The delicious taste of needless strife
It's getting absolutely crazy south of the border. Apparently related to the heated debate over immigration "reform", we have schools not letting kids wear clothing that "express patriotism", and we have kids that actually say stuff like:
This kind of polarization is a natural result of the conscious decision of the Republican policy of winning elections by using wedge issues to tear apart the electorate. How it works is simple - take an issue that can be used to divide people, make the division wider by appealing to patriotism, religion, family, whatever, and then start the name-calling on either side. The fact that 24-hour news networks love shit like this makes it easier, because it provides a steady stream of broadcast material and the illusion of news. Or, to rephrase Jon Sterwart: the delicious taste of needless strife.
Injecting religion into the argument is especially useful in making the wedges self-propagating. If you do it right, and belive me, Karl Rove can do it right, you don't even need to kickstart new wedges - you can ride in on a white horse at the eleventh hour and try to save the day, like the pathetic Terri Schiavo affair a year ago.
That it works is obvious - the Republicans have dominated both houses and all presidential elections since about 1996.
And don't think that the Canadian politics is immune to this kind of politicking.
"It upsets me that we cannot support our troops -- the military," said Kirsten Golgart, an eighth grader who was told she'd be suspended if she didn't change her clothes. "We can't support our country. If we're American, I think we should be proud to be an American."As if supporting your troops is a necessary pre-requisite for being proud of your country.
This kind of polarization is a natural result of the conscious decision of the Republican policy of winning elections by using wedge issues to tear apart the electorate. How it works is simple - take an issue that can be used to divide people, make the division wider by appealing to patriotism, religion, family, whatever, and then start the name-calling on either side. The fact that 24-hour news networks love shit like this makes it easier, because it provides a steady stream of broadcast material and the illusion of news. Or, to rephrase Jon Sterwart: the delicious taste of needless strife.
Injecting religion into the argument is especially useful in making the wedges self-propagating. If you do it right, and belive me, Karl Rove can do it right, you don't even need to kickstart new wedges - you can ride in on a white horse at the eleventh hour and try to save the day, like the pathetic Terri Schiavo affair a year ago.
That it works is obvious - the Republicans have dominated both houses and all presidential elections since about 1996.
And don't think that the Canadian politics is immune to this kind of politicking.
Why don't you tell the rest of the story . . . .
SAN DIEGO—In the wake of last week’s immigration-reform protests, one school district is taking drastic measures, banning all symbols of patriotism, both U.S. and Mexican.
Beginning Monday, the Oceanside Unified School District is banning all flags and patriotic clothing. According to school officials, some students are using the garments and flags to taunt classmates.
Some critics of the move are calling it a violation of free speech protections guaranteed by the Constitution.
[...] Keith Brentlinger displays the U.S. flag outside Hatter, Williams and Purdy, his Oceanside business.
“To me, it’s everything,” said Brentlinger “I mean, like I said—we truly live in the greatest country in the world.”
Brentlinger said he was shocked on Tuesday when marching immigration-reform protesters tore down the flag outside his business.
“Some of them just grabbed the flag, and pulled it off its aluminum pole, and it got ripped,” said Brentlinger.
I WOULD BET THIS IS A LIBERAL SCHOOL BOARD, LOONEY LEFTY TEACHERS IN THE WHACKEY STATE OF CALIFORNIA!!!
To equate this to Bush/Republicans is dishonest, ignorant and sooooo Liberal
Posted by
Anonymous |
Wed Apr 05, 03:00:00 PM
X,
You've misunderstood the point of my post. I'm not defending anything the school board in Colorado (that's the example in the link I supplied) did. It was what must be a "liberal" school board, as you put it. It is absolutely a violation of free speech and I didn't say otherwise.
My point is that Karl Rove and his crowd have actively pursued wedge politics and it has lead to the polarization of the electorate to such an extent that it is impossible to talk about anything important anymore without people hurling insults back and forth.
Like say "dishonest" and "ignorant". Thanks for demonstrating my point.
Posted by
Anonymous |
Wed Apr 05, 03:18:00 PM