"Fire the janitors" what's more class warfare than that?

[Enrique]

I think it's a mistake to take this as a serious idea, and to mull over the reasoning behind it, etc.

What it actually is is the sadistic spectacle of a wealthy, frequent Tiffany's customer, who makes his money through milking the political/media system, with transparent scams (see Rachel Maddow's brilliant summary of Newt's scams), to see this useless rich man demonizing working people who do honest work for modest wages.

Essentially blaming these working people for the system's failings, and insulting them by suggesting children could do it just as easily.

The purpose of his comment isn't to solve any problem, it's for Newt to capitalize on the sadism in his base, the desire to beat down on low-status people. Get them drooling at the prospect of tossing thousands of "those people" out onto the streets.

Go get 'em Newt! Go get those janitors, all smug with their mops and brooms!

[CBHagman]

1. Sadism in the base.

For all that its presence doesn't astonish me, I have been struck by how early and intense and highly public the mean-spiritedness of the GOP field and audiences have been.

I do remember some bloodthirsty shouts from a few participants at McCain-Palin rallies in 2008, but that was once the nominees were determined and the campaign was in full swing. We're not even to the primaries yet and already the audiences have booed a gay service member, applauded a high rate of executions, etc.

And now we go into the season of good will (Huh) with Newt dusting off the Mr. Potter/unreformed Scrooge rhetoric which didn't play well in the '90s and ought to be as welcome as a blustery Ian Paisley at the Knights of Columbus hall now.

Thanks for your original post on what Gingrich is appealing to/trying to manipulate to his advantage.

By the way, I love your avatar.

[Enrique]

5. Columbo for President!

:hi:

[HereSince1628]

2. Ever hear "Don't feel bad, others are worse off than you"

Another one of the strange aspects of human nature...There are apparently psychological benefits from knowing someone is worse off than you are.

Unfortunately, it also seems that the enforcement of class systems is culturally instituted to ensure that there actually are people worse off then 'us.'

[saras]

4. That's not universal, that's culturally taught.

It only works in cultures that have the "war of all against all" ideology. People in many cultures will identify with the worse-off one, not compete with them.

So any "psychological benefits" are, shall we say, suspicious.

[HereSince1628]

6. I agree class structures are certainly learned...

I think there is no doubt about that. And people moving between cultures with different class structures do quite well by recognizing that the rules are different, learning the rules, and fitting in.

[baldguy]

3. Who cleans Galt's john?

I guess the children do. The children from low-income families, that is.