NationStates Jolt Archive

Uptight, Unfriendly, Christian, Old, Male, White, Sexually Closed, Regressive, Socially Oppressive

These are a few of the words that one would be likely to sum up in response to being asked to personify the American Right.

But by the time my generation is old enough to be in power, that will have changed.

Today, to personify a youthful member of the American Right is difficult if impossible.

Uptight, Unfriendly? We may play sports during the week, while going out on the weekend, socializing, only to retire to a room with a Bob Marley poster on the wall to smoke a joint while listening to Eminem's new album.

Christian? In a generation that has grown up much less religious, religiosity is hardly something that many of us would use to personify ourselves. Much more likely would it be that we keep our religion to ourselves, as a private matter. Much more likely are we to tolerate, if at the very least due to apathy, religions unlike ours. Partially because we probably weren't raised as religious as our parents, and partially because we know so many other good people who don't follow the same religion as we do, that we find ourselves much less apt to be critical intolerant of different faiths.

Old, White, Male? In my generation, the taboo that Conservatism, as in the beleif in promoting personal freedom and liberty from government while valuing economic progress, may once have been for women and minorities fades with each passing day. These are concepts that are multi-racial, multi-national and that many in our youth can embrace, even if they don't yet realize it due to the common view of the current Republican Party as unpopular and tainted.

Sexually Closed? We view abstinence only sex-ed as a joke, an unrealistic anachronism. We think it's cool (for better or for worse) to have sex with multiple partners and do not beleive it to be morally corruptive to have sex before marriage. Sex is viewed as something fun and natural.

Regressive? We, unlike the Conservatives of old, view our best days as being ahead of us, and are ultimately and infinitely progressive and optimistic. We seek progress, and were raised on the hopes and dreams of adventure through the galaxy in order to meet other life-forms, pushed by the ever-expanding human drive for new, cutting edge technology.

Socially Oppressive? We realize that we all have our likes and dislikes, but that everyone should be allowed the freedom to live the lifestyle they choose as long as it doesn't hurt other individuals. We find the idea of police invading one's privacy in order to seperate homosexuals from commiting sodomy as ridiculous as police breaking into our private property in order to stop us from smoking a joint or watching porn. We understand that a government that denies rights to its citizens, whether the right to marry one's fellow man (see what I did there? ;)) or the right to privacy, is only denying the nation it presides over the lost potential of those citizens who, instead of focusing their energy towards the betterment of society, must instead direct their energy towards fighting for freedoms the government has not granted them. The man who could have cured cancer had he been allowed all his rights instead re-directed his time and energy and took to the streets in order to campaign for same-sex marriage. We realize that it is criminal, illogical and irrational to misdirect our citizen's ambitions by taking freedoms away from them.

We will be a force to be reckoned with in the future, and will revolutionize the appearance of the American Right in a way that the older generations simply cannot yet fathom.


http://www.bostonflagco.com/khxc/media/ccp0/prodsm/God_Bless_America.gif

Team up with these guys:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b383/DrkHelmet/Forum%20Pictures/kkk.jpg

The American Right is under going a shift.
The Younger generation is more libertarian in outlook.
The older generation still is in charge, and the reason the conservatives lost the election last time is the younger generation got pissed and either didn't come to the polls or voted for the other team.

It will likely take 5 to 10 years for the younger generation to assert itself.

TAI, keep in mind that many of the republicans with that liberal viewpoint have switched, becoming either independent or a democrat.

The American Right is under going a shift.
The Younger generation is more libertarian in outlook.
The older generation still is in charge, and the reason the conservatives lost the election last time is the younger generation got pissed and either didn't come to the polls or voted for the other team.

It will likely take 5 to 10 years for the younger generation to assert itself.
^ This ^

All the way.

TAI, keep in mind that many of the republicans with that liberal viewpoint have switched, becoming either independent or a democrat.
The current Republican Party is out of touch, no doubt.

