The Right Is So Wrong

There is no doubt in my mind that Republicans were defeated in last year’s elections because of their incompetence, not their ideology, but in fact their principles are as bankrupt as their leadership. Historically, conservatives have been on the wrong side of just about every prominent issue in American life.

Since the Reagan era, it has been fashionable to ridicule liberals as out of touch with mainstream America. Yet, mainstream America is the creature of American liberalism, not its antithesis. The twentieth century has been dubbed the “American century,” and the accomplishments we celebrate were products of the progressive and liberal philosophy that was the guiding light for the social, economic and political forces that defined our national achievements and global prominence.

On the other hand, conservatives stood in opposition to all of the great issues of that era: they opposed civil rights, the national park system, food and workplace safety regulations, equal rights for women, union labor, the minimum wage and a host of other elements of American life that we take for granted today.

It is surprising to observe that the World War II era “Greatest Generation” is often supportive of movement conservatism, yet the social security benefit most rely upon to survive would not exist if the conservatives of their day had prevailed!

Indeed, it was Franklin Roosevelt – the most liberal president in American history – who successfully led them through the twin crises of economic depression and world war. Conservatives in Congress demonized Roosevelt, blocked New Deal initiatives and fiercely resisted the President’s efforts to modernize our navy in the shadow of Hitler and Tojo’s rising threat. Later, they stood against aid to England under the assault of the Nazi war machine. After the war, they opposed the Marshall Plan that re-made Europe.

It is ironic that the one major achievement in the latter part of the century that conservatives take credit for – engagement with the Soviet Union that set in motion the end of the cold war – were achieved only because Ronald Reagan stepped out of character to overrule his conservative cabinet and commit to dialogue with Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev.

Today’s conservatives appeal to voters with a vision of return to a “traditional America” by distorting their role in shaping our history. Yet, the United States became a great nation despite them, not because of them.

I have no doubt that one day Americans will scoff at the right-wing denial of global warming and evolution, their anti-gay crusade, their efforts to inject religion into government, their assault on our civil liberties, and their preference for war over diplomacy – that is, unless their misguided policies take us to the brink and beyond.