Re: RAT Re: ralphie boy

[brad rothbart <scrdchao@nni.com>]

>If Nader's few percent give the election to Bush, then The Dems will swing
>back to the left. A vote for Nader is a vote for Nader and a fortified
>Green, but also a vote for the Dem's return to form.
>
>e


 
That's not what history shows, Erik.
  During 12 years of Reagan /Bush/Quayle-  the societal dialogue swung 
so far rightward that what would have been considered Liberal in '76 
was  considered Radical in '88 ( solar energy , for one thing) 
Moderate in '76 became Liberal in '88, Conservative became moderate 
and reactionary  became conservative.  The Democratic Leadership 
Council ( Which spawned  Clinton, Gore, Gephardt, Lieberman....) 
positioned themselves as centrist democrats, when they were actually 
conservative democrats in disguise.  That's why this year's "choice" 
leaves such a bad  taste.  Michael Moore:  "We are reduced to  voting 
against the  Evil of  Two Lessers. "

  As for the argument that  a severe rightward shift in the country 
will re-enegize the Old Left alliances- I haven't seen it. In the 
end, what did Watergate bring us?? More suspicion, more intrusion 
into people's personal lives, pseudo-news...

  The Gulf War  forged new alliances , but they broke down when there 
was nothing to fight against.
 
  Seattle, D.C., and Philadelphias all happened  under Democratic 
administrations.

    To paraphrase General Westmoreland: " This is   a war for the 
hearts and minds of the people. "

  Heard on  NPR yesterday: If they were allowed to vote, 7 out of 10 
high school seniors say they  would vote Republican." !!!!!!!
   We need not to overhaul the political system, but the Consciousness 
that underlies it.

  I think theatre is the perfect tool with which to change consciousness.

--brad