Dwain Northey (Gen X)

We all complain about the Radical Right and their apparent desire, as of late, to turn the clock back to the 1850’s or the Loud Left that some seem to think is taking the country on the road to socialism but neither if these are entirely correct about either end of the continuum. Yes there are shrill voices on the extreme edges and lately those opinions are the only ones that are heard. There used to be  middle ground but sadly that middle no longer exists, we have been push so far to the right that the current right wing would call Reagan, union busting corporatist Reagan, a lefty socialist.

In the 20th century in the 1930’s FDR was considered a leftist we he proposed the rich paying their far share and establishing a social security that would allow people to retire with some level of dignity instead of the destitution and squaller that had been the unfortunate norm for many during the early industrial revolution. The conservative Dwight D. Eisenhower after Truman upheld these afore mentioned social views and even held the corporate and ultra-rich to a top tax rate of 91%, and believe it or not they were still rich. Eisenhower supported unions and expanded the federal highway system. At the time these were the conservative policies, support the working man and American families and above all else build it in the United States. The democrats wanted to do more and move faster to an equalization of shared resources, the republicans weren’t totally against these ideals they just wanted to go slower.

Every political contest both extremes are always in a race to recruit the middle to try and control or regain a power advantage. Both parties know that there are far more centrist that those on the extremes but as I stated previously the center is no longer a choice between far left hippy communes and the gilded halls of corporate consolidation.

In the 1970s, post Nixon things changed. Media got involved Roger Ailes proposed GOP TV to the Nixon administration so that the republican party could control the narrative. Imagine if they had that in the 70s, Water Gate and Nixon’s crimes would have been whitewashed out of the public eye. Then in the 80’s the billionaire media magnate Rupert  Murdock started Fox, which initially lost money, with a plan. Reagan took away the fairness doctrine that said that both sides had to be equally represented. Then came cable TV, everyone wanted cable and Murdock knew it so he put FOX NEWs on the lowest tier of cable for no additional charge.

Can anyone guess what that accomplished? If you guessed getting his ultra-right message to the masses in the middle of the political spectrum, you would be correct.

Fox calling themselves News, although 90% of the content is opinion, flowed freely into millions of homes and business. This brand of rhetoric tipped the scales because the mute, malleable, masses took this so called news and gospel and the undeniable truth that many are too lazy to find out the real facts for themselves was a huge gift.

Why do I keep calling the masses MUTE, it is because the majority never speak up. They were taught as children that silence is the best option. Although we do have a contingent currently that is so resolute in there brand of B.S. that they will not bend from it… (this group is historically in the right)

The goal to control the middle has come down to rage vs results. Democrats try and get things done for their constituents while Republicans rage that the left are stealing and giving things away to the undeserving. It’s an Us vs Them scenario and the them is anyone that doesn’t look like they do or believe what they believe.

Time has come for the mute to speak up be less malleable, if you are left of center and believe that all should prosper, Speak up. If you are right then coherently support your position, don’t yell it someone else’s face and then refuse to listen. There is common ground we just have to be willing to find it.