Wisconsin is Not Your Father's "Culture Wars" - It's a Right Wing "Cultural Revolution"

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/bill-berkowitz/34882/wisconsin-is-not-your-fathers-culture-wars-its-a-right-wing-cultural-revolution

With the stripping away of fifty years of collective bargaining rights for public employee unions in Wisconsin, the culture wars of the past three decades are morphing into something much larger: a right-wing cultural revolution. And while battles over reproductive rights, same-sex marriage and an assortment of other highly-charged social issues will continue to be fought over, the political landscape is dramatically changing.

The "culture wars," as reported by the mainstream media since the Reagan administration, has been portrayed as mostly being about such hot-button issues as abortion, homosexuality, and prayer in the public schools. And while it is true that those issues, and a slate of similarly divisive ones, have propelled the modern "culture wars" forward, the battle over union rights in Wisconsin and Ohio (with other states likely to follow) is not just another battle in the "culture wars." Rather it is a redefinition of this country's social contract and a complete realignment of the political landscape.

What's going on is a fusion of Koch-ist anti-union free-market fundamentalism, Tea Party bluster, and the Religious Right's traditional values agenda; think the Heritage Foundation's nearly four-decade-old mission coming home to roost.

Everything the Heritage Foundation has been seeking, thinking about, researching, promoting, marketing, writing about and fundraising for - from destroying unions to putting the kybosh on public education -- is now on the table.

More at the link --

[PhillySane]

1. Don't think of it as union busting

what is is, an attack on middle class America. Rise up y'all. They are trying to take you out.

[OHdem10]

2. This has always been the Republican Strategy. While they are

financially destroying the Middle Working Class, they
need their votes or they cannot stay in office.

They are constantly throwing Red Meat to each issue group.
Pro Lifers will be given their attention and hopefully
they do not notice what has been done to them financially
until it is too late.

Gun Lovers the Same. There always has been more and more
legislation(whether it passes or not)Time and energy will
be spent with the NRA and Gun Loving Constituents.

Back during Bush ADM, all of these various Issue Groups(many
of whom are Reagan Democrats) had weekly meeting with Mr GWB.
himself. Tom DeLay used to have programs on C-Span at least
monthly to keep them all pumped up.

This way the Republicans can pass legislation which affects
their real constituents(Big Business and the Elites).

What is good for the Rich and Big Business is not always good
for these special issue groups, therefore their the Republicans
stroke the Egos and give them a sense of importance.

Grover Norquist was charged with keeping all the goups
under control as he worked to get the tax cuts passed.
Small Government is not really in the financial interests
of these Issue Groups (most are working class) and getting
rid of entitlements is not to their advantage. Heck , just
pump up the Culture War Topics and maybe they will not
realize what has happened until it is too late.