Why Class Warfare Doesn't Work Anymore...

You know the old stereotype of Republicans. It's pushed all the time by the Left - "tax cuts for the rich" and all that. Hell, I was weaned on it. The GOP is the party of the wealthy and "winners of life's lottery" and the Democrats are all about the "working man". Yeah right.

The truth is the Republican party - and the policies it pursues - is the party for everyone who wants to take control of their own destiny, take responsibility for their own success or failure, work hard and achieve their dreams. I learned this late in life, once I was able to push aside my learned prejudices. When I was a kid, this class warfare crap worked well because the Left controlled the media and reinforced the propaganda spewed out by the DNC.

Jerry Bowyer looks at this Monopoly Guy image we still hear about nowadays and analyzes why it is failing in his column at Tech Central Station today. Looking at the dopey theory put forth by Thomas Frank in his book "What's Wrong With Kansas?", Bowyer presents the reality that exists in the 31 "Red" States that went for Bush in 2004. Frank's premise is that the unwashed masses out in flyover country are really a natural constituency for the Democrats, but they are scared into voting for the GOP because of wedge social issues. Nonsense, says Bowyer. The Red States vote for Bush (and identify with the Republicans) because this administration's policies are greatly benefiting the folks that Democrats used to own. Bowyer dubs them the "aspirational class".

The numbers speak for themselves. There is a huge gap in Personal Income Per Capita between Blue States and Red States ($35,500 v. $29,724). The heart of Democrat territory (especially the Northeast) is actually "richer" than the Bush States. So who's the party of the rich? Doesn't seem to make sense. By that logic, the Blue and Red States should be flipped-flopped? No?

But while average Gross State Product growth was comparatively the same (4.32% v. 4.14%), the acceleration rate is like night and day. In 1st Quarter 2005, Red States collectively saw a 1.05% jump in growth compared to a .29% increase for Blue States. Strong economic growth creates more jobs.

As Bowyer explains:

Overall national economic growth was quite strong and income growth was very strong. The economy was doing well and the President was reelected. Kansas was doing as well as everybody else. Iowa and Nevada were doing much better than everybody else.

So as the institutions of the Blue States - unions, ivy league schools and old media - wither and those of the Red States - small businesses and Wal-Mart - thrive, the more vexing question should be "What's wrong with New Jersey?"

Posted by: Gary at 10:00 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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