A New Politics

Tech Central Station ^ | 02/06/2004 | Frederick Turner

[farmfriend]

One benefit of the new spectrum is that it can be used to place oneself and the political issues on it. Then you can judge if the issue is one of oppression, whether it comes from our 'side' or not.

I agree whole heartedly.

[firebrand]

According to Steve Malanga, the real differentiation is between private-sector and public-sector voters. Government employees, employees of nonprofits, and all the recipients of government largesse are on one side. Privately employed individuals and all the other self-supporting on the other.

In NYC, we see how the boat has totally tipped over in one direction. The public-sector folks have gained control of the City Council, by a huge margin, and are now trying to up the 4-to-1 reimbursement for local election expenses into 8-to-1.

It's not surprising that people vote according to which side their bread is buttered on. We need civics education in the schools.

[nathanbedford]

I fear your pessimism is only too well founded. Perhaps this is why Bush has struck the colors in the budget wars; he has seen the reality and chooses to fight according to the rules of the game as it is actually being played and refereed.

Perhaps he is the new conservative realist for not saving his Confederate script in the vain hope that the South will rise again.

[farmfriend]

I should put you on my short list.

[budwiesest]

replace the religious fundamentalism with constitutional fundamentalism to restore the joy of such a "pursuit of happiness" in our restoration of our great American Culture!!!

Religion in this case being worship of Big Brother. Amen!

Good article, my beef with communitarians has been their willingness to utilize govt. power to enforce what should come as common sense to those who enjoy liberty, namely: responsibilty and morality. We are all witness to how easily liberty can be incrementally taken away.

A different thread got me thinking how much better life was when the 'state' intervened less in our lives. There was mention of kids taking guns to school to hunt with afterwards. Try that today.

Those Virgina Slims commercials would be very apt today: "You've(we've) come a long way, baby!"

[Clemenza]

The public-sector folks have gained control of the City Council, by a huge margin, and are now trying to up the 4-to-1 reimbursement for local election expenses into 8-to-1.

So true. In addition to illegal (and legal) aliens, my nabe is increasingly populated by city employees and those employed in "health care."