The Spectre of Conservatism

It's rearing its ugly head this week. Could the GOP be preparing for hairy midterms? Looks like it.

Bush Revives Gay Marriage Ban- auspicious timing much? Shameless political pandering, this is. And yet, it worked in 2004. Can't blame the GOP for sticking to simple, emotional topics that appeal to simple, emotional people. People who are willing to vote against their economic self interest to ensure that the two guys living down the street can't receive the same legal and tax benefits that we heterosexual married couples may. It's touching, really, their selfless concern for others. Touching.

Supreme Court to Rule on Affirmative Action in Public Schools- This one is pretty ominous. Sandra Day cast a deciding swing vote in the Michigan case- and she's gone, replaced by a man who, while professionally qualified, leans slightly to the right of Ghengis Khan. I have not read about this "open-slot" diversity question in detail; perhaps I will, perhaps I will comment further.

Repeal of the Estate Tax- And this, OOOOH this. As our debt reaches $9 trillion levels, as we gorge the life out of low income and education discretionary spending, as we trumpet this country as the ultimate meritocracy while the gap between rich and poor grows ever wider- we are about to repeal the estate tax. Brilliant. This is a GOP pet issue and I am amazed at the support for it in the Senate.
Sebastian Mallaby, who wrote this article, sums up the distasteful turn of events:
"Repealing the estate tax is like erecting protectionist barriers around the hereditary elite. It is anti-meritocratic and unfair -- and antithetical to this nation's best traditions."
Indeed.

Must work but will try to post more and better.