Danger on the Right

There is a social movement stirring on the far right of American politics and it bodes ill for our future.

It is, in the classic sense, a movement, not an organization, with no coherent structure, no creed or litmus test for membership. Rather, it represents disparate currents, born of transformative developments and traumatic events that have impacted the US in recent decades.

This movement has manifested itself in several forms. There are the anti-immigrant armed militias patrolling our southern border keeping out "illegals." There are also the "tax party" demonstrators, many of whom have morphed into the angry chanting mobs that are now disrupting Congressional town meetings over health care reform. And there are the so-called "birthers," a not so small fringe on the far-right, that questions Barack Obama's birth in the US and, therefore, his right to hold the office of president.

If the individuals involved in these currents have anything in common, it is that they are angry and alienated and have identified "government" as a source of their problems and, therefore, as a target of their wrath.

Behind all of this discontent, of course, are real problems. The economic crisis in America did not just begin with the collapse of the financial sector in the fall of 2008. For years now, the US economy has undergone a steady transformation. The loss of our manufacturing base has resulted in dramatic social dislocation evidenced by the collapse of many once prosperous and stable communities. As factories closed, not only were jobs lost and economic security threatened, but people were forced to move, neighborhoods died and families were at risk.

All during the 1990's, despite gains on Wall Street, many middle class Americans were squeezed. Real incomes declined, costs of health care, education and basic commodities rose, resulting not only in a declining standard of living for many, but, for the 1st time in American history, a significant portion of the middle class began to question whether their children would be able to achieve the same economic status as their parents.

The trauma of 9/11 and Katrina presented a double jolt, shaking to an even greater degree American's sense of security and their confidence in the government's ability to perform.

Add to this a nativist/racist current, fueled by large numbers of immigrants from the south and fear of new foreigners (especially, after 9/11, Muslims) and the persistent presence of anti-black sentiment, and you have the ingredients of the lethal brew that is now coming to a boil.

All of this, however, did not erupt spontaneously, it was helped, fueled by fires set by those who sought, in ways subtle and not so subtle, to exploit the fears afoot across the land. Radical talk show hosts like Rush Limbaugh and Mike Savage, Fox News and even CNN's Lou Dobbs exploited these issues -- as did President George W. Bush's political adviser, Karl Rove, who used it for electoral success. Even Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign playbook tapped into these currents, as did the McCain/Palin campaign strategists.

And so here we are in the midst of a hot summer, with "birthers" fulminating about Obama's "foreignness," angry mobs breaking up town meetings, and polling numbers showing a deepening partisan divide across the nation.

All the while these events are unfolding, analysts and commentators are spending endless hours of airtime observing and pointing accusing fingers, without making an effort to understand how this came to be and where it can go. Some conservatives are surely at fault for thinking they can simply exploit this anger, turning it on and then off, at will. And some liberals, too, are at fault for dismissing the anger they see, suggesting that it is simply manufactured and artificial and, therefore, can be ignored.

I am reminded of similar developments that occurred in 1919 at the beginning of the "Red Scare." Then too, a national movement, fueled by fears of immigration, economic dislocation and wartime anti-foreign bigotry was exploited by some, ignored by others, until it got out of control, with lethal consequences.

If we are not careful and understanding, and if we do not start now, both to address this troubling anger and alienation, and to hold accountable those who are stoking the embers of discontent, we could end up in the throes of a full-fledged nativist siege that could tear apart the fabric of our nation.

Comments

[walk0nwalls]

Cmon, let em do it. I'd love to get em.

[Rogan]

There is no "them" in this, friend. It's all Americans. "They" are all "us."

[walk0nwalls]

They are not us, they are not me, and I will never be them.

[Nosmanic]

What I want to know are people waking up to this or not? There was a shooting at a gym that targeted women, killed three, about a week ago that murder was clearly a right-winger but the media seem to forget about it.

The conversative don't live in the same world as everone else because on Fox News and Rush and believe that the media is controlled by the left. What is going to happen is violent that is going to happen but that has already happened and their is not sigh of letting up. In that a really violent act will have to take place and silence from the right because it will be too horrible even for them and that has not happened.

