Has the Bush Administration Radicalized you?

[Solon]

I ask, because it radicalized me, to a great extent, these past 5 years. I grew up in the '80s and '90s, my first political awakening was during the early '90s, the Persian Gulf war, I was 13 at the time, didn't know much about it, but it made CNN fun to watch for once. I was 13, please forgive me. Next was GHWB's broken promise of "no new taxes". My Parents voted against him for that reason.

Keep in mind that during this time I was raised a social liberal, one of my best friends growing up had two moms, and neither they nor my parents kept such a thing secret from me or our other friends, they were just a different type of family, but a family nonetheless. Not to mention that most of my friends and romantic relations were non-white, in a county that was 98% white.

OK, fast foward to high school, and the Great Clinton Cock Hunt. Never understood that at all, I was baffled as to why the Republicans would impeach a president for something I did that previous weekend. :) In fact most kids in my highschool were baffled by it. We understood if his wife wanted to smack the shit out of him over it, divorce or whatever, but what does a private matter have to do with impeachment?

At this point in time, I was a social libertarian and mostly a fiscal one as well. By the time I was 18, in 1996, I registered as an independent on my voter registration, even though that year I voted Democrat.

Onto college and life outside the home, so to speak. Couple of things, one is that I was increasingly disgusted with the tactics of Republicans, more and more. Plus, after reading their party platform, even more disgusted with their social policy, though again, I thought their fiscal policies were mostly sensible. Still voted Democratic, their social policies were much more important at this time than any fiscal policy I thought was sensible.

Onto my Wal*Mart years, I worked there for 2 years, that was a LONG time for 90% of associates at the store I was at. That hell hole probably did more to change my view of fiscal policy than anything else till Bush the second came along. Seeing the abuses of corporate America personified in the company policies of Wal*Mart especially when they took advantage of ME, but also others(Sex and Racial discrimination), made me believe that regulations, within limits, were a good thing. There were not enough, in my opinion, but they should be present.

OK, so onto a new job, Security, and 2000 election. I was working that night, after voting for Gore of course. When the elections fiasco in Florida and the resulting SCOTUS decision was handed down, I realized one thing, I don't live in a democracy, never did, its a farce, a barely concealed plutocracy. Even afterwards, I thought that this guy would be similar to his dad, mostly ineffectual, breaks promises, but how much damage could he actually do. Also thought he was a one termer for sure(vote fraud wasn't well known to me at that point).

Up until that fraud, I would have described myself as a Center-Left Democrat. Now, after EVERYTHING that has happened, from lost lives to lost jobs and opportunity, I'm now a Socialist, and becoming more revolutionary every month it seems. BTW: Found DU in 2001, thank Gods for sanity on the web!

[calimary]

1. Yes.

I grew up in the '60's - even though I had a pretty sheltered, out-of-it existence. I learned soon enough. But I've never agitated online or anywhere else for that matter like I've done since bush "took" office. Now, I'm a nutcase.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Radical since the '60s

I remember the Civil Rights movement and witnessed some violence at a Civil Rights protest when I was 12. Rev. King and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated the year I graduated High School; in college I was involved in Viet Nam protests, and after graduation was writing letters, signing petitions, etc, against Nixon. I felt that Reagan ruined our chance to get out of the environmental catastrophe we're heading for when he gutted alternative energy programs, and have protested deforestation even though it led to intimidation and death threats in the 90s. Of course I was protesting before Iraq, and was spat upon and told that Bush was the Second Coming.

I'm looking forward to Sept. 24-I'm wondering if the rw cuckoos will be out again or if there will be more of us this time.....

[madaboutharry]

3. Yes, it has.

It started during the whole Monica thing, I would listen to the Republicans and started to feel a lot of resentment. But things really kicked into high gear when this little shit was installed in office in 2000. My good friend asked me the other day if there is ever a day when I am not in a state of rage. No, there isn't.

[LiberalVoice]

4. Yes.

I was a closet conservative 5 years ago. But thanks to * I am not only a liberal...but he also helped me decide my calling in life. Journalism.

