Reparations for enslavement, for jim crow, for redlining, for the drug wars, for shabby public schools, for extra-judicial killings. There's plenty of meat on those culture bones, and it won't be simple. Where do you stand?
A lot of the various culture war issues aren't "winning" issues (and are, in fact, probably losing issues, if they get in power and try to implement them) but they are issues that can be tacked on and that will generate turnout in places. Granted, these places are often reliably red to begin with, but the various culture war issues, while not central in a general election, will shape GoP primary outcomes... and keep some red places from turning purple or blue.
Although it is surprising what things can get legs (as you say). I would have never seen drag queens as an issue, given the history of the form and some of the big names that did it in the past... but here we are.
Undoubtedly, but poor people with limited to no resources make poor decisions, or just accept the state of things. We see it play out in historically impoverished areas all the time. The same concept applies here (see WV). The deep irony of it is given the cultural slant of most of those places you wonтАЩt see Dems or independents being voted in. There will simply be less and less attention paid to local and state government unless things REALLY go off the rails (weтАЩre talking no running water for months level of incompetent). Those red areas are already eroded. The question is will people leave or push for change? I bet no for a very long time (happy to be wrong!). Theyll likely stay stagnant and the state govts continue insanity trend because voter apathy is quite high and tribalism is an addictive drug. I do think thereтАЩs a case for independents and more moderate Dems to actually try. YouтАЩd be surprised what a тАЬsensible governance with no dramaтАЭ message will do when things are bad, but itтАЩs gonna take ages to get past the тАЬR is on the ballot so IтАЩll check this boxтАЭ mentality.
My money (if I were a betting person) would be on pagans: Wiccans, Druids, etc. It would be pretty easy pickings, because many of these people aren't in organized groups that support their members, let alone have any political support. There's still enough of that "Satanic Panic" fear in the air, plus the obvious anti-Christian rhetoric that's possible.
One example: single parents who help each other to raise their kids? It's becoming a thing in some places. Sounds like 'a buncha commies' to me. /s
I agree with J Fricks. The possibilities are endless. They have only scratched the surface on contraceptives because, you know, 'all children are God's children'. Even the ones who haven't been conceived.
The idea I've observed making its way around the lower levels of right-wing media most recently is doing away with no fault divorce. I am not kidding. Look-out for this being taken up on Fox, and in state legislatures soon. Never underestimate the misogyny of these people.
I didn't say anything about winning. I was responding to the comment "I think Republicans have exhausted all culture war topics." My comment was probably misplaced and poorly formed. So much shade to throw, so little time.
I never would've believed this many voters cared about drag queens. Not in a million years would I have guessed this outcome. I don't know what to think any more. It looks like no-fault divorce is the next topic. That one may resonate as men's rights groups have been complaining for years that divorce courts discriminate against them.
Reparations for enslavement, for jim crow, for redlining, for the drug wars, for shabby public schools, for extra-judicial killings. There's plenty of meat on those culture bones, and it won't be simple. Where do you stand?
A lot of the various culture war issues aren't "winning" issues (and are, in fact, probably losing issues, if they get in power and try to implement them) but they are issues that can be tacked on and that will generate turnout in places. Granted, these places are often reliably red to begin with, but the various culture war issues, while not central in a general election, will shape GoP primary outcomes... and keep some red places from turning purple or blue.
Although it is surprising what things can get legs (as you say). I would have never seen drag queens as an issue, given the history of the form and some of the big names that did it in the past... but here we are.
Undoubtedly, but poor people with limited to no resources make poor decisions, or just accept the state of things. We see it play out in historically impoverished areas all the time. The same concept applies here (see WV). The deep irony of it is given the cultural slant of most of those places you wonтАЩt see Dems or independents being voted in. There will simply be less and less attention paid to local and state government unless things REALLY go off the rails (weтАЩre talking no running water for months level of incompetent). Those red areas are already eroded. The question is will people leave or push for change? I bet no for a very long time (happy to be wrong!). Theyll likely stay stagnant and the state govts continue insanity trend because voter apathy is quite high and tribalism is an addictive drug. I do think thereтАЩs a case for independents and more moderate Dems to actually try. YouтАЩd be surprised what a тАЬsensible governance with no dramaтАЭ message will do when things are bad, but itтАЩs gonna take ages to get past the тАЬR is on the ballot so IтАЩll check this boxтАЭ mentality.
My money (if I were a betting person) would be on pagans: Wiccans, Druids, etc. It would be pretty easy pickings, because many of these people aren't in organized groups that support their members, let alone have any political support. There's still enough of that "Satanic Panic" fear in the air, plus the obvious anti-Christian rhetoric that's possible.
One example: single parents who help each other to raise their kids? It's becoming a thing in some places. Sounds like 'a buncha commies' to me. /s
I agree with J Fricks. The possibilities are endless. They have only scratched the surface on contraceptives because, you know, 'all children are God's children'. Even the ones who haven't been conceived.
The idea I've observed making its way around the lower levels of right-wing media most recently is doing away with no fault divorce. I am not kidding. Look-out for this being taken up on Fox, and in state legislatures soon. Never underestimate the misogyny of these people.
I heard there was a movement among some religious Republucans to outlaw birth control.
You heard correct.
Homunculi have a soul!
Oh yeah...God said children must be raised in a family with a male head and a female dishwasher...I'm sure that's written down somewhere.
I didn't say anything about winning. I was responding to the comment "I think Republicans have exhausted all culture war topics." My comment was probably misplaced and poorly formed. So much shade to throw, so little time.
God help us if they win.
I never would've believed this many voters cared about drag queens. Not in a million years would I have guessed this outcome. I don't know what to think any more. It looks like no-fault divorce is the next topic. That one may resonate as men's rights groups have been complaining for years that divorce courts discriminate against them.