The Partisan Divide on Issues

[Bob Butler 54]

(08-14-2020, 07:38 PM)Classic-Xer Wrote:

(08-14-2020, 05:40 PM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote:

(08-14-2020, 04:26 PM)Classic-Xer Wrote: As I recall, the Democratic group that started the last Civil War with America lost just about everything.

I would say the last civil war the rural racist faction lost just about everything.  The side for democracy, human rights and equality came out ahead.  The Republicans switched and picked up the racist vote around Nixon’s time, just as whey went from isolationists to strong on defense world policemen.  Parties flip flop on various issues.  If you don’t want to seem ignorant,  you learn these things.  You can’t take credit for Lincoln anymore.

(08-14-2020, 04:26 PM)Classic-Xer Wrote: As I've said, Trump represents the entire American right these days.

Not the entire right.  Biden picked up quite a few, so that’s one faction.  There is the Tea Party base which has become Trump’s base and the establishment which doesn’t dare stand against him.  It seems we have two years at least to see how the Republicans come out of the COVID deaths and Black Lives Matter values change.  I think it will be like previous 4Ts with the old racist and elitist biases purged form the main line conservatives, but it has to happen.

I'm sorry but I am still associated with the party of Lincoln and the USA.

The old time Lincoln Republicans as well as being the party of the abolitionists were for industrial development, the climax of the industrial revolution.  At that time they were the progressives.  They were against the agriculture landowners of the south, against the slaveowners thus against the old culture.  I would have been with the Republicans had I lived then.  They wanted to move forward but the south was holding them back.  Development would mean more free states, threaten the slave economy, thus there was a big conflict between Agricultural Age and Industrial Age thinking.  

They soon became the robber barons and opposed the workers.  As Jim Crow went in, the Republicans stopped thinking race an important issue.  I am not a fan of the Republicans as they were in the Gilded Age.  For much of the Gilded Age, both parties had progressive and conservative wings.  They were loyal to their civil war heritages more than the progressive vs conservative relatively 'unimportant' issue.

That is one place where the Republicans have been consistent.  They have always had a robber baron - elite stance.  They have varied on race and varied on isolationism, but they have stayed with their wall street and corporation loyalty.  Well, almost always.  The Tea Party began to dislike the Republican Establishment and tried to shake off loyalty to the elites, but ended up giving their loyalty to the biggest alligator in the swamp.  They took a big step back.

I could sympathize with the conservatives if they made a point of getting rid of their elitist and racist tendency.  Trump exemplifies both.  You haven't often advocated either.  I can hope they get rid of the elitist, racist and Trump factions and become an honorable opposition someday.

But to a great degree today's GOP is not what it was in Lincoln's time, nor are the Democrats.  Much has changed.  I know this should require you to learn a little of the history, but Lincoln's and Trump's time were quite different.