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Despite attempts from some quarters to roll back liberal values, the UK has become one of the worlds most progressive nations

Despite the ongoing culture wars, the UK now ranks as one of the worlds most socially liberal countries, following huge shifts in attitudes on issues such as homosexuality, casual sex, abortion, euthanasia and divorce.

Thats according toa study by the Policy Institute at Kings College London. It assessed attitudes in 23 nations and ranked the UK as one of the most accepting.

The biggest shift in attitude was seen around homosexuality. It found that two-thirds (66 per cent) of Britons now believe homosexuality is justifiable up from just 12 per cent in 1981. Much of that change has occurred over a short timeframe: as recently as 2009, only a third (33 per cent) thought homosexuality was justifiable.

Somewhat surprisingly, the UK is now more liberal than France when it comes to casual sex, the research suggests. In 1999, one in 10 Britons believed that having casual sex was justifiable. Today more than four times as many (42 per cent) hold this view. In France, it is 26 per cent.

Attitudes have also changed on abortion. Half (48 per cent) of the British public now believe that abortion is justifiable more than three times the proportion who said the same in 1981 (14 per cent). Similar shifts were reported around euthanasia, divorce and prostitution, though the death penalty is one issue where the UK was found to be less liberal, with many peer nations more disapproving of its use.

Its easy to lose sight of just how much more liberal the UK has become over a relatively short period of time, and how liberal we are relative to many other nations, said Prof Bobby Duffy, director of the Policy Institute at Kings College London. This mostly isnt just driven by younger generations replacing older generations. All generations have changed their views significantly.

Attitudes have shifted significantly around issues such as homosexuality. Image: Clem Onojeghuo

The findings chime with research by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen). Its annual poll tracks the evolution of British social, political and moral attitudes by asking 3,000 people for their views on life in Britain.

The latest survey found that the majority of the UK public are now in agreement with so-called woke sentiments, as the balance of public opinion shifts in favour of an inclusive outlook on racial equality, immigration and sexual identity.

Despite anti-immigrant rhetoric from right-wing politicians and their cheerleaders in the media, the poll found that the proportion of people believing immigration was bad for the economy halved from 42 per cent to 20 per cent in the decade to 2021. Those saying it was good rose from 21 per cent to 50 per cent.

Its easy to lose sight of just how much more liberal the UK has become

Meanwhile, 45 per cent of Britons believe that equal opportunities for black and Asian people have not gone far enough, up from 25 per cent in 2000.

The more liberal or woke outlook on national identity, national sentiment and immigration now tends to be the more popular view in contrast to the position a decade or so ago, the study concluded.

NatCens research echoes a 2022 reportby the More In Common thinktank. It surveyed 5,000 adults from across the political spectrum and found that a compassionate, live and let live attitude prevails on supposedly divisive issues, despite the vitriol swirling around online.

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How the UK became more liberal, despite the culture wars - Positive.News

New research sheds light on the cultural values that played a key role in shaping peoples attitude toward Donald Trump and their intentions to vote for the Republican candidate in 2016. The findings, published in New Political Science, indicate that beliefs related to hegemonic masculinity, race/ethnicity, and authorities on truth influenced the likelihood of adults developing an affinity for Trump.

As social scientists, we were particularly interested in the social forces that encouraged people to develop affinities for Donald Trump who was such a controversial, divisive, and fascinating figure and who, it turned out, won a pivotal presidential election and has largely shaped history and society since, explained study author Chris Knoester, an associate professor of sociology at Ohio State University.

Based onprevious research, we became aware of unique data that allowed us to consider how social structure (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, education, age) and cultural values and related social policies (e.g., culture war topics connected to gender, race/ethnicity and nativism, and authorities on truth) predicted the likelihood that U.S. adults would develop trust in Trump and state intentions to vote for him in the month before the 2016 presidential election.

