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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRepublican's Burden
We must change to master change.
President Lyndon B. Johnson
The republican party has two burdens as 2018 approaches. The first is, of course, Donald Trump. In a normal cycle, mid-term elections include a shift away from a sitting president; in 2018, Trump will be a ball & chain upon the leg of the republicans that represent the more moderate segment of the party. Trump alone provides the Democratic Party with the potential to make significant advances in congressional elections.
The other burden is equally important for the Democratic Party to exploit between today and November, 2018. It is the rabid right-wing of the republican party that comprise the Porka-Gorka brigade. No longer the pajama boys donning white sheets in the night, they range from the inbred Klan clans of the south, to the khaki-clad torch-bearers who infested Charlottesville. They are known as Trump's base.
To understand the philosophy, for lack of a better word, of Trump's base, one should re-watch the 2008 movie, The Dark Knight. There is a scene in which Alfred Pennyworth tells Bruce Wayne about an opponent who was upon but one thing: the destruction of the social order. The very thought of this naughty boy delighted Gorka and Bannon, and fermented in their minds during the years of the Obama presidency.
The republican party of the past no longer exists. The party of Reagan is but a fragment of a faded memory. The corporate branch, and the conservative citizen (re: Christian) are but two remnants that form minority branches of the halls of political power. They are incapable of exercising control over the rabid, in-bred, white trash branch. This reality was brought to the surface in the recent attempts to repeal and displace health care.
Thus, the Democratic Party has a unique opportunity to begin to institute meaningful change in 2018. To fully access this potential, we need to recognize that our party has undergone changes since the years of Bill Clinton's presidency, and even in the post-Obama period. In simplistic terms, we can see there are the two camps that defined the 2016 Democratic primaries: the Clinton camp, and the Sanders' camp.
Yet, there are other important concepts that need to be recognized, accepted, and dealt with in an open and just manner. In doing so, the Democratic Party can create a united front with the Democratic Left. As indicated by the Obama coalition, this united front presents the best way to win elections.
If we take an objective look at potential votes for Democratic Party candidates, some basic realities can be identified. There are some well-known groups, based upon ethnicity. Those overlap with some issues that aren't often taken into account. In general, for example, the progressive community is comprised of individuals in the lower-economic groups, liberals and moderates in the middle class, and conservative Democrats among those with higher incomes. Clearly, there are individual examples from each group that do not fit that pattern. But to deny the pattern is to deny reality.
Each group has issues that are important to them. Some of them are different, based upon the obvious differences in economic status and security. Yet more of those issues are shared concerns. Middle class parents, for example, tend to take on a large debt to pay for the college-university educations of their children. Low-income people recognize this, and support Democratic candidates who are in a position to do things to address this middle class problem. We understand why, well before their children are in high school, so many parents are intent upon their child eventually earning a college scholarship for one sport or another. It is, of course, an unrealistic hope. It's far better for the parents and community if everyone advocates for affordable education when election day comes around.
Very few lower- or middle-income people have an opportunity to mingle with the heads of the corporations that mangle the economic system. We understand that it is primarily the wealthy Democrats especially those in elected office that have face-to-face contact with these executives. There are often differences of opinion among us regarding if our elected representatives do enough to represent the low- and middle-income citizens. But we can all agree that they certainly represent the interests of the corporations.
While a few of the offspring of the wealthy do enter into military service, it is definitely the children of the lower- and middle-class families that are fighting the numerous undeclared wars that the USA is currently involved in. One might accurately note that it is always this way. Yet, if the nation were not sending these young men and women into war zones, and for reasons the government and certain corporations want to keep secret from the public, they could serve their country in other, more important ways.
Congress holds the purse strings. Why fund the failure in Afghanistan, rather than invest in the success of helping all those who's lives were turned into hell from the two recent hurricanes? And the sad fact is that Afghanistan is only one of about nine foreign nations where our sons and daughters are involved in violence in. Yet, very few in Washington, DC, speak out about this. Very few, indeed.
It's a damned shame that an estimated 14 million Democrats voted for Trump last November. And it is pathetic that any union members did so. But some did. Part of that was the direct result of sexist stupidity. No question. That's beyond any debate. But that is another social construct that factored in. Groups of people tend to act out in a manner that is objectively in their worst interests when their expectations were raised, but there was no advance following.