[Telly Savalas]

5. Absolutely not.

Politically my top priorities are: universal health care, government recognition of same-sex marriage, withdrawal from Iraq, a progressive tax system, an earned-income tax credit mixed with aggressive social programs to alleviate poverty, support for the Kyoto protocol, and a real effort to fix our public school system.

Calling these things radical is only playing into the hands of the conservatives. My ideas are common sense solutions to our nation's problems. They're the goddamn radicals.

[Solon]

6. Actually I agree with you...

Probably should have rephrased it as, influenced, etc. BTW: I agree with those programs, every single one. Concerning the last, I say remove property taxes as the primary support system for public schools, take it out of the State's general fund instead.

[Mythsaje]

11. Good point...

Most of those are priorities for me too. I link education and poverty directly in saying that if we pour the money into guaranteeing good education, it will offer a lot more opportunities for everyone.

[unless]

14. Oh, my, yes.

Up until about 6 weeks before the 2004 election debates started, I couldn't care less who won, because I was frankly dissatisfied with American politics in general.

Then I started watching the debates, turned to my husband (a 3rd generation pinko) and said, "Don't they have some minimum IQ requirement for presidential candidates? 'cause this guy is a freaking idiot." My husband started jumping up and down and said "Yes! Yes! That is what I have been trying to tell you!!!!"

Well! Not only did *I* bother to vote, but I swayed 6 people at work and tried to sway my dad (Freeper to the core)

I believe I have two reasons for being drawn to the Dems at this point:

1) to provide some insight into the mind of the conservative Christian and to help emphasize to fellow fundamentalist Christians what they need to be thinking about when they consider who they are voting for...

2) to bring into realization a plan to sanction church leaders and churches who persist in merging church and state

Man, I am on fire, and if it weren't for #41, I wouldn't be.

Bob Dylan - When the Ship Comes In -
I have been thinking about it for the last few days...

Oh the time will come up
When the winds will stop
And the breeze will cease to be breathin'.
Like the stillness in the wind
'Fore the hurricane begins,
The hour when the ship comes in.

Oh the seas will split
And the ship will hit
And the sands on the shoreline will be shaking.
Then the tide will sound
And the wind will pound
And the morning will be breaking.

And the words that are used
For to get the ship confused
Will not be understood as they're spoken.
For the chains of the sea
Will have busted in the night
And will be buried at the bottom of the ocean.

Then the sands will roll
Out a carpet of gold
For your weary toes to be a-touchin'.
And the ship's wise men
Will remind you once again
That the whole wide world is watchin'.

Oh the foes will rise
With the sleep still in their eyes
And they'll jerk from their beds and think they're dreamin'.
But they'll pinch themselves and squeal
And know that it's for real,
The hour when the ship comes in.

Then they'll raise their hands,
Sayin' we'll meet all your demands,
But we'll shout from the bow your days are numbered.
And like Pharaoh's tribe,
They'll be drownded in the tide,
And like Goliath, they'll be conquered.

-unless

[newyawker99]

25. Hi unless!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[NewJeffCT]

31. I agree with you

and, since 2/3 to 3/4 of Americans would like universal health care - even if it meant higher taxes - it is certainly not a radical position.

the pre-Reagan progressive taxes certainly kept our federal deficits somewhat under control.

and, I doubt many outside of a few rich elitists who send their kids to private schools (the Walton Family, etc) would be against a big effort to improve our public schools.

I would add beyond Kyoto a concerted national effort to focus on clean & renewable energy sources.

I'm also all for embryonic stem cell research.

[DanCa]

7. The anti choicers have

I was a real middle ground moderate on the subject until i realized that the great myth is the gop isn't interested in moderates.

[Prodemsouth]

8. Yes I am more Radical, if you call being angry at what going on

around me. I still consider myself pragmatic. I will not give them the victory of pushing me into a "more extreme" position. I will remain steadfast in my views and try to defeat them.

