Light or Darkness

For a generation, American society has been under pressure from the right. Frankly, there was good reason for the movement toward values and conservatism, but it has gone too far and progressives and moderates must push back.

At least since the 1920s, America has been the symbol for modernity in the world. Rights for women, minorities, and children have been revolutionized, and we are a beacon through the world for moving toward humaneness and fairness. Our environmental movement throughout the period was among the most intelligent and forward looking in the world.

The wars of the twentieth century brought great change, much of it enlightened but, sadly, much of value was lost. Clearly needed changes in the rights of women naturally led to unintended results, and in the latter decades of the last century undesirable phenomena such as single motherhood arose.

The long clash between capitalism and communism that ended with the demise of the Soviet Union had within it the seeds of problems for America and its allies. In retrospect, Vietnam which our government – over five presidencies – believed to be an integral battle in the Cold War proved to be an unimportant way station in that conflict but one which created many of our present problems. While America did not prevail in Vietnam, in no way did that slow our victory in the greater clash.

From World War I until the turning point in public opinion against the conflict in Vietnam, the Democratic Party was the source of support for an aggressive and forward looking foreign policy. The Republicans beginning with Senator Henry Cabot Lodge’s pressure on President Wilson in the years following the Great War, through Martin, Barton and Fish leading up to World War II, and on into the early years of the Cold War was the party of isolation.

But, (as has been described by many writers and thinkers – and most especially for me by Andrew Bacevich’s The New American Militarism) political and social forces that had not been clearly recognized before Vietnam began to be asserted. The left wing of the Democratic Party no longer held and, in fact, revolted against the war and led the peace movement in the country. Excesses, proudly proclaimed by one side and exploited and highlighted by those reacting against them led to a major resurge of the conservatives and the values oriented segments in American society.

The vast majority of people in the middle of the political spectrum gradually shifted from progressive supporters of policies long espoused by Democrats to the policies and values of Republicans. Most observers point to Ronald Reagan as the principal beacon in this movement, but I think signs of it were clear in the election of Richard Nixon in 1968.

With this great reaction against Vietnam, powerful forces in the most conservative wing of the Republican Party led the way in this values oriented society. Most prominent in domestic politics were the Evangelical Christians. In looking outward, the Neoconservatives, over time, came to assert themselves most effectively.

The success of these elements in American society today is obvious and overwhelming. They have cleansed American government of liberalism and stand today in charge of both the Executive and Legislative Branches. While loath to admit it, they also control the Supreme Court and most other federal courts.

They are in a position to direct the federal government’s role in foreign and domestic spheres, and indeed are now fighting for power they never dreamed possible when the movement took shape just one generation ago. They have reduced taxes and changed the ratio of redistribution of wealth in the country from rich to poor to the opposite. They are fighting to insert religion into science. They are revolutionizing public education by calling for the teaching nonscientific beliefs in science curricula. They are undermining American leadership in the natural sciences and in medical science and treatment.

They are leading American foreign policy in the bellicose assertion of power across the globe and have led us into the War in Iraq in which all of the premises for the conflict were later found to be false. In the face of obvious error, they have redefined that war as one of values rather than immediate defense of the country and its allies. Now almost two thousand American deaths, tens of thousand wounded and injured, and almost three hundred billion dollars in treasure later, they say we must fight on despite having no better goals than the day we invaded.

It is time for the middle to shift to the Democrats. Libertarians and enlightened business leaders have to recognize that Evangelical policies are worse for their values than those of the left. Moderates must see that continuing down the trail of ignorance in science and technology will cause us to fall behind our competitors.

While the Neocons have disappeared into the woodwork as the debacle in Iraq becomes obvious to the American Public, every day we see further emboldenment of the leaders of the hard right in domestic affairs. Only wild and crazy statements by the most radical, such as calling for foreign assassinations are criticized – and then not by the President.

So it is up to the middle to tilt leftward, despite knowing that this too will ultimately lead to a shift too far. We must take the country back now!

Blog on!

Wild Bill