We realized that we could offer evidence that disentangles, to some extent, how and to what degree social structure and culture encouraged people to trust Trump, how and to what degree these factors encouraged people to state intentions to vote for Trump, and how and to what degree a variety of culture war topics connected to gender, race/ethnicity and nativism, and the establishment of truth were associated with intentions to vote for Trump even after accounting for the levels of trust that people developed for him, Knoester explained.

Essentially, these analyses show evidence of how culture war politics were integral to Trumps rise to power and they offer a preview of especially Republicans culture war strategies, and their reliance upon them and realizations of their effectiveness, since 2016.

Data for the study came from the Taking Americas Pulse 2016 Class Survey, which included responses from 1,461 U.S. adults. The survey was conducted online between October 5 and 25, 2016 just prior to the 2016 presidential election, and included the question: If you HAD to choose, which presidential candidate do you find to be more truthful: Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton? The survey also collected data regarding voting intentions, demographic factors, and attitudes related to hegemonic masculinity, race/ethnicity and nativism, and authorities on truth.

Of the entire sample, 48% thought that Trump was more truthful than Hillary Clinton and 34% intended to vote for him. Trust in Trump was higher among men (vs women), Whites (vs other ethnicities), and those with a high school or some college education (vs those with a college education).

But these factors were no longer significant predictors of support for Trump after accounting for political partisanship and beliefs that embody specific cultural values. Instead, people who support Trump tended to share certain beliefs about masculinity, race, immigration, and what is considered true or not. This suggests that social structure played a role in influencing support for Trump by shaping peoples beliefs about these cultural values.

In particular, trust in Trump was higher among those who disagreed that women are disadvantaged in the workplace, those who believed it is okay to use physical violence to address bullying, those who supported increased penalties for undocumented immigrants, those who supported more preparation to offset the threats from international terrorists, those who disagreed that climate change is real, and those who agreed that the news media has increased racial discrimination.

Additionally, intentions to vote for Trump were higher among those who disapproved of participation trophies, those who were skeptical that long-term interracial romantic relationships could be successful, those who felt athlete protests during the National Anthem were unacceptable, and those who believed that presidential candidates should be able to ban the press from campaign events.

We were struck by the apparent relevance of different culture war issues involving gender, race/ethnicity and nativism, and authorities on truth in establishing affinities for Donald Trumpeven beyond social structural and partisanship influences, Knoester told PsyPost.

Some of the prominent and salient culture war issues in 2016 seemed to revolve around disputes about sexism at work, punishments for undocumented immigrants, terrorism threats, protests during the national anthem, trust in the media, and global warming. Many of these cultural war contestations continued to connect to intentions to vote for Trump even after considering the extent to which people trusted Trump relative to Hillary Clinton.

Nonetheless, before people would state an intention to vote for Trump, it seemed that they needed to establish some trust in him, Knoester said. Virtually no one in our study intended to vote for Trump if they trusted Hillary Clinton more than him. And, social structural and cultural forces encouraged some people to establish trust in Trump.

The researchers used a framework developed by Linguist George Lakoff to interpret the relationship between social structure and cultural values. Lakoff outlined two common frames used in political discourse. All humans have both mental frames, but they may prioritize one over the other based on their personal experiences and situation in life.

The strict father morality frame is often embraced by conservative individuals and assumes a hierarchical structure with a focus on personal responsibility and toughness. It is also patriarchal and racialized, with the father figure being a white male who enforces rules and traditional gender expectations and inequalities.

In contrast, more liberal individuals tend to embrace a nurturant parent frame, which assumes that people are generally good but require support and opportunities to thrive. This frame is less hierarchical and more accepting of differences in behavior and beliefs. It also promotes equality among different human characteristics such as gender, race/ethnicity, and place of origin.

Our study suggests that people use different notions of morality, affected by their embrace of what George Lakoff describes as a strict father or nurturing parent metaphorical framing, Knoester told PsyPost. Social forces encourage us to differentially adopt one of these social psychological framings of morality, oftentimes subconsciously. Many of these influential social forces stem from social structure (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, education, age).

