What puddle said! I had better get a move on to work soon, hopefully I won't be very late getting home. Daughter*artist arrived yesterday--good weather and traffic not heavy. Thought I would share this article I read last night.
Why America is Moving Left [Click] A rather long read from The Atlantic that gets me wondering if I have not seen the forest for the trees.
The bottom line, I think, is that Millenials -- even those who self-identify as Republican -- are mostly liberal. What struck me was the argument that people don't grow more conservative as they grow older. He argues that people's views are set by the political climate when they come of age. People who were in their 20s during the Reagan era were conservative then and are conservative now. But the contrast he draws is between Millenials and people over 65 -- people who were mostly in their 20s during the 50s and 60s. The 60s, at least, are not usually regarded as a period when young people were politically conservative.
I hadn't consciously realized just how party-line driven politics was for much of the period before the War Between the States. That was before my time, of course. (Yes, it was!) But I'm not sure about this "four-party system." In some ways it looked more like there were 535 parties on Capitol Hil. I, and many other Americans, remember that time with nostalgia. As the author says (although not quite so explicitly) Congresscritters knew the only way to get their own agenda passed was to scratch others' backs. And by and large, the system worked.
My pleasure. Not sure how much of either to agree with, but they both struck me as food for thought.
Trying my new reading glasses--they are going to take some getting used to... and I wasn't careful about choosing the frames. Well, I will know better next time.
Those articles make me think of the analysis of middle-aged white death rates increasing in the US that I posted a link to a while back, that linked it to the loss of white social privilege. Hmmmmm.....here it is. [Click] I have a feeling that there quite a few people who are on the losing end of current social trends, know it, and are not going to go quietly into the night. Antisocial and self-destructive behaviors are to be expected in such case. I expect that our society can absorb and contain them, but there will be repeated unpleasantries.
Actually, the main redeeming feature I can see in an HRC presidency is that it would probably set the hair of various obnoxious folks on fire...but that is plain contrariness on my part.
DEAN!
ReplyDeleteHeaded to family time! May not be able to post again until Sunday…we'll see.
But do, all, have a lovely time welcoming Christmas! ☆
Traveling mercies! And do have a lovely time wit' da grands!!
ReplyDeleteWhat puddle said! I had better get a move on to work soon, hopefully I won't be very late getting home. Daughter*artist arrived yesterday--good weather and traffic not heavy. Thought I would share this article I read last night.
ReplyDeleteWhy America is Moving Left [Click] A rather long read from The Atlantic that gets me wondering if I have not seen the forest for the trees.
--Alan
The bottom line, I think, is that Millenials -- even those who self-identify as Republican -- are mostly liberal. What struck me was the argument that people don't grow more conservative as they grow older. He argues that people's views are set by the political climate when they come of age. People who were in their 20s during the Reagan era were conservative then and are conservative now. But the contrast he draws is between Millenials and people over 65 -- people who were mostly in their 20s during the 50s and 60s. The 60s, at least, are not usually regarded as a period when young people were politically conservative.
DeleteHmmmm…. here’s another think piece about what is or may be happening to our politics:
ReplyDeletePolitical Party Meltdown [Click] The strategists who wanted greater ideological purity may have gotten more than they bargained for.
By KEVIN BAKER, New York Times , Dec. 19, 2015
—Alan
I hadn't consciously realized just how party-line driven politics was for much of the period before the War Between the States. That was before my time, of course. (Yes, it was!) But I'm not sure about this "four-party system." In some ways it looked more like there were 535 parties on Capitol Hil. I, and many other Americans, remember that time with nostalgia. As the author says (although not quite so explicitly) Congresscritters knew the only way to get their own agenda passed was to scratch others' backs. And by and large, the system worked.
DeleteOooh1 That's a couple of very fine links, Alan. Thank you!!! xox
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. Not sure how much of either to agree with, but they both struck me as food for thought.
DeleteTrying my new reading glasses--they are going to take some getting used to... and I wasn't careful about choosing the frames. Well, I will know better next time.
Alan
Those articles make me think of the analysis of middle-aged white death rates increasing in the US that I posted a link to a while back, that linked it to the loss of white social privilege. Hmmmmm.....here it is. [Click] I have a feeling that there quite a few people who are on the losing end of current social trends, know it, and are not going to go quietly into the night. Antisocial and self-destructive behaviors are to be expected in such case. I expect that our society can absorb and contain them, but there will be repeated unpleasantries.
ReplyDelete--Alan
Actually, the main redeeming feature I can see in an HRC presidency is that it would probably set the hair of various obnoxious folks on fire...but that is plain contrariness on my part.
Delete--Alan
May be, but it's occurred to me, also, lol!
DeletePass the popcorn.
Delete--Alan