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Liberal Author Pits "Metro" America Against "Retro" America In New Book
WORLD Magazine Blog ^ | 8/24/04 | Vincent

Posted on 08/24/2004 2:07:30 PM PDT by dukeman

"Retro" vs. "Metro" America

If you are pro-life, support freedom of Christian expression, believe pornography is harmful and should be restricted, oppose usurious progressive taxation, believe in school choice, and vote mainly Republican, then you are part of Retro America, according to The Great Divide: Retro Vs. Metro America, a new book by John Sperling.

The Great Divide is billed as "a blueprint for how the Democratic Party can regain, and maintain, control of the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives." Mr. Sperling, founder of the University of Phoenix, believes that conservative voters with traditional values are a millstone around America's neck, one that suppresses excellence in education, science, and the arts, and is bent on crushing "differences in ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation," along with "public education, childcare, and other services needed by working parents." All this while coddling the rich with conspiratorial tax cuts.

Why is that important? Because with few exceptions, Mr. Sperling's "Retro America" consists of the "Red States," all those who voted for George Bush in 2000 -- and he says those citizens are a pack of hyperchurched, flat-earth bigots in need of Democratic enlightenment.

In an enormous ad for The Great Divide in Monday's New York Times, Mr. Sperling says that the Red States are full of backward rubes who "perceive higher education and scientific innovation as threats and craft policies to limit them."

"Retro America" is mired in religiosity, Mr. Sperling says, and in league with Republicans and the Supreme Court to control the federal government. And since they comprise only 35% of the population and are heavily dependent on such "extraction" industries as oil, coal, gas, farming, low-wage manufacturing and military installations -- in Mr. Sperling's world, all non-essential economic activities -- Red State voters are irrelevant as a political voice.

Besides, his ad argues, Kerry doesn't need those Americans, since "Metro America," -- a scattered, heavily urban Sperling construct comprised of the Blue States, plus some conveniently annexed, argument-propping Red ones -- controls 333 electoral votes. Blue State manufacturing, financial services, and information industries are the essential "economic engine of the county," he argues, and champion women's issues, healthcare, and job protection, and represent "urban, suburban, multi-ethnic, multi-religious society."

In John Sperling's economy, Democrats ought to chuck the concerns of citizens in "Retro America," (read: 25 of the 50 states, including most of the rural poor) and pander only to "Metro America." That is: The "progressive," "sophisticated" voters who are eliminating gender differences, eliminating unborn children, elevating pornography as art, awarding jobs based on skin color, voting in legislators who take half of Americans' pay, promoting failed healthcare schemes, locking non-union members out of jobs, silencing speech they disagree with, suppressing religious freedom, using science to play God, and driving public education into the dirt. Uh yeah, John: Good plan.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: bluezone; bookreview; greatdivide; redzone; sperling
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Proud retro.
1 posted on 08/24/2004 2:07:31 PM PDT by dukeman
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To: dukeman

Ditto. Proud retro.

Mr. Sperling, founder of the University of Phoenix, believes that conservative voters with traditional values are a millstone around America's neck, one that suppresses excellence in education, science, and the arts, and is bent on crushing "differences in ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation," along with "public education, childcare, and other services needed by working parents."

Memo to Mr. Sperling: That's going to be a hard sell considering how far advanced we are from the rest of the world medically, financially and militarily. It's not because we raised a lot of dummies in this country.


2 posted on 08/24/2004 2:10:18 PM PDT by Peach (The Clinton's pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: dukeman

"Metro America." = predatory, do-nothing, degenerates.


3 posted on 08/24/2004 2:10:27 PM PDT by tkathy (The choice is clear. Big tent or no tent.)
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To: dukeman

. And since they comprise only 35% of the population and are heavily dependent on such "extraction" industries as oil, coal, gas, farming, low-wage manufacturing and military installations -- in Mr. Sperling's world, all non-essential economic activities -- Red State voters are irrelevant as a political voice.

Retro America feeds, clothes and provides Metro America, without Retro America, this pusbucket and his ilk would freeze and/or starve to death!


4 posted on 08/24/2004 2:11:12 PM PDT by kaktuskid
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To: kaktuskid

Proud millstone.


