For many years, Democrats have appeared to be on the losing side of politics. Certainly, the media gives us that impression. The media is great at Republican talking points but generally ignores the Democratic perspective. There are many reasons why this happened. It began with Ronald Reagan. There were many Ronald Reagan Democrats who rallied to his side. Many people think that they were disappointed with Jimmy Carter. For some, that might have been the case, but for most people it was about their pocketbooks. The recession that began during Nixon's presidency had taken its toll on many people in America. The gas wars during Jimmy Carter's presidency angered Americans. It just didn't make any sense to most people what was going on. Of course, the Iranian hostage crisis negated President Carter's ability to lead in most people's minds. Americans tend to think that we are infallible and can overcome any situation. It just didn't work out that way.
But, back to Reagan. Reagan had the Reagan Democrats, the religious right, and the fiscal conservatives on his side. This was no accident. The fiscal conservatives wanted tax cuts, and Ronald Reagan promissed that to the public. Jimmy Carter wanted the country to pay down the debt which did not appeal to most people. So, Ronald Reagan won and the notion that tax cuts will cure all that ails us has lived on in infamy. Of course, the tax cuts didn't work. Even President Reagan held the line on tax cuts in his second term because he admitted that it wasn't trickling down to the middle class as it was promissed to do. George Herbert Walker Bush referred to Reagan's economic policies as voodoo economics. The middle class voted for G.H.W. Bush in 1988. Many admitted that they held their noses but Dukakis didn't offer an alternative that the voters could sink their teeth into. Besides, George Herbert Walker Bush promissed "No New Taxes." That was enough to convince the voters. Well, GHWB raised the taxes because the country was deeply in debt and the tax cuts weren't working.
Then came William Jefferson Clinton. The country was ready for this guy. He offered a new way of doing business. He appealed to the middle class by claiming that those who work hard and play by the rules would be given a fair shake. Bill Clinton was the only president in the past twenty years to forward balanced budgets to Congress, improve the welfare program so that only those with children qualify, and managed the military problem of gays by instituting the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy. The budget was in a surplus when he handed it to George Walker Bush. Welfare is now limited to 60 months for each recipient. The clock runs out. This appealed to conservatives who never met a welfare scheme that they liked. The "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy is a disaster. There have been more gays and lesbians discharged under this policy than before. Many gays and lesbians are trapped into telling on themselves with a "gotcha" type of maneuver that forces them to reveal their relationships.
Well, here we are under George Walker Bush. We are spending over three trillion dollars per year on war and a few projects to assist the infrastructure but by no means adequate. We are trapped in a quagmire in Iraq. Colin Powell had it right when he pointed out that if we bombed them we would own them. We own them and the responsibility that comes with that is more than the American people can stomach. We are in debt up to our ears. This makes the voters uncomfortable. We have a serious health care crisis in this country. It is almost impossible to get a doctor's appointment within a couple of weeks as we once enjoyed. Appointments have to be booked months in advance because the doctors are stretched too thin. The insurance companies have made things this way. George Walker Bush offers nothing to the American public with respect to this problem. He can but won't. It doesn't fit into his philosophy.
So, now the Democrats are at a turning point. They can win with a clear strategy for managing Iraq, the debt, healthcare and middle class tax cuts. Let's face it, it won't happen with the Republicans. They did not deliver. It is now up to the Democrats. Will they deliver? That is the real question. Will the American voters give the Democrats a chance since they are so disillusioned by the Republicans. This is an historic opportunity for the Democratic principles to work. Congress has a slim majority and will regain a few more seats next year. A Democratic president would more than likely address the problems mentioned above. Can they come through? Time will tell.
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Comments: 33
While I realized the above is not directly related to the purpose of this article I think it probably is indicative of why they spend so much time on Republican talking points. Many members of the media have a personal vested interest in news that is not that relevant to the daily lives of most of the population.
As for the next election giving the Democrats enough of a majority so that the lack of Republican cooperation and the defection of a couple of Democrats is not a matter of great concern to legislative leaders, I have my doubts. The fact that the 2006 elections gave Democrats only nominal control of Congress is too frequently overlooked by the media in reporting of legislative happenings.
"The media is great at Republican talking points but generally ignores the Democratic perspective. There are many reasons why this happened. It began with Ronald Reagan."
