The GOP primary campaign has been blaming moral decline in America for its problems and it has accused the Obama administration for policies that contribute to moral decline. This article looks for the evidence of moral decline in the US and fails to find many examples. It finds that the US has done well in most of the areas that are used to index moral decline. It does find that the percent of children born to unwed mothers has increased in the US but this has also occurred in other countries. The article concludes by stating that conservatives and liberals must disagree on the definition of morality.
The Economist did a good job of digging up the evidence that contradicts the idea that morality in the US has been in a state of decline. It does not appreciate, however, what is really going on in the primary campaign. The GOP candidates make things up, with the help of right wing think tanks, in order to feed its base what its wants to hear. The believe that the devil is at work in America, and they have been taught by the evangelical clergy, and by supportive media outlets, that Obama and liberals are the tools of Satan. The GOP has blended this brand of fundamentalism, with economic fundamentalism about a very limited role of government in the economy, to develop its base. They count on this part of its base for votes, while the benefactors from its economic policies fund their campaigns. This strategy has worked well for them in the South and in much of rural America. On the other hand, it has had a devastating effect on politics in America. It has made the GOP candidates look like fools in primary campaign to the rest of world as they pander to this part of the GOP base by making things up. It has also made it almost impossible for Congress to develop sound policies. Cooperation with the devil is not well received by its base.
No comments:
Post a Comment