[Nowhere Man]

That may be true. No idea. They certainly don't appear to have a grip on what real life is among the 'unwashed'. And they certainly think we're all stupid - everyone, apparently; but, them....

That's the problem, as radio talkshow host, Chuck Harder, said a lot time ago, there are some who do fail to see the points we are trying to make because it hasn't affected them yet. I've resolved it is that there are some who need to experience that firsthand because the cannot see what we mean from their vantage point. Call it what you will, old line Calvinism (where bad things happen because of you and nothing else, sort of like the Christian version of karma) to "Prosperity Gospel."

Also, (if I may bum your theory, Sam) the idea of "The Business of America is Business" went out with Herbert Hoover, Atwater Kent radios and "23 Skidoo." That old adage of Coolidge and Hoover lost in 1935 (although it started to lose ground under early progressives like Teddy Roosevelt, David Graham Phillips, Upton Sinclair, and Jack London in the prior generation) and replaced by the New Deal of FDR and Truman later on. Many if not most of the voters of the Republicans from Ronald Reagan to today are the children and grandchildren of those New Dealers, myself included and the great grandchildren of the muckrackers a generation before. Heck, after some of my ancestors came over from Russia, they became active in the labor movement with the coal mines. In short, being the Trekker that I am, that line of thinking is, "it's dead, Jim."

Getting back to the segment that makes the large base of current and past (to 1980) Republican voters, they voted Republican because of things like getting a strong military, opposing homosexual marriage, opposing gun control, stopping the rabid environmentalists, getting tough on crime, and so on. Most economic issues, except the idea of having good jobs to support their families, are esoteric at best, non-existant at worst. Now with that in mind, the free trader's best allies are the lefty "barking moonbats" that shifts the Democrats so far left, a huge chunk of the socially conservative former Democrats will vote Republican. Now if things tank, that will become less relevant as the voter wll be willing to go with the side that will answer the questions of, "who is better able to help me feed my family?"

I think the next big issue that will be fouht over is healthcare. I do forsee some sort of single payer or socialized healthcare in the US by 2015 or 2020 although there are some who say sooner. It is inevitable.

I'm not picking on anyone here or pick fights but being the armchair historian that I am, I figure I would weigh in.

[A. Pole]

Now with that in mind, the free trader's best allies are the lefty "barking moonbats" that shifts the Democrats so far left, a huge chunk of the socially conservative former Democrats will vote Republican. Now if things tank, that will become less relevant as the voter wll be willing to go with the side that will answer the questions of, "who is better able to help me feed my family?"

It might be correct.

[A. Pole]

I think the next big issue that will be fouht over is healthcare. I do forsee some sort of single payer or socialized healthcare in the US by 2015 or 2020 although there are some who say sooner. It is inevitable.

I think by 2008, no later than 2009 we will have it. (Elections in 2006 plus 2008 will do it)

[Havoc]

Now if the treason lobby could present such a coherent direct response, one might trust to get somewhere with them. I think the only way we'll get anywhere with them is to start spraying for them or get a bigger club for the size of whackamole game it is.

[1rudeboy]

Now with that in mind, the free trader's best allies are the lefty "barking moonbats" that shifts the Democrats so far left, a huge chunk of the socially conservative former Democrats will vote Republican.

If the above was true, then why does your typical protectionist howl so when I point out the similarities between his position and that of your typical "lefty 'barking moonbat?'" I suppose it's ok to believe what you type is true, but when it's contradicted by a mountain of evidence, you should begin to wonder.