[Mythsaje]

9. I thought I was fairly moderate...

Wife's a Libertarian. I was a bit radical when I was younger, but I thought I'd mellowed.

Apparently not. These people would make Ghandi want to kick some ass.

It's the woeful ignorance, really. Dubya's a fuckup. The whole administration is accomplishing exactly one thing--putting money into the pockets of their campaign contributors and controllers. Same with the Congress-critters. Only a few of them are willing to risk their necks for OUR sake. Mostly the Black Caucus, bless their hearts.

I want to hear the Democrats in Congress (there IS no opposition party, as such, since most of the opposition up until now has been half-hearted at best. The Republicans march in near-lockstep while the Democrats vote for and against the same bills...bills we really couldn't afford, to be honest. And by we I mean us, the little guy.

I've always tended a little rightward, I thought, because I don't trust government to have all the answers, though it damn well wants us to think so. But the right also pisses me off because they seem to trust business and corporations to have all the answers, and I think they're a more irresponsible lot with the rest of us than government was--up until now.

Bush's regime has ramped up government AND corporate power to highs not enjoyed since the fifties. I despise this web of deceit and doublespeak more than I can say...and I'm pretty good at sayin'.

[Zomby Woof]

10. The Reagan regime did that

I was 13 when he took over, and in college when he left office. Bush just toughens me for the crap which was seeded 20 years ago.

[Stinky The Clown]

12. I'm more angered than radicalized

I still pretty much hold opinions I've held for a long time. I'm not all that changed by these bozos.

But I am PISSED. Like I have never felt anger.

So, is chaneling that anger radicalization?

I don't honestly know. :shrug:

[Dez]

13. I have become more political

but I don't think it's radicalized me.. I'm alrady so far left, I'm off the scale, but chimpie's not responsible for that.

Now, I write my Senators, even if they're Repukes. I pray I can win the Power Ball so I can flee to Canada, and say adios to this country. There is no way to fight the evils that are in motion. They have all the power, and the Dems are fucking pussies, only concerned about their next election. I see many dark days ahead for this country, and I'd rather not be here to see the shit really hit the fan.

[melody]

15. yes, amen and absolutely

Coming here every day (along with watching the Daily Show and listening to Air America) are my pick-me-ups from right-wing madness. I've become overwhelmingly radicalized in the face of this insanity.

[JanMichael]

16. I'm about ten years older than you and YES!

I took about the same slide Left and haven't seemed to stop...

[Cats Against Frist]

17. It's radicalized me, in a different way --

but radicalized me, nonetheless. I WAS a state socialist for about ten years, after being raised in a Dem household. The GOP, however, and the lack of response from the Dem party first turned me into a Green, and now have turned me into a small-l libertarian. I, like Grover Norquist, consider bi-partisanship "date rape,' and would prefer to wash my hands of all wingnuts -- meaning that I am for de-centralization, in the hopes that I don't have to live my life, under the whim of the most poorly naturally selected amongst us. I used to believe in God, and left-wing authoritarian liberalism. I'm now an athiest, a post-modernist and a libertarian.

The Bush admin, despite their squawking about "absolutes," has proven only one thing to me -- that this is truly a postmodern age, in which we live, that there is no "consensus," that the powerful shape government and discourse, and that the vast majority of people are stupid. Is it elitist? Sure. The founders were elitist -- the "enlightened," as opposed to the "non-enlightened." The GOP Ivory Tower are milking the unenlightened for all they're worth. Do I want to be a part of it? No. Do I think that they'll ever "compromise" with me? FUCK NO.

Do I have the desire to fight, exhaustively, to create a huge, distant bureaucracy and police state, vest it with the power to bestow and remove rights, at will -- to help the middle class save themselves? Fuck no. Particularly when it can be usurped by corrupt and dangerous people. I only have one life, and the only thing crazier than libertarianism is to think that you're going to unite a bunch of backwater, human capital, who find their strength, to go on, from the Tale of the Flying Spaghetti Monster under Jesse Jackson's Rainbow and the IWW flag.