Yet, cultural values and related social policies are also very meaningful and gender, race/ethnicity and nativism, and authorities on truth disputes are traditional fault lines that have emerged as extensions of social structure influences and different moral authority framings. Culture wars seem to especially prompt visceral reactions in people, divide potential coalitions, and enable political agents to co-opt them for inspirational, motivational, distractive, and control purposes. Often, they tap into fears, anxieties, grievances, and pushes for diversity, equity, and inclusionand backlashes to these pushes, amid many changes in the culture at large.

We all need to be more mindful of these social structural and cultural contestation forces, recognize how influential they have been, and wary of how they are activated and used to frequently gain or maintain power and influenceoften, by dividing and polarizing us in ways that commonly stigmatize and harm some groups of people and more generally prevent collaborations that may enable better qualities of life, for all. In fact, they can also offer threats to social order and democracy.

The study provides valuable insights into peoples opinions on cultural and political topics leading up to the 2016 U.S. election, and offers new data on their affinities towards Trump during that period. But like all research, it has some limitations.

Unfortunately, due to data limitations, we were unable to analyze the relevance of religious influences and contestations about LGBTQ issues, Knoester said. It seems clear that religious affiliations profoundly matter in the determination of moral authority framings. Also, culture war contestations have commonly involved LGBTQ issues (e.g., same sex marriage, gender and sexual identities, and transgender rights). These factors should be more fully considered in future research.

Furthermore, the relevance of social structure and cultureand particularly cultural war issuescontinue to be in flux and, to some extent, their influence seems to be continually manufactured. So, for example, we see changes in what issues take hold and there continue to be trial balloons floated about cultural war issues and related social policies in attempts to capture media attention, public reactions, and effective taps into fears, anxieties, hopes, and grievances.

Recently, the issues have emphasized gender identities, sexual identities, race/ethnicity, and discussion and recognition of institutionalized, historic, and systematic inequalities, Knoester continued. The culture war issues have highlighted, as part of this, transgender athletes, critical race theory, and public educationamong many other things. So, continually, the questions that still need to be addressed involve what has changed in terms of the relevance and manipulations of social structural and cultural forces and influences, why, and to what effectand what should and can be done about these dynamics?

The findings from our study suggest that we need to become more vigilantly educated and aware of where social structural and cultural forces are coming from, why they matter, and how they are use, the researcher added. Also, we need to continually try to make better sense of these social forces and collaboratively work to challenge them if they are being used to infringe upon the rights, well-being, and opportunities of fellow Americans. These processes do not begin, nor will they end, with Donald Trumpalthough he has been intimately involved in benefitting from them, co-opting them, and affecting them.

The study, Social Structure, Culture, and the Allure of Donald Trump in 2016, was authored by Chris Knoester and Matthew Knoester.

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Study provides insight into how culture war issues contributed to Trump's rise to power - PsyPost

Some Boca Raton residents said they received packets with antisemitic messages in their driveways and front yards Jan. 14, the same daya swastika was projected onto an AT&T building in downtown West Palm Beach.

The Saxons said they launched the Dissident Homeschool channel on Telegram after years of searching for and developing Nazi-approved material for their own home-schooled children material they were eager to share.

The IRS audits Black taxpayers at roughly three to five times the rate of non-Black taxpayers.

Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and former state Republican Party Chair Matt Borges were convicted in a $60 million bribery scheme that federal prosecutors have called the largest corruption case in state history.

An Idaho hospital will stop labor and delivery services, citing doctor shortages and the political climate, the hospital announced.

The violations began piling up just as Republican state legislators, many of them newly in the majority, went on the attack against child labor restrictions, pressing in various ways to expand the number of work hours and work settings available to teenagers aged 14 to 17.

Ive slowly and reluctantly realized that its not that they dont know; its that they dont care.

Nunes small group continues to grow,as once-fringe white nationalist rhetoric and ideas gain traction.

