Putting logging companies in charge of our national forests and oil companies in charge of our national energy policy has put a frown on my face. But there's some good news and my review of Joshua Marshall's review of The Emerging Democratic Majority by John B. Judis and Ruy Teixeira is a kernel of the good news. You're right, I haven't read the book and in all likelihood won't, but the book review sounded interesting...
Basically, the book talks about the changing political landscape of the U.S. and it bodes well for those of you who feel like the current administration is out of touch with America. For example, many republicans feel confident about the future because they say the fastest growing counties voted for Bush in 2000. This must mean Bush support is on the rise, right? However, they overlooked, intentionally or otherwise, that they're talking in percentage terms and focusing on some of the smallest counties. It's easy to grow at a 200% rate if the county started at 40 people and they're all related. If you look at where population in absolute terms are growing fastest, they are in the counties that voted for Gore in 2000. "The kinds of demographic groups and regional economies that make the Blue states blueish are growing -- in many cases even within states that voted Red in 2000," Marshall summarizes. In short, cultural, economic and demographic forces are going to change the political discourse in this country and frame the debate around issues that we will care about. I'm looking forward to the day I smile when I hear about new policies coming out of Capitol Hill.
For more check out: Talking Points Memo - "Allow me to recommend a book: The Emerging Democratic Majority by John B. Judis and Ruy Teixeira. No question: it's the political book of the year."
Comments (3)
Not a W supporter. But... I think that Gore was another potential mess all by himsef. And I think the Democrats didn't have exactly the best platform after Clinton was in office.
Posted by AO | August 26, 2002 7:31 AM
Posted on August 26, 2002 07:31
You're right of course. Harold Hotelling's model of political platform (also location model in economics) show that in a popular, winner-take-all system like ours, the political spectrum will be basically two large parties that have relatively similar views. (We could go to proportional representation that would better fit the diversity of views out there, but it would also be grossly inefficient.) Therefore, it wasn't a question of whether Gore or Bush had a better platform but instead, whether the platform that they basically shared was the right one. My answer is that the platform was completely wrong. What was the key issue that they debated? I don't even remember. Was it whether Bush could be buddy-buddy with your beer drinking neighbor? Was it whether Gore seemed too stiff? This is the wrong platform for both candidates. It should've been about who could lead the country better. This debate should have started before the primary elections 2000. It's too late to talk about that now, but we can look forward to the future where demographic, economic, and cultural changes noted in The Emerging Democratic Majority will hopefully lead us to a more enlightened approach to government and put a smile on my face.
Posted by Teddy | August 26, 2002 8:22 AM
Posted on August 26, 2002 08:22
Sure, the presidential elections should have been about who could be the better leader, but since when has that ever been the case? Actually, when have the politicians ever had the interest of the people in mind instead of their own hidden agendas? In this election, the decision was to choose the lesser of two evils: do we continue with the Clinton era or do we bring the Bush era back? I definitely don't agree with the Bush administration, but I'm not sure the Gore one would have been any better. I'll be happy with the politics in America when politicians finally act in the best interests of the people and the environment instead of trying to better their own political positions.
Posted by lisa | August 26, 2002 2:21 PM
Posted on August 26, 2002 14:21