Why do we allow the cultural issues define "liberalism/progressivism"?

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

And I don't mean to say that they aren't inherent to the liberal/progressive cause. But we live in a world dominated by the marketplace. We sell ideas. But why do we sell THIS idea?

First, abortion: this is not a cultual issue. This is the first wave in our loss. We will lose this issue if it becomes a cultural issue. It must be a legal/privacy issue. Don't let it become cultural.

Economics: it's laughable how much we win this by when polls are conducted. 65% of Americans agree with pure Marxism in bourgeosie vs. poletariat principle (no polls on practice).

Economics rules in American electorate politics. The repubs. have the language of tax cuts and responsibilty--again cultural language. What do we have? We fight on their turf politically. Let's get it out of the sphere of cultural language.

Here's my assumption: many people at DU are college educated (not a value judgment in the least, trust me). Those educated at college are willing to take on the cultural issues because you have been surrounded by those who believe they are on the winning side of the cultural issue (the progressive side). They aren't. We can't win this one--not in terms of electoral politics (though we will win it when it comes to sex).

Progressives/liberals win when economic policies are stated with clarity, in economic terms only (this is why Gore's rhetoric often falls on deaf ears--not my ears, mind you). People don't care for his rhetoric but they believe in his message if it's boiled down for them. The Gore message is the foundation of Bush double-speak (and a huge cause for the consternation for many here).

Can't we just speak in purely pragmatic terms? Is our populace so stupid as to not recognize their own self-interest in the numbers.

Naively yours,
G.U.

[AndyTiedye]

1. Because They Own All of the Media. That's Why.

While a significant number of us are alienated from/by the mass media,
most people are willing to let TV and radio tell them what our culture IS.

That percentage is going down, which is why all the major media outlets
are complaining about declining ratings, but it is still a substantial
majority of the population.

That (along with electoral fraud) is why we have been losing elections,
despite running on policies that the majority strongly support

[kaitykaity]

2. When things were good, in 2000, the Thugs could

get away with fighting the culture war. Now, when the
world is going to hell, when the danger to us is real,
this culture war crap is going backfire on THEM. Their
rabid, fanatical base might give a shit about defeating
gay marriage.

The rest of Americans are sane, decent people, and they
don't care about that crap. They care about themselves, and
themselves alone. "Am I better off than I was four years
ago?" If the answer to that question is no, then Bush-baby
is toast.

/end of rant.