My point is that my generation of right-wingers are different . . . and the American Right will look highly different once we become a little bit older.

And my point is that, based on your first post, you're not right wing. Don't view this as an insult; it's not.

And my point is that, based on your first post, you're not right wing. Don't view this as an insult; it's not.

I'd argue that my view of Conservatism, highly popular amongst the younger generations, is simply under-represtend in our government.

I think TAI is correct. Many conservatives have had it up to here with the neocon morons currently running the Republican party. I figure we'll either take over the Republicans again and kick out the Religious fuckwits, or make a new party and consign the GOP to the scrapheap.

I think TAI is correct. Many conservatives have had it up to here with the neocon morons currently running the Republican party. I figure we'll either take over the Republicans again and kick out the Religious fuckwits, or make a new party and consign the GOP to the scrapheap.
I'd put my money on internal thought-revolution in the Republican Party.

America isn't so much about forming new parties. Well, maybe we used to be, but in recent history it has been more about changes in the political trends of the current parties.

I'm fine with that. What the Republican Party stands for, I have no problem with. What the Republican Party is being used for, I can draw more than a few issues with.

What the Republican Party stands for, I have no problem with. What the Republican Party is being used for, I can draw more than a few issues with.
What the Republican Party does IS what the Republican Party stands for. That is, all those things you spent the OP insisting you want nothing to do with. The name "Republican" has just become sheer poison to too many people. I would like to see a new right-of-center party, standing for "rightist" causes in areas like the economy and national defense, but without the morality policing and the international adventurism, but the morality police and the neocons have too tight a grip on the Republicans for me to think that the type of socially libertarian, internationally cautious, but still fiscally/economically conservative style of political thought you are aiming toward has any future in the GOP.

What the Republican Party does IS what the Republican Party stands for. That is, all those things you spent the OP insisting you want nothing to do with. The name "Republican" has just become sheer poison to too many people. I would like to see a new right-of-center party, standing for "rightist" causes in areas like the economy and national defense, but without the morality policing and the international adventurism, but the morality police and the neocons have too tight a grip on the Republicans for me to think that the type of socially libertarian, internationally cautious, but still fiscally/economically conservative style of political thought you are aiming toward has any future in the GOP.

All the morality police types are old.
The Future of the republican party lies with people like Meghan McCain.
Besides if the Democrats can come back after starting the Civil war then the republicans can come back after this.

The American Right is under going a shift.
The Younger generation is more libertarian in outlook.
The older generation still is in charge, and the reason the conservatives lost the election last time is the younger generation got pissed and either didn't come to the polls or voted for the other team.

It will likely take 5 to 10 years for the younger generation to assert itself.

Not necessarily a younger faction I'd say, but a more socially aware and concerned faction. The growing division in the American right is between economic and social libertarians, with the more traditional Economy-Lib being unable to reflect the changing racial and social make up of the US. Over here in the UK we're seeing the same thing, with the Conservative party being committed to concepts like social welfare by David Cameron, and a large number of Tories who are from an older generation than him. The future of the Republican party lies with an American Cameron who will incorporate the ideas the people support and want - an acceptance of climate change's existence, improved healthcare and other public services, a peaceful solution to the middle east and so on. This doesn't require a younger generation.

I don't know. People tend to get more socially conservative as they get older. So if you think about it, whats to say the younger lot won't just end up like the older folks, and that as they interact with the larger party and the more intolerant elements they'll pick up some of their values?

I don't know. People tend to get more socially conservative as they get older. So if you think about it, whats to say the younger lot won't just end up like the older folks, and that as they interact with the larger party and the more intolerant elements they'll pick up some of their values?
Source that says people 'get more socially conservative' as they get older?

I'd bet that they don't actually get more socially conservative (though they do get more economically conservative), but rather they aren't as socially leftist as the youth who are more likely to embrace new social ideas that didn't exist when those hypothetical elders were young. . .

It will likely take 5 to 10 years for the younger generation to assert itself.