[CTDem]

I'm not so sure he was a right winger, I've seen nothing to support that claim. Mostly, he seemed to be a loser who couldn't score and therefore took out his frustration on women.

[OUChris]

No, that makes too much sense. Let's just leave it at he was a "right winger."

[elsie900]

If you read his blog, he was doing some of the usual Obama-will­-destroy-u­s-all ranting.

[JohnHKennedy]

If you are really worried about these groups starting a second civil war or some sort of government take over, the best way to stop this is to Prosecute Them every time these right wing radicals violate Federal Laws

Starting with Bush, Cheney and their Torture Advocating Appointee Lawyers.
They violated Federal Anti-Torture Laws. The Torture Memos were a conspiracy to render our Torture Laws moot.

Going to jail for 20 years would stop others from these illegal extremes.

Prosecute all those that tortured in our name, then go after all the other violations of Federal Crimes and our Constitution committed by Bush and Cheney.

"Only Prosecution deters crime".

SIGN THE PETITIONS
Demanding
both a Commission of Inquiry
and a Special Prosecutor
For All Their Crimes
at

http://ANGRYVOTERS.ORG
.

[Don Quixote]

"I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!"

That mantra says it all. Back from what, or who? From The Other who is finally taking and asserting his/her position in our institutions of power. And by that I mean the spaces where societal and nation-changing decisions really get made. As The Other infiltrates the ranks of government, it is only natural that these movements will view the government with suspicious gazes as well.

These "movements" - the nativists, the birthers, the deathers, the tea baggers, etc. - are likely one and the same for the most part, and are based on the same common enemy: The Other. For now, most of their weapons are rhetorical, but we all know how well armed they are. Their numbers are growing and rational citizens would be ill-advised to ignore or diminish them.

History shows that these "movements" can easily become societal phenomena and quite literally grab away power. We are left with no choice but to agressively engage, and I do mean agressively. They won't just go away. They really see The Other (which now includes the government) as their arch enemy and they really believe we're in a state of war.

We have to engage them.

[ThanksMatt]

Please send your article to the White House, the DNC etc.!

[ThanksMatt]

Dear Mr. Zogby,

thank you very much for this article. I was waiting for someone to speak it out clearly: those who are stoking the embers of discontent must be held accountable!

[ThanksMatt]

I am shocked how far they can go without any palpable consequences.

[Notrepublicrat]

This is written as if anti-government rage is for the right only.

The left was, and should be more, full of rage. The left is coming to the view that government should be the target of this rage, but is reluctant because "our" guy is in charge.

Still, the eavesdropping, war and corruption in government (the war on drugs being a classic example) are left-wing equivalents of the issues that anger the right-wing.

Moreover, the left and right wings are beginning to get it and are agreeing on more than traditional analysts understand.

Bush tried to grab power, and there was a reaction, and those that are now in charge are keeping that power and expanding it. Of course all Americans are going to pick up on this and start rejecting both parties.

[LeftLeanWing]

Bush Tried to Grab Power ?.... Cheney Succeed

[JEP57]

"Add to this a nativist/racist current, fueled by large numbers of immigrants from the south and fear of new foreigners­..........­....."


Yes it's true. We Americans want to keep our distinct culture intact and not have it altered by millions of illegal aliens pouring in unimpeded who don't seem to be interested in assimilating into our culture and to use our language. That doesn't make us racists, and being against the presidents policies isn't an act of racism because he has African heritage.

[CyrusBeaucephus]

Yeah that's right Jeppy you just diasagree with Obama--that's why the mobs are all carrying racist signs and chanting racist slogans. So much for your intellectual honesty

[dzuh]

"I would never say that all Republicans are racist — that’s ridiculous and wrong — but if you’re a racist in America today you’re probably a Republican."

- Bill Mahar

[Tekkdude]

By the way "our culture" as you call it is really a result of many different immigrant cultures mingling together over time. What's one more culture? Also,"our language" is actually Britain's language but beaten up a bit. We didn't invent English. Second, you bely your racism by not being able to come up with any logical reasons that you are against his policies and by the fact that you are generically against all of his policies.

