The appeal of ‘fusionism’
Dear editor:
Comments to never-Trump and proTrump columnists:
Micheal Gerson seems to think “fusionism” between conservative and libertarian thinkers was a good idea (March 30). But April 20 he says, “You can’t advance a vision of human dignity by dehumanizing others. You can’t advance a vision of peace with violent and demeaning language.” Yet fusionism has done just that.
The propagandists of the right-wing extreme libertarianism have convinced social conservatives, including many Christians, that hate language is good. Rush Limbaugh has the one-word insult for all political enemies; Trump just has used this strategy with disastrous but successful results.
Frank Luntz and former Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich used pages of insulting words for Democrats to easily destroy their political enemies. As Christians and the elderly have voted against their own interests by the appeal of fusionism, the Koch brothers, their allies, and minions (i.e. Paul Ryan) have nearly succeeded in taking away Social Security and voucherizing Medicare. Also, they have largely caused union members and others to lose decent wages.
Through the years since Christ’s death, people have embraced Christianity for the language and power of
love. Jesus preached the gospel “to the poor,” “healed the brokenhearted” and “set at liberty them that are bruised.” In contrast, libertarian propagandists have used the power and language of hate to take from the poor and vulnerable and give to the libertarian billionaires.
President Trump uses what I call the elephant whistle to conflate all Latinos as rapists, murderers or MS-13s. That demonizing gives him the power to snatch children from their parents and warehouse them in substandard, overcrowded places.
For this fall election, Republican propagandists will try to make us all think there is a MS-13 member under our beds, just as they convinced us earlier there were Communists under our beds. They have made us believe that all poor bring it on themselves. Therefore, they don’t have to adjust the economy in a “representative democracy” way to help all those who want work that allows them to support their children.
Marc Thiessen, who follows the party line on FOX TV, thinks Trump is pro-life (May 25). Yes, like other Republicans have for 40 years, Trump gives lip-service to anti-abortionism as right-wing billionaires push their minions to enact draconian laws that actually increase abortion because of poverty.
In Texas, there has been a big increase in maternal deaths because the Republican punitive ideas reduce the amount of available care to mothers. The right-wing federalists who are filling the nation’s judicial benches spend most of their time increasing the wealth of their patrons. They have been in the majority for 40 years and haven’t really done anything to help all Americans.
Meanwhile, we have Roseanne who has recited right-wing oldies but baddies. George Soros has been demonized because of a Republican scorched earth policy. For Valerie Jarrett, they’ve shown a totally falsified yearbook that makes her look Muslim. Remember, Jarrett, Soros or Maxine Waters don’t want to take our Social Security away. Linda Woodbury Hot Springs