[quote=briansd1]Well, Veritas, people with no jobs are more likely to becoming a mob, I agree.
But there a policially angry right that feels like “their America” is slipping away from them. They don’t feel that America is the shining city on the hill anymore. They feel like only they “love America” enough and can restore our greatness.
In Europe that is manifesting itself in nationalistic xenophobia. Allan likes to point to Marine Le Pen of the National Front in France.
Do you thing that, in America, we are immune from such right-wing politics? It’s more subtle here, but I’m feeling some strong winds.[/quote]
Brian: You often accuse conservatives of wanting to “conserve back in time”, but Liberals/Democrats are guilty of the same thing.
Related to your above comment, Unions are attempting to reach back to the American manufacturing Golden Age (1945 – 1972) and re-negotiate those deals that ultimately destroyed US Steel and GM, along with American competitiveness. Aided by agencies like the NLRB, we’re now seeing job-killing on an epic scale.
My point? This isn’t going to be “Left versus Right”, this is going to be “Have versus Have Not”. I’m going to balance that by saying that we need more taxation (yup, I said it) and we need tax reform (close loopholes, end corporate welfare), a US Industrial Policy (and, PLEASE, let’s get rid of that green energy nonsense) and a shift back to sustaining American innovation through fully funded R&D programs.
You want to avoid mobs in the street, put meaningful and rational programs into place, lower the corporate tax rate, and shithammer any American business trying to offshore jobs (especially fucking GE, with Jeffrey Immelt now in the administration as a JOBS CZAR).
As Bill Clinton famously said, “It’s the economy, stupid” and it is. Unfortunately, Obama does not get this and, in trying to be all things to all people, he’ll satisfy no one. This country is capable of amazing things, but the more reactionary elements of BOTH parties are stifling that capability and strangling growth.
