[lbo-talk] uh-oh! too much regulation!!

[James Heartfield]

There is nothing uniquely American about the right basing itself on over-represented small town and rural areas, as a counter-balance to the more social-democratic cities. It is the norm in Britain (where geographical constituencies are drawn to give rural voters extra weight) whose Tory party is largely elected by the suburban and rural parts of the country. It is true, I believe, also of most of Europe, and even Japan.

Nor, for that matter is there anything uniquely American about the error of radicals in reproducing that geographical division of the country in their own thinking, writing off the small towns, suburbs and rural districts has been a classical error of the left for nearly a century - and one that has handed victory to the right over and over again (most recently in London's mayoral elections).

Left wingers' fear and contempt for suburbanites, for the white working classes, the chavs, 'mouth-breathers', is a refrain that is sadly not that original. And - lo and behold! - radical ideas are not that popular. Could there be a connection?