There isnt really an upside to Trump.

I hate him passionately.

I mean, you have to harbor quite a bit of hate for your viewers to willfully continue feeding them vaccine misinformation that isliterally killing them.

Its a shit network.

In other words, Gannett has eliminated more than half of its jobs in the United States in four years.

The bill does not set limits on the extent of which officers can restrain students, or add restrictions to ensure the student is safe.

One of the parents asserts to West Shore school officials that her conservative religious values conflict with the Character Strong lessons which are intended to teach compassion because not every human is deserving of my childs empathy.'

Republican presidential hopefuls are vowing to wage a war on woke, but a majority of Americans are inclined to see the word as a positive attribute, not a negative one.

Those three spirits who visited Drazkowski last Christmas Eve clearly bungled the job.

Continue reading here:
Postcards from the class & culture wars (3.20.23) - Patheos

With help from Marissa Martinez.

Good Thursday morning, Illinois. And Ramadan Mubarak to all our readers who observe.

SCOOP: In an unprecedented move, the Illinois Democratic Party is funding campaigns for nonpartisan school board and library board races across the state out of concern that conservatives are trying to take over those organizations to ban books or impede First Amendment rights.

Theyre running to push a political agenda that is completely and directly antithetical to our values, Ben Hardin, the executive director of the Illinois Democratic Party, told Playbook in an interview. We decided that it was absolutely necessary that we do whatever we can do to prevent these organizations supporting, and these candidates, from taking over school boards.

The party has made a six-figure investment in paid communications for more than 80 campaigns across Illinois. The support is going to candidates who align with the values of the Democratic Party, Hardin said, and to campaigns opposing candidates that have right-wing support.

This isnt about Republicans vs. Democrats, Hardin said, adding the program came about when the party learned of national extremist organizations supporting candidates for school library boards here in Illinois.

He pointed to Darren Bailey, the former GOP governor candidate, billionaire Republican donor Dick Uihlein and dark money from national conservative groups as trying to control school and library boards. Bailey recently told Playbook that his next political move was to get conservatives elected to school boards.

Spreading the word: The Illinois Democratic Party is also launching a new website to provide voters with information about these races. DefendOurSchoolsIL.com allows voters to identify fringe candidates that the state Democratic party considers to be far-right extremists, according to the party.

Round the clock: The effort is part of the partys new effort to work year-round on campaigns and political endeavors.

RELATED

Illinois House OKs measure to allow the state to deny grants to libraries that ban books, by Tribunes Jeremy Gorner

Des Plaines school board member says schools shouldnt celebrate Columbus Day: In District 62, were very mindfully teaching true history, Tina Garrett told Daily Heralds Russell Lissau

NEW MAYORAL POLL: The latest survey by Victory Research shows the race is close with Paul Vallas at 46 percent, Brandon Johnson at 44 percent and nearly 10 percent undecided.

Johnson is focusing on endorsements to help define him as well as Vallas.

Endorsements energize your base and show a positive energy about our campaign, explained Johnson spokesman Bill Neidhardt. A good example was Wednesdays endorsement by Massachusetts Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, a member of The Squad and someone who can rev up Johnsons progressive base.

Campaign war: Separately, Johnsons campaign has manufactured an endorsement and claimed its Vallas.

Context: Oppo research revealed Vallas on a conservative radio show a few years ago claiming Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot act like dictators for their pandemic executive orders.

The oppo prompted Republican Darren Bailey to talk about it on his Facebook live page , which Johnsons team is calling an endorsement for Vallas. Bailey didnt endorse anyone.

Johnsons team isnt giving up on pinning the Republican label on Vallas, who was officially endorsed Wednesday by former Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn. Vallas was Quinns running mate in his failed 2013 race against Bruce Rauner. Though Vallas more recent stumble might be spending too much time on conservative talk shows.

Wednesdays debate was packed: Public safety, education, Kim Foxx, eye rolls, head shakes and dismissing people, writes Sun-Times Mitchell Armentrout.

