The Far Right has always had a grip on America

[ck4829]

I would like to believe that America is a Liberal nation.

This is not true though.

America's Liberalism has come in short lived bursts.

These bursts are beautiful and change America for the better.

They can also be chaotic and people can get hurt before the beauty of this burst of progressivism is truly achieved. And then the Far Right responds to rollback the gains from these little bursts.

Some of these 'bursts' have included:

The End of Slavery.

Suffrage.

The Civil Rights Movement.

The Feminist Movement.

We won't see gains in Stem Cell Research or more Equality for GLBT people until there is another Burst of Progressivism.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. These Terms Are Nebulous....

But I truly believe if you could plot American politics on a football field it would be played within the forty yard lines....

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. As Far As GBLT Rights I Think It's Evolutionary....

There are now solid majorities of Americans who favor civil unions and accept same sex relationships...

[eleny]

2. People have fought for every inch against the greed of the corporatists

[Jawja]

17. True,

but corporations have led the way on civil rights for Gays and Lesbians with Domestic Partner benefits and equality in the workplace.

[Jade Fox]

4. The Christian Right has always been a powerful force in this country...

as well.

There were a couple of decades (60's & 70's) when they were relatively
tamed, but they started making a big comback in the 80's, especially
when the Republicans realized they could be used to get GOP votes.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. The Christian Right Is Still A Minority...

They can't elect someone at the national level...

[Qibing Zero]

12. Hahahaha

That WAS sarcasm, right?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. The Christian Right Was Part Of A Coalition

that included fundamentalist Christians, small business owners, Catholics, and upper income wage earners...

I think the Christian right represnts between 15-20% of the total electorate...

[Qibing Zero]

15. I'm not sure how large the group you're thinking of is,

but the few 'morality' issues that have come up in America recently have enabled them to gain an inproportionately large part of the government.

http://theocracywatch.org

[ck4829]

8. And it's too bad.

I would like to see another one of these bursts in my lifetime.

I'm afraid with the 'christian' Right having so much power that America may never have a moment in Liberalism again.

[DemGirl7]

16. I'm a afraid too

The Christian Right are bunch of scary thugs who do have alot of power in the Republican party and their empires have been building up over time. There's a good Documentary out there called "God On Their Side: George W. Bush and the Rise Of Religious Right" The first half of it details the rise of the Religious right since the 1950's to present in American Politics. It's really scary knowing that they have hijacked the Republican Party, and they actually have power in America. I'm only in my twenties, but I'm really afraid of the direction America is heading in. It's bad enough that the organizations that stand up to these jerks don't have the money to have their own channels but these creeps have the money and the channels that spead the kool-aid...for example with the cable that I get one can watch the 700 Club three times a day...three times a day...yet there is no stuff that counters that BS daily, I'm sick of it really...this really shows that this country has truly gone to hell.

[billbuckhead]

5. John Hancock's big signature was trademark

It was rich people trying to get out of paying taxes and keep their slaves from the beginning. Oh, and to protect property owners wealth with guns.

[NewJeffCT]

6. The New Deal, the Great Society

two other examples of liberalism.

progressive taxation, the environmental movement, the Marshall Plan, the GI Bill...

[KingFlorez]

9. Don't let the right-wing leadership fool you

The leadership does not represent the will of the people. The only reason any of the things you mentioned happened was because of the will of the people. The people of America are very centrist and the right-wing has forced it's way in through extraordinary circumstances.

[obxhead]

10. We need some leaders that can get some MSM time

The above mentioned movements all Had powerful leaders. That is what I feel we are lacking. we've got a great list of fighters already going, (go cindy go) but we need that "I give my life to this cause" powerful leader.

[Qibing Zero]

11. As long as religion keeps trying to force us back in time,

I don't think we're going to be able to see any big time progress. Even those conservatives out there who dislike bush are still pissed off just as much toward anyone trying to push gay rights, abortion, other 'ethics' issues, and that evil thing called science.

Control of the mind is by far the most effective type of control. If you repress thought, ideas, and information, you have basically limitless power.

[melody]

13. sociologists say "conservatives" just coopt "liberal" causes...

If you look at the "conservative" versus "liberal" perspective one hundred years ago, you'll see the "conservatives" now embrace most "liberal" views. It'll take them time to catch up with us again... same old, same old.