I was reading Time online today when I ran across an article called “Texas Gov. says ‘Scous are in Culture War’ ” (http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1714772,00.html?xid=rss-topstories)
What is the deal with this “culture war”? Bill O’Reilly wrote a book called Culture Warrior, focusing on the Right’s eternal struggle with the nefarious Left and its assaults on decency and civilization. I don’t know if he created the phrase or merely popularized it, but now its in the lexicon. But either way, it has become a new talking point for pundits on both sides.
Basically, this culture war encompasses touchy issues of abortion, gays, drug laws, pornography, and faith. These are great cannon-fodder for divisive arguments because there is essentially no right answer. People on the Left or Right will tell you there is, of course, but the fact of the matter is that both sides think they have valid points and often aren’t arguing from the same point of view.
Take abortion. Pro-choice advocates don’t think abortions are cool and no-big deal (well I’m sure some do, but they’re a minority), rather they think the state shouldn’t make medical decisions for citizens, especially with matters like a pregnancy. Pro-life advocates feel strongly that this is an independent life and abortion is violence infringing on the rights of the innocent. Depending on what view you personally adhere to, either party has a sound case and you likely won’t agree with the opposing side.
Same with gay marriage. Many feel that traditional marriage is defined through Judeo-Christian institutions and those forbid homosexuality. Proponents of gay marriage argue that marriage is a secular bond that is established by the state and privately solemnized by religious institutions, so it should not bar homosexual marriage. On the one hand, you cannot force people who deeply believe their faith prohibits homosexuality to support their movement, but also you cannot bar secular marriage, as it IS an institution of the State.
I could go on with examples.
These are issues of morality where both sides often have valid points ignored by the opposing side.
“Wag the Dog” refers to a 90’s movie about starting a war to cover up for embarrassing shortfalls of a politician. I see the Culture War as a Wag the Dog style diversion to distract voters from real issues of substance like the economy, war, government waste and efficiency, cronyism on both sides of the aisle, etc.
The beauty of these issues is that the war CAN NEVER END. These aren’t issues of facts, they’re largely deep, personal beliefs. I don’t want to single out a political party, but pundits on the Right more often tend to invoke the Culture War to distract from issues. Why discuss a bloated military budget that misproportions its funding for the three branches when you can play up primal fears, nativism, or an appeal to an idealized past?
Want to ask why government pork-barrel spending projects soak up over 30 billion dollars each year? No, let’s talk about prayer in schools.
Want to ask about CIA operations around the world, as well as intelligence leading us to various invasions? No, let’s keep gays out of the Boy Scouts.
Pitting Traditional Values versus anything is like pitting a miniature poodle against a gorilla. But the logical slip is that it requires assuming the “enemies” in the Culture War DON’T care about America. It assumes that there really are two separate America’s, with one side God-fearing and traditional, and the other one godless and immoral.
The problem is that this isn’t true. A majority of the Left truly does love America and want what’s best for it, they just see things differently. They don’t hate “the way things were,” yet realize things change and survival requires adapting.
All of this is rambling and short on facts. But its a rhetorical essay of ideas. And I am pretty tired of the Culture War dominating issues and debates. Both parties this time have actually been pretty good about discussing Iraq, the economy, healthcare, etc. rather than bullshit issues. But I still remember watching the 2004 Bush/Kerry debates and watched the lion’s share of air time devoted to asking “Do you support civil unions? What about parental notification for abortion?”
This is not to imply that social issues aren’t important, but the government’s job is to defend the country and ensure the general welfare of the nation. Electing someone on social issues alone (W) leaves the government free to ignore the herd of elephants in the room: The deficit, the War, national security, the economy, healthcare, infrastructure.
Tags: Bill O'Reilly, Culture War, social issues, social voter
