Jimmie Higgins
6th September 2009, 06:15
I'm interested in what people here think about the relationship between the US ruling class and the crazy townhallers.
Obviously, certain ideological and (health) industry organizations have full supported and promoted the right-wing's crazy response to health care reform, but I have to think that even they are a little worried that they have set this racist little fire in a hayfield.
There is also a section of the US ruling class that wants a certain amount of reform (I believe Wal-Mart, for example, supports the public option because it relieves pressure by workers for health care). Many Democrats and Republicans did want some pro-business reforms and certaintly wanted to "restore America's image to the world" after the Bush administration.
Also people like Glenn Beck are going all-out to create the first US red-scare of the post-USSR world. I can see that the ruling class would also be in favor of this because it draws a line in the sand and pushes back against the expectations of minorities, the youth and workers after Obama's victory. Then again, I think the ruling class - or part of it would love nothing more than a ratcheting down of the political polarization - hence Obama's instance (directed only at liberals and oppressed groups) on "post-racial" and "post-partisan" politics.
I'm curious about what the dynamics are in this situation because it seems really volatile and I'm expecting much more extremism from the right as well as radicalization of oppressed groups (it could come from the gay-rights movement or immigrants or a new black civil rights movement) and workers before too long.
Obviously, certain ideological and (health) industry organizations have full supported and promoted the right-wing's crazy response to health care reform, but I have to think that even they are a little worried that they have set this racist little fire in a hayfield.
There is also a section of the US ruling class that wants a certain amount of reform (I believe Wal-Mart, for example, supports the public option because it relieves pressure by workers for health care). Many Democrats and Republicans did want some pro-business reforms and certaintly wanted to "restore America's image to the world" after the Bush administration.
Also people like Glenn Beck are going all-out to create the first US red-scare of the post-USSR world. I can see that the ruling class would also be in favor of this because it draws a line in the sand and pushes back against the expectations of minorities, the youth and workers after Obama's victory. Then again, I think the ruling class - or part of it would love nothing more than a ratcheting down of the political polarization - hence Obama's instance (directed only at liberals and oppressed groups) on "post-racial" and "post-partisan" politics.
I'm curious about what the dynamics are in this situation because it seems really volatile and I'm expecting much more extremism from the right as well as radicalization of oppressed groups (it could come from the gay-rights movement or immigrants or a new black civil rights movement) and workers before too long.