On their 100-day plans for Chicago: More beat cops vs. treatment not trauma, by Tribunes Alice Yin and Gregory Pratt

Watch the full debate via Fox 32

Johnson gets the New York Times treatment: Stacy Davis Gates, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union, said there was no expectation that Mr. Johnson would be in lock step with the union if elected. But she said the possibility of having a mayor who understood the struggles of classroom educators and would listen to their concerns had motivated teachers to support him.

AD-ING IT UP: In a new, direct-to-camera ad released Wednesday, Johnson calls himself the real Democrat for mayor, highlighting his plan to go after the root causes of crime. Johnson is now airing four ads, including one in Spanish, and Vallas has three spots. Still, Vallas spending is outpacing Johnsons. With less than two weeks before the April 4 runoff, Vallas is committed to spend $2.88 million since March 21 compared to Johnsons $803,000.

Vallas reports new $1.4M in fundraising, via Crains.

If you are Ayanna Pressley, Playbook wants to know when was the last time you were in Chicago. Email [emailprotected]olitico.com.

No official public events.

No official public events.

No official public events.

Have a news tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Id like to hear from you: [emailprotected]

Blue wall Democrats urge the White House to give Chicago the 2024 DNC convention, A group of governors, including Gov. JB Pritzker, Congress members and city leaders across the Midwest signed a letter Wednesday, calling on the White House and DNC Chair Jaime Harrison to choose Chicago, writes NBCs Natasha Korecki. Heres the letter.

Chicago and Cook County each call for 1,000 election judges before April 4, by the Chicago Tribunes Jake Sheridan

A quarter of a century after being carjacked, Giannoulias doles out $21M in grants to fight current surge: Chicago carjacking reports hit an apex of 1,849 in 2021. The Illinois secretary of state said its also personal for him, after being carjacked with high school basketball teammates in 1998. It leaves a scar you never forget, he said. I hate the thought of anyone else going through that, by Sun-Times Mitchell Armentrout.

Lawmakers pass bill to designate official state nut, via NBC 5

Defense tries to flip the script in ComEd bribery trial, casting corruption charges as classic, honest, legal lobbying: Four former political power players are charged in a scheme to bribe Michael Madigan when he was Illinois powerful House speaker by arranging for jobs, contracts and money for Madigans allies, by Sun-Times Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles.

Tribunes take: Ex-ComEd lawyer testifies request to put Juan Ochoa on utilitys board came from Michael Madigan, by Jason Meisner and Ray Long

11th Ward: Nicole Lee and Anthony Ciaravino face off in Chicagos first Asian-majority ward: Ciaravino, a longtime cop for the Chicago Police Department, said he did not think Asian representation on the City Council is important, but that he has a lot of friendships and fellowships and brothers and sisters in that Chinatown community, by WBEZs Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Amy Qin. Lee, the current Asian alderwoman, calls Ciaravinos statement dismissive, according to a statement responding to WBEZs story.

First in Playbook: Sen. Dick Durbin is weighing in on the ward race. Hes backing Lee.

Chicago Public Schools and Board of Ed say help needed as $600M deficit looms: Federal pandemic relief funding has papered over long-standing issues, but that money is set to run out in two years, by Sun-Times Nader Issa and WBEZs Sarah Karp.

Independent day: Aldermen wanting to make the Chicago City Council run more independently from the mayors office are calling a vote next week to change how their committees operate. Ald. Michelle Harris, who has endorsed Paul Vallas for mayor, says changing the rules will establish a strong and independent City Council. Heres her message to aldermen.

Citys 2022 overtime bill stands at $441M, With $210M going to police working overtime, by WTTWs Heather Cherone and Jared Rutecki

Chicago is required to have a chief administrative officer; it hasnt for decades, reports Sun-Times Fran Spielman

Blackhawks will not wear Pride jerseys for Sundays Pride Night due to safety concerns for Russian players, Sun-Times Ben Pope reports

Naperville stopped ticketing students at school. But its still pushing a 3-year-old case about AirPods to trial, by ProPublicas Jodi S. Cohen and Jennifer Smith Richards

We asked if you need to live in Illinois to run a good political campaign.

