Cooperation, Interdependence, and the Democrats
Posted 1/22/2005 on Matthew Yglesias in response to this piece by Timothy Burke.
Josh,
I just don't think the independence vs. inter-dependence idea is sufficiently reflective of reality to work. Whatever you think of Evangelicals, Evangelical religion (both belief and practice) is very centered on interdependent communities. To the extent where non-minority communities that function as communities still exist, they are almost entirely Republican (rural areas and small towns have the strongest everyone-looks-out-for-everyone ethos). And unions? Private-sector union members are majority Republican--the Democrats lost them 20 years ago; they were the "Reagan Democrats." It's only the government-based unions (AFSCME, NEA) that are generally Democratic.
And Thresholder, you're right; President Bush is not conservative. The seriously conservative portion of the Republican Party (National Review, Club for Growth) is not very happy with him--on immigration, on NCLB, on DHS, on the growth of government spending in general, most especially on Medicare. BUT the party is stronger than he is and is growing in strength nationwide(look at state races, Senate races, House races) and is growing in strength among some traditionally Democratic constituencies (Jews because of Israel, Blacks because of homosexuality).
I think that the core issue has already been captured in this thread; the Democratic Party thinks government is the solution to most problems; Republicans (and a majority of voters) don't.
Josh,
I just don't think the independence vs. inter-dependence idea is sufficiently reflective of reality to work. Whatever you think of Evangelicals, Evangelical religion (both belief and practice) is very centered on interdependent communities. To the extent where non-minority communities that function as communities still exist, they are almost entirely Republican (rural areas and small towns have the strongest everyone-looks-out-for-everyone ethos). And unions? Private-sector union members are majority Republican--the Democrats lost them 20 years ago; they were the "Reagan Democrats." It's only the government-based unions (AFSCME, NEA) that are generally Democratic.
And Thresholder, you're right; President Bush is not conservative. The seriously conservative portion of the Republican Party (National Review, Club for Growth) is not very happy with him--on immigration, on NCLB, on DHS, on the growth of government spending in general, most especially on Medicare. BUT the party is stronger than he is and is growing in strength nationwide(look at state races, Senate races, House races) and is growing in strength among some traditionally Democratic constituencies (Jews because of Israel, Blacks because of homosexuality).
I think that the core issue has already been captured in this thread; the Democratic Party thinks government is the solution to most problems; Republicans (and a majority of voters) don't.
posted by Sam Chevre at 8:49 PM
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