Matt Stoller over at "To the Point" has a great piece on the Middle-East, Bush and what some of this mess means.
The fundamental problem for the Republican leadership on foreign policy is not that they lie or misrepresent what's going on; it's that Americans are optimists and believe in a world that can aspire to good, and that in presenting us with a deeply cynical and dishonest case implying that the world is a terrible place fit only for American weaponry and power, they are depriving us of the ability to hope and be idealistic about what America means. That to me is offensive on a very fundamental level. America is based on an idea, on the concept that America is a new world that can change the old, that it can lead, and that prosperity and freedom can belong to anyone who is willing to subordinate him or herself to the rule of law and hard work. This isn't just pie-in-the-sky wishfulness, as it's true that most people really just ARE simple shopkeepers who want to be left alone to play with their kids. America harnesses that desire, and that's why America is so attractive. Bush does not believe in this version of America. His America is based the cold hard reality of force and the inherent viciousness of human nature, which is why he as governor of Texas made fun of people on Death Row before denying their stays of execution. He never has believed this version of America, and neither do his deputies. The Democrats are by and large incoherent on this, tactically reactive against lies but allowing the worldview of a big bad world full of meanies instead of hopeful shopkeepers to remain unchallenged.
Thanks, Jo. The Clark thing is exploding, and I like him because he addresses that fundamental issue.
posted by: MattS on 07.18.03 at 02:32 PM [permalink]
very Capra-esque view, unfortunately the world of "shop keepers" is dissappearring because of
the social darwinism of the Right, the "shops" are or have been replaced by chains or rather the spawn of super large multi-national corporations who eat shop keepers for lunch. For example Wal-mart has destroyed small local stores by selling at a loss until they can no longer afford to be in business,i.e. survival of the biggest and greedyest. Paul Krugman of NYT has written about it quite eloquently..the middle class is becoming smaller, while those that struggle along living hand to mouth is growing. the Right has rendered terms like "values", "integrity", "ethics" meaningful only as a warning that you are about to be conned and fleeced. Osama Bin Bush and company do have a vision for America , it's called Rat Race Nation and the rest of the world is just a cheese ball for us to naw and exploit.
posted by: Matt on 07.18.03 at 10:47 PM [permalink]
