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marmar

(76,976 posts)
Sat Apr 20, 2013, 09:31 PM Apr 2013

Robert Reich: The Dis-Uniting of America (2): Social Issues and The Demographic Split


The Dis-Uniting of America (2): Social Issues and The Demographic Split
Friday, April 19, 2013


My first reaction on hearing of the Senate’s failure to get 60 votes for even modest measures to regulate the flow of guns into the hands of people who shouldn’t have them, such as background checks supported by 90 percent of Americans, was to be furious at the spinelessness of the four Senate Democrats who voted against the measure (Mark Begich, Max Baucus, Mark Pryor, and Heidi Heitkamp), as well as the Republicans. And also with Harry Reid, who wouldn’t lead the fight on changing the filibuster rule when he had the chance.

The deeper message here is that rural, older, white America occupies one land; younger, urban, increasingly non-white America lives in another. And the dividing line on social issues (not just guns, but also abortion, equal marriage rights, and immigration reform) runs between the two.

Yes, I know: Plenty of people who are rural, older, and white aren’t regressives on guns, abortion, equal marriage, and immigration. And plenty who are urban, younger, and non-white are. My point is that if you want to explain what’s happening in America on these non-economic issues you have to understand what’s happening to the nation demographically — and why the demographic split is important. ......................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://robertreich.org/post/48371515228



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Robert Reich: The Dis-Uniting of America (2): Social Issues and The Demographic Split (Original Post) marmar Apr 2013 OP
obama rehabiti Apr 2013 #1
What about him? DevonRex Apr 2013 #2
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