nice post, tony.  good stuff to think about.

norm

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Tony Abdo wrote:
>
> I hope that people took the time to read the article by Terry Teachout
> in the current issue of ..Commentary.. that Michael directed us to.
> It is a worthwhile read.       Where lies the cultural divide?
>
> I stressed the regional component... along with the  older big city vs.
> suburb aspect.     Many others, such as the Workers World/ international
> Action Center, plus the Congresssioanl Black Caucus, have stressed the
> racial/ racism element involved.
>
> One could even focus attention on differences in child raising, and how
> the two camps view 'The Poor'.      The Right considers 'The Poor' to be
> delinquent children spoiled by 'liberalism'.     And the 'liberals' see
> 'The Poor' as chidren that have been abused by to much out of control
> spanking.
>
> I would contend that Race, Class, Region, and Religion are all elements
> in the counter-positions of the Cultural War.     They are all elements
> that overlap and compound.     The key modern component that
> superimposes itself over the older regional North/ South barricades is
> the Kar Kulture.     The car has become the key arm used by The Right
> against the traditional strongholds of The Left, the big manufacturing
> centers of the past.     The car created the highway that then created
> the suburb, now the new stronghold of The Right.
>
> Ohio is a good example of this.     Liberals and Leftists think of Ohio
> as being Cleveland and a group of smaller sized cities.      But Ohio is
> in reality a gigantic spotting of suburbs and slurbs.     Bush won the
> state in these areas, areas where Ronald McDonald playgrounds provide
> the recreational areas for small children, and culture is a Blockbuster
> rental.      Shopping Walmart is replacing Bingo and church.
>
> One can see the counter enclaves of the 2 sides.      Austin, Texas is a
> Northern enclave in Texas.     And it is seen in that light by The
> Right.     Suburbs of Dayton, Akron, Indianapolis...... and even those
> surrounding Wash, DC and NYC are cancerous Southern Cultural enclaves,
> that are incorporate the style of areas like Jacksonville,
> Florida.....say.
>
> What I am saying (as is Commentary) is nothing revolutionary or new.
> It is just that the election highlighted it for all to see and think
> about.      And liberals and Leftists as a whole don't want to think
> about it.      An example is how the Labor Movement has just put off
> totally,  the idea of trying to organize Texas!      Maybe my state will
> just drop off the face of the map?!
>
> Any war where one side timidly only is willing to engage in the
> defensive action, is a war in the process of being lost by that very
> same side.     Has the US Left become a sad reflection of Al Gore?
> Hell no, Al won't fight!     The Republicans trumped 'triangulation'!
> Haven't the US unions been trying to 'triangulate' their survival?
>
> It won't work.
>
> Tony