But by then they won't be the younger generation. :p

So... you're going to be liberals without social welfare programs, comprehensive health care, education and retirement systems, and tax breaks for small businesses?

I'd bet that they don't actually get more socially conservative (though they do get more economically conservative), but rather they aren't as socially leftist

I bet people don't get older with time, but rather they aren't as chronologically young.

Source that says people 'get more socially conservative' as they get older?

I'd bet that they don't actually get more socially conservative (though they do get more economically conservative), but rather they aren't as socially leftist as the youth who are more likely to embrace new social ideas that didn't exist when those hypothetical elders were young. . .

So they don't get more conservative, they just get less liberal?

So they don't get more conservative, they just get less liberal?

They dont 'get more' Conservative, they are just less liberal than the next youth-generation, which will almost always be more liberal than the youth-generation that follows.

In comparison, they 'get more' economically conservative, because they start working and supporting a family and studies have shown that that makes one more economically conservative.

a room with a Bob Marley poster on the wall to smoke a joint while listening to Eminem's new album.

the future is going to be full of pretentious white middle class college boys*? and who's this we I keep hearing about

oh an look I can plaster an international forum with jingoism too only I win because we have Fearne Cotton:

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/3125/cottongin.jpg

*on the plus side at least che is gone but then thats more of a T-shirt thing

oh an look I can plaster an international forum with jingoism too only I win because we have Fearne Cotton:

<snip hottie>

*on the plus side at least che is gone but then thats more of a T-shirt thing

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b383/DrkHelmet/Forum%20Pictures/clinton-hit-it.jpg

SNIP

pfft shes not a hottie shes a cutie *folds arms and lifts nose in a snooty manner* (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69f_ujtNQj4)

Besides if the Democrats can come back after starting the Civil war then the republicans can come back after this.
The problem didn't start in 1860; the country had been torn apart for a decade already. It was the Whigs who screwed it up irretrievably, and no, they did not come back.

The problem didn't start in 1860; the country had been torn apart for a decade already. It was the Whigs who screwed it up irretrievably, and no, they did not come back.

So your saying the Whigs encouraged slavery and demanded it expand into every newly acquired territory?

So... you're going to be liberals without social welfare programs, comprehensive health care, education and retirement systems, and tax breaks for small businesses?

No, we're going to be small-government conservatives out to give EVERYONE tax breaks by reducing the size and power of the Federal Government and leaving Health Care, Education and Social Welfare where they belong: with the States.

So your saying the Whigs encouraged slavery and demanded it expand into every newly acquired territory?

No, the Whigs made the mistake of avoiding the problem for thirty years with more and more misaimed "compromises" rather than actually trying to get a resolution.

No, the Whigs made the mistake of avoiding the problem for thirty years with more and more misaimed "compromises" rather than actually trying to get a resolution.

So your saying the whigs should have demanded the end of slavery in the 1830's. When the democrats held a majority in Congress? And a 2 to 1 majority in the senate ??

And I am counting form 1837 because the Whigs didn't have anyone in congress before then.

So your saying the whigs should have demanded the end of slavery in the 1830's. When the democrats held a majority in Congress? And a 2 to 1 majority in the senate ??

And I am counting form 1837 because the Whigs didn't have anyone in congress before then.

No, that would have been stupid. You do what you can. But you can't tell me that a number of the "compromises" and "deals" they worked out, that let slavery flourish and even expand under whig-controlled congresses, weren't the result of a lack of willingness to tackle the problem head on and actually deal with it.

Of course, the Democratic party could also be singled out for this criticism - they also always stopped short of pushing for a final decision.

Political problems don't go away if ignored. If either side had had the gumption to make a choice and go for it, the Civil War could have been avoided. Or it might have happened twenty years earlier. But either way, there would have been a resolution instead of year on weary year of national indecision.

