[lbo-talk] Americans think about the public option

[c b]

[WS:] I do not disagree with your broad concept of "reaganism" or your
claim that they controlled public policy and discourse (even uder
Clinton administration.) My point was slightly different, namely that
their rise to power was possible mainly because society as whole moved
to to the right as a result of declining standards of living. Had
those standards of living been rising, I think society as a whole
would become more liberal, and reaganism as we know it woul dnot have
happened.

To say it differently, the change of living condition is the key to
political attitudes of society (the being determines consciousness
thing.) A decline in the living conditions tends to produce
conservatiev attitudes, which in turn bribngs conservative parties to
power. A rise of living conditions tend to produce more liberal
attitudes, which in turn brings liberal or left wing parties to power.
Of course, there are always exceptions, but these are general trends
in most modern societies.

^^^^
CB: OK, but I guess I'd have to say that's a bit vulgarly materialist
with no offense intended.  I don't quite think objective conditions
are so predominant, nor that  progress only occurs with "rising
expectations" unmet ( somebody recently said that's de Toqueville's
theory). The 1950's were the Golden Age in the US but  liberals didn't
come to power. The 1930's had falling living standards, but it brought
the New Deal.  We just entered a recession , yet the American
population went more liberal in this election than the last, started
to end Reaganism.The exceptions to your rule are as "big" as your
rule, no ?