Scott Fawell: No, but it helps to know the state and have the institutional knowledge as to how to build a winning coalition. And be aware, politics in Illinois is a contact sport.

Matthew Beaudet: Yes. Never forget that All politics is local.

Kevin Conlon: No, but hire a person already engaged here so they dont waste valuable time learning the players.

Rosemaria DiBenedetto: No. I manage suburban races all the time in areas I dont live in. You need to understand the issues and have a strong field operation.

Brendan Power: Yes. In 2016, my regional field director was based out of Ohio never set foot in Chicago and insisted we canvas during the Cubs playoff run and World Series. It did not go over well.

Jay Pearce: No. However, you do need to understand the lay of the land and how to apply universally good strategies to Illinois unique characteristics.

Andy Shaw: No. Its easier to build a campaign around made-up claims, charges and promises when youre not familiar with Illinois.

Patricia Ann Watson: No, but the manager better be surrounded by staffers who understand the uniqueness and connections.

Whats the nerdiest thing you do? Email [emailprotected]

Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) is trying to promote ESG policy making at a time when many of his colleagues are more interested in pushing political agendas. His stated goal of working across the aisle seems almost quixotic at a moment when bipartisanship is in short supply, writes Jordan Wolman in POLITICOs The Long Game.

Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) reintroduced the Health Care Affordability Act, her signature legislation to permanently lower the cost of health care premiums, Wednesday with the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. A short-term version of Underwoods measure was included in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Jeff Zients was the man to make the trains run on time. Its been a bumpy start, by POLITICOs Adam Cancryn, Eugene Daniels and Nicholas Wu

Court rejects Trumps urgent bid to keep lawyers records from special counsel, by POLITICOs Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney

Never Don and Never Ron: The rest of the GOP field looks for a third lane, by POLITICOs Natalie Alison and Adam Wren

Task force challenges length of prison sentences in America, via USA Today

Today at 2 p.m.: Liz Dozier, founder and CEO of Chicago Beyond, will discuss Opportunity and Hope Through Disruption with John Shaw, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute in this virtual event. Details here

WEDNESDAYs ANSWER: Congrats to Mark McCombs and Ted McClelland for correctly answering Mayor Anton Cermaks son-in-law, Otto Kerner, was governor of Illinois.

And h/t to Helena Kerner Stern, great granddaughter of Mayor Cermak, who was assassinated before Kerner took office.

TODAYs QUESTION: What was a four-legged voter in Chicago election terms? Email [emailprotected]

Former state Comptroller and 1978 governor candidate Michael Bakalis, Mac Strategies Monique Garcia, political consultant Charles Edwards, economist Valerie Michelman, Kivvit principal Evan Keller, Chicagos own Chaka Khan and belated greetings to Illinois Democratic Party spokeswoman Kiera Ellis, who celebrated Wednesday.

-30-

The rest is here:
Illinois Dems join the culture wars - POLITICO - POLITICO

By GARRY RAYNO, InDepthNH.org

A quick look at the House and Senate calendars for this week will convince even those with casual political interests that the culture wars have come to New Hampshire.

Lawmakers will spend hours debating the war on public education, parental rights, abortion rights, voting rights, vaccines and medical care, firearms, drugs and governmental power to name about half the debates to grace Representatives Hall and the Senate Chamber.

Not that long ago, these more global issues were not front and center in every session of the General Court.

Instead it was the states support for institutions like nursing homes and higher education, reducing the uncompensated care for hospitals, tax credits to attract businesses and yes how the state funds education.

It was not about furries and cat litter boxes, drag shows and grooming, or face masks and lockdowns.

