Destroy limits on corporate political donations check. Marginalize President Obama check. Block Democratic presidential appointments check. Block all attempts to improve the economy check. Destroy ACORN check. De-fund Planned Parenthood in progress. Destroy labor unions in progress. Suppress minority voters in key swing states in progress. Destroy confidence in mainstream media – check. De-fund Public Broadcasting in progress. Destroy the Environmental Protection Agency in progress. Destroy confidence in government check.
I will probably be dismissed as a leftist conspiracy crackpot for writing this. But if you think these things are unrelated, youre wrong. More than 40 years ago, right wing Republicans along with conservative Christians set out to change the political landscape. They pushed moderate politicians from their party, labeling them RINOS (Republicans In Name Only). They attacked the media for daring to publish any story counter to their beliefs then eliminated the Fairness Doctrine to allow right wing media to lie as much as they want.
They focused on judicial appointments to replace moderate activist judges with conservative activist judges. Evangelist Christian Pat Robertson prayed (or should it be spelled preyed) for the death of moderate Supreme Court justices so George W. Bush could appoint true conservatives. They even attacked science for daring to teach such leftist ideas as evolution and climate change.
As a result, politics in this country have undergone a dramatic shift to the extreme right. Many traditional Republicans have switched parties or left politics altogether. Many moderate Democrats are former Republicans. And traditional Democrats are relegated to the Progressive Caucus and dismissed as extreme lefties.
In many states, thanks to the 2010 census and lack of Democratic voter turnout in 2010, Teapublican legislatures are hard at work gerrymandering congressional and legislative districts to benefit their candidates. But the most disturbing development of the Conservative/Religious alliance is the current attempt to suppress minority votes.
In 38 states (particularly swing states), Teapublicans are busy pushing bills to eliminate “voter fraud” by demanding photo IDs for voters. Nevermind that confirmed instances of voter fraud are virtually non-existant. In some states, its estimated as many as 50 percent of minority and elderly voters do not have drivers licenses. Many of those people will find it difficult to obtain photo IDs. So Teapublicans are hoping that they wont make the effort. And who will it help to suppress minority votes? Certainly not President Obama.
Our two party system and, as a result, our middle class have never been more at risk. If you think thats accidental or the product of circumstances, think again.