Culture war misdirection

[Bgno64]

http://blogs.lancasteronline.com/smartremarks/2010/12/18/culture-war-misdirection/">Smart Remarks:

OK, can I call BS on this whole “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” business?

Don’t get me wrong: I think it’s wonderful that gay men and women will now be able to openly serve in the armed forces. I think the arguments against this were wrongheaded, on the wrong side of both history and common sense. It’s a step forward for civil society, it accords gay servicemen and women the respect they deserve, it’s a cultural milestone.

But all that said, I can’t help but feel that this amounts to a whole lot of sound and fury, signifying damned little.

What a great idea for Obama and the Democrats, who lost their base in the whole keep-the-Bush-tax-cuts-for-the-wealthy business. See - culturally, they’re on our side! So what if they continue to serve money and power at the expense of the average American? ...

--snip--

Cultural issues, the culture war, was once of great importance to me. It no longer is, because it’s become clear to me that culture war is one way those in power - Republicans and Democrats - distract the electorate, so that the vacuum and the policies designed to suck the wealth upward keep on operating, even as you and I scream about gays or a “Ground Zero” mosque or abortion.

The biggest, most important issues in the life of this nation are economic. The great and widening inequality; the “austerity” to come, and who shall be saddled with it; our debt, both at the personal and federal level; and how all of this will affect our communities.

As noted, I think it’s great that Obama will now sign a bill allowing gays to serve openly in the military. Good for him; it’s the right thing to do.

But there are a lot of other right things that he needs to do. And soon, too.

[Hello_Kitty]

1. It's easy to be dismissive of the culture wars when you are not the target of any of them

As pissed off as I am with Pres. Obama and the Dems about several things I will never not vote or vote 3rd party or R. Abortion isn't a distraction for me. It's about women's basic rights and freedoms. There are places on earth right now where women don't have access to abortion and contraception. They're not nice places.

[silverweb]

2. Every step forward counts.

Repealing DADT is just one of many such steps needed.

That being said, why disparage or minimize any progress in the right direction?

I call BS on the whole "but it's not enough" business.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. It's both.

A civil rights victory and sound and fury.

The sad thing is that it was a political chip played to get upper tier tax cuts.

The former taking precedence.

[hay rick]

4. From the article:

What a great idea for Obama and the Democrats, who lost their base in the whole keep-the-Bush-tax-cuts-for-the-wealthy business. See - culturally, they’re on our side! So what if they continue to serve money and power at the expense of the average American?

Gays can serve; great. Meanwhile, the banks are asking the Fed to curb homeowner’s rights, trying to make it harder for a borrower to exercise his “right of rescission”:

<snip>

The article, as opposed to the OP, is mostly about rescission rights. DADT is a headline issue, but how many people will be directly affected by its repeal? It's quite possible that the number of gays who would be directly affected by a loss of rescission rights and end up losing their property in foreclosure is greater than the number of gays who will directly benefit from the repeal of DADT.

If the Democrats do nothing about maintaining rescission rights, who are they really looking out for?

[Bgno64]

5. Bingo

[bemildred]

6. Yep, we've been thrown a bone, but it is welcome nonetheless, a sign that we DO have power. nt