- Joined
- Sep 28, 2017
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“I’ll tell you what’s at the bottom of it,” he said. “If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.”
--LBJ, speaking privately to his young press secretary (and future legendary biographer and PBS host, Bill Moyer) on the campaign trail in rural Tennessee, during the 1960 presidential campaign, in response to the prevalence of signage featuring vulgar and incendiary racial epithets at his rallies.
As a lifelong conservative Southern Democrat, turned progressive, LBJ understood the mentality of white conservatives. It's the political philosophy that was developed by former Strom Thurmond and Nixon strategist Harry Dent.
To put it all in proper historical context, one must understand that Dent's protégé' during the Nixon years, Kevin Phillips, would go on the be Nixon's chief strategist. Phillips' protégé during the Nixon years (i.e. Lee Atwater) would go on to be Bush, Sr's campaign manager. And Atwater's protégé (i.e. Karl Rove) would go on to be the campaign manager and chief strategist for the W. Bush administration.
Donald Trump's rise, and the entire "MAGA Movement", were built upon exploitation of the "Lowest White Man" principle. And, even in defeat, 48% of the country supported it.
And yet, the TRUTH is that poor and middle class whites AND non-whites actually share the SAME economic needs and interests...and enemies. Democrats understand this. African-Americans understand this. But white conservatives have been duped into voting against their best interests, by the "Boogieman" of Race. LBJ stated it accurately (and best) 60 years ago, but I don't believe many of us believed his words would still ring so true in 2020 America.
So again, it's no secret how and why white middle class (and below) white conservatives consistently vote against their own interests. Racial resentment and fear is the virus that continues to infect America. It's the virus that the wealthy exploit, shamelessly, to maintain power. And it's the virus that prevents America from being living up to its founding ideals. And it's the virus that will (unless confronted and neutralized) will lead to America's downfall as a liberal democracy.
Now, with Trump's defeat and demise...and with Trump's legacy as a failed, one-term, corrupt president ensured....there is, at least, some hope for redemption. But only if liberals, progressives and Never Trumpers grasp the reality that the so-called "Battle for the soul of America" does not end with Trump's defeat at the hands of Biden. After 4 disgraceful, shameful, demoralizing and embarrassing years of Trump's America, if decent Americans do not FINALLY understand (and embrace) the reality that bigots, racists and low-information "deplorables" can only be defeated (and not reformed or reasoned with), America will become the Roman Empire. The fall of the Roman Empire begin in 395 AD, and the empire was complete by about 476 AD (i.e. only 80 years).
It's time for Democrats and Never Trumpers to take on, and discredit, the "Lowest White Man" issue. The way to do that is NOT by attacking Trumpers, but by taking on the REAL forces behind the exploitation of poor/middle class white Americans and small businesses (and every other major demographic group, as well): Corporate America and a few hundred "ultra-wealthy" families in our society. There need to be a binary choice between unfettered Capitalism, and "Socialism". For 2 generations (and counting) weak-minded Democrats have failed in that public debate, during which time, the Republicans have LITERALLY sold their souls to (i.e. been bought off by) those very interests (i.e. Corporate America and the ultra-wealthy). It's time to do better.
America, this is our second chance. Wake up, and don't waste it!
--LBJ, speaking privately to his young press secretary (and future legendary biographer and PBS host, Bill Moyer) on the campaign trail in rural Tennessee, during the 1960 presidential campaign, in response to the prevalence of signage featuring vulgar and incendiary racial epithets at his rallies.
As a lifelong conservative Southern Democrat, turned progressive, LBJ understood the mentality of white conservatives. It's the political philosophy that was developed by former Strom Thurmond and Nixon strategist Harry Dent.
To put it all in proper historical context, one must understand that Dent's protégé' during the Nixon years, Kevin Phillips, would go on the be Nixon's chief strategist. Phillips' protégé during the Nixon years (i.e. Lee Atwater) would go on to be Bush, Sr's campaign manager. And Atwater's protégé (i.e. Karl Rove) would go on to be the campaign manager and chief strategist for the W. Bush administration.
Donald Trump's rise, and the entire "MAGA Movement", were built upon exploitation of the "Lowest White Man" principle. And, even in defeat, 48% of the country supported it.
And yet, the TRUTH is that poor and middle class whites AND non-whites actually share the SAME economic needs and interests...and enemies. Democrats understand this. African-Americans understand this. But white conservatives have been duped into voting against their best interests, by the "Boogieman" of Race. LBJ stated it accurately (and best) 60 years ago, but I don't believe many of us believed his words would still ring so true in 2020 America.
So again, it's no secret how and why white middle class (and below) white conservatives consistently vote against their own interests. Racial resentment and fear is the virus that continues to infect America. It's the virus that the wealthy exploit, shamelessly, to maintain power. And it's the virus that prevents America from being living up to its founding ideals. And it's the virus that will (unless confronted and neutralized) will lead to America's downfall as a liberal democracy.
Now, with Trump's defeat and demise...and with Trump's legacy as a failed, one-term, corrupt president ensured....there is, at least, some hope for redemption. But only if liberals, progressives and Never Trumpers grasp the reality that the so-called "Battle for the soul of America" does not end with Trump's defeat at the hands of Biden. After 4 disgraceful, shameful, demoralizing and embarrassing years of Trump's America, if decent Americans do not FINALLY understand (and embrace) the reality that bigots, racists and low-information "deplorables" can only be defeated (and not reformed or reasoned with), America will become the Roman Empire. The fall of the Roman Empire begin in 395 AD, and the empire was complete by about 476 AD (i.e. only 80 years).
It's time for Democrats and Never Trumpers to take on, and discredit, the "Lowest White Man" issue. The way to do that is NOT by attacking Trumpers, but by taking on the REAL forces behind the exploitation of poor/middle class white Americans and small businesses (and every other major demographic group, as well): Corporate America and a few hundred "ultra-wealthy" families in our society. There need to be a binary choice between unfettered Capitalism, and "Socialism". For 2 generations (and counting) weak-minded Democrats have failed in that public debate, during which time, the Republicans have LITERALLY sold their souls to (i.e. been bought off by) those very interests (i.e. Corporate America and the ultra-wealthy). It's time to do better.
America, this is our second chance. Wake up, and don't waste it!