General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMy LTTE printed yesterday
What I sent in on May 4:
Republican Party spokesmen, Paul Ryan and Cliven Bundy, have a lot in common. Both chose to be born into wealthy families and have never faced food or housing insecurity, making both experts on poverty. Both were the darlings of Fox News. Their pronouncements on society are also very similar. If you replace Bundy's "the Negro" with "culture of entitlement" it sounds just like Paul Ryan's rationale for cutting food stamps, unemployment benefits, Social Security, etc.
Both are following Lee Atwater's "southern strategy" for convincing working class people that the enemy is other working class people, not the corporations and the wealthy. But Bundy has not kept up on his euphemisms. "The Negro" was replaced a long time ago by "states' rights" then "forced busing", then "law and order" then "welfare queens" then "Willie Horton", etc. Of course now, in case "culture of entitlement" is not a loud enough dog whistle, all a conservative need do is attach Obama- to anything to drum up opposition.
It has gotten to the point where working class people are actually taking up arms to protect wealthy deadbeats. These brave souls were planning to use unarmed women as human shields in case the Feds started anything. I am sure the Minutemen of Concord used the same tactic against the British in 1775.
The edited version that was printed May 11. I wish they had left it alone.
http://registerguard.com/rg/opinion/31554269-78/district-budget-eugene-homeless-teachers.html.csp#
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy have a lot in common. Both were born into wealthy families and never faced food or housing insecurity, making them experts on poverty. Both were the darlings of Fox News and their pronouncements on society are very similar.
If you replace Bundys the Negro with culture of entitlement, it sounds like Ryans rationale for cutting food stamps, unemployment benefits, Social Security, etc.
Both follow Lee Atwaters Southern strategy of convincing working-class people that the enemy is other working-class people, not corporations and the wealthy.
But Bundy hasnt kept up on his euphemisms. The Negro was replaced a long time ago by states rights, then forced busing, then law and order, then welfare queens, etc.
Now, if culture of entitlement isnt a loud enough dog whistle, all a conservative need do is attach the word Obama to drum up opposition.
Its gotten to the point where working-class people are taking up arms to protect wealthy deadbeats. Those brave souls planned to use unarmed women as human shields. Im sure the Minutemen used the same tactic against the British at Concord in 1775.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)LTTEs reach far more people than posts at DU.
KUDOS for the activism!
seveneyes
(4,631 posts)If it was actually possible, I imagine many people would choose the same.
central scrutinizer
(11,648 posts)because I am so sick of people who dismiss the poor as "making bad choices". Which absolves them of any responsibility or humanity.
seveneyes
(4,631 posts)My (ironic) point was that nobody gets to choose the parents they are born to. Maybe in the far distant future....
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)And even in the edited version, your point got across quite well!
Thank you for speaking up!