As a Kansas farmer I would caution everyone about stereotyping Kansans. We entered the Union as the Free State and suffered some of the most violent attacks of the Civil War to oppose slavery. We were "Indian Country" during the removal period. We have been many things over the decades that give us our own culture and our own independent spirit. Remember that we survived the hateful "Summer of Mercy" in 1991, and the murder of Dr. Tiller, without ever allowing laws to be passed banning abortion. Our courts have upheld the constitutional right for abortion. Like previous eras, we get into the headlines because we fight for the rights of others. This may be a battleground right now, but not because we are a "Red State" that doesn't believe in women's rights, but because we are a complicated state with a strong tradition of resisting outside pressure to conform.
As a Kansan, I never thought we’d be looked to as a bellwether state!
SCOTUS, congressional, state and local legislators need to leave their 'white toast' religion or misguided ideas about "the way things should be" at the chamber doors. We’re well-beyond what the Founding Fathers could have imagined when it comes to cultural and religious pluralism.
The culture wars are well underway. We don't need a religious conflict.
well done conservative Kansas..... maybe you are waking up..... As a Yank in the UK, please vote blue (probably preaching to the choir here....).... Get a better social safety net like in Europe. Longer vacations, better minimum wage, sensible gun mentality..... Good luck all.
Aug 4, 2022·edited Aug 4, 2022Liked by Robert Reich
HAHA! i love that quote from William Allen White! wonderful. thank you for sharing that.
and i was pleasantly surprised -- cheered even -- by the vote results in kansas. on one hand, i have friends in kansas who were saying this vote outcome was likely, but my friends are academics, so i was heartened by their predictions, but also wary since they, like everyone, hang out with their own particular group of people.
White had a great quote there! I too, am heartened by the epic surge of sentiment in the heartland! It was so good to see the people celebrating and hugging after they showed their power! Women and men!
Aug 4, 2022·edited Aug 4, 2022Liked by Robert Reich
Professor, I write in response to your mention of the Republican culture war largely to amend my comment from yesterday and also to provide a hopefully more focused and more helpful way forward.
I start with the premise that Republicans mainly want to fight the culture wars because they believe, perhaps rightly, that that’s how they win elections. At the same time, Democrats—leadership in particular—largely seem to want to dodge most culture issues rather than fighting the culture wars and winning them, on abortion (finally in-play), on book banning, on teaching history, on the devaluation and degradation across race and region, and on democracy itself, which, contrary to aristocracy, invariably raises the fundamental question: what is the role of the most disadvantaged in relation to the public interest? Considering the public largely is on the side of the Democrats, I worry that Democrats are not sufficiently in the fight.
To clarify, I notice Democrats frequently are quoted as saying, “We’re not going to deal with this stuff: we’re going to focus on kitchen table issues.” Though that sounds good, setting aside the impending passage of the Inflation Reduction Act that, admittedly, does include some counter-inflationary climate, health and tax reform measures, in the past 18 months, Democrats have been unable to extend the child tax credit, improve childcare, raise the minimum wage to $15, enact truly meaningful gun control measures, advance either the PRO Act or the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, make investments in housing, in eldercare, in Pre-K, or in student loan forgiveness—legislation, in other words, that markedly would improve life for tens and tens of millions of working people and also would mitigate the growing fear of violent assault and cruel insult.
Fair or not, politics mostly is perception and, although Republicans largely have no ideas other than ones arising from greed and self-serving impulses, their strategy of running on divisiveness, far too often, wins them elections. Hence, Democrats have to be willing to engage in war. The other side has shown that it will do whatever is necessary to attain power. Thus, it is incumbent upon Democrats both to show they are engaged in issues that matter most to Americans concerned about the quality of their lives, while also underscoring the kind of society that would ensue from a victorious MAGA party that, at the very least, would scapegoat those who are most vulnerable.
The Republican Party keeps telling us that we have too much government and less privacy in our lives. The exception, of course is when it comes to women's health issues. The Republican politicians have decided that when it comes to our mother,s our sisters, and our wifes that they, and only they have a right to decide on womens' health issues. And privacy-forget it. They could care less about the privacy of the women of this country.
It was amazing to hear the turnaround in the messaging of the pundits! All of a sudden , this big Kansas vote meant that a sea change could happen. They were using words like "a revolution!". See what happens....
“My advice to the women of America is to raise more hell and fewer dahlias.”) I agree with White. I also beileve that women hold our salvation and our republic.
As a Kansas farmer I would caution everyone about stereotyping Kansans. We entered the Union as the Free State and suffered some of the most violent attacks of the Civil War to oppose slavery. We were "Indian Country" during the removal period. We have been many things over the decades that give us our own culture and our own independent spirit. Remember that we survived the hateful "Summer of Mercy" in 1991, and the murder of Dr. Tiller, without ever allowing laws to be passed banning abortion. Our courts have upheld the constitutional right for abortion. Like previous eras, we get into the headlines because we fight for the rights of others. This may be a battleground right now, but not because we are a "Red State" that doesn't believe in women's rights, but because we are a complicated state with a strong tradition of resisting outside pressure to conform.