I've come to believe that there is no problem that cannot be solved by people helping themselves, and others, directly. That all of us should be responsible for our choices, and look at what we're buying, what we're buying into, for whom we choose to labor, and whose side we stand on, with our fellow humans. There are problems, of course, with de-centralization -- namely that concentration of wealth has, traditionally, advanced technology -- but I think "baby steps."

So, yeah -- most of my Democratic friends FREAKED OUT when they heard I went libertarian, on them, but the more I explain it, the more they understand. It's about thinkng locally and acting locally. Making government about YOU, rather than investing it in a distant, all-powerful bureaucracy. It's not "conservative" either, because I'm willing to completely re-organize society, including the definition of family, of romantic love -- and I want to withhold my help from no one, in the interest of saving them from some batshit metaphorical spiritual destiny.

It's long. It was a long process, to change. It took me about six months of internal turmoil, to parse it through, and make the philosophical change.

So yeah -- going from state socialist to minarchist is pretty radical.

[0rganism]

18. I would say it's done the opposite to me

Before bushII, I was a hardcore socialist, a registered Green, with a strong belief in central government's ability to regulate industry and prevent market abuses.

Then the people of America accepted bush, allowed him to steal the election, and even flocked to kiss his sorry incompetent ass when terrorists attacked in 2001. Worse yet, Americans rallied behind him for an invasion of a sovereign nation which had done NOTHING to us, and nothing to any of our allies for over a decade. The press proved itself complicit beyond my wildest dreams in propping up the false accusations and baseless claims that justified the invasion of Iraq. Nary an eyelash was batted as bushco proceeded to loot the treasury on behalf of his rich friends. And things just continued to deteriorate, with every idiotic failure of administration policy spun as a temporary setback or unavoidable necessity.

The sheer Orwellian weight of the bullshit crushed my radical spirit. Operation Iraqi Liberation which led to the semi-permanent military occupation of Iraq, endless "Tax Relief" for the people least needing financial assistance, the Clear Skies Initiative that allows air polluters greater emissions latitude than before, a Healthy Forests Plan that could be more aptly named a No Forests Plan, and on and on it went. All the while, the media whores kissed republican arse, and my fellow Americans ate it up like sugar-coated dungnuggets.

All this has given me a healthy appreciation for, of all things, a more libertarian point of view of government. You see, the republicans, as they gained total control of the federal government, have managed to transform it into every bit as loathsome an agency as they said it was before the 2000 election. Now it's me who grimaces when signing my federal tax forms; I simply hate the fact that my hard-earned money is going to a band of freakishly powerful crooks who deal us corruption, croneyism, and authoritarian policies as if they were bridge hands.

I have lost all trust in my national government, and worse yet, in my fellow citizens' abilities to discern a spoiled liar from a Vietnam-era hero. Consequently, I would prefer as little involvment as possible from this bunch of ruinous thugs, rather than their habitual pattern of fucking everything up more than it already was. In the wake of Katrina's devastation, I have to ask myself if FEMA's intervention was not itself more detrimental than having NOTHING AT ALL! There were plenty of people from other municipalities or the private sector ready to jump in and rescue trapped New Orleans residents, offer them supplies, or provide medical assistance, turned away by FEMA in an act of what I now suspect to be covert ethnic cleansing through forced inaction.

I cannot foresee a time when the United States can have honest, open elections -- if we ever had them at all! And even if the mechanisms of democracy were operational, Plato's critique rings loud in my inner ears. The American People are vulnerable to demagoguery, susceptible to propaganda, shallow and unscientific in our analyses, rude and jingoistic to foreigners. How can we have a strong, effective central government without lapsing into episodes of ruthlessness, imperialism, and nepotism?

In short, until there comes a time where the people of my country are smart enough to recognize bullshit when they see it, and brave enough not to stand for it when it sits in the oval office, I would prefer to engage as little central government as possible.

