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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow GOP Control in 2015 Will Terrorize a Nation – With No Political Repercussion
http://www.alternet.org/election-2014/how-gop-control-2015-will-terrorize-nationAmericas Looming Freak Show: How GOP Control in 2015 Will Terrorize a Nation With No Political Repercussion
Im an optimist whos expert at finding silver linings American progressives have to be but the case rapidly picking up steam that another midterm loss will be good for Democrats is both silly and a little dangerous.
Bill Scher made the argument from the left as well as anyone could, while this piece by the Wall Street Journals Gerald Seib, coming from the center-right, was more predictable and vexing. (Paul Waldman took a shot at it back in August, here.) The Washington Posts Phillip Bump followed and endorsed Seibs argument. But those takes rely at least in part on the notion that if Republicans gain the Senate, theyll either have an incentive to help govern or theyll shame themselves in the eyes of the American public if they dont. Unfortunately, neither premise is true.
In fact, Im concerned that worsening political dysfunction perpetuates itself by convincing more Americans that politics is futile. The Obama coalition in particular younger, less white, less well off than even prior coalitions of Democrats has gotten so little thats tangible from its history-making turnout in 2012 (and yes Ive read that Krugman piece and I mostly agree.) The prospect of its coalescing to become a permanent force in American politics has been at least postponed, if not thwarted entirely, by the deliberate GOP sabotage of the political process.
For me, the backdrop to this depressing midterm election is not merely ISIS and Ebola, but continued unrest in Ferguson, Mo., where it seems unlikely Officer Darren Wilson will face consequences for shooting Michael Brown. From New York to Los Angeles, the issue of police violence just gets worse. Theres increasing activism on the issue, which is great to see the crowds that turned out for Ferguson October over the weekend, and into Monday, were inspiring.
msongs
(67,407 posts)Vinca
(50,273 posts)Prophet 451
(9,796 posts)Conservatism can never fail, it can only be failed. The possibility of failure is simply not a part of their system of thought. Since the failure of conservatism is, by definition, impossible, it can only be failed by those insufficiently zealous or not pure enough or too pragmatic. So the conservative centre of gravity pushes ever further to the right. And the Democrats, in their constant and pointless attempts to appear moderate, follow them to the right. To a lesser degree, sure, but to the right all the same.
And let's be honest, the conservative's have won, for the time being at least. They've got themselves a minority veto in Congress (which they'll do away with the very second they're in the majority), a compliant media to frame everything in their terms and an obedient SCOTUS majority to rule "unconstitutional" any law they don't like. They've won, for the time being. All you can do is try and limit the damage. Until the demographics shift completely kills the GOP in about fifteen years anyway.
All of this has happened before and will happen again.