That book is called, "What's the matter with Kansas", and although it's a
little wordy for what it gets said, it's not a bad read- and generally,
Mr. Schartz,  what you are saying about it is correct.  

It doesn't however, say that a candidate couldn't be pro-environment and
pro- life.  That, of course, is perfectly possible.  All it would take
for that to happen would be someone like Ms. Murdock (writer of the
earlier posting) running for office.  I think this is a complcated enough
area that stereotyping does it a disservice.

It seems like abortion is the issue that is really hurting the democratic
party, and I agree with you that the R's are using it as a wedge issue to
win elections, and then not doing anything about changing abortion laws
once they get in office.  That is wrong, but it is also smart (for them).
 The question is: how can we reposition the Dems on abortion so as to
innoculate them, the most pro-environmental party, from this damage, and
advance our pro-environmental agenda.  I wish I knew the answer.


On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 15:10:19 -0500 Orlando Schwartz
<[log in to unmask]> writes:
> I have seen reference to a book that has a title, something like:  
> The 
> Kansas Effect.  The book suggests that certain issues such as 
> prolife 
> and gay marriage are used by conservatives for misdirection and 
> distraction for the masses.  If you are all fired up about those 
> issues, 
> you likely are not paying attention to the tax code changes, the 
> fact 
> that your work place is less safe, your environment is more 
> polluted, 
> you lost your health insurance, etc.  In effect they are 
> misdirections 
> for the masses by politcians with an economic agenda for the wealthy 
> and 
> corporations.  Hence, there really cannot be  a prolife and 
> proenvironment politician (regardless of the words that may come 
> from 
> the politicians mouth).    I've read reports of religous, 
> proenvironment 
> groups that believe we should be taking care of God's earth, and 
> they 
> are stunned that there politicans don't understand their 
> environmental 
> concerns.  Do I believe that politics is this cynical.  Yes, in an 
> instant.  Lanny Schwartz
> 
> P.S.  I wanted to be brief, and I realize there is a bit of 
> sterotyping 
> in the above.  L.S.
> 
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