By Tom KandoI never anticipated the country’s unending rightward movement. When I went to school and taught as a professor, from the 1950s until recently, I assumed that progress, by and large, meant that society gradually becomes more just, more rational, more pragmatic, more democratic, and that people hopefully enjoy increasing material comfort, physical health and the other benefits of science. I assumed that this was the long-term trend, despite some major relapses such as Fascism and Communism.
But lo and behold, the opposite is happening.
The retrogression is not just political. It is also cultural. And that’s worse, because it is more widespread. It affects the people, the whole society, not just a small self-serving elite.
Let me be specific:
● Whether it has to do with the “culture wars,” with science, with projects such as mass transit, or with criminal justice, we seem to be returning to the 19th century. Instead of focusing on bread-and-butter issues, millions of voters are more concerned about identity politics such as outlawing gay marriage.
● Since the most obvious expressions of racism are now illegal, new forms emerge. They include bogeyman such as the rise of a “Califate” in the US, and an irrational hatred of President Obama. This hatred is so out of proportion with his mildly liberal policies, that it is obviously based on deep-seeded racism.
● Religious fundamentalism is making a strong come-back, from Islamism overseas to evangelicals domestically.
● Abortion is under the gun. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Supreme Court outlawed Roe v. Wade one of these days. Even birth control is opposed by a growing number of zealots. (See the recent polarizing Komen-Planned Parenthood flap). To its credit, Obamacare will require that all health insurance plans offer contraception to whoever desires it. This will also apply to the plans offered by Catholic schools and hospitals to their employees.
However, some argue that this is government tyranny, and an assault on religious liberty. (See for example Kathleen Parker, Sacramento Bee Feb. 4). But that’s absurd: The law will only require that birth control be available. No Catholic will ever be forced to use it. Of course, many Catholic women might, as do millions of them in Ireland, France, Italy and elsewhere. It is the opposite which would violate the separation of church and state: If Catholic employers were allowed to use (government-subsidized) health plans which differed from those for the rest of us.
● The reaction takes place in many other areas: The number of people who believe that global warming is a hoax has doubled over the past 10 years. Similarly, “Intelligent Design” is gaining on Darwin. Scientific facts? Who cares!
● Mass transit, public transportation, more wholesome ways to travel? Forget it: California’s high-speed train is dead or moribund. Judging from letters to the editors, opposition to it is nearly unanimous. Create bike lanes on city streets? Opposed by most of the public as a waste. Biking is only for fools.
● What to do about prisons, juvenile halls, parking lots, not to mention pensions? privatize, privatize it all.
● Unions are in decline and under attack everywhere.
● Then there is the disastrous Citizens United Decision by the US Supreme Court, which transforms corporations into people, and completes the transition of our democracy into a corrupt plutocracy.
● On the other hand, the more casinos and gambling there are, the better. This is one of the most effective ways to transfer wealth from the poor to the rich.
● And God forbid that some international or “foreign” source would dare to comment on one of America’s internal problems, as when a United Nations agency recently criticized Sacramento’s cruel neglect of its large homeless population. Nothing infuriates Americans more than a perceived infringement of their sovereignty, any hint of “world federalism.” God forbid that we would some day have a unified world and peace among nations!
So there you have it, folks. The Luddites and the know-nothings are winning. Pseudo-issues trump real issues such as poverty (as candidate Romney said, we don’t need to be “very concerned about the very poor.”) Well, maybe this is just another hiccup, another temporary relapse. Let’s hope so.leave comment here
5 comments:
Tom says... | I assumed that progress, by and large, meant that society gradually becomes more just, more rational, more pragmatic, more democratic, and that people hopefully enjoy increasing material comfort, physical health and the other benefits of science."
I also assumed, just like you! I was wrong.
Isn't it all just breathtaking?
Nice column. Thanks. It’s good to know other people share some of the same values.
Thanks, folks,
it's good to find others with whom to cry together.
Just kidding, we do more than cry, we work at making things better...
A couple of observations, if you'll allow me: (1). Re eugenics: I don't know if they called it that when you first came to Sac State. but in 1964, when i arrived we were shown the arboretum (near the entry to the campus), and one of the guides called it the "Goethe Arboretum." This is the same Goethe that gave Sac State the mansion on T Street which was somewhat of a white elephant because C. M Goethe was known in Sacramento for his work in eugenics. (There was a scholarship in his name that his wife established, but the CSUS dropped the use of his namel in the 70's, I think).
2. Recently Paul J. Samuelson (call him doyen of Economics) published an article "Revisiting the Great Depression" in which he says the Great Depression was prolonged because of the gold standard (which I think has been proven without a doubt), and that the present "Great Recession" will be prolonged by the advanced countries' welfare policies. You probably will enjoy reading it. It came out in Winter 2012 issue of Wilson Quarterly.
3. Your latest about retrogression in American peoples' ideology is worrisome. I am bit more optimistic about that because I attribute all of that to our Great Recession. Once people get jobs and decent income, they forget about all that nonsense (unless we get an American version of a Hitler — hope not), an go back to the old, more decent, and comfortable behavior and thoughts. (Hope so). They need a fall guy and Obama, the Black, is it. Racism never goes away, it just is always lurking just below the surface (even among decent people).
I thank anonymous - obviously a - for his several excellent points.
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