[Pema]

no, but your saying you want a pure culture doesnt even make sense. this country always has been a melting pot. the native americans were here first, the spainish second, then anglos along with africans. so which pure culture are you speaking of?

[LeftLeanWing]

It's time for the so-called Left Wing Media to stretch it's Wings and expose this movement for what it is....

A 21st Century Confederacy using Revolutionary War Rhetoric

[saxmaniac]

Very thoughtful, articulate argument, but a glaring omission: the new president is a black man. Everything else is "packaging" designed to make it impossible for him to govern, and for them hopefulluy not get a second term. This country is more racist than South Africa -- we're just better at fooling ourselves.

[madatnewsmedia]

Could not said it any better! This is the crux of the problem! The President is a black man and while there's a large part of the population that are willing to let him govern, that small fringe group refuses to. It's wrong, but how do you stop the madness?

[Rogan]

Shutting up the seditious "pundits," with the law, and shutting down the "protesters," with the law, would be a start.

Where's the pushback? When Leftists pulled the same crap, or similar crap, in the late sixties, Nixon answered them, with cops, and National Guardsmen...

I understand Obama's strategy, in not coming down on these people like a ton of bricks. I think perhaps he doesn't quite understand how bad the racism is - having never lived outside urban settings, where racism is always muted, by the "melting pot" effect.

Something needs to be done. I'm sick of being frightened.

[57STATES2TOGO]

amen sir

[Samuel Elliott]

All of you people seriously need to read the bill. Not all is as you have been told. Stop relying on someone else to tell you what is in it. Let me put it another way. Say your employer is making changes to your healthcare coverage. One or both of the heads of the houshold is going to read the documentation about what is covered, what isn't and how claims are paid. You owe this no less attention.Yes it is quite voluminous and not an easy read, but it is too important not to read it.

No matter which side of the issue you are on, you really must be informed. Read the bill : http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications/AAHCA-BillText-071409.pdf

[madatnewsmedia]

thanks for that link! You're right! We need to read this document and make up our minds from what's in the document, not by listening to fools like Sarah Palin and others.

[BBackSoon]

We live in the decline of a once great society.

So our ‘greatness’ was around 100 years or so, the next big players will be China and India, how long will their reign last?

Now that communication moves at the speed of light with the satellites and the internet will future empires last decades instead of centuries?

[lastpost]

What the dinosaurs did was heroic. They imposed themselves on their surroundings for eons of time. With little or no appreciation of their surroundings, and scant regard for the reality of their situation.
Doubtless they didn’t realize, even at the moment of their demise, that the world did indeed revolve. But unfortunately, not around them.

[LeftLeanWing]

Beautiful poetry

but WTF ?

[egaeus]

This nativist movement has not emerged on its own. It has been orchestrated over the past 20 years by white supremacist John Tanton, whose Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) has been the driving force behind creating and framing the debate. In an infamous memo, Tanton, who is against ALL immigration, proposed that the best way to turn Americans against immigrants was to portray them as criminals. Note now how this tactic has taken root in the sodden minds of Repugnicans and Democrats alike, as well as in the mainstream media. The right may call members of the left Nazis, but the right is the group calling for national purity, the expulsion of foreigners, the abolishing of "Communist" ideas, the demonization of select groups, etc.

[LeftLeanWing]

This movement is just an extension of the 'law and order' movement. That movement demonized black people as criminals . Remember Willie Horton ; who actually went by the name of William Horton but they had to 'colorederize' it to scare the Southerners to vote in mass.

These folks always have to have at least two mortal enemies - one foreign and one domestic.

It once was the "Nazis' and Jews

Then it was 'The Communist' and 'Black People'

It has now morphed into "Muslims' and "Immigrants' and to some extent 'LGBTs'.

If they are not threatened by someone over something they could no longer exist.

[madatnewsmedia]

WELL SAID!!!!

[tomorrowman58]

If you do not invest in social programs, public health , education...the country( any country for that matter) slips into third world reality. do you really want that? Of course we have to to do it, you cannot continue to have low taxes and a developed country at the same time. Would you rather live in
Denmark or Honduras?
By the way...a lot can be done just re-derecting a lot of the taxes that go into our obscenely overbloated military, cia, Israeli housing etc