The Vanishing Republican Voter

[dkf]

In a must-read New York Times Magazine piece, former Bush speechwriter David Frum sounds the sirens for the Republican party.

"My fellow conservatives and Republicans have tended not to worry very much about the widening of income inequalities. As long as there exists equality of opportunity -- as long as everybody's income is rising -- who cares if some people get rich faster than others? Societies that try too hard to enforce equality deny important freedoms and inhibit wealth-creating enterprise. Individuals who worry overmuch about inequality can succumb to life-distorting envy and resentment."

"All true! But something else is true, too: As America becomes more unequal, it also becomes less Republican. The trends we have dismissed are ending by devouring us."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/09/06/the_vanishing_republican_voter.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/magazine/07Inequality-t.html?_r=2&ref=magazine&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

[bluestateguy]

1. It is is a very good, well-written article

He makes sound points about Virginia and the Democrats improving prospects with affluent suburbanites.

[dkf]

2. This part is verrry interesting.

"What the middle class needs most is not lower income taxes but a slowdown in the soaring inflation of health-care costs. If health-insurance costs had risen 50 percent rather than 100 percent over the Bush years, middle-income voters would have enjoyed a pay raise instead of enduring wage stagnation."

Why isn't Obama pointing this out?

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

3. what gets me is that these selfish people don't seem to understand

that socialized health care would go along way to create equality in that income gap - not just on a personal level, but it would help maintain good middle class wage paying jobs. Its like they would rather see America completely destroyed before admitting that any 'socialized" program would work.

It is interesting how he basically admits the republican party is for the rich elitists, and that they need to be concerned about maintaining their status.

[Stellabella]

4. Everyone's income ISN'T rising.

Yet another repuke lie.

[dkf]

5. No he acknowledges that in the piece.

He said that was the going assumption, but it isn't the case anymore.