Who supports Bush's sinking ship?

[HomerRamone]

'Who supports Bush's sinking ship?'

By Keith Gottschalk, The Rabble

<...>

Greed — In his refusal to raise taxes or rescind tax cuts for the rich to pay for the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast, Bush again highlights a main reason for his core support. The plutocracy of America believes that Bush will let them keep more of their stash than certainly any so-called “tax and spend” liberal (I know, the irony is striking, isn't it?). And let's face it, when you have a movie figure like Gordon Gekko of Wall Street fame turned into a cultural icon by Donald Trump for defending greed, it should not be surprising that even go-to-church Christians who believe God helps those who help themselves, believe in George W. Bush's version of economic Darwinism. <...>

Racism — It is no secret that America has wrestled with its racist legacy since Columbus first set foot in the New World. And while many people were aghast at the racism inherent in the Federal government's response in New Orleans, there were many others who silently applauded. After all — why should we go to the trouble of rescuing people who “live like that” anyway? <...>

Homophobia — <...> Middle America uses Canada as the bogeyman for what would become of God's United States should the homosexuals be allowed to desecrate marriage (50 per cent divorce rate), flaunt their sexuality (any U.S. prime time TV show) or come after their children (like military recruiters and Catholic priests). (subgroups: sexism, sex phobia, identity disorders).

Militarism — <...> In our culture, military service is wrapped up in the myth of patriotism. It is seen as a rite of passage, proof of love of country, and a way to also prove one's masculinity. Remember George C. Scott's soliloquy in the movie Patton? Also, it is a direct consequence of the mythology of envy, which produces the hoary canard that other nations “hate us for our freedoms.” When Bush was filmed in the flight jacket on that carrier (“mission accomplished”), his core supporters, far from snickering, shed a tear. This is the ideal of the true American — a warrior for truth and justice who will keep the world safe for our rapacious consumerist lifestyle at the business end of a rifle. Peace, love and understanding is for liberal losers in our society. Also remember how many Americans owe their livelihood to the military-industrial complex. Bush is clearly their man. (subgroups: patriotism/Chauvinism, masculine overcompensation, anger issues).

And finally,

Religiosity — <...> Does any thinking person really believe Bush when he calls himself a practicing Christian? Not really. But he plays the game well enough that Christian conservatives can wrap him in the cloak of good intentions and claim him and that's good enough for many American Christians, many of whom believe Bush to be a Godly man because he says he is. (Why they didn't believe Clinton when he said he was is another matter).

<...> I believe these to be the basic explanations for the 35 per cent hardcore support of Bush. Sadly, so many of our destructive tendencies are so deeply inculcated, I don't expect the American people to change anytime soon, barring the Second Coming or another Great Depression.

Reprinted from The Rabble:
http://www.rabble.ca/politics.shtml?x=42166

The URL for this story is:
http://www.SmirkingChimp.com/article.php?sid=22988

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. I support sinking it. or its sinking. Your choice.

the sooner the better.

[pretzel4gore]

2. i never quite understood the cliche ' an unexamined life

is not worth living' before....keith's article make clear what the statement really means...no one is 'bad' or evil by choice; they do it by ignoring evidence etc