[lbo-talk] Reps losing business class

[John Thornton]

That is one of the ideas expressed in Down's work "An Economic Theory of 
Democracy". Namely that when there are two political parties they will 
tend to merge towards a perceived median voter. This book was written in 
the 1950's and it seems to me that time has to a great degree validated 
this position. Having a third party will change this trend so for people 
who believe that change may come about through the electoral process it 
is worthwhile supporting efforts at a third party. Since parties fight 
for power as much as for ideology they will oppose efforts to build a 
third party. I guess this too would confound Greenspan.

John Thornton

Robert Wrubel wrote:
> Carl wrote:
> "What a Bizarro World reading of political trends
> article is.  The overriding point is that the Dems
> have become wholly Republican in POV.
>
> Partly true, partly not. If memory serves, core
> Republican positions were:  
>     1) isolationism
>
> --- Carl Remick <carlremick at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>   
>> On 10/2/07, Doug Henwood forwarded:
>>     
>>> Wall Street Journal - October 2, 2007
>>>
>>> GOP Is Losing Grip
>>> On Core Business Vote
>>>
>>> ... In last fall's midterm elections, rebellious Republicans and Republican-leaning independents contributed to the Democrats'
>>>       
>>> takeover of Congress and a raft of state and local offices. The Democratic Party had lured many newcomers through shifts of its own
>>>       
>>> since the Reagan era. Particularly under President Clinton, the party became more centrist and fiscally conservative, espousing balanced
>>>       
>>> budgets, targeted tax cuts and free trade. Party liberals and unionists never fully accepted those changes. ...
>>>       
>> What a Bizarro World reading of political trends
>> this article is.  The
>> overriding point is that the Dems have become wholly
>> Republican in
>> POV.
>>
>> Carl