Labor Day provides us with an excellent opportunity to thank the labor movement for their many contributions to the America we know and to honor American workers. It is also a day when we should reflect on the uphill battle American workers have faced and continue to face even as current economic conditions should be helping us to realize their importance. Unfortunately, American workers and the labor movement have powerful enemies who have opposed them at every point in history.
Even today, conservatives demonize labor because they prefer to represent corporations over people. When workers attempt to organize to gain a living wage or better conditions in the workplace, conservatives cry "Communism." They see that an organized labor movements threatens their corporate masters, and they have opposed the minimum wage, occupational safety regulations, and even the fundamental right of workers to unionize.
As we reflect on the origins of Labor Day and honor the workers who are the backbone of our economy, we would do well to remember who has opposed them at every step.
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It is becoming increasingly obvious that conservatives are going to campaign on hate because they have little else to offer. Their economic policies have been disastrous for America, and they have not used their time as an opposition party to develop new ideas. Instead, they are clinging to anti-gay bigotry and hoping to revive enough anti-immigrant sentiment to score points.
As difficult as it is going to be to persuade progressive voters to turn out to vote in the mid-terms, it seems important that this particular strategy is not rewarded.
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On the extremely small chance that you have not already seen this clip repeatedly, watch it now. This is Gov. Jan Brewer's (R-AZ) opening statement in the gubernatorial debate. And no, I do not expect for a second that it will be the end of her political career as it should. This is the new face of American politics. We can thank Sarah Palin for that.
Progrimm (OpenLeft) posted an excellent strategy on which progressives should be campaigning. This video gives you an idea of how it might look in ad form, but do take the time to visit the post for more information.
I realize that this is more of the fear-based strategy I was recently complaining about, and I'm not saying it should be the only strategy involved here. Exposing what the other party will do if they return to power is important, but we also need to make a positive case for what we have to offer.Subscribe to Red State Progressive
Moving toward the 2010 election, it is clear that Democrats are in trouble. I see two primary culprits: the economy and the fact that the right seems to be far more energized than the left at this point. The economy is going to require more time, but I suspect allowing the upper end of the Bush tax cuts to expire on the would help considerably. The difference in energy and its likely impact on voter turnout, however, has few solutions.
With someone like Glenn Beck, it is not always easy to know whether we should simply ignore him to deprive his massive ego of fuel or whether he is sufficiently dangerous that he cannot be ignored. I think both sides of this argument have merit, and I find myself shifting back-and-forth at times. Still, I usually end up on the side that suggests we should pay attention to him just as we would to any other threat to our nation.
Of all the coverage devoted to Glenn Beck's rally in Washington DC yesterday, James Frye (Liberaland) offered what has to be the best characterization of the event when he described it as, "public ego masturbation by Glenn Beck." But Frye's genius does not end there. I thought the following was a perfect description:
The people who attended were clearly there for a red-meat tossing tirade about how the evil Socialist President Obama and the handmaidens of Satan – aka The Democratic Party – were destroying America. What they got instead was a long-form Christian revival meeting combined with a military recruiting show. The message was pretty clear and nothing new – “If America doesn’t turn toward God we’re all doomed!” combined with speaker after speaker pretty much fetishizing the military.Frye also notes that what he saw on Twitter led him to believe that many of the attendees were disappointed with the rally. Good! Maybe they'll finally have the sense to change the channel when Beck comes on.
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According to Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the rallies organized by Fox "News" personality Glenn Beck represent an attack on religious freedom and diversity in the United States.
In reality, a major goal of Beck’s rallies is to undermine the Founding Fathers’ vision of a nation where government and religion are kept separate. Beck propagates a revisionist historical perspective that says America is an officially religious state. Mainline Christians, Muslims, non-believers and other Americans who fail to meet Beck’s religious test are often maligned.In today's politically charged climate, religion in general and Islam in particular has become a flash point. By revising history to undermine religious freedom and separation of church and state, Beck and his associates on the far right are attacking core American values.
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