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.
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.
"Metro America." = predatory, do-nothing, degenerates.
. 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!
Proud millstone.
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.
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?
Right-were a millstone around the neck of productive America, but the founder of an online diploma mill is the voice of the future.
"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.
Oh. Online diploma?
Gee. And I spent all that time sweating in lecture halls.
a push for "Atlas Shrugged"
LOL!
My truth is that I am a Retro American.
Waving the retro flag here in Pittsburgh PA.
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!"
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.
Man, these guys who view "flyover" country with superior disdain really, really chafe me! The arrogance is breathtaking.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.