Bushenfreude

[Pangloss]

Bushenfreude is a term used by Daniel Gross in this article called "The Rich Aren't Republican Any More", which appeared in Slate the day after the election:

 

http://www.slate.com/id/2153272/

 

The term is defined as "angry, well-off, well-educated yuppies, generally clustered on the coasts, who were funneling windfalls from Bush tax cuts into the campaigns of Democrats and preparing to vote for those who would raise taxes on their capital gains, their incomes, and their estates". ROFL!

 

It's an interesting look at the demographics of the election. His main point seems to be that biggest change from Republican to Democrat was the wealthiest kind of voter.

 

Here's an interesting quote:

 

One of the many dynamics in play this fall was the phenomenon of Bushenfreude, angry, well-off, well-educated yuppies, generally clustered on the coasts, who were funneling windfalls from Bush tax cuts into the campaigns of Democrats and preparing to vote for those who would raise taxes on their capital gains, their incomes, and their estates.

 

And another interesting tidbit:

 

On a nationwide basis, the wealthy still vote Republican. But not by much. According to the 2006 exit poll, on a nationwide basis, of all homes making more than $100,000, Republican House candidates received a 51-47 majority, and among those making more than $200,000, Republicans racked up a 53-46 majority. Here's the irony: As the number and relative weight of the wealthy grow, their incomes rising in part because Republicans have cut taxes on their incomes and capital gains, they're proving themselves less likely to vote their economic interests.

 

So much for "power to the people". (evil cackle)

[CPL.Luke]

this reminds me of anouther poll that showed a majority of people believed clinton handled taxes better than bush, even though he raised taxes and bush lowered them.

 

It just goes to show that the American people are more than mere sheep, and can see that you can't spend a billion dollars a day in Iraq and lower taxes at the same time.

[ecoli]

maybe the rich young yuppies don't mind supporting the 'lower' classes... there's an interesting idea.

[Mokele]

Or maybe they're just educated / worldly enough to see the Christian Right as the hate-mongers they are?

[Saryctos]

Could this possibly be due to the hollywood lobby? Rich people hang out with other rich people, or people to be seen with. Hollywood, most certainly leaning to the left, would begin to see more influence as people gain more wealth and become apart of the "wealthy elite".

[Sisyphus]

Could this possibly be due to the hollywood lobby? Rich people hang out with other rich people, or people to be seen with. Hollywood, most certainly leaning to the left, would begin to see more influence as people gain more wealth and become apart of the "wealthy elite".

 

I don't think so. Hollywood has always been left-leaning, and it's not nearly big enough to make any significant statistical difference.

[ParanoiA]

Or maybe they're just educated / worldly enough to see the Christian Right as the hate-mongers they are?

 

The christian right may have a foothold in the republican party, but they don't represent the ideology of all republicans. The only two republicans I know are also atheist or agnostic and despise the christian hypocrisy as much as I. Though you may be right, since most people associate republicans with religion just as they associate democrats without religion - both are incorrect of course.

[Mokele]

The christian right may have a foothold in the republican party, but they don't represent the ideology of all republicans.

 

However, given the way the politicians pander to the American Taliban, it really doesn't matter; they've insinuated themselves so deeply that I don't trust any elected Republican (or many moderate demoncrats) to be willing to offend them at the risk of their political careers.

 

Mokele

[Severian]

As the number and relative weight of the wealthy grow, their incomes rising in part because Republicans have cut taxes on their incomes and capital gains, they're proving themselves less likely to vote their economic interests.

 

That makes sense to me. As you become richer, you stop needing money to survive or even to significantly increase your standard of living. Material gains become less important, so your priorities change towards living in a 'better' society. That makes you more likely to vote for the person who you think will make society as a whole more pleasant to live in, rather than for the guy who will make you richer.

[ParanoiA]

However, given the way the politicians pander to the American Taliban, it really doesn't matter; they've insinuated themselves so deeply that I don't trust any elected Republican (or many moderate demoncrats) to be willing to offend them at the risk of their political careers.

 

Mokele

 

I don't see how that's any worse or better than the political correctness worshiped by the left. There is also not a single elected politician that would be willing to violate the PC code, no matter how stupid or harmful that code may be. I don't trust any politician, let alone elected and regardless of party alignment, although democrats are more threatening in my mind.

[Mokele]

I don't see how that's any worse or better than the political correctness worshiped by the left. There is also not a single elected politician that would be willing to violate the PC code, no matter how stupid or harmful that code may be. I don't trust any politician, let alone elected and regardless of party alignment, although democrats are more threatening in my mind.

 

The Democrats weren't the ones actively campaigning on the platform that they should be able to fire me, evict me from my apartment, deny me loans, and deny me insurance because they don't like my sexuality (yes, that was the *literal* text of a law, passed by the American Taliban in Cincinnati, and only repealed recently amid much Dominionist opposition). They may not be perfect, but I wouldn't be afraid of a Democrat-controlled government setting up concentration camps. I can't say the same for the American Taliban and their ceaseless hatred for anyone who doesn't conform to their faith.

