The Paradigm has shifted.....DUers are now in The Majority.

Here at DU, we've become used to being in a minority. Our paradigm has been that we've been on the outside looking in for the last five years. Things that seem so obvious to us have been outside of what is euphemistically called "the mainstream of public opinion." And we've been frustrated seeing things like the majority of the nation supporting the March to Iraq, even though our own instincts told us what a bad move that would be.

But that paradigm has shifted. The reality we're dealing with has changed.

The majority of the US agrees with us. We are no longer voices in the wilderness. No longer outcasts in the sea of public opinion.


It's been coming for while, below the surface, below the radar of the Political/Media Establishment. But now, it has become an established fact that not even the Media Presstitutes can ignore anymore. The polls show it loud and clear, to degree that can no longer be spun.

Now before the inevitable gloomy Guses pipe in and say it aint so, let me acknowledge that this doesn't mean that the US has become a nation of DUers. On individual issues and political perspectives, you are most likely still in a minority. The nation is not progressive enough for progressives, not liberal enough for liberals or even moderate enough for Democratic moderates. The same bstids are in power. The same entrenched interests are still entrenched.

But it is always the case that all specific points on the spectrum are in the minority. That even applies to conservatives.

What's important, though, is now -- finally -- the big mass has shifted in our direction. Rather than being outside of the "mainstream" of public opinion, we are now connected to that mainstream because the majority have moved in our direction, and share our basic perspective.

We've spent years being like the kid who is dismissed and ignored for saying "The Emperor has no clothes." But now the crowd finally recognizes that too. And they've finally started to admit it.....Not just about Bush, but about the whole GOP Right Wing Koolaid and even the whole Corporate Con Job.

I'm also not just talking about politics, although politics is the expression of that. It's a larger recognition of the values nd goals of liberals, progressives and moderates who tend to the leftish side.

I dunno what that will translate into. We have to build on the new paradigm.
We have to try not to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. We have to encourage the Democratic Party Poobahs to actually recognize this and act on it.

But probably step one is to recognize ourselves that on a basic level, we are now part of the majority.

... when I was told to go "tighten my tin-foil hat"...


"And the times, they are a-changin'".... And Thank God....

capable of doing the job'. Now I agree, no one else could have possibly screwed up so many things so badly.

The majority of people disliking Bush doesn't mean they LIKE our side or that they disagree with us. If the country was split 50/50 around last election (I know, we can argue until the cows come home whether it was or wasn't but for conversation sake let's say it was), the additional 10-15% of the people who've peeled off the George Bush likability train are doing so because he's NOT CONSERVATIVE ENOUGH. That means that our hope has to rest in all those people just staying home or voting third party or just sitting everything out. That's a big pair of dice to roll.

It goes beyond the familiar liberal/conservative differences.

If all this mess was the result of principled conservatives, it would be one thiong. However, below those diferences is larger source of disstisfaction with the lack of integrity, the kow-towing to Big Special Corporate Interests and the general "screw you" to the actual concerns of people that Bushism represents.

When I find mysel agreeing with Pat Buchanan on some core issues, it's pretty clear that there is a large ground of disstisaction with the Corporate Government that is at lest shared by liberal/progressives and conservtives.

I realize that does not translate into votes or liberal Democrats, but it does push the larger center of gravity in the direction awy from the worst of the Oligarchs.

"true conservative" definition. I wonder if the paradigm isn't shifting more between those who value integrity vs. those who don't, those who care about the country's future vs. those who don't, those who are stuck-in-the mud vs. those who arent (or some other more definitive bipolar comparison) rather than what traditionally describes the differences in political affiliations, Repug and Dem.?? So IS there a "true conservative" anymore--I mean if you are a Repug, once you AGREE to ally with the Neo-Cons (or fundies) or any group that is inherently negative, how can you say you are benefitting society? What is a "true conservative" anymore. I'm wondering if that's just a myth now.

