped, but it was successful.
The Republican Party's response has been to switch even further away from it's own ideology. More extremism. More kabuki theatre. On countless issues rabidly opposing what was its own policy in the previous administration, just because Obama continued it. Tactics, not ideology.
And its rabidly fought the return of the poor voter. First using lies, smears and fake video to take down Acorn. Fighting to bring back Jim Crow. Passing so-called "voter fraud" laws to end what was historically just one or two cases of fraud, and in doing so disenfranchising thousands of poor voters. With the Republican leaders and the Fox arm of the party shaking their pom-poms the whole way.
It's used tactics - fear mongering - over ideology to hang on to its one loyal demographic, the elderly. Tactics that turned away younger voters, where ideology would not have. Though they may claim otherwise, their endless anti-women claims and even laws in the last election cycle had little to do with conservative ideology.
You want to fix the problem? Conservatives and traditional Republicans need to define and promote just what their basic ideology is. And tell the Palin / Cruz / Limbaugh / Beck / Bachmann types "No, YOU are Republican In Name Only."
And find a way to reign in Fox News. Because tactics and extremists make for better headlines than ideology, so they'll promote Palin / Cruz / Limbaugh / Beck / Bachmann's views every time.
Reagan tripled the debt. Was that in service to tactics, or ideology?
Reagan deregulated willy nilly, with no thought to consequence. Just look at the msm, entirely owned by 6 multinational megacorps. Before Reagan deregulated drunkenly, there were many thousands of small owners - creating more diversity and less top-down control.
Is that a reflection of conservative ideology?
Look at the world of finance. Before Reagan, every city had its own local bank, which was responsible to behave in a VERY conservative manner with investor monies. After Reagan, there are 8 or 10 banks in this country, and they are "too big to fail," and they behave like teenagers with the checkbook.
Does that reflect conservative ideology?
Look at our legal system, with attorneys trolling 1-800 numbers to START disputes, rather than settling existing ones.
Does that reflect conservative ideology?
Define it, THEN argue for it.
_________________________________________________________________________________
A burglar can only steal what you have.
A banker can steal what you have, and what you're GONNA have.
