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PaperclipPerfector  2yr ago (text post)   30573 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of August 7, 2023

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I did like the comment about how the audience of some pro-life activism is God. It probably is, in the sense that people want to do everything possible to "fight the good fight," even if it's unwinnable, because "whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." But it's also that the red states not outlawing abortion at this point demonstrates a massive shift in the overton window in the past several years and I rather think it's surprised everyone, right and left alike.

I think you're on to something there. There is certainly a sense at the ground level of "we are not doing this for your approval". Pundits and analysts go on about how "this is hurting the GOP's numbers amongst unmarried college graduates" and the base's general response is essentially that old grumpy cat meme "Good". Annoying the opposition by refusing to conform to their norms/mores isn't seen as a cost, it's seen as a benefit.

Accordingly, I find it difficult to take claims like @ymeskhout's that they're dinging the GOP for "lack of competence" rather than "opposing abortion access" at face value. Am I really expected to believe that someone who "supports expansive abortion access" would be happier if the Republicans were more competent at lobbying for and implementing abortion restrictions? I don't think I am.

Am I really expected to believe that someone who "supports expansive abortion access" would be happier if the Republicans were more competent at lobbying for and implementing abortion restrictions? I don't think I am.

I admit that's a values clash for me where I have to weigh the relative merits but yes, on net I would be happier with the approach you describe. I'm not sure why you would have such a hard time believe this, because it's a banal position that is broadly applicable to a range of situations. Not everyone whose issue loses at the ballot box starts agitating for a dictatorship, and I see values in actors playing fairly even if it means some of my pet issues lose.

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