A festival of ideas in Aspen!
What fun!
This week's Washington Week was taped there in front of a live audience and included a question and answer session.
One question:
"Has there been a parallel in American history when issues normally reserved for the states, such as who can marry and right to die, that has so driven national politics?"
Of course, the man posing the question was alluding to same-sex marriage and the big, bad Republicans and Terri Schiavo and the federal government becoming involved in trying to save her.
But the answer to his question is YES. There is a parallel.
Prior to 1973, abortion was an issue that was reserved for the states. That changed with Roe v. Wade. The Supreme Court ruled to overturn state laws banning abortion. That ruling effectively stripped power from the states to determine their own abortion statutes.
National politics has been driven by that decision ever since.
An idea came to me when I heard this. I have a question of my own:
Why is it considered valid for the Left to claim that conservatives play politics with issues such as gay marriage, right to die (I prefer "right to kill"), and flag burning, but liberals aren't accused of exploiting issues like abortion and immigration for purely political gain?
The Old Media tries to sell the notion that the libs are so pure and compassionate that their acts can only be viewed as immaculate and noble.
The conservatives, on the other hand, are depicted as sinister, scheming and unprincipled. Supposedly, their actions are not grounded in values, just a quest for power at the expense of the weak and the poor.
That's not a new idea, just a very popular one among liberals.
1 comment:
I don't think that liberalism equals evil.
Stupidity, yes -- but not necessarily evil.
There's an ebb and flow to America. It swings left and then swings right. That won't change.
I think the best strategy is to be involved and work for what you believe in.
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