Carly Fiorina said it last night in the GOP debate; Donald Trump has said it; so has a multitude of others in the Republican Party debates so far—“We must take our government back!”
Back to what, is the question!
Back to a time when women were “dutiful” housewives who stayed home, avoided education and employment, and were totally dependent upon their husbands?
Back to a time when “Negroes” were segregated by law and custom and “knew” their place not to complain?
Back to a time when “Negroes” were lynched at will and no one seemed to notice?
Back to a time when gays and lesbians were openly discriminated against in all areas of life without any protection or support of their rights?
Back to a time when child labor existed as young as six years old, and they and poor women who worked were paid far less than men?
Back to a time when there was no Social Security system for the elderly and disabled?
Back to a time when immigrants were barred from coming to America if they were Jewish or Catholic or Asian in origin?
Back to a time when labor unions did not exist, and work places were totally unsafe, and there was no workers compensation for injuries at work?
Back to a time when corporations “raped” and pillaged the environment for their own selfish purposes?
The list could go on and on, and who would “love” if all this was to return, from the 1950s, 1920s, and the “Gilded Age” of the late 19th century?
Conservatives who have fought against and resisted all of these changes and reforms brought about by progressives such as Theodore Roosevelt; Progressive Era reformers at all levels;Â Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal coalition; Harry Truman; John F, Kennedy; Lyndon B. Johnson; 1960s reformers at all levels; Jimmy Carter; Bill Clinton; Barack Obama; and the constant battle of modern progressives and liberals to protect and expand all of the great political, social and economic reforms of the 20th century, hard fought, and the battle goes on in 2015!
WOW I never read so many straw-man arguments in one post! LOL Seriously! Now you seem to forget when during the Bush years Democrats (Dean, Pelosi, Hillary, Kerry et al) would scream at the top of their lungs “We need to take our government back!” So I suggest this, how about taking our government back to being ruled by the Constitution? How about going back to being a Constitutional Republic? How about going back to the rule of law and not rule of lawyers?
It’s as Bernie is saying: Big money should not be controlling politics in our democracy! https://movetoamend.org/
Precisely, Pragmatic! America has turned into an oligarchy! http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/21/americas-oligarchy-not-democracy-or-republic-unive/
The Constitution is fine, Ariel, but we cannot govern by an 18th century mentality, that allowed women, minorities, workers to be exploited, and no concern about the environment with the promotion of unbridled capitalism with its emphasis on profit over humanity.
Social Justice is essential, but was not thought about in 1787, so yes the Constitution, but updated in law and in practice!
What on earth does that have to do with restoring the constitutional limits not only on the federal government but more importantly the Executive? What on earth does all your rambling about social justice have to do with the rule of law? For you the Constitution is fine as long as it allows the progressive big government agenda, which is basically for every conceived social ill there must be a government program. That said, I repeat what does all your rambling have to do with a Constitutional Republic? Do you not like a system based on a constitutional republic? Would you prefer a “popular democracy”?
“Conceived social ills?”
It is great, Ariel, that you see no troubles or problems, and want to go back to “originalism” of Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia et al, but we are what we are, because of improvements from the time of the establishment of the Constitution!
You would like to reverse all changes, but we are a constitutional republic AND democracy at the same time, and progress is essential to make us a greater nation long term!
When the executive branch engages in actions that advance America, as TR and others since have done, all to the good, rather than perpetuating the control of the few!
That is why the grabbing of power and wealth by the oligarchy, which has become endemic in recent years, must be fought tooth and nail!
You, Ariel, are the person who is rambling, not me!
LOL Just look at your Marxist inspired language! LOL NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT GOING BACK TO SLAVERY,SEGREGATION , CHILD LABOR AND 19TH CENTURY SOCIAL CUSTOMS! Get a grip of yourself! You are building up scary ghost all over the place! LOL!!!! Finally I said “POPULAR DEMOCRACY” not just Democracy. You are smart and you know very well the difference , so please don’t play the bait and switch on me…
You are the one, Ariel, who is playing “bait and switch!” So you now sound like Joseph McCarthy and the Red Scare, accusing me of being a Marxist, totally preposterous!
I well know what Marxism represents, and have always repudiated it, as much as Nazism and Fascism.
Not so sure about you, as being McCarthyite in language makes you sound like an American Fascist, who wants to suppress the progress of groups you do not like, in favor of the kind of oligarchy which backed Mussolini, and leaving out the anti Semitism aspect, Hitler as well!
I am proud to be a liberal and progressive of the Hubert Humphrey, Joe Biden, variety, and have always been such, as we have virtue on our side!
I suggest you stop character assassination, as it only makes you look as the troll you clearly are!
Since you are so disgusted with this blog, why don’t you stop polluting it with your drivel and join your fellow compatriots extolling the status quo which benefits the few over the many?
Since you hate this blog so much, stop reading here and stop posting here. It’s that simple.
University of Missouri, a progressive education: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKcWu0tsiZM
Equality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM-HJT8_esM
Not amused by the troll.
I agree Former Republican. It doesn’t make any sense to keep hanging around here since he hates it here.