21ST CENTURY LIBERALISM

Judis, John B. (2005) Structural Flaws, NEW REPUBLIC, 2/28, 20-23.

It takes a cataclysmic shock (catastrophic chaos) to change political alliances. Liberalism came to prominence under one of the most difficult times in the 20th century when we had the great depression of the 30’s. At that time, business leader’s lost confidence and labor grew in power. Business preferred Liberalism over populism or socialism.

From FDR to Carter, Liberalism grew, blossomed, and sputtered to an end. Reagan was there at the right time and place. IT’S MORNING IN AMERICA! He was able to create a new paradigm that slightly varied from the 20’s. It was persona. The blue collar lost ground financially, but felt better emotionally under Reagan. Inflation was whipped and the ideology of Communism died. He is popular now but controversial at the time. His ratings were quite low, but today he is the most popular of all presidents to the public. He left behind a 3 trillion dollar debt that was dramatically reduced by Bush 1 and Clinton (the third most popular president.)

Today, Richard Nixon would be on the Left end of the Democratic Party. It has moved to the right and will probably continue to do so. The Democratic Party will have to moderate on guns, god, and gays.

Although Kerry lost by a few million votes, the party lost overwhelmingly in the house and senate. A change will come when the body politic hits a snag or a tipping point. The economy collapses or some other significant upheaval and the new alliance will head leftward. Not until then, will the Left of center party in most countries are able to beat the global condition that capital can move almost anywhere and labor can not do so.

Under the political climate at the moment, Democratic presidents may be able to get elected, but have a hard time governing.