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!