rasdsm

Wow, what an absolute slacker I am. I've been a member since November of 2003 and am just now posting my first journal entry. Its almost been a week now since the election and what can I say... having voted for Bush I'm sure I'm outnumbered by about a million to one on this site. I won't get into my reasons because right now they don't matter. I can't say that I'm not surprised in the outcome though. Living in Philadelphia (Kerry Country) and watching the news you would think that Kerry was going to win by a landslide. But that didn't happen. Now all I hear is how the "Christian right" is "hijacking" the country. I'm not one of the Christian right, but here is my take on it. 59,000,000 plus people thought that Bush was the right man for the job. 22% of polled voters thought that "moral values" were most important to them in their decision. So obviously the "Christian right" isn't "hijacking" the country.

Suggestions for the Left:

1.
Find a way to persuade the 22% of the country that believes moral values are the most important issue to them that moral values should not be the most important issue. Now, you'll never catch me saying that the Left has the right answers for solving this countries problems, whether economic or social, but I'm sure they could find a way to convince some of the voters, especially in the midwest and south that they are the party for them. Myself, on the other hand, will never be convinced, but you can try to convince them.

2.
Stand for something. No, really, I mean it. Stand for something, anything. Controversial, polarizing, whatever. Make yourself the opposition party, not the party whose candidate looks completely ridiculous in a hunting outfit 2 weeks before the election. The gun rights people are NOT going to vote for you. They are out of play. I'm tired of the political choices in this country being as different as Coke and Pepsi. So next time how about a candidate who is pro Gay marriage, anti-gun, anti-war, pro-choice, for social programs, against big business (I mean it, come on Theresa HEINZ Kerry?), someone you can honestly say is everything that Bush isn't. I wouldn't vote for him, but he would be a million times more interesting.

3.
Or maybe do exactly the opposite, do what the Labour party in Britain has done and simply take over the ideas and policies of the Conservatives (at least to a degree where they can pass their agenda). For an interesting read check out
New Labour and Thatcherism by Richard Heffernan.

Okay, I'm done.