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The gentry liberals (Our Adversaries Are Now Mostly Elitists)
LA Times ^ | 2 December 2007 | Joel Kotkin and Fred Siegel

Posted on 12/02/2007 7:54:18 AM PST by shrinkermd

After decades on the political sidelines, liberalism is making a comeback. Polls show plunging support for Republicans and their brand of conservatism among young, independent voters and Latinos. But what kind of liberalism is emerging as the dominant voice in the Democratic Party?

Well, it isn't your father's liberalism, the ideology that defended the interests and values of the middle and working classes. The old liberalism had its flaws, but it also inspired increased social and economic mobility, strong protections for unions, the funding of a national highway system and a network of public parks, and the development of viable public schools. It also invented Social Security and favored a strong foreign policy.

Today's ascendant liberalism has a much different agenda. Call it "gentry liberalism." It's not driven by the lunch-pail concerns of those workers struggling to make it in an increasingly high-tech, information-based, outsourcing U.S. economy -- though it does pay lip service to them.

Rather, gentry liberalism reflects the interests and values of the affluent winners in the era of globalization and the beneficiaries of the "financialization" of the economy. Its strongholds are the tony neighborhoods and luxurious suburbs in and around New York, Washington, Boston, San Francisco and West Los Angeles.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 110th; dems; elitism; elitists; liberals; limousineliberals; millionaires; pelosi; reid
Even in elections won by Pubbies in Minnesota it is noted that the following is usually true:

It is time for our political leaders, and presidential candidates, to come up with new, bold and potentially successful solutions to our myriad problems.

Further this affirmative approach must recogniz who are base actually is.

1 posted on 12/02/2007 7:54:19 AM PST by shrinkermd
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To: shrinkermd

The LA Times is a partisan communist rag.

Who cares what they say.

They’ll be out of business in 10 years. Tops.


2 posted on 12/02/2007 7:57:33 AM PST by Cringing Negativism Network (I'm a proud Yankee Doodle Protectionist)
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To: shrinkermd
the funding of a national highway system

If I'm not mistaken, this was Eisenhower's baby from day one.

3 posted on 12/02/2007 8:02:14 AM PST by Graybeard58 ( Remember and pray for SSgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
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To: shrinkermd
Its strongholds are the tony neighborhoods and luxurious suburbs in and around New York, Washington, Boston, San Francisco and West Los Angeles.

Boy,that's for sure.The ratio of Range Rovers,Porche SUV's and Prius's that I see (every day) in the western suburbs of Boston (million-dollar-plus houses are the norm in the area) sporting "Bush Lied,Millions Died" or "1.20.09" bumper stickers versus those sporting "W" or "Support Our Troops" bumper stickers runs about 30:1 in favor of the "Bush Lied" ones.

4 posted on 12/02/2007 8:05:53 AM PST by Gay State Conservative (Wanna see how bad it can get? Elect Hillary and find out.)
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To: shrinkermd
and the development of viable public schools. It also invented Social Security

Well, the public schools aren't quite "viable" yet, let's throw some more money at them. As for social security, the author rightfully claims this as a liberal accomplishment but why the hell are they proud of a communistic, failed system?

5 posted on 12/02/2007 8:06:04 AM PST by Graybeard58 ( Remember and pray for SSgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
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To: shrinkermd
Well when the voters see Republicans like Mitt Romney, Rudy Guiliani and John McCain embraced by large numbers of Republicans they can only deduce that conservatives have nothing to offer that isn't already offered by the liberals. Unless we have passionately conservative candidates running for office who can articulate conservative principles and why they are the fiber of what has made our country great and that those principles will offer the greatest opportunities and prosperity for Americans, we will see this deterioration. When Republicans of the RINO ilk once again feel that a run for highest office is a useless proposition because they can never get the nomination, the party will begin to see voters move back in their direction.
6 posted on 12/02/2007 8:07:01 AM PST by big'ol_freeper ("Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: shrinkermd

I’d say the “reagan democrats” are up for grabs, including the traditional black voters that are socially conservative, and may be open to true conservative solutions such as school choice, and free market economics..!


7 posted on 12/02/2007 8:18:37 AM PST by JSDude1 (When a liberal represents the Presidential Nominee for the Republicans; THEY'RE TOAST)
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To: shrinkermd
Gentry liberalism has established a strong presence on the Internet, where such websites as MoveOn.org and the Huffington Post are lavishly funded by well-heeled liberals.

The lowly four-letter word assists the Gentry Liberals substantially in expressing their feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelings. Like liberals of long ago the Gentry Liberals are addicted to OPM when it comes to general support for anyone outside the clan -- or is that, klan.

8 posted on 12/02/2007 8:21:58 AM PST by WilliamofCarmichael (If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!)
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To: shrinkermd

“Today’s ascendant liberalism has a much different agenda. Call it “gentry liberalism.” It’s not driven by the lunch-pail concerns of those workers struggling to make it in an increasingly high-tech, information-based, outsourcing U.S. economy — though it does pay lip service to them.”

