Start

Although I have followed national politics since I was seven years old, two recent events truly moved me to become more than a simple casual observer.

The first event was the inauguration of George W. Bush as the 43rd president of the United States.

The second event was the untimely death of Senator Paul Wellstone.

George W. Bush and his administration are living proof of a tremendous political sea change in this country, but, in my view, it's not exactly the conservative Christian, "culture of life" revolution described by either red state or blue state Americans.

The culture war is, as I see it, a smoke screen for a larger, more insidious agenda of corporatizing America. In BushWorld, it is my contention, most of the main players care very little about gay marriage, abortion, prayer in school or stem-cell research. Rather, these are the hot button issues used by operatives, like Karl Rove, to persuade working and middle class Americans to vote against their own economic, social, and political interests.

Although much on this blog will be written with a critical eye on the Administration, my hope is to generate discussions here that help us all to find a third way. One that is not adequately described by the now-meaningless tags of liberal and conservative, but can only be described as progressive--moving our country forward.

I would like to, from the outset, place the highest possible priority on civil political discourse and reasoned debate. I will attempt to keep to that standard myself.

Thanks for reading,

mcallan