So is there a way to create a new paradigm that is about these more progressive values overcoming "conservative" (ie. backward) thinking? Right, basically the Oligarchs are the problem, and more are seeing that. Bottom line.

One of the social/political movements that gets little attention -- but is growing at the grassroots -- are eforts to find a fusion between "traditional conservatiism" and "progressive left populism."

There actully is common ground once people get behind the stereotypes. One is a mutual dislike of Big Bureaucratic Institutions in faor of more decentyralized, grass-roots local approches on a human scale. Some of it is the outgrowth of the "Small is Beautiful" approach of the 1970's, as a counterpoint to big bureaucratic approaches.

For example, support for locally-based businesses and community economies that are more oriented to the grass roots than to big buireaucrcies or Big Corportions. Tht's something coasevatives nd progressives can find agreement on, beyiond the usual "hot button" issues.

It is the unsung political story of our time, but it's getting more and more traction, as peopele look beyond the stereotypes and phony "hot button" issues.

You've got that right! While both parties are committed to ignoring that story, the movement will keep growing nonetheless. I'm surrounded by "traditional" and "fiscal" conservatives who now embrace the more populist notion of single payer healthcare. Sort of a "Prescriptions Not Bombs!" mentality.

Reagan must be turning in his grave.
:wtf:

...we could somehow get beyond the meaningless stereotypes.

how you support the Right on Defense spending and how this is good for us? Not getting it. I see the Right as NOT fiscally conservative or smart about spending whatsoever.

Out of control. True fiscal conservatives never want to see any department of government turn into a bloated cow. The NEO-CON PNACers in the DOD are not conservatives they are fascists and you are right that they are DUMB. They are war profiteering assholes drunk on avarice.

I took it the other way. Oops. So of course I would have to agree--yes Liberals are the TRUE "fiscal conservatives." Now how do we prove that to the kool-aid drinkers. I guess get some Dems in power again. They have to demonstrate it. Maybe the people who buy into the "fiscal conservative" line of these fascists have had their eyes opened...finally. :)

the voice of the people might be disaster. Most * haters don't read truthout, have no idea there's been any specualtion on Rove's indictment, think (depending on the poll and how it's worded) that the NSA is carrying on the good fight, will vote locally for the incumbent, whoever it is, etc etc etc.
We are an elite of sorts....a politically attuned elite, invested, aware, and with political motivations informed for the most part by strong liberal sensibilities. Most * haters are not. They hate the high gas prices. They hate the money being wasted in Iraq or know soldiers who've been there or died there or can't stand the thought of losing a war. They hate the culture of corruption, but couldn't tell you much about it, etc etc etc. IMHO, we can't assume they're in the know or anywhere near as dedicated as we are.

In any period there are political junkies and current afirs junkies, as well as a lot o people who don;t pay much attention.

But what IS changing is that the "default position" is shifting away from right wing GOP conservatism towards something that is more of a middle ground and even towards liberalism.

now if we could just get our so-called representatives to do something with our majority.

They are NOT AT ALL WITH US !!!

They are just turning on BUSH thats all!... They still believe in the basic PNAC principles.
They are still fundies, war mongers, racists and homophobes.

They are still Regressives !... and will vote Regressive all the way !

But DUers have done wonders in getting the tide turned. Bush's sub-30% numbers is in large part due to the people of DU educating people one by one, showing them that the right is wrong and that liberal is not a bad word but a preferred way of life. I am proud to be a part of DU. Now we must get out there and vote in droves!

:kick:R

:toast:

We were just completely ignored, because there was a hell of alot of money to made in Bush crime. Now that some of the people who's opinions actually matter in this corrupt, friendly fascist setup have changed their minds... voila. It's become acceptable to question the GOP.

You give the media too much credit for inititive.

They take the path of least resistance. For too long the path of lest resistance was to kowtow to the GOP. Especilly after 9-11.

But if the center of gravity shifts in our direction, that's where the medi stooges will follow...And, despite the media, that's where the center of gravity is moving.

Thanks for your vote of optimism!