No, that would have been stupid. You do what you can. But you can't tell me that a number of the "compromises" and "deals" they worked out, that let slavery flourish and even expand under whig-controlled congresses, weren't the result of a lack of willingness to tackle the problem head on and actually deal with it.

Of course, the Democratic party could also be singled out for this criticism - they also always stopped short of pushing for a final decision.

Political problems don't go away if ignored. If either side had had the gumption to make a choice and go for it, the Civil War could have been avoided. Or it might have happened twenty years earlier. But either way, there would have been a resolution instead of year on weary year of national indecision.

The Whigs only controlled both houses congress for two years. And they had a president that was hostile to them after the first month.

The democrats who controlled congress the other 20 of those 30 years are by far the culpable.

The American Right is under going a shift.
The Younger generation is more libertarian in outlook.
The older generation still is in charge, and the reason the conservatives lost the election last time is the younger generation got pissed and either didn't come to the polls or voted for the other team.

It will likely take 5 to 10 years for the younger generation to assert itself.

Looks to me that you and TAI would like the US right-wing to become more -let's say- The-Moon-is-a-harsh-mistress-ish or Friday-ish.

Well, while I certainly do NOT like the such economical theories, that would be far better than the current authoritarian mainstream of the Busheviks.

The problem is that there will always be authoritarians and idiots around - on the left wing, on the right wing, and on the centre - and maybe this new American Right you're speaking of will need a totally new Party.

We will be a force to be reckoned with in the future, and will revolutionize the appearance of the American Right in a way that the older generations simply cannot yet fathom.

Congratulations.

Looks to me that you and TAI would like the US right-wing to become more -let's say- The-Moon-is-a-harsh-mistress-ish or Friday-ish.

Well, while I certainly do NOT like the such economical theories, that would be far better than the current authoritarian mainstream of the Busheviks.

The problem is that there will always be authoritarians and idiots around - on the left wing, on the right wing, and on the centre - and maybe this new American Right you're speaking of will need a totally new Party.

Authoritarianism comes with the party being in power.
Something about being in charging making people think you should be able to do what you want.

I don't know. People tend to get more socially conservative as they get older. So if you think about it, whats to say the younger lot won't just end up like the older folks, and that as they interact with the larger party and the more intolerant elements they'll pick up some of their values?I seriously doubt that, Intolerance is like Brainwashing, you have to do it while young. If by 20 they don't care about gays getting married, they won't care by 40... Unless they become a fundi "Born again".

Right now though NO ONE likes the intolerant elements, they call the Republican Youth RINOs because they won't support the Social Conservative Agenda.

Authoritarianism comes with the party being in power.

Not totally true. Some parties here in Italy have kept authoritarian even when they were sitting on the opposition.


Something about being in charging making people think you should be able to do what you want.
One-way libertarianism: those sitting on the sofas of power CAN and the others CAN'T. Defines Berlusconi quite well... :rolleyes:

Not totally true. Some parties here in Italy have kept authoritarian even when they were sitting on the opposition.


One-way libertarianism: those sitting on the sofas of power CAN and the others CAN'T. Defines Berlusconi quite well... :rolleyes:
Dont you Italians swap parties every two years ?
I thought he was owned by the banks?

After reading the OP, the only thing that came to mind was this:

Buddy you're a young man hard man
Shoutin' in the street gonna take on the world some day
You got blood on yo' face
You big disgrace
Wavin' your banner all over the place

Looks to me that you and TAI would like the US right-wing to become more -let's say- The-Moon-is-a-harsh-mistress-ish...
I see that you already know about Mike. Are you with us, or against us? :p

I'm with. Long have been. Full Libertarianism is going too far, but a nice shrinkage of government and concomitant greater focus on the individual would be just great, thank you.

I'm with. Long have been. Full Libertarianism is going too far, but a nice shrinkage of government and concomitant greater focus on the individual would be just great, thank you.

3rd parties are always extreme. If they become large of the faction that with in a big part becomes dominate they become less extreme as their base grows.