The Know-Nothings Ride Again

[marmar]

from Consortium News:



The Know-Nothings Ride Again
August 11, 2012

In 2012, the political descendants of America’s Know-Nothings demonstrated that they had seized control of the Republican Party, which for much of the past six decades has held the White House and looks to reclaim that immense power again, as Lawrence Davidson explains.

By Lawrence Davidson


There is a universal phenomenon that I call natural localism. The majority of people, wherever they might live, are affected by this condition. It results in limited knowledge – knowledge about what is local but ignorance (often breeding fear) about what is not local. Unless countered by positive education and tolerance, natural localism can result in aggressive behavior toward the unfamiliar.

In the year 1849, natural localism was institutionalized in a small nativist party in the United States called The American Party. It was basically an anti-immigrant affair with these white male Americans (overwhelmingly Protestant) ignorant and fearful of outsiders, such as Catholic immigrants of all nationalities, undermining the true character of the U.S. The party was influential for a short time, particularly in the Northeastern states, electing candidates to local office throughout the region.

Appropriately enough, adherents to the American Party came to be called “Know-Nothings.” There were two reasons for this: On one hand, party members tended to be secretive about their political affiliations, giving their party a strong conspiratorial flavor.

When asked about the activities of the American Party they would reply, “I know nothing.” On the other hand, they really did know almost nothing of the groups that exercised their passions. They thought all Catholics were under the complete command of the Pope, like religious zombies. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://consortiumnews.com/2012/08/11/the-know-nothings-ride-again/

[AnotherMcIntosh]

1. Were the Know-Nothings in favor of shipping jobs to foreign countries like Bush I and

Republican supporters of NAFTA and other job-transferring "free-trade" agreements? Would they have been in favor of the additional and expanding job-transferring "free-trade" agreements?

Were the Know-Nothings in favor of giving amnesty to illegal aliens like Ronald Reagan and the Republican supporters who did so? Would they have been in favor of granting additional amnesty to illegal aliens up to the present after Reagan did so?

Were the Know-Nothings in favor of endless wars in the Middle-East or anywhere else outside of the country? Is there anything in their history to show a desire for foreign adventures to benefit those who profit by such wars? Would they have believed the nonsense that a war in Iraq would pay for itself?

Were the Know-Nothings in favor of supporting international corporations and international banks? Would they have been in favor of bailing out banksters and international banks with American assets and credit on any grounds?

What is the underlying characteristic of the Know-Nothings from the mid-1980's? They favored Americans over foreigners. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing, they favored Americans over foreigners.

There are no facts to support the statement that "In 2012, the political descendants of America’s Know-Nothings demonstrated that they had seized control of the Republican Party."

If anything, those who have seized control of the Republican Party are internationalists. Although they oppose giving open amnesty to illegal aliens, they favor the hiring of foreign H-1B workers. Although they oppose safety nets like Social Security and Medicare, they favor safety nets for international corporations and international banksters.

Neither the Republicans nor the leadership within the Democratic Party are political descendants of America’s Know-Nothings.

[agent zero]

2. American jobs are for American people. There's nothing wrong with standing up for that.

I can't stand it when people apologize for those who come here to take our jobs.