'Social conservatism' — exactly what does it mean? (PROJECTILE BARF ALERT)

Star Newspapers (Chicago south suburbs) ^ | Sunday, December 15, 2002 | HERBERT BROWN

[Chi-townChief]

I read with great interest and dismay guest Daniel Zanoza's column under "Another Viewpoint."

Like many of the infamous labels that the Republicans are fond of using, I am not sure what a "social conservatism" is since Zanoza's article is none too descriptive in those terms. Like Bush's "compassion conservatism," it too has the sound of an oxymoron.

To me it signals that Zanoza and others of his ilk are in reality antisocial, just as Bush's compassion conservatism has little or no compassion for the social problems that are plaguing the country, but rather a deep non-conservative raw compassion for going to war with Iraq.

In his column Zanoza does not explain in any detail the ideology of social conservatism; therefore, I will assume by all the behavioral evidence I've observed that it is anti-environment, anti-affirmative action, anti-labor, anti-women's rights, anti-gun control, anti-public schools, anti-welfare and anti any government program or funding that might help the downtrodden and particularly people of color.

Who are these social conservatives? I dread to think that in reality they are a composite of neoconservative groups such as the NRA, the far right Christian Coalition, would-be members of any of the military supremacist groups and probably champion such neocon personalities as Limbraugh, O'Reilly and Krauthammer who are fraught with antediluvian rhetoric that aims to drive this country backward 200 years.

And if the Bush administration gets its way, which seems likely with the Homeland Security Act, then we will be well on our way.

Zanoza accuses the Democratic machine of being to pervasive; just wait until Bush gets his homeland security operation in action. The act will give any government agent or agency, security-related or not, free access to all your records, personal and otherwise. They will have free reign to tap your telephone read your mail, e-mail and essentially enter your home without warrant. Now that is pervasive, putting the First Amendment in great jeopardy.

I cringe whenever right wing Republicans attempt to link the Great Emancipator to what now passes as the Republican Party. By Republican standards today, President Lincoln would be cited as a left wing radical and possibly even cited as a traitor.

During the civil rights battles of the 1950s and '60s when the Dixiecrats were formed to fight against civil rights and stood in defiance of government-mandated desegregation, the Republican Party prostituted itself by opening its arms to the Dixiecrats. They embraced their causes and turned over the party's leadership to the Dixiecrats who today disguise themselves as Republicans.

As a Democrat and social liberal, I will do all I can to further progressive social issues involving education, women's right to choose, universal health care, protection of the environment, gun control and what will soon be left of the First Amendment.

HERBERT BROWN Park Forest

[Chi-townChief]

I generally don't post letters to the editor but this guy is so far out of it that it's laughable. Either Mr. Brown is knowingly lying or else he is just not too bright especially regarding the civil rights movement. BTW, the Daniel Zanoza who he refers to is the founder of Republicans for Fair Media.

[Chi-townChief]

ONE MORE CHICAGO PING

[Question_Assumptions]

and anti any government program or funding that might help the downtrodden and particularly people of color.

The problem is that most of these programs and funding don't help the downtrodden or people of color. That's why they still live in slums, despite billions of dollars being sent in to aid them. Until "social liberals" are willing to discuss what works and what doesn't work, there isn't much room for a conversation here.

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

Herbie is perfect for Park Forest, a socialist-style "planned community."

[A_perfect_lady]

I will assume by all the behavioral evidence I've observed that it is anti-environment, anti-affirmative action, anti-labor, anti-women's rights, anti-gun control, anti-public schools, anti-welfare and anti any government program or funding that might help the downtrodden

You say that like it's a bad thing.

[Fintan]

As a Democrat and social liberal, I will do all I can to further progressive social issues involving education, women's right to choose, universal health care, protection of the environment, gun control and what will soon be left of the First Amendment.

Geez, another glaring example of the neo-conservative bias in the mainstream media...

Actually, I almost have half an ounce of respect for this twit for at least admitting he's a Marxist intent on the destruction of the country.

[dighton]

[TheRightGuy]

Park Forest, a socialist-style "planned community."

In the early '50s, when I best knew it, Park Forest was a mecca for up-and-coming young business capitalist types. It showed absolutely no socialist tendencies through to the early '60s and then the community began rapidly changing.

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

True, RG, about the "up-and-comers" in Park Forest. The classic 1950s book, "The Organization Man" focused on Park Forest. But the way the town was built from scratch, with the now closed mall in the center of it all, the concept of that is just a little too socialist for me. I think, like asbestos, the primordial ideas of socialism have seeped into the Herbies of Park Forest.

[Chi-townChief]

I lived in Chicago Heights in the late 60s / early 70s. I remember hanging out in Park Forest when we were in high school and when someone found out we were from "da Heights", we'd usually get a comment like "We're being invaded by greasers!" To us, Park Forest was always Liberalland, U.S.A. but Herbie seems to have gone beyond the pale; I wonder if he really believes any of this crap himself.

[Democrap]

'Social conservatism' — exactly what does it mean?

It means being able say "Merry Christmas" at work.

democrap

[general_re]

By Republican standards today, President Lincoln would be cited as a left wing radical and possibly even cited as a traitor.

Someone who's been hanging around certain FR threads, obviously ;)

[TheRightGuy]

Herbies of Park Forest

Are you talking Klutznik (sp?) ??

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

No. But was Klutznick from there? Actually, the writer of the foul missive above was Herbert Brown. Following up on my earlier post, another planned community was built a few miles down the road from there, Park Forest South. It was more Soviet-style than socialist, and of course it was a fiasco. It's now called University Park.