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In reply to the discussion: Obama should do nothing... [View all]woo me with science
(32,139 posts)11. More manipulative Third Way talking points.
Last edited Fri May 1, 2015, 07:02 AM - Edit history (1)
Again, this Third Way tactic of trying to reframe the rules of political debate to encourage indignation at legitimate political criticism, as though politicians were sensitive guests at a social gathering rather than political representatives charged with defending the interests of millions of people.It's all part of the deliberate corporate dumbing down of our democracy, this subtle retraining of Americans to see politics as social event rather than civic exercise. To train them not to expect very much in the way of actual RESULTS from elections that have been perverted from important civic events into corporate entertainment divorced from policy. So what if Obama's education policies overall are predatory toward our public schools? You should withhold criticism and be nice, because he is giving some ebooks to poor people! This lowering of expectations is necessary in an oligarchy, where politicians have no real intention of working on behalf of the people in any substantive, meaningful way.
Instead, we are lectured to treat politicians as guests at a social gathering, where, if you can't say anything nice, you shouldn't say anything at all. And we are given the constant, insulting, cynical message, like a drumbeat, that politicians have the right to be offended if we make the critically important observation that small PR gestures like this cannot serve as cover for a larger, predatory corporate policy agenda...like Obama's and Arne Duncan's corporate education policies that hollow out our public schools and turn them into profit farms for oligarchs.
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It's not about getting praise - it's about complaining for the sake of complaining.
Drunken Irishman
May 2015
#2
"That constant complaining, finding a wrong in every good thing, is maddening. "
joshcryer
May 2015
#6
Only if you let it. The complaining is on the complainers. The reaction to the complaining is on you
merrily
May 2015
#13
Don't need to. I understood it the first time. I don't think you understood my post.
merrily
May 2015
#21
As it is your prerogative to be an ideologue. Politics involves an opposition.
KittyWampus
May 2015
#46
I think the Supreme Court blocked countrywide Medicaid expansion, but let's blame Obama.
Hoyt
May 2015
#35
You put quote marks around gay rights, Obama advanced 'gay rights' you said, dismissing the worth
Bluenorthwest
May 2015
#62
Excellent post. "He has consistently governed as a Reagan Democrat."
woo me with science
May 2015
#29
I call bullshit on your "reagun democrat" label.. it's just a nasty cheap ignorant pot shot. It
Cha
May 2015
#34
No, you're wrong.. all you have is a clueless label. You haven't been paying attention.
Cha
May 2015
#45
Obama applied for the job. The job is very difficult. A lot of money was spent, a lot of effort -
djean111
May 2015
#27