This paragraph is straight fire! "Mic Drop" "You’re also misunderstanding why Republicans oppose equality. The GOP, more than corporate power, represents ordered power. God over Man. Men over women. Parents over children. White over black. This hierarchy is not just preferable, it’s natural. It’s God’s will. Efforts by women to be treated equally to men, for instance, are not only offensive, they’re perverse. They can’t be tolerated. In a very real sense, equality is theft to the conservative mind. And theft, as you know, is punishable by law. Nearly everything about the Republican Party’s project finds its source in defense of the hierarchy of power. Equality is not an objective worth sacrificing for. It’s a crime"
Well stated commentary as usual. It's funny how win or lose, no one demands that conservatives "reach out and understand" liberals and Democrats. It's also strange how nobody expects conservatives to empathize with people not like them or with different ideologies or backgrounds. It's so weird how conservatives are never pushed to consider the lives of people living in big cities. Yet, it's liberals and Democrats who are to be shamed and vilified for not reaching out sufficiently to care for the tender and delicate feelings of conservatives and authoritarians.
This asymmetric gaslighting that liberals and Democrats just aren't doing enough to care about people who don't care about us is simply another exercise in domination-based politics. Never forget - conservatives want to rule, not govern. Therefore, their political energy is focused entirely on control, not providing for the general welfare. It then follows that not supporting right-wing demands for submission and fascism is somehow violating the moral and social order. No expectations for conservatives to embrace and connect with liberals are necessary or justified.
It's time to go full blast on conservatives and ask a simple question: "Do you believe in democracy or do you not?". We already know the answer but let's put them on the record and on the defensive. Let's turn the tables and ask them: "Do black lives matter to you or not?". As claimants to Jesus Christ, ask them "Does 'Suffer the Children' mean make them suffer by ripping them from the arms of their parents and put them cages?". It's time for us to go on the offensive by calling them out explicitly as traitors who hate Democracy and hate America. And WE should be completely comfortable and willing to seize the mantle of democracy, truth, justice and what is truly means to be an American from these destroyers and defilers of our country.
Something to consider re my ongoing contention that Democrats are largely very poor messengers (despite having majority support for many policies they advocate). Per Frank Luntz (conservative pollster) analyzing the results of a post-election focus group: "The focus group from today said "Defund The Police" is 'crazy' and 'don't try to tell me that words don't mean what they say'. BUT "70% of participants said they support reallocating some police funding to social services". Luntz's conclusion: "Messaging matters 100%".
Theology I prefer says God is not above humanity. God is with us through and through. God is not in the punishing business. God's way is Love--not sex pleasure or enlightened self interest and not a warm feeling but unselfish, self giving love.
Also it is a waste of time to try to carry on a conversation with an admirer of the current potus. Better to give that person a cup of water, tea or coffee.
This paragraph is straight fire! "Mic Drop" "You’re also misunderstanding why Republicans oppose equality. The GOP, more than corporate power, represents ordered power. God over Man. Men over women. Parents over children. White over black. This hierarchy is not just preferable, it’s natural. It’s God’s will. Efforts by women to be treated equally to men, for instance, are not only offensive, they’re perverse. They can’t be tolerated. In a very real sense, equality is theft to the conservative mind. And theft, as you know, is punishable by law. Nearly everything about the Republican Party’s project finds its source in defense of the hierarchy of power. Equality is not an objective worth sacrificing for. It’s a crime"
Keep writing sir!
Hat tip to George Lakoff for the "strict father" framing of conservatives.
Well stated commentary as usual. It's funny how win or lose, no one demands that conservatives "reach out and understand" liberals and Democrats. It's also strange how nobody expects conservatives to empathize with people not like them or with different ideologies or backgrounds. It's so weird how conservatives are never pushed to consider the lives of people living in big cities. Yet, it's liberals and Democrats who are to be shamed and vilified for not reaching out sufficiently to care for the tender and delicate feelings of conservatives and authoritarians.
This asymmetric gaslighting that liberals and Democrats just aren't doing enough to care about people who don't care about us is simply another exercise in domination-based politics. Never forget - conservatives want to rule, not govern. Therefore, their political energy is focused entirely on control, not providing for the general welfare. It then follows that not supporting right-wing demands for submission and fascism is somehow violating the moral and social order. No expectations for conservatives to embrace and connect with liberals are necessary or justified.
It's time to go full blast on conservatives and ask a simple question: "Do you believe in democracy or do you not?". We already know the answer but let's put them on the record and on the defensive. Let's turn the tables and ask them: "Do black lives matter to you or not?". As claimants to Jesus Christ, ask them "Does 'Suffer the Children' mean make them suffer by ripping them from the arms of their parents and put them cages?". It's time for us to go on the offensive by calling them out explicitly as traitors who hate Democracy and hate America. And WE should be completely comfortable and willing to seize the mantle of democracy, truth, justice and what is truly means to be an American from these destroyers and defilers of our country.
Enough is enough: GOP DELENDA EST
Something to consider re my ongoing contention that Democrats are largely very poor messengers (despite having majority support for many policies they advocate). Per Frank Luntz (conservative pollster) analyzing the results of a post-election focus group: "The focus group from today said "Defund The Police" is 'crazy' and 'don't try to tell me that words don't mean what they say'. BUT "70% of participants said they support reallocating some police funding to social services". Luntz's conclusion: "Messaging matters 100%".
Theology I prefer says God is not above humanity. God is with us through and through. God is not in the punishing business. God's way is Love--not sex pleasure or enlightened self interest and not a warm feeling but unselfish, self giving love.
Also it is a waste of time to try to carry on a conversation with an admirer of the current potus. Better to give that person a cup of water, tea or coffee.
I love this: Better to give that person a cup of water, tea or coffee.
So well put!
the graf that begins 'You’re also misunderstanding why Republicans oppose equality...' is both on the money, and written beautifully.
Thank you!