OCCUPY WALL STREET

[Cin]

Originally Posted by SoNotHer

U.S. (Hearts) Progressives



Americans remain ambivalent about both socialism and capitalism - roughly split, with each end of the political spectrum leaning the way you'd expect - but more approve of the term “progressive” than any other political label, according to a new poll from the Pew Center. That's a hopeful 67%-22%.



Taken from - http://www.commondreams.org/further/2011/12/29-0

I'm having trouble seeing the hopeful part when more than twice as many people in the U.S. see as positive conservative politics over socialist ones. I have nothing against conservative and liberal or any other persuasion mentioned in the poll as an ideology. However, it is clear to me that there is a connection between the conservative politics of smaller government and the privatization of prisons, public education, foster care, the military, etc. which has led to a country (dare I say world) owned and run by corporations.

Corporations don't have allegiances to countries. They own governments; governments don't control them. Corporations are against America. They are against freedom. They are destroying the infrastructure of the United States, the middle class, education and the economy as well as our environment. Why don't I hear people say stuff like that when they talk about what is anti american? Because truly I believe that the behavior of corporations run by socially conservative minded people is destroying our country. Socialism isn't anti American. Conservative/liberal politics that renders government for the people, by the people and of the people impotent is anti American.

So called liberal politicians are liberal in name only. They are all owned by corporate America. It is safe to say that most people involved in the corporate world are social conservatives. Their financial actions, the ones that have pretty much destroyed the world economy and made the government pick up the tab, make it difficult to see them as fiscally conservative. The humongous and grossly unfair tax breaks they take that leave our government floundering make it even harder to call them fiscally conservative. They are, however, quite fiscally conservative when it comes to giving anything back to their government. And they like the idea of fiscal conservatism by the government toward the 99%. And they love, love, love, even adore, social conservatism. Which translates into mucho austerity measures for the 99%

But according to this poll most Americans still don't get it. That doesn't feel very hopeful. But then there have been some hopeful things this past year. I guess I'll focus on those.

One more thing comes to mind when looking at this poll. The percentages are very confusing to me. Ideologically speaking, progressivism is generally believed to be in direct opposition to conservatism, so how can 62% of Americans view conservatism positively while 67% view progressivism positively? That would mean a percentage of people view both conservative and progressive ideology in a positive light. That's like saying that a percentage of people believe in both a woman's right to choose and criminalizing abortion. Odd.