Bill
09-17-2007, 03:13 PM
This weekend someone turned me on to the blog of one of my gavorite science fiction writers, David Brin.
Some really great political writing there.
Here's a paper I thought was interesting.
I think I can sum up the essence in this sentence.
"Conservatives can't save themselves - we have to reach out to them to end the culture war.".
==================
How It Will Take ALL Decent Americans To Restore Decency To America
By David Brin, Ph.D.
Copyright © 2007. All rights reserved.
For some time, I've called upon moderate and liberal Americans to gather the fortitude and determination to fight for our nation's survival where it matters most.
Not by attending rallies, or going door-to-door, or energizing the base, or hanging around like-minded people, or posting livid screeds, or even sending cash to your favorite candidate. Those are all fine things. But they miss the most important fact -- and opportunity -- about this crucial election cycle.
Today's critical issue has nothing to do with the outdated so-called "left-right" political axis.
With the very survival of Constitutional government and the American Experiment at stake, we cannot afford to leave this to simpleminded partisanship.
Our opportunity -- and obligation -- is to rip open Karl Rove's "big tent conservative coalition." To pry it apart -- one person at a time -- by approaching millions of decent fellow citizens who were duped into supporting a criminal gang. One person at a time.
What? Am I really suggesting we should reach out to... conservatives?
Well, yes... some of them. Absolutely. Indeed, this is the only possible way to win an overwhelming victory. Not for liberals or Democrats or even moderates. But for America.
Ponder this absolute lesson of history.
The surest way to achieve success -- in war or peace or politics --- is to break up your foe's alliance. To strip away his supporters. In this case, by showing some of them that they're more at home in our Big Tent. At least this time around.
At least long enough to save America.
Yes, I know this will be hard. It can feel so satisfying to demonize others with a single, strawman image. (Don't they do it to us?) Alas, though, it is also self-indulgent and stupid.
Suppose we could succeed in shattering Rove's coalition, would that not be worth applying a little nuance to our oversimplified stereotype of "conservatives"?
The potential benefit? It would not only end the Bush era in a landslide, we might also permanently discredit the neoconservative "revolution" and help to end the bitter, artificial Culture War that was deliberately concocted to tear our country apart.
That final point is crucial. For, if Culture War continues, even after a Democratic victory, then any Hillary Clinton presidency (for example) will be ashes in our mouths.
Sure, law and openness and respect for truth will return. Great. But we will also endure nothing less than a bitter resumption of the regional gatreds that sparked American Civil War.
Not her fault, you say? You say that "culture war" was foisted on us by cynical manipulators? So? We'll still be consigned to another four or eight years of living hell. Think Whitewater and Monica... multiplied by a hundred.
We don't just need victory for one electoral side, kicking out a set of bums. We need a victory for the very concept of decency and openness and accountability. And, for that to happen there must be a seismic change on the right.
The dream we should hold out to our neighbors is the restoration of a conservatism that is worth talking to. A version no longer tied to jibbering loonies and an outright criminal gang.
If we reach out and steal "decent conservatives" from Rove's Big Tent, we will not only weaken the monstrous, undead thing called neoconservatism, but we may even (to our own surprise) gain new friends.
Neighbors we can argue and negotiate with sensibly, like adults.
Indeed, possibly fellow citizens who (though conservative) may have a good idea or two.
======================================
I'll post more in the future.
Some really great political writing there.
Here's a paper I thought was interesting.
I think I can sum up the essence in this sentence.
"Conservatives can't save themselves - we have to reach out to them to end the culture war.".
==================
How It Will Take ALL Decent Americans To Restore Decency To America
By David Brin, Ph.D.
Copyright © 2007. All rights reserved.
For some time, I've called upon moderate and liberal Americans to gather the fortitude and determination to fight for our nation's survival where it matters most.
Not by attending rallies, or going door-to-door, or energizing the base, or hanging around like-minded people, or posting livid screeds, or even sending cash to your favorite candidate. Those are all fine things. But they miss the most important fact -- and opportunity -- about this crucial election cycle.
Today's critical issue has nothing to do with the outdated so-called "left-right" political axis.
With the very survival of Constitutional government and the American Experiment at stake, we cannot afford to leave this to simpleminded partisanship.
Our opportunity -- and obligation -- is to rip open Karl Rove's "big tent conservative coalition." To pry it apart -- one person at a time -- by approaching millions of decent fellow citizens who were duped into supporting a criminal gang. One person at a time.
What? Am I really suggesting we should reach out to... conservatives?
Well, yes... some of them. Absolutely. Indeed, this is the only possible way to win an overwhelming victory. Not for liberals or Democrats or even moderates. But for America.
Ponder this absolute lesson of history.
The surest way to achieve success -- in war or peace or politics --- is to break up your foe's alliance. To strip away his supporters. In this case, by showing some of them that they're more at home in our Big Tent. At least this time around.
At least long enough to save America.
Yes, I know this will be hard. It can feel so satisfying to demonize others with a single, strawman image. (Don't they do it to us?) Alas, though, it is also self-indulgent and stupid.
Suppose we could succeed in shattering Rove's coalition, would that not be worth applying a little nuance to our oversimplified stereotype of "conservatives"?
The potential benefit? It would not only end the Bush era in a landslide, we might also permanently discredit the neoconservative "revolution" and help to end the bitter, artificial Culture War that was deliberately concocted to tear our country apart.
That final point is crucial. For, if Culture War continues, even after a Democratic victory, then any Hillary Clinton presidency (for example) will be ashes in our mouths.
Sure, law and openness and respect for truth will return. Great. But we will also endure nothing less than a bitter resumption of the regional gatreds that sparked American Civil War.
Not her fault, you say? You say that "culture war" was foisted on us by cynical manipulators? So? We'll still be consigned to another four or eight years of living hell. Think Whitewater and Monica... multiplied by a hundred.
We don't just need victory for one electoral side, kicking out a set of bums. We need a victory for the very concept of decency and openness and accountability. And, for that to happen there must be a seismic change on the right.
The dream we should hold out to our neighbors is the restoration of a conservatism that is worth talking to. A version no longer tied to jibbering loonies and an outright criminal gang.
If we reach out and steal "decent conservatives" from Rove's Big Tent, we will not only weaken the monstrous, undead thing called neoconservatism, but we may even (to our own surprise) gain new friends.
Neighbors we can argue and negotiate with sensibly, like adults.
Indeed, possibly fellow citizens who (though conservative) may have a good idea or two.
======================================
I'll post more in the future.