 

I'd rather vote for a PC-stooge than someone with ideals on part with a Ku Klux Klan member.

 

Mokele

[ParanoiA]

The Democrats weren't the ones actively campaigning on the platform that they should be able to fire me, evict me from my apartment, deny me loans, and deny me insurance because they don't like my sexuality (yes, that was the *literal* text of a law, passed by the American Taliban in Cincinnati, and only repealed recently amid much Dominionist opposition).

 

Instead, the democrats lie and pretend to represent the blue collar worker while stealing his money and using it to hold down millions of people in multiple generations of entitlement legislation and victimology, leading to the stagnant advancement of an entire culture.

 

Democrats are republicans with the capacity to cheat the cheated. Ie..They understand that lowering taxes for the rich will increase revenue and they know why it works - yet they pretend to champion the uneducated sheep and fool them into their fold, playing on their class division psychology.

 

This sneaky, underhanded propogation of con artistry is just as much the fault of the american sheeple as it is the propagandists themselves.

 

At least the republicans appear to have the balls to stand up and say exactly what they stand for, so I don't fear them as much. Yes they are hypocritical, judgemental bastards with a flawed ideology, but that's preferred over hypocritical opportunists with a flawed ideology.

[Mokele]

Instead, the democrats lie and pretend to represent the blue collar worker while stealing his money and using it to hold down millions of people in multiple generations of entitlement legislation and victimology, leading to the stagnant advancement of an entire culture.

 

I dare you to tell the family of Matthew Shepard that's worse. Or to the family of any of the *hundreds* of people who've been killed for being different.

 

As long as I'm alive, I can fight the problems of the party. The American Taliban would ensure that doesn't happen. For some of us, this isn't about ideology, it's about survival.

 

Sorry, but if you're willing to support a hate-group just because the other side has some questionable politics, you shouldn't be voting.

[ParanoiA]

I dare you to tell the family of Matthew Shepard that's worse. Or to the family of any of the *hundreds* of people who've been killed for being different.

 

As long as I'm alive, I can fight the problems of the party. The American Taliban would ensure that doesn't happen. For some of us, this isn't about ideology, it's about survival.

 

Sorry, but if you're willing to support a hate-group just because the other side has some questionable politics, you shouldn't be voting.

 

I don't support a hate-group nor an elitist socialist regime either. And I don't support either of your precious parties. I also don't align criminals with political parties or any other extremist mentality. I'm a libertarian for the most part and I vote with my conscience. I don't pick the lesser of two evils, or who I think is going to win or any of that childish BS.

 

I will be happy to tell anyone that the incremental brainwashing and duping of the people of the world's superpower is worse than an open and direct indoctrination of bigotry and hate.

 

I never said I liked republicans. As I've stated before, Southpark creator Trey parker said it best, "I can't stand conservatives, but I f#$cking hate liberals"...a little light on the hate though, I'm softening up in my older age...

[bob000555]

ParanoiA that’s completely insane sure there are some corrupt politicians but the majority are public servants who have dedicated their lives to our nation.

More on topic- perhaps this will teach Bush that theirs more to being president then (trying) to deal with terrorism

[ParanoiA]

ParanoiA that’s completely insane sure there are some corrupt politicians but the majority are public servants who have dedicated their lives to our nation.

More on topic- perhaps this will teach Bush that theirs more to being president then (trying) to deal with terrorism

 

Well, in all fairness, Bush was doing all kinds of things before 9/11. If you remember, they called him a clean desk man because he was in that honeymoon period of the presidency, signing bills and getting things done. Then 9/11 happened and whether he would like to or not, the media has demanded this kind of attention to terrorism. I don't think Bush needs to be "taught" anything in that regard, as it was his preference.

 

I feel compelled to take up for Bush because at this point his name is synonymous with blame - to a cartoonish extent. Everything is the fault of Bush, Cheney and Halliburton. I swear, I don't know how this country every did a single thing wrong without them to blame.

 

And with all the finger pointers, it's apparent to me we have an aweful lot of perfect people running around with all of the answers to everything.

 

For a minute there, I thought you were serious about the public servant dedication bit...

[bob000555]

 

For a minute there, I thought you were serious about the public servant dedication bit...

Yup Bush is one of the few that give politicians a bad name. And standing up for Bush because he gets blamed is like standing up for greenhouse gases because they get blamed for global warming.

~~~yey my 100th post~~~

[ParanoiA]

Yup Bush is one of the few that give politicians a bad name. And standing up for Bush because he gets blamed is like standing up for greenhouse gases because they get blamed for global warming.

~~~yey my 100th post~~~

 

Wow, you sure missed that one. I'm saying that I have to call bullshit when everything in the world is Bush's fault. That's like saying greenhouse gases are to blame for Palestinian plight. At some point, you have to get past your blind republican hatred - Bush isn't going to be in office forever and then you'll have to find someone else to blame for rising and falling gas prices, terrorism, the budget, winter, traffic jams....

[bob000555]

Oh I see what you mean but losing money from cutting taxes and spending billions on a pointless war at the same time, surly you must agree that that is Bush’s falt? As for the people who blame Bush for gas prices I completely agree with you .