( – promoted by lowkell)
Of the ongoing spectacle of today’s Republican Party, Robert Reich writes:
“In parliamentary systems of government, small groups representing loony fringes can be absorbed relatively harmlessly into adult governing coalitions. But here, as we’re seeing, a loony fringe can take over an entire party – and that party will inevitably take over some part of our federal, state, and local governments.”
I agree with Reich that there is a problem of looniness loose in our power system because of some fringe elements aflame in the Republican base.
But I believe it is important to see the larger picture, in this case how the present is an outgrowth of the past. In particular, how the rising power of loony elements in the Republican Party today are the natural consequence of the equally defective, but not loony, elements that took over the Republican Party over the preceding twenty years.
The Limbaugh-Bush-Rove-Cheney version of the Republican Party was not crazy, but it was morally corrupt. It was willing to use lies to move their followers into a non-existent world where they’d be easier to manipulate. It consistently used those lies to appeal to the worst in their followers, to their fears and hatreds.
In other words, that non-loony but amoral Republican Party deliberately drove their followers crazy.
That’s why the Republican Establishment is having to cope with a now-powerful “loony fringe” now.
**********************
Andy Schmookler is running for Congress in the 6th Congressional District of Virginia, challenging the incumbent Congressman, Bob Goodlatte. An award-winning author, political commentator, radio talk-show host, and teacher, Andy moved with his family to Shenandoah County in 1992. He is a graduate of Harvard University and holds a PhD from the University of California at Berkeley.
*****************************************************
- Check out the website at www.AndySchmooklerForCongress.com
- "Like" our Facebook page
- Follow me on Twitter
- To volunteer, click here
To donate, you can give online through ActBlue, or send a check to the address below.
P.O. Box 432
Mount Jackson, VA 22842
Sign up for the Blue Virginia weekly newsletter
