This Imbalance is Harming Society

The right-wing movement has changed American society in significant ways. It has been successful in turning public opinion and many politicians against spending money on programs that provide essential benefits to those in need, common-sense environmental regulation, consumer-protection measures, and the legitimacy of government itself. As a result of the right's consistent, strategic approach and aggressive use of messaging and communication techniques to dominate the marketplace of ideas, many Americans now believe that government at local, state, and national levels acts against their interests as citizens. Low levels of political participation reflect this alienation - and affect the outcome of elections.

The political climate has become unfriendly to policies built on the understanding that government can help people and protect them from threats to their well-being. Moreover, many of the advances that moderates and progressives have worked hard to achieve over the past century have been abruptly reversed by conservative legislative and judicial decisions.

We are being attacked on many fronts. Tax breaks for select corporations and the ultra-wealthy, coupled with a bloated and unaccountable military budget and industry-specific "pork," have left us with massive deficits and without resources to provide necessary services such as health care and adequate pensions. Deregulation of industry has led to corporate corruption and chaos in the stock market. Defunding and weakening of agencies such as the EPA, FDA, FCC and the SEC have undermined vital protections for all citizens. And the list goes on:

• Public education is under attack
• Unions, worker rights and employee benefits are under attack
• Women’s right to reproductive choice and family planning is under attack
• Talk radio carries the far right message 24 hours a day
• Mean-spirited and ridiculing attacks on the right's political opponents have become common
• Media conglomerates present limited coverage of issues and perspectives
• The wall between church and state wall is being undermined
• Unchecked corporate greed and misplaced priorities have accelerated environmental destruction
• Activist ideological judges appointed, many of whom are members of the far-right-wing Federalist Society, are being appointed to the courts
• Diversity and multiculturalism are openly ridiculed
• Teaching of evolution is under attack
• Gay rights are under attack
• Many corporations ignore the good of both employees and the public

Meanwhile, significant problems are building up. While our political leaders are focused on the right-wing's agenda of issues such as tax cuts for the wealthy, deregulation of industry, military adventurism and privatization or elimination of social services, they are not dealing with important issues that face us all. There is not sufficient consideration of the current impact and future consequences of policy and social and business decisions. We face tremendous problems such as global warming and other environmental concerns, increasing disparity between the wealthiest and poorest, and an increasing worldwide population that includes many who are hostile to the United States, but these are not addressed in any meaningful way in our national agenda. There isn't room for them because the marketplace of ideas is so nearly monopolized by the far-right ideological agenda.

Even Moderate and Traditionally Conservative Republicans are Targeted by the Right-Wing Movement!

Members of the moderate wing of the Republican Party are derided by the radical right as nothing more than RINO's - Republicans In Name Only. The same foundations, corporations and individuals that fund the far-right think tanks are funding efforts to drive these moderates out of office and out of the party.

(Click here for links to articles on the subject of moderate & traditionally conservative Republicans under attack by the right-wing ideological movement. )

The Actions and Policies of the Radical Right Affect You and the Things You Care About

Given the right-wing movement's influence in so many areas of our society, everyone is being affected in some way. You, your friends, and your family are already living with the consequences of 25 years of right-wing policies. These policies have already changed the world that your children and grandchildren will inherit, and these trends are likely to accelerate following the 2002 election. Your parents and elderly relatives face diminished prospects for a healthy and comfortable retirement. The social services that you value or depend upon have probably been cut or reduced. The charities and non-profits you support swim against a resistant political and economic tide. Your ability to participate meaningfully in the democratic process has been undermined. Prospects for peace and international cooperation to address global challenges have been dramatically lessened.

The right-wingers dismiss these concerns as doom-and-gloom negativism. Yet reflect upon them, and you’ll know that they’re true.

Even so, it’s possible to fight back and build a better future. It’s time to change the game, and it’s in our power to do so.

Next page, It's Time to Change the Game!

Click here for links to information about what the right wing is saying and how the right wing's movement's actions are damaging specific issue areas such as the environment, reproductive rights, worker's rights and others.