A look at the W. VA situation: Uncommon Sense.The Cult of the Unborn.

[madfloridian]

This is very perceptive article, but it just is so discouraging. It is discussion of the Southern Strategy, and how well it has worked in West Virginia.

http://www.onlinejournal.com/Commentary/102304Hasty/102304hasty.html

SNIP..."October 23, 2004—Living in West Virginia, the strap end of the Bible Belt and one of the lesser battleground states in the current presidential contest, it is increasingly obvious that the dominant political issue here—and the primary reason that the Democratic Party's historical control of the state's political system, from local governments to federal offices, is, after decades, loosening—is abortion.

SNIP..."There are a number of explanations for why the Republican "Southern strategy," which has been so successful in turning the once solidly Democratic South into a reliable GOP bastion, has taken so long to establish a beachhead in West Virginia. Among them: an aging population with bitter memories of Herbert Hoover and positive memories of Franklin Roosevelt; persistent Appalachian poverty..."

SNIP..."This is the West Virginia version of the encroachment of Republican wedge-issue populism documented by social critic Tom Franks in his book, "What's the Matter with Kansas?" (A recent article in Le Monde, "What's the Matter with West Virginia?" borrowed Franks' title to cover this subject locally.) Just as in other rural areas, where global economic changes have destroyed traditional economies, the political ideology Howard Dean famously narrowed down to "God, guns, and gays," is increasingly dominant in West Virginia, where even Democrats have endorsed posting the Ten Commandments in public schools.

Strong hunting and military traditions, the middle element in Dean's formula, has been central to the West Virginia character since the days of the pioneers. But these traditions, which encourage identification with the Republican/NRA agenda, naturally appeal more to males than to females..."

SNIP..."The most important thing to remember about religious fundamentalists is that they have, by definition, already surrendered their critical thinking powers. Their creed is, "God said it, and I believe it." They are, as Consortium News Editor Robert Parry recently noted, "beyond reason."

They are also beyond facts..."

SNIP..."Like a reverse image of the left, who can't understand how anyone could possibly vote for a guy who has lied America into war, shredded the Constitution, and handed our planetary future over to the care of Big Oil, fundamentalists are driven to fanatic apoplexy by what they see as America's cruel indifference to the Herod-like mass murder of innocent "babies." END SNIP

This is a long article, but a good critique of how something like this can happen because of economic realities. It will not be easy changing things, either. I saw it when our churches here supported the war as a struggle of good and evil. I had not even known it was happening.

[rockymountaindem]

1. What we need is a protracted ad campaign

explaining calmly and reasonably to the American people that there will always be legal abortion in the United States, and that even if abortion were illegal, it wouldn't stop people from getting them. Then we should explain that if they want to stop people from getting abortions, they should convince people not to get them! Lastly, it would be nice if we could show them that voting on that issue (where they will never win) is just throwing their vote away.

[deadparrot]

2. And suggest education about, and access to, contraceptives., eom

[bloom]

4. I enjoyed seeing Russet

trying to get the Senator running in SC to say answer who would be prosecuted if abortion were made illegal. He wouldn't answer.


I heard a snip that someone may be advocating the death penalty?!? :argh:



"Then we should explain that if they want to stop people from getting abortions, they should convince people not to get them!"

that's what I think too...

[farmbo]

3. Our dirty little secret: We can win the presidency without W. Va...

But Bush CANNOT win the presidency without Ohio or Pennsylvania. So let Rove have his way with 'em.

I think the difference between these neighboring states is the presence of major metropolitan centers. Charleston, Wheeling and Huntington are fun towns, but they don't offer progressives in the numbers of, say, Cleveland Pittsburgh, Philly and Columbus.

These metro areas cancel out a lot of votes of the single-issue self-righteous Rovian dupes.

Great article though...thanks for posting.

[madfloridian]

5. Well, I fear much of the same mindset exists in many places.

Someday we will have to deal with it.

[neebob]

6. That's an interesting article

I'd have liked more specifics on this multi-pronged strategy that begins with an attack on the Republican base's psycho/religious intellectual foundation. I can't even imagine what that might involve.

If I've learned one thing with my mom, it's that attacking someone's belief system provokes a violent response. I didn't set out to attack it and wouldn't call it that, and I don't mean literally violent, but I think I've cracked that psycho/religious intellectual foundation - and my mother doesn't want to talk to me anymore. You'd have to know her to realize how big that is.

Multiply that by all the people who hold similar and even more irrational beliefs, and they've got their Armageddon.

My mom isn't nearly as fundy as it gets. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd say she's about a 7-1/2, maybe an 8. I'm trying to imagine what she might think upon reading the line about the attack on the foundation. I'm sure the author thinks it sounds quite logical and reasonable. My mom would say he's evil, just like that horrible John Kerry ... if he's elected, you know, it'll be one big abortion festival.

She wouldn't agree that she's taken a flight, either, or that her religiosity its irrational or dangerous or ignorant.

You're right, changing things will not be easy. I don't think it's possible.