August 27, 2012 by David K. Sutton
Do Liberals and Democrats Demonize Wealth?
A recent Left Call commenter said, “What I totally don’t understand about you liberals, and Democrats in general, is how you so easily demonize the wealthy. I just don’t get it. You think that the Republican Party is just for the wealthy? That Conservatives are rich people alone?”
My answer is simple: No — No, I do not think all conservatives are rich. — No, I do not think the entire Republican Party (as in, everyone who is a member of the party) is “just for the wealthy.”
But I also say: No, liberals and Democrats in general do not “demonize the wealthy.” It’s a total mischaracterization, or dare I say “demonization” of liberals. Pointing out that our political system and our government caters to wealthy interests is not demonizing the wealthy. Saying the average American lacks proper representation is not an indictment of all wealthy people, rather, it’s an indictment of our political system and the wealthy interests that pervert it. When the average congressman has many more times the wealth compared to the average citizen, I think it’s fair to ask if people are being fairly represented, and I will not be told that I’m demonizing the wealthy for doing so.
It’s interesting that some on the Right hold two conflicting opinions when they think about liberals, Democrats, wealth, power and politics. One opinion posits that liberals and Democrats demonize wealth. The other opinion posits that liberals and Democrats take their marching orders from billionaire George Soros and “Big Labor.” Sorry, you can’t have it both ways.
So I say this to Republicans and conservatives: Ponder your real convictions, then return with a cohesive argument against liberals and Democrats that doesn’t result in contradictory statements. You can either stand firm and defend your viewpoint or you can resort to multiple contradictory attacks designed explicitly to defeat an “enemy” and not defend a conviction. Are you spending more energy trying to defeat something or more energy trying to make people understand why you believe your viewpoint is the correct one?
I have a body of work on this website that explains where I’m coming from and what I stand for, and I try with earnest to defend it without resorting to unfounded attacks against people who do not share my viewpoint. I do admit to frequent generalized statements about parties and political persuasions, but my primary goal is to defend social and political policies that work for all Americans, and to expose the people who are catering to a narrow set of interests. I do not start my day looking for ways to attack Republicans and conservatives but I will vigorously defend my values and what I stand for.