In 1987, I believe, republicans let the Fairness Doctrine sunset. This paved the way for the rightwing to begin dominating the media, starting with AM radio, which, at the time, was basically a dead format. They brilliantly created a nationwide network to disperse their misinformation and propaganda through that medium. Limbaugh became syndicated nationwide almost overnight, not because everyone was clamoring to hear him, but because Clear Channel had a brilliant marketing ploy. They offered the programming for free, in exchange for ad revenue. AM stations that had basically non-existent audience and programming jumped at the chance to have a nationally syndicated program.
The right wing further solidified this dominance of media by labeling anyone who criticized them publicly as being part of the "liberal media establishment." This ensured that few would bring forth negative comments about republicans, and that those who did would pay dearly for doing so.
Finally, they've made heavy use of a vast think tank operation, which distributes daily talking points that are parroted throughout the rightwing media punditry. This technique was exposed in the documentary "Outfoxed." There was a very interesting part of that movie where Greenwald showed clips and articles from several different media outlets, with pundits repeating the exact same verbiage, as if they'd been given commands to do so. Of course, they had been.
Reagan implemented the neocon utopian economy that Milton Friedman dreamed up. It's a miserable failure, obviously, to all but the very top earners. A million or so people benefit tremendously from it, and everyone else suffers because of it. It's an abomination. Not surprisingly, this economic system collapsed both Chili and Argentia's economies. The only reason ours is still standing is because it is such a vast, expansive, diversified economy. That has shifted dramatically over the course of the past few decades, however, as manufacturing has shifted overseas. We are in grave danger of becoming a third world debtor nation, as a direct result of neoconomics.
As for welfare, it's only safe to say that republicans abhor only welfare that goes to the truly needy. They can't get enough corporate welfare, that serves to fatten the wallets of the exceedingly wealthy. Both parties have their spending habits. The key differences are that democrats pay for what they buy, and their spending is targeted towards the betterment of society as a whole, rather than to the benefit of a tiny percentage of silver spooners.
(wonderful article !!!!)
It's Orwellian, which is pretty much the trademark of the neocon propaganda delivery.
"It's Orwellian..."
Exactly! Re-write, repeat. Over and over.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
(Excellent Joe)!
(clap clap clap)
It is sad that we have gone from being a country that is admired to one that is embarrassing. We used to be number one in so many areas--education, healthcare, sciences--but not anymore. We are number 40 in the world in healthcare. People die here younger than in other European countries.
We have a country where the middle class is quickly moving downward into the low-income class while the rich are growing richer (along with corporate America) and the gap is growing larger between the rich and middle class.
Our environment has suffered in the hands of the present administration. We are the second largest polluter in the world as a country. Bush did his best to squelch the scientific research on global warming, even to the point of telling the scientists to lie.
We've been lied to by Bush himself and our Constitution has been ignored. Our values have been turned upside down and now torture is acceptable (although we are told that it doesn't happen). I pray that a Democrat will be elected because the Republicans (hypocrits that they are) have done more to hurt this country than Democrats ever have. And I pray that whoever is elected will have the courage to make the changes necessary.
Ten unsolicited points from the world's worst connection. Merry whatever you celebrate!
Ron W.,
You are not the world's worst connection (okay - maybe the second most world's worst connection!) Hahahahaha.
I've only recently started paying attention to politics and wish I'd started sooner. But it seems to me that both parties have had their faults over the years and both parties blame the other FOR those faults. I'm not sure there's REALLY any difference between the two anymore. I mean, is it REALLY going to matter to the average guy on the street, just tryin' to find a job that actually pays a wage one can live on? That's where I am right now and NEITHER party has said much that makes me feel good about voting for them.
Clinton "forwarded" a balanced budget but what party headed the congress and took fierce opposition to the contract with America? He signed the republican lead bill and for that I give him credit.
I also give him credit for signing the republican welfare reform bill even though he vetoed it twice before. Thank God for election years as he was forced to then sign it which helped him win a second term.
The "don't ask don't tell" was not Clinton's idea. It was plan B and a retraction from Clinton's idea. Remember?
I can understand you disgruntled attitude towards media. Although they heavily favor democrat ideals they still can't bring themselves to outright lie. Sucks to be a democrat.
On April 18, 1977 Jimmy Carter Delivered This Speech On Energy
Or could be send billions to foreign countries? Or may it be arming countries with nuclear weapons? Unconstitutional if you ask me.
About taking care of the old and the young, the most vulnerable among us? Is that socialism? Or better education, or have bridges that do not fall apart, or maybe training for the those who want to work? Is that socialism or social responsibility?