So there I was, in my S2000 (top down) on the way to the store when I was hit by an epiphany. I think I figured out the current group of liberals who control the Democratic party!

Now you have to realize that this is coming from an avowed conservative with a definite bias, but read on.

My version of the modern liberal movement starts with the Baby Boomers. Growing up a liberal in the Kennedy era was much different than what we have now. They battled for equality, workers rights, the right to use contraceptives (anniversary yesterday), and shouted "Power to the People!" Fiscally, however, the Democratic party isn't much different than either party's center now. Even Kennedy had tax cuts to stimulate the economy.

Based on these ideas and ideals, the liberal movement have moved this country to the left socially and economically.

But now that the Boomers are all grown up, there is a strong contingent of them who look back to what they wanted to achieve way back then, and see that we've done that, and MORE. And they don't want abortion on demand for 13 year olds, and they feel like the government doesn't need MORE of their paycheck, and maybe they even think that private social security accounts sound like an interesting idea.

BUT, they come up against those in power in the party, and those others (led by Howard Dean) who say we haven't gone far enough to the left. The phrase "Power to the People!" has been subjugated to become "Let those in power, who know what we're doing, take care of the rest." Edit--And then the disenfranchised dems vote for someone will listen to their concerns.

Now don't get me wrong, the Republicans after 30 years in power may end up looking the same, and we ALL know about 'absolute power', don't we?

My question is: do you agree? And if so, do you think that with the declining wave of Baby Boomers, liberalism as we know it will decline as well?

Ps. I did not put this in the political forum, as I think that we could have civil discourse on this topic in Vintage.

 

I have bowed out of discussing politics here long ago.

However, I will state this:

Our "Leadership"? (meaning the Congress and the Senate) has a long standing record of "unintended consequences".

Also, I believe that as always the "political pendulum" is still swinging and is alive and well. In some ways this creates a self correcting society that adapts with the times.

 

I'm not so sure it was an epiphany so much as it was the sun. Sunstroke is dangerous Cordy. You need to wear a hat when the top is down otherwise you'll continue to have these nightmares.

You haven't figured out the current group of liberals as much as you'd like to think. You're just projecting your own ideas and bias onto a group of people who happen to see things differently than you.

You'd be far better served to worry about the direction of your fellow conservative Republicans. There is a cycle, and even though the conservatives are in power now and the liberals are not, that is liable to change soon. At that point some wiseass liberal might very well have the same epiphany about the conservatives. At least you'll be able to attempt an explaination.

 

At the very least I'm simply opening the floor for discussion. That's not so bad, is it?

So we have one vote for sunstroke...

 

No, not bad at all. Discussion is never bad, I'm just not sure I understand the point.

 

Rob,

By your posts I will surmise that you think I'm a "smartass conservative", and that I was posting just to tweak few liberal teats.

Well yes, I am a smartass, but I still intended my post to be taken seriously. If I hadn't, it would have started out with the words "knock knock."

 

I have NO comment.

I am excercising my right to be "an independent thinker".

 

Who is there?

 

No, not at all. I'm just confused as to why it's so important for you to define what a liberal is and what is wrong with today's liberals. It almost seems as if you're gloating.

My point, and I think Matt made the same point, is that today the conservatives are in power and the world is analyzing the liberals. Tomorrow, the liberals will be in power and the world is going to analyze the conservatives. These things have a tendency to go around and come around. I'm not sure that there is anything wrong with either group except that at any given time one is in power and the other is out of it. If you happen to be in the group that's in power you have the luxury of asking the question, at least until things change.

 

I encourage you to continue thinking about what might be motivating other people to hold their points of view. It's a good habit to get into, and an easy one to get out of (as I relearn from time to time).

Should you wish to look into this in more depth, you might be interested in reading Moral Politics by George Lakoff. I wouldn't say that he has the answers as to what makes the liberals liberals and the conservatives conservatives, but he does shine some interesting light on the questions.

Keep in mind that the basic "liberal v. conservative" political philosophies were pretty much defined in their current form about 300 years ago, so it is unlikely that "the Baby Boomers" are behind it all.