Anyone else feel this way??

[skooooo]

I feel like the center of the country is definitely moving to the left - with increasing momentum. We're in a political and economic environment that breeds discontent and more radical thinking. Maybe on the surface Obama's agenda doesn't look as radical as some would like, but I think that's because the left has learned to frame things better.

Actually, I read an editorial on this idea today. I can't remember who wrote it. The gist of it was that author's response to accusations of "socialism," was to point out that the direction Obama wants to go in is not toward socialism, but viable capitalism. It just so happens that "viable capitalism" only happens when government controls, or encourages fairness.

I guess that can be a bad things as well. But after 20 years of muddling toward mediocrity, and another 8 years racing to virtual ruin, maybe MAYBE Americans are ready for change for the better, change that benefits the common person.

You can hear it in the things the media aren't saying...the anger out there.

Well these are just some random thoughts I wanted to throw out.

:shrug:

[RufusEarl]

1. Encouraging fairness is always a good idea,

and it's been lacking in our country for too many years. I think the the general population is ready for some fairness, and that requires progressive thinking.. So i agree with your observations.....

Peace!

[quaker bill]

2. It is likely

The people have tried the rightwing approach over and over. They did so believing it would work, and many worked fairly ardently at it. The approach failed miserably and the vast majority know it. The death and dying of an idea is a process much like any other bereavement process. There is the denial, the arguing, the rationalizing, the bargaining, and finally capitulation and acceptance. We are approaching the latter stages of the process for many, however, we have yet to reach the point of capitulation for many, and some few will never adjust.

The beauty of the Brush Lintballs thing is that it is just a longer viewing at the casket. It allows more time to fully grasp the true passing of that once so deeply cared for. The grave has yet to be backfilled, graded and the sod replaced, but this comes next. Then we move on.

Once capitulation is reached and the ideas are understood as fully dead, there will be a need and call for new ideas. Ideas farther to the right lie out there, but offer little new as most were fully consumed in the conflagration that was GWB. Ideas to the left will seem as untrodden terrain worthy of exploration by a great many. Thus the pendulum will swing again. At this point, I would be more cautious of an overshoot to the left than I would be concerned about a turn to the right.

[rurallib]

3. We still have a long way to go to get it back to where it was before Reagan

The RW media has moved the center so far to the right that going back to just crazy seems a relief.
Remember that Dick Nixon talked about universal health care, did open relations with China, suggested an annual minimum income and did sign title IX that called for gender equity in publicly supported institutions. And he was right of center at the time.

[BuyingThyme]

4. Yes, definitely.

[notesdev]

5. Nothing is viable

without people telling the truth.

Right now we have a culture of liars and cheats and frauds and for some perverse reason all that is admired (as long as they get away with it).

Until that changes it won't matter a damn what ideology or form of government is adopted, this country will be in the shitter and remain there until people learn to tell the truth.