Dan,
I agree that the definition "is an old one"/w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif. And that the lines between the parties has become blurred considerably. That is why the candidates try so hard to pont out "differences' between themselves and their opponents.
But too often when they are finally in Washington(DC), you can't tell one from the other...It is "(no)business-as-usual". So for many union members, the "old" definition is the "working" definition.... Any "new" definition has not yet "solidified" into a known-and-trusted one.
Let me re-emphasize that most of my (union or other) friends don't really like the way the system works anymore...regardless of WHO the players are.
Kow-towing to special interest groups has made the whole business of, politics a "dirty" business, and sometimes it seems that "good-guys" who won't "go-along", are quickly shut out.
Blue-collar types often believe they are the common-sense, hands-on people, who deal realistically and effectively with everyday and extraordinary problems as a-matter-of-course.This type of bull-by-the-horns style requires that straight "scoop" be the basis for decisions and acts. Few think straight scoop comes from any politician's mouth. Every pronouncement is poll-based and tailored to please everyone. Since this "can't be done", most of what they say is meaningless. It takes a hard look at their voting record to get a glimpse of what they really think or do. /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif
But most people(with exceptions, of course) do not take the time to do this looking. The pols know this...and hope that saying the "right" thing (depending on which way the wind is blowing), in front of the "right" camera, "right" before the polls open, will turn out "right" for them.
So most people ask their friends/union officers/ etc. what "they" think ...and ,maybe with a newspaper editorial or the latest media-slant fresh in their mind, cast their vote, and hope-for-the-best.
This means that the old definitions, being long-established and familiar, even if inaccurate today, still serve. It is simply easier to fall-back on them, than to make sense of the jumble of conflicting "pitches" being made every day.
Replacing them would require CLEAR AND MEANINGFUL new ones. These will exist (if ever) when the voices of competent leaders give them clarity, and a "track record" makes them meaningful.
If it seems that I am not giving "most people" credit for caring enough to-get-involved in these matters, It would be interesting to know what percentage of TBN readers spend their time with this particular thread.
I'd guess a small number.
And there are "reasons" , besides disinterest, of course, such as lack-of-time, etc.
But these "reasons" reflect the prioritization we all do, in deciding how to invest "ourselves". And where we invest little, we can expect little return.(In case anyone wonders, I give myself very low grades here /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif )
My own opinion is that until we re-establish "the educated citizen" as the foundation of this country's hope, we will have very little.
When our schools turn out kids who can hardly spell cat, and they-in-turn too-quickly become parents themselves; when the 2nd 0r 3rd generation of these ignorant kid-parents who have-been-taught/can-teach next-to-nothing of social responsibility or ideology proudly wear their team-jacket of some overpaid and glamourized (and too-often petty-criminal ) "sports figure" into the voting both,>>> what do we expect as a result?
I can't escape the cynical view that we may well get what we deserve, as a nation, for setting aside the obligation we have to put some-of-ourselves into respectful understanding of just what things have made this nation what it is (or at least was). /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif (It seems that "strength" has become a bad-word. defined for us by the media as "violence" and "cruelty"... and "kinder-and-gentler" has been transformed, in practice, into "more permissive" and "apathetic".)
I think schools and parents should see that our next generations are familiar with/understand the constitution. They should also know what were the thoughts of its framers. And have an understanding of the meaning of historical documents such as the Magna Carta, and the experimental "republics" in Rome and Greece. (if you can call cultures that endured far longer than ours may , "experimental"). The idea of freedom was not "born" in the U.S.... but the highest expression of that idea had/(has?) its greatest chance to flower here.
Did anybody "cringe", reading this, at the thought of such subjects in school? /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif (...and I mean really TAUGHT, not just being given a passing-nod!) Does it not-sound like "fun"? Would kids today "like it"?
That's why we don't let kids decide what is important for them to learn. That's what parents are FOR. Kid-parent-voters who can barely spell cat are not going to take this nation anyplace but down. Shame on us if we let this happen! /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
So if educated citizens are the key to "straightening out" the nation's political system (and its politicians) why are we not producing them?
I don't think the answer is "Not enough money!", as the school-boards always cry. I am from the "old-school",...literally. I sat in classrooms with usually 30 or so students (too-many, they tell us today), WITHOUT every convenience/technological advance/program that could be dreamed-up to spend money on. And, by and large, we came out WITH AN EDUCATION. I will put the results of respectful students at desks with decent texts and a competent teacher up against any so-called "modern" facility with all the bells-and-whistles (and usually looking like a palace, comparatively! ).
Of course I did sneak that word "respectful" in front of "students"... so maybe I'm not being fair /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. And "why" they're not as respectful today is another can of worms that would best be opened another time. But safe-to-say uncontrollable kids got that way by not-being-controlled.
It takes a strong parental-will to guide a child.
It takes a strong national-will to guide a nation.
If we lack one, we won't have the other!
Larry
PS: Hope my tractor is ready soon. Maybe when I have less time-on-my-hands you guys will be spared further exposure to my infinite wisdom /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