This highlights the lack of understanding that, for all intents and purposes, is related to the failure of unions to educate their members on sexism's damaging results. There is a general belief that elected representatives in DC could do something to create immediate changes in the system. As a matter of fact, I encountered that same mistaken belief when I served on a school board. Why don't you do this? or why not do that? Oh, if it were only so easy!
Systems remind me of rivers. Neither are easily diverted in new directions. To change a system such as a school board much less DC there are but two possibilities: change the people in office, and/or change the thinking of those in office. Still, that change will rarely provide immediately gratifying changes. That type of change requires citizens who patiently advocate for that change, and who refuse to stop trying. More, their position can be enhanced, if they understand how to coordinate with those who the elected representatives consider unreasonable hot-heads. For example, by 1964, both Martin Luther King and Malcolm X understood that they could benefit everyone by putting their heads together.
In summation, we have a once in a lifetime opportunity today. If we don't take it, it will float down that river, and be gone forever. Other opportunities may show up later, that look the same, or smell similar. But they can only be different. We have the opportunity now to exploit the divisions within the republican party and the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate are doing this now to our common advantage. But we need to unite the various sub-groups to create that united front. And that is one possibility, one option, that is available to us to begin working upon now. There are, of course, many other possible options, but they do not offer these unique advantages. Thus, it is up to each of us to decide.
Peace,
H2O Man
malaise
(268,987 posts)Off to the greatest page
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)These are the thoughts that bounce around in my mind while doing lawn- and housework. I'm glad that someone finds them interesting!
Many of us love your essays
for that. It's much appreciated.
I'm getting ready to go and walk my dog in a few minutes. Most likely, I'll continue thinking about this same topic, and will add more tonight.
lastlib
(23,225 posts)Thank you for this thoughtful piece, H2OMan!
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)I'm pleased that you like it.
Me.
(35,454 posts)Did it take a trump to get rid of Raygun? I worry about the sexism because as long as it persists in the rampant stage we saw in the year +, it will grow into a bigger and bigger problem. Not long ago on this site, the howls and calls for Nancy P. to go filled up posts. Her experience and ability to get the job done didn't count as worthy. Newer, younger faces was the insistent demand. And yes we need the party to keep on keeping on and the young are a crucial part of that continuity but I find the recent ageism very dispiriting.
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)ever in human history, I think that it works best when the young and old respect each other (and medium-aged folks, as well), when male and female have mutual respect, and rich and poor, short and tall, and people will various ethic backgrounds and skin colors, have that same mutual respect. Then, when, for example, the young question the old, people can reach the best option. At the same time, I'm forgetfully aware that I am old, and often confused in my thinking.
Me.
(35,454 posts)I know of one other who is older than you. Other than that...fine reply.
by the Trump presidency! May he be impeached, convicted, and live in total humiliation if I have stretched the truth about my age by as much as an hour!
Believe me now?
Only if he is impeached will I take you at your word so keep those gnarly old fingers crossed
thbobby
(1,474 posts)But in my case being old is not the cause of my confused thinking.
Simple thoughts like "blacks are bad" or "immigrants steal jobs" are easy to understand. The Nazis were very good at exploiting the simplicity of hatred also.
Nuanced thoughts are easier to become confused by. I have become very confused about the utility of confronting haters. I have often said, "Don't argue with idiots". But confronting haters is probably a necessity.
It is much easier to think "I hate haters". Again, I am confused. Confronting haters, misogynists, and bigots may only help empower them.
Mr.Bill
(24,284 posts)is like discussing the Three Stooges with some one who thinks the episodes with Shemp are the best ones.
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)very important point. We have to know the distinction between confronting "hate," and confronting the "haters." It's important to oppose hate at all times. Yet, we should confront the haters at a time and circumstance of our advantage. We do best when we pick that time carefully -- though in real life, there may be times when we are confronted with individual hater's venom. If we exercise this type of planning, and confront injustice this way, we find that we don't need to hate them. Rather, we recognize them as confused, ignorant, and fearful people who are not fully human in terms of ethical development.
thbobby
(1,474 posts)I believe in some cases hate is best confronted by being nonconfrontational and setting a good example.
I have a 70-year-old neighbor who I was trying to convince to vote. I asked him about Obama and he replied "I just think they should stay on their own side of the tracks"
I did not directly confront him. I just, over a several week period, told him of my black friends, my gay friends, what Obama had done to benefit him and our country. It is a work in progress. I do not believe he is a hater. He is just ignorant.
Perhaps where hatred is best confronted is churches, schools, homes of people with children. I live in North Texas and see well-disguised bigotry and hatred in all of these places.
