Political extremist have operated in the far fringe of both parties and consisted of a very small number that they were more often than not ignored. Most politicians appealed to the majority of their party that were not so extreme in ideology. When we had these more rational politicians in Congress, we had better governance.
Today, things have changed on the far right wing of the Republican Party. The Libertarians, who by the way hate Liberals, even though they have some common core values, have taken over the party platform and policy statements. These wackos that want government dissolved and all laws and constitutional amendments passed since 1800 be repealed. They actually want to return to the pre-civil war era of limited federalism and tribalism of the states. They want to return to segregation of the races and cultures, again a form of tribalism.
They want companies as untouchables by government. As Republican Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann has stated about the 20 billion dollar escrow account President Obama required BP to fund in order to compensate individuals, towns and companies harmed by their massive oil spill, that it is a violation of the constitution [how?] to compensate the injured directly through this fund. To her it should be done through the tort system of the courts by having everyone file law suits against Bp and wait for the process to work its way through. As we know from the Valdez spill in Alaska in the 1980's, some victims are still waiting for compensation and many have died before their case could be heard again from all the appeals filed by Exon over the 20 plus years and further many claims were reduced by the court to such small levels that it had no benefit to the injured.
The woman running against Harry Reed in Nevada wants to use 2nd Amendment Rights to take out Harry Reed if he gets reelected, wants to privatize Social Security completely, eliminate Medicare and Medicaid, eliminate the EPA during the largest environment disaster in American history. Ran Paul who is also running for the Senate agrees with her and would repeal a section of the Civil Rights law to allow private companies to discriminate against people and races they dislike, prohibiting some individuals from entering their place of business or receiving their services, like restaurants, hotels and motels, hospitals, buses, grocery stores, doctors, pharmacies, gas stations, theaters, clothing stores, and banks; NO BLACKS or HISPANICS or GAYS ALLOWED! PLEASE - ONLY WHITE CHRISTIANS CAN ENTER!
Do we want to regress to such an unjust and horrible time in our history. Forsaking all the lives lost during the civil war? Yes, even the Confederate soldiers. Why do they think that period was a better America than what we have achieved through the past century and a half? Hollywood has glamorized the 19th century, but it was anything but glamorous. Only white males who owned property could vote. Women had limited rights and power. Most blacks were slaves. The nation's wealth was held by just a few wealthy families. Corporations were exploiting their employees for profit and thousand died because of dangerous working conditions. Roads were few and barely passable, sewer ran in the streets, water was undrinkable and the stench of trash rotting in the streets was unbearable. In the west men carried guns on their hips and used vigilante justice, that sometimes killed the wrong person who was accused of some wrong doing, not necessarily breaking a law. Is that the America they want to return to?
They probably would not be noticed, except that Rupert Murdock and his Fox News Network flames the hate and distrust of government by this fringe group. In prior periods, the press gave very little notice to this wacko group, so they had very little power. But today with FOX giving them plenty of press, they are gaining power, just see how traditional Republicans are changing their positions and becoming hardcore libertarians to appeal to this fringe group. Rush was not much more than a wacko talk radio host. Today he is the defacto leader of the Republican Party. Glenn Beck of FOX news is his assistant in controlling the party's platform. How can two media hosts become so powerful in a political party? Why do the senior politicians of the Republican Party allow them to dictate the party platform?
All I can say is that November will be most interesting and terrifying at the same time; should more wackos be elected into office. Canada here I come...
No comments:
Post a Comment