Why America moved to the right

[dumpster_baby]

This nice little essay details the political actions behind America's move to the right starting in the 70s. The socialists' viewpoint is always refreshingly concise. But I think the author leaves out the propaganda network that helped set the stage for the rightward shift. Still, a good piece.

http://www.socialistworker.org/2004-2/513/513_10_BossesFirst.shtml

[napi21]

1. I think there were a lot of other things that shifted people to the right.

Unions gained too much power and shot themselves in the foot. They are needed NOW, but it's going to be very difficult to get some of theier strength back.

The Corporations have gained way too much power today, and it's going to be a repeat of long ago to take them down.

I speak from a member of a union in PA. I was told to slow down because you are making the rest of us look bad. I was told we are going on a wildcat strike because ONE guy didn't make it to work after a snow storm, and wasn't going to be paid for the time he wasn't there. The rest of us made it to work.

O rea;lly want the union membership back, becaues the co. power is out of control again, but it's gpong to take a lot of us collectively to make that happen again.

[IrishDemocrat]

5. I'm from PA as well

Yes I agree, it started in the 70s. There are two reasons for the rapid increase in conservatism since then. Abortion and local "quality of life" issues. These issues first reasonated with the Catholic Kennedy Democrats of the 1950s and 1960s. After Kennedy, Irish/Italian/Polish Catholics were the first primary target for GOP conversion. Issues such as abortion, Affirmative Action, welfare, and now Section 8 housing got more working Democrats in these areas over to the Republican party. From once being dominant among ethnic Roman Catholics, the Democratic party is now split evely with the Republicna party among this group. As of late the GOP is making an effort to get Hispanics and African Americans as well.

[AndyTiedye]

2. The Right Wing Bought The Media

[beanball]

3. The right wing(racist) republicans

the old dixicrats left the democratic party because Nixon made them an offer they coudn't refuse,Tricky Dick and the former party of Lincoln promised the racist dixie duds that the repugs would keep the blacks in their place if they would come over to the party of the KKK.

[SupplySideLiberal]

4. Aging Baby Boomers

People vote more conservatively as they age.

[JPace]

6. I do not agree that people vote more conservatively as they age...

older people have time to really study the issues
and are more likely to see the value of continuing
social security as it is as well as seeing the
need for some kind of socialized medical care.

[IrishDemocrat]

7. Social Conservatism

They do become more religious and socially conservative though. I other words mroe Populist.

[UdoKier]

12. Nonsense. I have only gotten more liberral. My dad too.

I live more conservatively, vote more liberal.

But this is just more GOP tripe from a freeper, anyway.

[Yavin4]

8. The Move To The Right Was A Reaction To The End Of U.S. Dominance

of the world's economy. Following WWII, the American economy dominated the world. So much so, that a person with less than a high school education was still able to get a middle class paying job and lifestyle. This dominance bred arrogance, esp. amongst middle class and suburban White males.

The major problem with this dominance was that it didn't include African Americans and women who successfully fought and won participation rights in the 1960s. When the U.S. economic dominance ended in the 1970s because other nations were able to produce superior goods, our corporations colluded with our politicians to blame African Americans, women, and liberalism as the culprit, instead of a lazy American management system that was nothing more than a club of good-old-boys.

Thus, suburban and working class White males made the connection that losing their good paying middle class manufacturing jobs was due to the political rise of African Americans and women and not global competition.

[Nadienne]

9. I don't know whether or not other nations produced higher-quality goods...

Though they definitely have produced cheaper goods.

My white-skinned blue-collar family, especially my parents, were more likely to blame "lazy blacks and Mexicans" for losing their manufacturing jobs.

[Yavin4]

10. Look at Automobile Production in the 1970s As An Example

The American automobile industry cranked out big huge cars when the price of gas was skyrocketing. Meanwhile, Japanese automakers made more fuel efficient, higher quality cars.

[Nadienne]

11. Did that translate into an increase in sales of Japanese cars

to Americans? I'm sure it didn't help American automobile companies much. You make a good point.

I guess I assumed that foreign made is not better quality than American made because, well, what can you buy that's American-made any more? And it seems as though my shoes and clothes and office equipment wear out so much faster than ever. And if this is true today, maybe it was true in the 70's...