If you are not aware of what state-level Republican Party governments have been doing in the last two years – and especially in the last few months – you must be made aware. In American politics, today’s state-level political parties are tomorrow’s national leaders and agendas. State-level GOPs are radically changing American politics from the bottom up in the same way that President Trump and his allies in Congress seek to change it from the top.
I am sorry. At other times we have discussed the foibles and excesses of progressivism. (e.g., cancel culture here & here & here; Is Democratic Party too far left here, feminism’s failures here.) But a group with the name Civilized Conversation must speak openly and honestly about the disturbing evolution of the Party of Lincoln and Eisenhower. Why?
First, state GOPs are implementing a truly radical agenda as we speak. It really is happening and it has only begun. This is not some liberal exaggeration of normal-level conservative policymaking. As I will explain and the articles below make crystal clear, Republicans in many of the 22 states where they have unified control of the whole government (inc. AZ, FL, IA, MO, OH, TN, TX) have embarked on a full-blown and coordinated effort to use the power of government to enforce their culture war views on the rest of us. The war so far has targeted education at all levels, public health (not just vax stuff), transgender and other LGBTQ rights, other civil rights, and even individual corporations that cross them. They also are continuing the assault on voting rights and the efforts to control voting rules and the election process.
This is not anything like the conservatism we are used to or that is advertised. It is not about small government, support for free enterprise, or advancing personal freedom (unless it is freedom to impose religious views on others). MAGA priorities rule state Republican parties.
Okay – if this is all true, then why isn’t it more widely-known and debated? Local press and specialized political websites have been covering these efforts as they happen. But the befuddled and distracted national news media will not put it together for us. As we have discussed several times, after more than a decade of creeping authoritarianism, the mainstream media still has no strategy for covering the Trumpian GOP.
Now conservatives – or at least most of them – see things differently, of course. To them, their representatives are just fighting back against progressive overreach. Liberal culture warrior politicians, infected by “wokeness” and/or anti-white or anti-American POVs, went out and changed education curricula, forced LGBT propaganda on their kids in order to “groom” them (not a joke), and dared to restrict individual liberty during a plague. They say it is all about restoring parental control over education, protecting children from immorality, preserving our true history, and fighting govt oppression of the coming white, conservative minority. Over 60% of Republican voters still believe that President Biden stole the 2020 election from Trump with massive voter fraud, so most support voting “reforms,” as well..
For our meeting, I think it is enough just to become aware of what is happening in these red states and how it fits into the dividing of America. Why the Right is choosing this path is where the controversy begins. With questions to debate like, who is in charge of the GOP now, and is choosing power over democracy (aka authoritarianism) just a passing phase for the GOP.
IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR COUNTRY’S FUTURE, YOU MUST FACE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, now dominated by its MAGA base, AS IT IS, not as you remember it or may want it to be. IMO at least, conservatism is honorable and its tenets deserve respect, if it stands for something other than revenge and power to control others.
To open on Monday, I will list the main areas (edu, repro rights, LGBT, civil rights, voting) of this new state-level culture war and voting war. I will emphasize changes that have become law already, and describe what more is planned that we know of. Then we can debate.
If you want a head start on the facts, I highly recommend reading some of the recommended backgrounders.
OPTIONAL BACKGROUND READINGS –
The big picture –
- #1 most useful summary: It was obvious a year ago – Red states are pursuing the most aggressive culture war and anti-democratic agenda in a century. Cumulative effect staggering.
- The big picture of why this is happening: Constitution biased in favor of minority rule and conservatives have always preferred it.
Selected states –
- Florida:
- Recommended. A FL newspaper lists all that Governor DeSantis/GOP have done. Add universal school vouchers now, too.
- Of special importance: His campaign to make it easier to sue the news media out of existence.
- Texas:
- New bills to shrink electorate and let GOP overturn Houston’s entire 2024 vote. Stunning.
- Legendary official platform of the Texas GOP briefly described.
- Iowa has just taken a hard right turn.
- WA, OR, ID: Fringe groups (militias, white nationalists, anti-vax) have formed an alliance to run for local offices – and some are winning.
A few special issues –
- Birth control: Some GOP states are already targeting it.
- Race in education: States that have banned/limited teaching “critical race theory,” whatever it is. Recommended.
- Transgender rights: A secretive group is coordinating the attacks.
Conservative POV –
NEXT WEEK (4/10/23): What are Americans’ worst misconceptions about the rest of the word and vice versa?
Civilized Conversation 