LQD: How the GOP Won the Working Class | 47 comments (47 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: LQD: How the GOP Won the Working Class (4.00 / 7)

It's a good rant, but I don't think it answers the most basic question - which is why the blue collar demographic is willing to vote for people who are desperate to screw them over.

It's obvious with the fundies, but the draw from the right seems to be low taxes (a lie) and racism.

The only difference between the middle class condescension of the Dems and the pseudo-aristocratic condescension of the Reps is that the Dems believe their shtick about making everyone middle class, while the Rs are utterly cynical about it.

Making a difference doesn't just mean reaching out, but removing the dog whistle talking points.

As long as anyone can use 'Socialism' and 'Tax and Spend' as a way to end an argument, the Dems are going to have problems.

It's not like it has to be hard. Obama's recent emphasis on J.O.B.S. should start to make a difference.

Seed the meme that the GOP steals jobs while the Dems look after them, and the GOP is toast.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Sun Oct 19th, 2008 at 03:48:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LQD: How the GOP Won the Working Class (4.00 / 6)

The Dems want to make working class blue collar workers middle class (white collar) like themselves. The Repugs know they need servants and plumbers and mechanics to fix the car, and so they pretend to laud them because they don't want them to become like themselves, they want them to stay being servants, plumbers and mechanics.

The Dems have got to become the party of choice - yes we value you as servants, plumbers etc., if that is what you want to be - but we will also support you if you want to become something else. But it is your choice - not our ideology, values or snobbery which determines whether you should try to be something else.

Vote McCain for war without gain

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Sun Oct 19th, 2008 at 04:06:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LQD: How the GOP Won the Working Class (4.00 / 4)

The Dems want to make working class blue collar workers middle class (white collar) like themselves.

It's like Jews for Jesus. Despite the presentation that it's done out of a sense of goodwill, it's really about committing cultural genocide.

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Sun Oct 19th, 2008 at 04:11:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The Great American Middle Class ... (4.00 / 6)

... created in the decade of Great Income Compression from 1936-45, was an overlapping income class of the better paid among the blue collar workers and the majority of white-collar workers.

That was the income class that Reagan was industriously working to hollow out through union busting and promoting illegal employment of undocumented migrants ... for the ambition of capturing all productivity gains for profit income, finally achieved under GW Bush, the political division between blue collar and white collar in the face of common economic interests was critical.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.

by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Sun Oct 19th, 2008 at 06:00:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

LQD: How the GOP Won the Working Class | 47 comments (47 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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