I’ve seen it time and time again. Republican Incumbent pitches “hate bills”, has no ethical qualms about conflicts of interest, passes legislation to aid their own business/profession, lies lies lies; basically works the state government like a piggy bank.
Democratic Challenger says: Hey, voters, Republican Incumbent … etc., etc.
Republican Incumbent lies again, and then says: negative campaign makes Incumbent “sad”.
Sheeple Utah Voter says: tsk, tsk, evil Democrat! Negative Bad! Truth Bad! Be Nice!
Republican Incumbent then sends out a last minute mailer, paid for with dirty lobbyist money, saying the Democratic Challenger gives out free blow-jobs at abortion clinics while secretly replacing copies of the bible with Al Gore’s biograph in library and burns down churches.
Democratic Challenger says: Those are all lies.
Sheeple Utah Voter says: Abortion! Al Gore! Gays! Nevermind the corruption! Nevermind the millions in tax payer money you spend to protect your hate speech in court, never mind the gutting of the education system, never mind the unconstitutional moral messages, never mind THE NUCLEAR WASTE, Democratic Challenger likes the outdoors, likes affordable health care, likes CHIP, likes schools, and, my God, likes equality* for everyone! Vote Republican!
As nice as the recent articles about our corrupt, and ultimately “cheap date” legislature are, I believe that they will change very little. The GOP majority will continue “business as usual” and, again this year, will spend millions sending bullshit mailers attacking Dems to voters.
The inevitable juggernaut of the UTGOP fund raising machine is due, to a mighty degree, to an utter lack of scrupples about where the money comes from. Sadly, as shown by last year’s voucher debate, a lot of the time itis the money, and the treat of money, that sets the legislative agend. Supply Side politics is dirty as hell, but, as long the UTGOP holds a veto-proof majority in the State House and Senate, no one wins but greedy driven, false-morals driven, members of the GOP.
2008 is not only going to look as bad as 2006 in Utah, it’s going to get worse. Every Democratic Position and Issue mailer will be met with three GOP “gives heroin to children” mailers.
And Utah Voters will, again, believe it all, in spite of overwhelming evidence, and vote like Sheep. The question is, WHY?
Sound off in the comments
Answers and Possible Solutions in Part 2.
*Equality it NOT special rights. It’s equality, you stupid bigot.
I had no idea the dems were replacing the Bible with Al Gore biographies! It’s OUTRAGIOUS! I’ll tell you what – I’m never voting Democrat again. Dirty bastards. And I’ll tell you something else… if there’s an abortion clinic in my area… then… um… what hours… do you think the democrats are running those?
I think the best description of the “sheeple” you refer to was given by John Dean in his book, “Conservatives Without Conscience” as he describes sociologically, people he refers to as “right wing authoritarians” of the follower variety.
With an authoritarian religion dominating Utah’s landscape, it is easy to see how authoritarian thinking creeps into politics as well. I’ve been thinking about this topic alot lately and may post something on my blog addressing authoritarian thought and predominance in Utah.