PROMETHEAN ANTAGONIST

We know times are changing when leftists now speak of their empathy for the middle class and espouse how their actions will "help the middle class."

Socialism's history is riddled with complete lack of interest in the values or circumstance of the middle class -- if not downright disdain for it.

The middle class has always been seen by the left as materialistic, non-intellectual, selfish, and uncommited to the values of a "revolutionary vanguard." Sound-bites from leftland in the past regularly praised the nobility (anti-pun not intended) of the "poor" and the "oppressed." The mouthpieces for the downtrodden (such demogogues have usually been, ironically, middle class themselves) would seldom fail to reveal their absolute disdain for the "bourgeoisie."

Even relative moderates within the Democrat party had, until recently, sought to convert the middle class to their cause, rallying them in a contirved community effort to "help the poor and oppressed."

Thanks to the success of a free economy the truly poor aren't even a significant voting block anymore. In a country where many poor people are suffering from obesity and too much leisure time in front of color televisions, a populist crusade to help the poor isn't likely to get a politician elected.

So, now we have the relatively sudden interest among Democrats and "progressives" for "the middle class," and that middle class must be painted as a class in dire straits and need for government "assistance" (i.e. John Edward's "Two America's" rant).

The only thing that has actually changed in socialism's message has been the wording of the message itself. Most "progressives" (which now include many within America's Democrat party) still come from a pampered tier of the middle class, and most still hold their counter-intuitive disdain for their own class backgrounds -- they still see the mid-class as selfish, materialistic, and lacking intellectual sophistication. This is a message that they can't verbalize of course in a country where the middle class has flourished and ultimatey decides the outcome of elections. So it is that we now hear non-stop concern amongst socialists for the trials of life in the middle class.

'Just another phony spin from leftland; a place where intellectual snobs seek power and authority over personal lives and do so on bogus claims of concern for groups they either care little for or bitterly hold in contmept.

When many Journalists, academics, and entertainment elites think of the middle class, the caricature in their mind is one of country music, cheap beer, religion, and patriotism, things they themselves are not overly fond of.

Hearing Barack Obama and other Demo-socialists espouse their concern for the middle class is like hearing them espouse the virtue of patriotism. It doesn't even come close to what any discerning eye can see in the heart of a political con.

1972..."help the poor"
2008..."help the middle class."

Always..."help me get elected so I can construct a new world where everyone does what I tell them to."

# posted by Promethean Antagonist @ 4:58 PM