[DemGirl7]

19. I went from being a moderate Dem. to a Liberal Dem.

Around the time of the Clinton years I was a teen and considered myself moderate Democrat, who really wasn't so obsessed with politics, even though I knew more politics than the average person. By the time of Gore v. Bush, I was about to turn 18, and I've became both obessed with politics and had turned more into a liberal Democrat. I'm still consider myself a Liberal Democrat, and I can't stand Republicans...especially the fundie wing of the party. Which has inspired me to take up American Politics as my major in college.

[Mein Bush]

20. The rot really set in as a consequence of JFK's assassination.

Truman has been quoted as saying that the worst thing he did was sign the CIA into law.

Eisenhower warned of the dark powers behind the military industrial complex.

Lee Harvey Oswald was a complete patsy.

As long as there is not a full accounting of the right-wing-freak show behind this murder, this counrty will never be free.

[texanwitch]

21. I was born radical.

[Jamison]

22. I've been told that I was born radical.

[texanwitch]

23. I have Irish, Scottish, and Native American ancestors, that's a hell of a

mix.

[LuCifer]

26. SAME HERE!

Throw in some German & Dutch for good measure and ya got me!

Well, I'll tell y'all this much, I was anti-gun as fuck before Asshole stole the White House with his Supreme KKKount jerks in Dec. 2000, but after that, I will state empatically I WILL NEVER GO WITHOUT FIREPOWER AGAIN! They might have bigger badder crap that I, but I ain't going out like that with no fight! Funnt how the "black hellicopper crowd" in the 90's all thought that Clinton was gonna do all the shit DUMBya is now...idiots! WAKE UP NITWITS!!!

Lu

[Mutley]

28. I've got the Irish and Scottish...

also some British, and a smattering of a few other European countries in there too.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

24. Not radicalized me, so much as multiplied my determination.

[Mutley]

27. Yes.

My story is much like yours. I think I'm only a few years younger than you based on the time line you gave. I was 10 when the first Gulf War broke out, and much like you I liked watching the coverage on TV. It seemed so exotic to me, and I had never seen much, or thought of, the Middle East before.

Through the early 90's I hardly thought about politics at all. I'd listen to my Dad's rants about GB part one, and just think that was boring adult stuff. And in the later 90's, I thought the lynch mob going after Clinton was ridiculous. I didn't know much about Clinton, except my Dad liked him, but I remember thinking that going after a president over a BJ was childish and pointless. I figured that should be between Bill and Hillary, it wasn't the rest of the country's business.

Then, leading up to the 2000 elections, I decided that since I would be voting in my first Presidential election I should make myself informed. I knew my Dad was a Liberal Democrat, but I wanted to decide for myself. After reading up on the basic ideologies of both sides I decided that the Democrats spoke more for my own personal beliefs, so I voted for Gore. For a couple days after the election I didn't pay much attention. I still wasn't that interested in politics, and I figured that I'd done my part. But as more and more news about the debacle in Florida came out, the more glued to my TV set I became. Hence, another political junkie was born (and a very Liberal one at that).

Since then, the more information about the GOP I get the further left I lean. Had all that nonsense in Florida never happened, I might just be another uninformed American who doesn't care about politics. But because I recognized what was happening to my country I knew I had to do what I could to help stop it from falling.

My Dad told me about DU in late 2003, and I lurked occasionally, but at the time I was more interested in the political debate chat rooms on Yahoo (instant gratification, you know?). Then, as last year's election approached I started lurking a lot more, because I found that I could get a lot more information here than the chat room. I signed up just after the election, and have been here ever since.

[Dem Agog]

29. It has radicalized many of my family...

It really radicalized me. It's also radicalized my father, more than ever. And my stepsister - I have to hand it to Bush. I never admired her so much as when I found out she had volunteered to work on the Kerry campaign. Our unity against Bush healed a decade-long mild rift.

It's radicalized my husband a little bit. He was apolitical when I met him. Now he still thinks I'm a little extreme, but he's selling his sports car and we're buying a Prius and carpooling to work now.

[ComerPerro]

30. I think it only seems that way, because they have shifted "center" so far

to the right.