It will be a long battle. A battle we have been fighting since before the Civil War. Can it be won? Perhaps so, perhaps not. But what kind of people are we if the battle is not waged?
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)What I heard from someone when VICE News Tonight interviewed Union workers backing Trump in a deindustrialized(spell check is underlining this but I can't think of a better word to describe it) area.
After her interview last night and even though I would have disagreed with many of her foreign policies she would have handled this North Korea situation 1000x better intelligently & professionally. With this obvious collusion Trump is setting the bar lower every day how worst a President can be. This is like taking a Rush Limbaugh listener, Fox News watcher, Brietbart "news" reader and installing them as President. We really have someone who doesn't have a f*cking clue. Like Hillary said, "They don't know what they don't know."
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)includes a number of active union members. They shared with me some of the most repulsive things other union members said to justify voting for Trump. It is stunning that any union worker would consider supporting a clearly anti-union person.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,614 posts)We must maximize the Republicans' burdens.........
And minimize our own.
Simple, yes, but certainly not easy. And you bet it is up to each of us to decide.
K&R
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)You are absolutely right -- it won't be easy. Few worthwhile things are. But a failure to do so would definitely result in greater difficulties.
BigmanPigman
(51,590 posts)There was an earlier post today under General Discussion looking for you.
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)as Rubin used to say. I have had friends and associates request my assistance on several cases involving legal issues. That's been taking a lot of my time. Plus, while I do check DU:GD daily, some times there are too many foolish arguments going on, that I am not interested in participating in.
I did post on the sports forum yesterday, about tomorrow's middleweight title fight. Now, that's I fight I like to discuss.
Now I'll have to look back to see if I can find the OP/thread you mentioned.
Thanks!
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)It really makes the board look like a civil place for discussion though I have no idea the shitstorms are brewing that are on top of GD, etc.
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)I've never blocked any person, or OP/thread to date. But I can see definite advantages to it.
Thanks!
Hekate
(90,677 posts)"Take up the white man's burden..."
And you were correct! The title, if not the full essay, was rooted in a thought that I had while watching Lawrence on MSNBC last night.
Ligyron
(7,632 posts)Well said!
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)Much appreciated!
iluvtennis
(19,852 posts)H2O Man
(73,537 posts)I'm glad that you and some others like it.
MLAA
(17,288 posts)I remember a time when family members of three top Democratic Party leaders -- all presidential candidates -- participated on this forum. They recognized DU's potential value. It's a shame that the forum missed the opportunity to develop that full potential. While we cannot go back in time, I do believe that the DU community has the ability to rise again. And with 2018 and 2020 approaching, it seems an opportune time to begin.
Initech
(100,068 posts)They have no morals. They have no moral compass. They have no buttons to push. They have no filter. They lack all sense of compassion. They have no conscience or anything in their brains that says "hey! Don't do this!". They have nothing that makes them human. They have no soul. They're liars, bullies and thugs.
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)Watching the film of the torch-light march, and listening to their repulsive chants, it is difficult to attribute any positive human quality to the members of the alt-right. It provided an illustration of the very negative potentials in "crowd behavior." And there is no Atticus capable of calling upon their individuality in such circumstances. Thus, the collective unconsciousness of hundreds of machines is always dangerous.
The Democratic Party cannot wake them up. Even if we consider the example of Martin Luther King and Bull Connor, it's safe to say that Connor remained a hateful, violent thug for the rest of his life. Yet King used him as a tool, to wake up many other citizens. King said in private that the movement castrated the old Bull.
Volaris
(10,270 posts)Can i add that i think any upper-class, educated, self-professed Liberal who sees a black teen get killed by some racist dumb white cop and DOESNT think 'there, but for the grace of god..' isn't really that educated OR that Liberal?
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)And I agree with your point. As the uncle of three nephews who were scholar-athletes raised in upstate New York, I can say that many (if not most) of the area's white cops viewed them as "black teenagers." As did the justice system, when one was the victim of a vicious assault by men belonging to a hate group. That same gang attacked Asian-American students at Binghamton University, again without meaningful consequence.
redstatebluegirl
(12,265 posts)A sane, rational explanation of the current climate. Well done once again H2Oman!
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)I really appreciate your kind words!
kentuck
(111,092 posts)..they don't yet understand it?
We can only succeed if we unite, not if we are divided.
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)A stumbling block common in movements is the focusing upon individual personalities, rather than common goals. We witness the damage that can do, every day on DU:GD.