The Republican Party exists to help the wealthy accumulate

[harrison]

more wealth, or at least maintain what they have. That's it. Forget all the other ideological shit. That's nothing but window dressing for the masses,or intentional strategy to divide and conquer the masses so they will vote Repug.

Anti Abortion? Hell, that's just for the religious folks.

Death Penalty. That's for the law and order folks out there.

Race. NO need to go there. We know what that's about.

In short, the Republicans need wedge issues to divide and conquer the electorate so that they will vote AGAINST their own economic self interests.

That's all it is about.

[SheilaT]

1. Nice, succinct analysis.

And the real tragedy, is that the Republican party has managed to convince large groups of voters that voting for one issue is okay. So the anti-choice people only vote for a "pro-life" candidate. And many middle class people who complain taxes are too high simply don't get it that they are paying because wealthy people are not. Supporters of the death penalty are often astonished to learn that most of the rest of the world manages without such legal murder. And so on.

[tabasco]

2. Same as it's always been. Monarchy vs. Democracy.

If the republicans were to continue in power, the result would be a new royal class, and serfdom for the rest of us.

[shockingelk]

7. bingo

"It's the responsibility of those that can direct things to direct things. Normal people's responsibility is to work."

That in a nutshell is their social philosophy. Holding elections is just a formality to them.

[Warpy]

3. The social issues alone wouldn't do it

although they do help push a lot of scared people into the GOP camp. What does it is their history of offering working people bait and switch tax cuts. Working folks fall for it every time, too.

It's high time the Democrats start offering working folks something besides the same free trade, business as usual dogma that has been killing them financially for over 30 years. Until and unless they do that, they can kiss power goodbye.

Oh, I think Kerry will win this election, but only because the Bush junta have been such screwups. However, until they realize that the working people of this country have been badly hurt by the stupid policies of both parties and clean up their own economic house, they can kiss future elections goodbye.

[indepat]

4. Concentration of wealth among the relatively few is job one: A regressive

tax scheme, a raid on the social security "lock box," and huge budget deficits are the means to this end.

[mediaman007]

5. Absolutely, that's why they take apart Roe v. Wade in small pieces

If Roe were to be overturned, who would the anti choice people vote for? they might actually consider helping the poor, or ending the death penalty.

[olddem43]

6. I agree completely -

I never could understand why poor and working class people could fall for their bullcrap.

[ladjf]

10. This is the most important question in American politics.

The question of "why middle and lower income people continue to vote Republican even though it's against their real interests" is the biggest puzzle in American politics. Some of the above threads offer reasonable theories on the subject. However, none of this thinking is reaching the people who need to see it. We can't count on the media for any help.

I don't have the solution, nor do others here today. But, in one way or the other, Americans are going to have to realize that they are supporting their enemies. We've got to keep struggling with this until en ought people are unlighted about it.

Is there any way to setup a "counter media", a media outside the mainstream that could be accessible to most Americans? Internet, postal, radio ? Could be pool some funds and buy back part of the media, or enough to get the word out?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. to help the wealthy accumulate

More "stuff" that they don't absolutely need to survive,

so that people less fortunate who do have real needs that are hindering their survival, will go without. Same old, same old.

www.snowshoefilms.com
PHIL BERG: THERE’S A MOB IN THE WHITE HOUSE
With her Philadelphia attorney Phil Berg, Ellen Mariani has filed a RICO suit against President Bush et al for their prior knowledge, to prevent or warn of 9-11; and on-going obstruction of justice by covering up the truth of 9-11 in violation of the laws of the U.S. “People should go to jail. Treason has occurred. There’s a mob in the White House – and we’re going to get them,” the former Pennsylvania deputy atty. gen. said at Phase One of the International Inquiry into 9-11.

[dumpster_baby]

9. THe Real Problem is that the Democratic party has gone along with the game

Yeah, it's called triangulation: as the rightwing/big money/corporate think tanks and foundations crank out ream after ream of propaganda for the mass media, America is moved inexorably moved to the right. And the Democrats just inch right along to the right, staying just a smidgen to the left of the GOP.

You didn't think I was going to let you get away with that, did you?