Please READ this article: “..populism correlates with a kind of communal breakdown, in which secularization is one variable among many leaving people feeling isolated and angry, and drawing them to the ersatz solidarity of white identity politics.”
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Dear Frank:
Mr. Ross Dough gives the ‘religious right’ far too much gratuitous credit. Presidents require the support of multiple social layers, the most important of which is the 1%, which is Trump’s real constituency.
Religion aside, multiple agendas could rally God’s self-claimed troops; they are [after all] the most reactionary segment of the population. Religion merely makes much easier the political management and direction of this most backward social layer. Douth’s first paragraph makes this point by alluding to the secularization of religious values.
Frequent church attendees may have preferred Cruz, but they swallowed Trump anyway because the so-called ‘religious right’ is itself increasingly secular. It is in a state of theological apostasy. Indeed the fundamentalist movement is largely untouched by the gospel and is in a pre-converted condition. The sooner the broader church faces this, the sooner it can get back on track to being the church.
Like the NYT and like Frank Schaeffer, Ross Deuth refuses to face or address class relations. They articulate the interests of the next 9% after the 1%. The 9% and 1% are locked in a furious fight for control of public power. Both unite AGAINST the economic necessities of the 90% in order to gain that wealth for themselves. Everything for the 1% or next 9%! Naught for the 90%!
Frank, you have abandoned the appeal for refugees, for health care, for public education. One in a while some Democrat official will make an appearance and offer a canned speech when teachers strike. But their actions are limited entirely to supporting Education Unions in their sellout contracts, in limiting strikes, in containing strikes and in breaking strikes.
In light of that6, the ‘Remember in November’ slogan wears thin.
Blessings!
Dear Frank Schaeffer:
Mr. Ross Dough gives the ‘religious right’ far too much gratuitous credit. Presidents require the support of multiple social layers, the most important of which is the 1%, which is Trump’s real constituency.
The NYT, Frank Schaeffer and Ross Deuth refuse to face or address class relations. They articulate the interests of the next 9% after the 1%. As the 9%, they are locked in a furious fight with the 1% for control of public power. Both the 1% and the next 9% unite AGAINST the economic necessities of the 90% in order to take ALL that wealth for themselves.
Faith- appeals aside, multiple reactionary agendas could rally God’s self-claimed troops; they are [after all] the most backward segment of society. Religion merely makes much easier the political management of this most depressed and backward social layer. Douth’s first paragraph alludes to this by referencing the secularization of religious values.
Frequent church attendees may have preferred Cruz, but they swallowed Trump anyway because the so-called ‘religious right’ is itself increasingly secular. It is in a state of theological apostasy. Indeed the fundamentalist movement is largely untouched by the gospel and is in a pre-converted condition. As the broader church addresses this, society can outgrow this faith-based political fraud.
Some of us have said for years that evangelical fundafascism seeks to forestall its decline by allying to the antithesis of its professed beliefs. As for the breakdown of Constantine’s Great Compromise, Kierkegaard saw that 160 years ago.
Meanwhile, Frank, you are silent on refugee, health care and public education. Certainly, you never utter a peep on poverty and/or the intentional and coerced extortion of wealth from the working class wealth producers. A Democrat official makes an occasional appearance and offers cynical remarks at a teachers’ strike. But their actions are limited to supporting Education Union sellout contracts, limiting strikes, containing strikes and breaking strikes.
As for the oft touted Democrat ‘Remember in November’ slogan – we will!
The 90% is for the 90%!
Blessings!
PS: As for Trump’s ‘Caligulan personal life and racial demagoguery,’ have you considered, Frank, that your anti-Russian rhetoric IS the new racism?