As a Kansan, I never thought we’d be looked to as a bellwether state!
SCOTUS, congressional, state and local legislators need to leave their 'white toast' religion or misguided ideas about "the way things should be" at the chamber doors. We’re well-beyond what the Founding Fathers could have imagined when it comes to cultural and religious pluralism.
The culture wars are well underway. We don't need a religious conflict.
I guess Kansas is finally seeing the Republicans for who they really are. I can only hope more states follow suit.
(Side note: I’m not expecting entrenched red states to suddenly flip to blue, but I do hope they’ll keep the radicals of the GOP at bay.)
Without Women there would be no Men! Most American women are decent, kind and caring.
It’s time for the majority,(women) to make America the country that other countries aspire to be. You Go Girl.
well done conservative Kansas..... maybe you are waking up..... As a Yank in the UK, please vote blue (probably preaching to the choir here....).... Get a better social safety net like in Europe. Longer vacations, better minimum wage, sensible gun mentality..... Good luck all.
HAHA! i love that quote from William Allen White! wonderful. thank you for sharing that.
and i was pleasantly surprised -- cheered even -- by the vote results in kansas. on one hand, i have friends in kansas who were saying this vote outcome was likely, but my friends are academics, so i was heartened by their predictions, but also wary since they, like everyone, hang out with their own particular group of people.
Mr. Reich,
I didn't know what a good writer you are.
Let's hope meaningful words file down to action. Thank you for your perspective. I, for one, appreciate the insight.
White had a great quote there! I too, am heartened by the epic surge of sentiment in the heartland! It was so good to see the people celebrating and hugging after they showed their power! Women and men!
Professor, I write in response to your mention of the Republican culture war largely to amend my comment from yesterday and also to provide a hopefully more focused and more helpful way forward.
I start with the premise that Republicans mainly want to fight the culture wars because they believe, perhaps rightly, that that’s how they win elections. At the same time, Democrats—leadership in particular—largely seem to want to dodge most culture issues rather than fighting the culture wars and winning them, on abortion (finally in-play), on book banning, on teaching history, on the devaluation and degradation across race and region, and on democracy itself, which, contrary to aristocracy, invariably raises the fundamental question: what is the role of the most disadvantaged in relation to the public interest? Considering the public largely is on the side of the Democrats, I worry that Democrats are not sufficiently in the fight.
To clarify, I notice Democrats frequently are quoted as saying, “We’re not going to deal with this stuff: we’re going to focus on kitchen table issues.” Though that sounds good, setting aside the impending passage of the Inflation Reduction Act that, admittedly, does include some counter-inflationary climate, health and tax reform measures, in the past 18 months, Democrats have been unable to extend the child tax credit, improve childcare, raise the minimum wage to $15, enact truly meaningful gun control measures, advance either the PRO Act or the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, make investments in housing, in eldercare, in Pre-K, or in student loan forgiveness—legislation, in other words, that markedly would improve life for tens and tens of millions of working people and also would mitigate the growing fear of violent assault and cruel insult.
Fair or not, politics mostly is perception and, although Republicans largely have no ideas other than ones arising from greed and self-serving impulses, their strategy of running on divisiveness, far too often, wins them elections. Hence, Democrats have to be willing to engage in war. The other side has shown that it will do whatever is necessary to attain power. Thus, it is incumbent upon Democrats both to show they are engaged in issues that matter most to Americans concerned about the quality of their lives, while also underscoring the kind of society that would ensue from a victorious MAGA party that, at the very least, would scapegoat those who are most vulnerable.
"Raise more hell and fewer dahlias!" There you go. A good T-shirt. My spirits have been raised by the Kansas vote. Thank you, Kansas! We needed that.
So good to see the organization that took place in Kansas! Especially with the “ Vote No to vote Yes” complication the Republicans crafted.
Well done Kansas!
The Republican Party keeps telling us that we have too much government and less privacy in our lives. The exception, of course is when it comes to women's health issues. The Republican politicians have decided that when it comes to our mother,s our sisters, and our wifes that they, and only they have a right to decide on womens' health issues. And privacy-forget it. They could care less about the privacy of the women of this country.
I love it!
It was amazing to hear the turnaround in the messaging of the pundits! All of a sudden , this big Kansas vote meant that a sea change could happen. They were using words like "a revolution!". See what happens....
Women will and always will step up to save our autonomy! ❤️❤️
“My advice to the women of America is to raise more hell and fewer dahlias.”) I agree with White. I also beileve that women hold our salvation and our republic.