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The Yankee Reform Impulse Gets Some Issues Right, Some Wrong
Townhall.com ^ | April 22, 2022 | Michael Barone

Posted on 04/22/2022 7:38:25 AM PDT by Kaslin

People talk about culture war politics as if it were a recent development -- a novelty, an exception to a historic rule that American politics is mostly about economics (who gets how much) and only occasionally gets sidetracked into culture (what people should or shouldn't be allowed to do).

In my view, that gets things backwards. Culture war politics goes back to the American Revolution, which united into one nation colonies with different religious beliefs and cultural values.

Many 19th-century culture war issues were fought over reforms challenging traditional behaviors championed by New England Yankees as they spread westward to upstate New York and the Great Lakes Midwest. Yankee culture, with its Puritan roots, was principled and prescriptive, moralistic and intolerant.

In the pre-Civil War republic, New England and upstate New York's "burned-over district" seethed with movements demanding the abolition of slavery, equal rights for women, prohibition of alcohol and an end to capital punishment. Each used moral logic to oppose an existing practice.

These causes were initially unpopular, opposed by Jacksonian Democrats but found some sympathy from Whigs and especially the new Republican Party that was formed to limit the expansion of slavery. They met with different fates.

(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 04/22/2022 7:38:25 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

It kills me to see New England and other parts of the US been taken over by the very people our forefathers fought against. My ancestors started at the Fairbanks house in Dedham Massachusetts in 1642. That Yankee blood is still coursing through my veins. In the final analysis I see no other way to return to constitutional principles than to follow the Declaration of Independence’s advice and literally take the government back. It’s our duty.


2 posted on 04/22/2022 7:53:54 AM PDT by HighSierra5 (The only way you know a commiraspute is lying is when they open their pieholes.p)
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To: Kaslin

“politics is downstream frem culture”

hmmmm

sounds kinda familiar.

/s


3 posted on 04/22/2022 8:09:43 AM PDT by Macoozie (Handcuffs and Orange Jumpsuits)
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To: HighSierra5
. In the final analysis I see no other way to return to constitutional principles than to follow the Declaration of Independence’s advice and literally take the government back. It’s our duty.

This is considered right-wing domestic terrorism by today's government. I hope you don't have a Lego replica of the US Capitol at home.

4 posted on 04/22/2022 8:11:55 AM PDT by frogjerk (I will not do business with fascists)
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To: Kaslin

He’s right about the busybody, preachy, humorless, fanatical, self righteous and intolerant parts of the Puritan mindset. He could have also mentioned that these are the same people who want to spread “democracy” all around the world and who are quite willing to use your money and the lives of your sons to do it. Note the rates of say New Englanders in the military vs those of Southerners, Midwesterners, etc.

He failed to mention how incredibly greedy the Puritans always were. They started out believing that obtaining wealth showed they the elect of god. They’ve since kept the incredible greed but lost any belief in god which might have once given it at least some redeeming value.

Look at the Wokeratti today. They are clearly neo Puritans. Look who votes for them....and who votes against them. The parties have changed, the sides have not.


5 posted on 04/22/2022 8:15:25 AM PDT by FLT-bird
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To: frogjerk

I used to but I ran it over with my F-450.


6 posted on 04/22/2022 8:40:00 AM PDT by HighSierra5 (The only way you know a commiraspute is lying is when they open their pieholes.p)
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To: Kaslin

“The Yankee reform impulse, applying moral logic to existing practice”

What exactly is “moral logic”?

Sadly, “morality” today has been overwhelmingly equated to “equality” and merit has been deemed immoral and discriminatory.

If we keep going down this road, things won’t end up well. 2081 isn’t far away.

https://archive.org/stream/HarrisonBergeron/Harrison%20Bergeron_djvu.txt


7 posted on 04/22/2022 9:42:55 AM PDT by aquila48 (Do not let them make you "care" ! Guilting you is how they control you. )
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To: Kaslin

Mencius Moldbug was totally right about the Puritans.


8 posted on 04/22/2022 9:53:51 AM PDT by Yashcheritsiy (I'd rather have one king 3000 miles away that 3000 kings one mile away)
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To: FLT-bird

Shh, you are not supposed to write that, It will get you denounced and attempts to ban you here as a (shudder) Neo-Confederate.


9 posted on 04/22/2022 12:29:48 PM PDT by robowombat (Orth, all y,)
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To: robowombat

It is a shame. Our country was always supposed to a group of states and not federally controlled states. Your comment is spot on.


10 posted on 04/22/2022 12:36:58 PM PDT by wgmalabama (We will find out if the Vac or virus risk was the correct choice - can we put truth above narrative )
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To: wgmalabama

Just proposing that produces foaming rage from the neo-con socalled conservatives. Where did the ‘unbreakable union’ cant come from. The Federalists I suppose , who except when it was New England’s interests being threatened, were concerned the US might devolve into several countries representing various regional interests and cultures.


11 posted on 04/22/2022 12:57:11 PM PDT by robowombat (Orth, all y,)
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