The gentry liberal is an elitist who never does anything that will not ultimately serve themselves.
They are pro amnesty: They need their underpaid help to keep their appearances and lifestyles.
They are pro entitlements: Better the middle class pays to keep their help happy. Not only that but they have come to believe that they are entitled...and see no other perspective.
They are pro tax hikes: This one makes me laugh as those elitest have so many tax shelters and loop hole accountants that the tax hikes will probably never have any effect on their incomes.
Although they pay lip service to the poor and the trodden they prefer they stay poor. They relish the distinction in classes as it only serves to show they are better.
They are out of touch with reality as they live set apart from the regular folk and have no clue what daily life is like for the majority of people. They have no intention to find out either.
When they speak of two Americas they are really saying ...we intend to keep it that way.


9 posted on 12/02/2007 9:03:42 AM PST by donnab (saving liberal brains...one moron at a time.)
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To: shrinkermd
Polls show plunging support for Republicans and their brand of conservatism among young, independent voters and Latinos.

Polls show plunging public school brainwashing in class warfare and enlarging indentured constituencies is quite effective at building a democratic power base.

Why Republicans fall for supporting this mess is beyond belief.

10 posted on 12/02/2007 9:09:25 AM PST by Carry_Okie (Duncan Hunter for President)
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To: shrinkermd
The Democrats are now the party of the well heeled and well educated. Call it Limousine Liberalism.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

11 posted on 12/02/2007 9:56:59 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Graybeard58
the funding of a national highway system

If I'm not mistaken, this was Eisenhower's baby from day one

Just liberals taking credit for conservatives doing the jobs that liberals won't do. Like reforming welfare and balancing the budget in the 90's.

12 posted on 12/02/2007 10:41:38 AM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: All
MoveOn.org and the Huffington Post are lavishly funded by well-heeled liberals.

Are you sure that they are not funded by the Marks of Soros? Or is it millions of Euros now?

13 posted on 12/02/2007 10:45:11 AM PST by WilliamofCarmichael (If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!)
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To: shrinkermd

They don’t like being called elitists. That is one term they haven’t preempted.


14 posted on 12/02/2007 10:49:32 AM PST by RightWhale (anti-razors are pro-life)
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To: shrinkermd
Good article, but the line between gentry and non-gentry liberalism may be hard to define.

How does John Edwards possibly qualify as an alternative?

Liberals like Edwards make use of populist arguments because it's so hard to actually change things in Washington, that a little rabble-rousing is permissable.

You could see that with Clinton as well. There's no chance that they'll ever be called to account for promises made to the "little guy."

And while today's liberalism is far from "your father's liberalism" (assuming your father was a liberal), you can see similar developments across the political spectrum.

Talking heads tend to be careerists who share opinions with other upwardly mobile types, rather than with working stiffs, whose interests go unrepresented.

15 posted on 12/02/2007 1:15:28 PM PST by x
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To: shrinkermd
Before the usual suspects chime in on how we should become "the party of the werkin' man" let's not forget that the downwardly mobile native born are a declining portion of the electorate, while the newly affluent are growing. Many of the newly affluent are NOT liberals, but don't see a reason to vote for a party that can't control spending and calls a special session to intervene on local issues like the Schiavo case.

I don't ever see us winning places like Manhattan or Marin County, but, being as I live in the heart of affluent suburbia, there is no reason why we should cede places like Bucks County, PA to the Dems.

16 posted on 12/02/2007 3:34:17 PM PST by Clemenza (Rudy Giuliani, like Pesto and Seattle, belongs in the scrap heap of '90s Culture)
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To: shrinkermd
Mark Stricherz's book Why the Democrats are Blue examines how the Dems' rising leadership pushed working-class concerns to the back burner in the late '60s and the '70s.

Note that elitism is only bad when based on unjustifiable claims to excellence. Even populist movements need elites to lead them and to counter elites in other factions.

17 posted on 12/02/2007 4:11:58 PM PST by Dumb_Ox (http://kevinjjones.blogspot.com)
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To: big'ol_freeper
When [rino's] feel that a run for highest office is useless ... , the party will begin to see voters move back in their direction.

Really? If the GOP loses this time, the media, the politicians, the world will count it as a complete repudiation of CONSERVATISM.

Like it or not, no way a Hillary/Obama or Edwards/Obama or whatever administration would send a signal that what Americans want is less taxes and more border security, etc.

For crying out loud. GHW Bush was more NWO/clubhouse-conservative than anyone in the race today. So why didn't 8 years of Clinton I do exactly what you're promising now? Why didn't that teach America/GOP a lesson and get us all running in a conservative direction.

Letting go of the steering wheel when you're headed toward the ditch will NOT get you back on the road to success.

18 posted on 12/02/2007 4:22:24 PM PST by sam_paine (X .................................)
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To: shrinkermd

LA TIMES....give me a break....I can’t believe this is even looked at thinking it’s TRUTH...it’s full of crap!!!! If you believe this...you’ll believe any dribble fed to you by the commie press.


19 posted on 12/02/2007 4:32:41 PM PST by shield (A wise man's heart is at his RIGHT hand;but a fool's heart at his LEFT. Ecc 10:2)
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