The truth has finally set in: Republican President, Republican House, Republican Senate, and soon Republican Supreme Court. But did the republicans win?
The democrats certainly did not get the support of the American people during this election, but I do not believe that the democrats lost. There could be arguments of too-liberal, or not liberal enough, but I really don't think it matters. The election was close but it is clear now that the democrats have lost their base. The democrats barely won the midwest powerhouses of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. But the base is obviously shifting, away from the "Solid South" of democrats, to the "Solid South" of republicans.
The republicans have an intricate plan to harvest voters. First, the voters of faith have clearly strong convictions and thus rallied around Bush when he chastised abortion, homosexuality and beckoned a stronger "morality" for the country. Second, the republicans have abandoned their small government stance and used rhetoric and lies to claim popular social programs as their own, and make absurd suggestions for their "repair" or "replacement" which may sound good but may have no effect or damage the programs. Third, the republican's have tailored the media to create a soap opera of politics and spinning information to their favor.
The republican party has hijacked the democrats, taking away all the ingenuity of the New Deal era and perverting it to their own use, why violating personal rights of privacy and equality and claiming it as "morality". What does this mean? The democrats no longer have a platform. The democrats are reluctant to go more liberal because it has bad connotations, but couldn't possibly become more conservative. The republicans have pulled the base right out from under the democrats noses.
I believe that the republicans will ultimately fail, because they will bankrupt themselves, both morally and financially. They are trying to hold back the tide of progress and they cannot hold it for very long. When the new generation grows up, the morals that the republicans pride themselves on will be absurd, and the fiscal irresponsibility will take it's toll soon, by supporting expensive government programs but cutting taxes.
The winner of this election is not the person elected, but us. Everyone wanting change, democrats, independants and republicans will win in the end, but we need to fight. First, the democrats need to re-examine their base. I suggest getting a strong base of young voters, and even younger. By rallying the youth, even before voting age, with concepts of equality and right of privacy, they will see the bigotry in the older generations eyes, just like I couldn't imagine segreation today. Second, the democrats need to reach out to the underpaid and through education explain why tax cuts fail them, and how they are actually being harmed. Third, rally all the minority groups together. Arab, African, Asian and Hispanic Americans make up large percents of the population and must be shown why the republican policies are not for them. If the democrats shift their base they can once again regain Congress and the Presidency.
I feel a fire inside me to change this country. I know where I know stand and I believe that we can be victorious.
“We are the music makers and we are the dreamer of dreams.”
Addendum: Interesting article from Jeremy @:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0409.gitlin.html
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2 comments:
I'm worried to, however I do not know that the democrats lost their base. Perhaps it is all we have left. (no pun intended). I don't know that I've seen any evidence that shows we've lost our base. What we did lose, in this election, is Middle-America.
We, the democrats, went after the center and we lost. We lost because soccer moms were afraid...of Muslims and homosexuals. We lost because we were painted as godless by the media and the right. FIGHT THIS! WE are the party of compassion and acceptance. WE are the party of loving thy neighbor. We, as you said, HAVE allowed ourselves to be hijacked. Lets storm the cockpit and turn this plane around!
Ok, point well taken. Maybe the democrats haven't lost their "base" base, but I think the democrats relied to heavily on certain demographics and certain areas. It's clear that the democrats got the north-east and the west coast, but they clearly lost out in the midwest. I think the democrats can't rely as heavily on the union vote and the urban vote has been overshadowed by the suburban conservatives. I guess, the democrats still have their base but obviously it's not enough any more.
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