5 posted on 08/24/2004 2:12:32 PM PDT by berkley
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To: dukeman

What this fool does not notice is that "metro" Americans, once you get to know them, really aren't nice people at all. And they know it themselves. Once they have kids they move to "retro" areas where they can actually afford a house and the kids will hopefully acquire some normal values.

The steady population shift from "metro" to "retro" America has been going on for fifty years.


6 posted on 08/24/2004 2:12:57 PM PDT by Sam the Sham
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To: dukeman

Why is it, then, that so many people are moving from "blue" states to "red" ones if we hyperchurched, flat-earth bigots in need of Democratic enlightenment are a millstone around America's neck?


7 posted on 08/24/2004 2:14:25 PM PDT by The Great Yazoo
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To: dukeman

Right-were a millstone around the neck of productive America, but the founder of an online diploma mill is the voice of the future.


8 posted on 08/24/2004 2:14:55 PM PDT by 91B (God made man, Sam Colt made men equal.)
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To: dukeman

"Mr. Sperling, founder of the University of Phoenix, believes that conservative voters with traditional values are a millstone around America's neck, one that suppresses excellence in education, science, and the arts,..."

What in heck is the University of Phoenix?

Is that a degree mill? I wonder because this twit is the intellectual equivalent of Barbara Streisand.


9 posted on 08/24/2004 2:16:29 PM PDT by OpusatFR (President Bush will win 2004.)
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To: 91B

Oh. Online diploma?

Gee. And I spent all that time sweating in lecture halls.


10 posted on 08/24/2004 2:17:53 PM PDT by OpusatFR (President Bush will win 2004.)
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To: kaktuskid

a push for "Atlas Shrugged"


11 posted on 08/24/2004 2:18:12 PM PDT by Docbarleypop (Navy Doc)
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To: dukeman
Retro, heck! I am a reactionary, religious, gun-owning, hairy, knuckle-dragging Neanderthal and proud of it. I'm also a technophile, an SF/F fan, and history buff and generally curious about stuff.

And, given the condition of gub'mint schools, I'd like know how we are suppressing "excellence in education, science, and the arts."
12 posted on 08/24/2004 2:18:30 PM PDT by Little Ray (John Ffing sKerry: Just a gigolo!)
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To: dukeman
It will be very easy for metro to prevail. All they need to do is recognize their lord and begin to worship him. Once he receives authority from Our Lord to designate the anti-christ, the events will begin to unfold. At least they will prevail for 7 years.
13 posted on 08/24/2004 2:20:17 PM PDT by wastoute
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To: 91B

LOL!


14 posted on 08/24/2004 2:20:19 PM PDT by dukeman
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To: dukeman
If you are pro-life, support freedom of Christian expression, believe pornography is harmful and should be restricted, oppose usurious progressive taxation, believe in school choice, and vote mainly Republican, then you are part of Retro America

My truth is that I am a Retro American.

15 posted on 08/24/2004 2:20:53 PM PDT by GreenHornet
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To: dukeman
blueprint for how the Democratic Party can regain, and maintain, control of the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives

-or as it is sometimes called "communist manifesto"

so wait, no republicans in metro areas?? I live in a metropolis (Boston) and I am republican. I guess I am not sophisticated enough (sophisticated meaning gay)
16 posted on 08/24/2004 2:22:14 PM PDT by escapefromboston
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To: dukeman

Waving the retro flag here in Pittsburgh PA.


17 posted on 08/24/2004 2:22:55 PM PDT by Ciexyz ("FR, best viewed with a budgie on hand")
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To: kaktuskid
Retro America feeds, clothes and provides Metro America, without Retro America, this pusbucket and his ilk would freeze and/or starve to death!

Kinda reminds me of a bumper sticker my cattle rancher neighbor used to have on his truck: "Don't criticize ranchers with your mouth full!"

18 posted on 08/24/2004 2:23:04 PM PDT by dukeman
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To: dukeman

Why doesn't everybody enter the contest on that website, and if you win the Toyota Prius, sell it and donate the proceeds to W'04.

That should annoy them.


19 posted on 08/24/2004 2:24:14 PM PDT by drb9
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To: Ciexyz

Man, these guys who view "flyover" country with superior disdain really, really chafe me! The arrogance is breathtaking.


20 posted on 08/24/2004 2:28:08 PM PDT by dukeman
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