How did the state get from dealing with its own issues to making New Hampshire deal with the same issues as Texas or Florida or any of the other states undergoing the same forced rehabilitations.

It is easy to blame social media for the universalization of issues and concerns, but it is just the vehicle. What has caused the manipulation of this countrys consciousness is the information or misinformation that has been spread over the electronic infrastructure.

Very sophisticated networks are doing damage to this country that could not have happened in a war or limited military conflict.

During the Vietnam War the conflict was often described as a war for the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people.

And now the war for the hearts and minds has come home 50 years later.

The polarization between red and blue and the resulting cultural wars intended to energize the base, has created a country with little use for compromise and that is apparent in the New Hampshire legislature as well.

Much of what has been passed in the last three years is unpopular, some very unpopular with the general public if you read the polls, but lawmakers who push these agendas or proposals that serve a small portion of the state continue to be elected.

In New Hampshire it is easy to see how Republicans gerrymandered the Senate and Executive Council and to some extent the House, to have control of all three although Democratic candidates received more votes than Republican candidates in all three bodies.

The state has an all Democratic Congressional delegation, and until Gov. Chris Sununu won in 2016, controlled the governors office for 16 of the previous 18 years.

New Hampshire is truly a purple state but you would not know that looking at the legislation approved and proposed in the last three years by the House and Senate.

The public has not given the lawmakers a mandate to turn New Hampshire into a Libertarian Shangri-La but that is what is happening.

Money is being drained out of the public school system, taxes are cut and some eliminated like the interest and dividends tax which benefits the wealthy not the poor, regulations are eliminated, and personal freedoms are emphasized to the detriment of a safe society.

The one thing that has really not worked out as planned for the Libertarians is Gov. Chris Sununus power grab of federal money that he used to concentrate power in the executive branch.

And ironically it is the flow of money into politics that has driven what is happening in New Hampshire, and other stateslike Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Texas, Florida and in the Midwest.

Extreme school voucher programs, attacks on reproductive rights and the gay and transgender communities, all similar if not identical in legislation that is intended to reduce the power of government, its reach and return to a time that never was in our lifetimes, but did exist before the Civil War or at least before Franklin Roosevelts New Deal.

The US Supreme Courts Citizens United decision in January 2010 struck down restrictions on corporate contributions saying they violated First Amendment rights.

It not only gave corporations the same rights as citizens it opened the floodgates for corporate money into campaigns and allowed them to influence elections like they never had before.

It also allowed that corporate money to operate in the dark money universe where super PACs do not disclose where the money comes from.

The decision essentially took government out of the hands of voters and put it into the hands of the mega donors.

And it trickled down to New Hampshire as well.

In each of the last two elections about $1 million was spent on House seats alone, while the Senate PACs received about an equal amount with spending on a senate seat often over $100,000 and some over $200,000.

That is a lot of money for a position that pays $100 a year and you know whoever gave big money will expect a return.

That was clear in the House debate last week on five bills from the Science, Technology and Science Committee that split 10-10 down party lines failing to reach recommendations on the bills.

The bills would have encouraged renewable energy, energy efficiency, and reduced carbon emissions goals to bring the state in line with its New England neighbors.

But all five were voted down by between five and 10 votes.

One speaker noted he received a letter from the oil lobby, Americans For Prosperity, alluding to the education arm of the Koch Foundation, one of the big players in major money flowing into the stage legislative races.

The company is one of the largest fossil fuel producers and refiners in the world and like all the others wants tomaintain its livelihood or at least its considerable profits and works to ensure renewable energy, energy efficiency and other things to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels do not impact their profits.

The foundation is but one of a number of industries that have been turned loose to spend freely on buying the New Hampshire legislature and many others all the way up to Congress.

They benefit from the culture wars because it helps to put the people they want into decision-making positions and to achieve their libertarian goals of doing away with public education, regulations, taxes and anything that looks like a functioning and efficient federal government or even state government.

And the culture wars create a distraction so people dont realize what is really happening to end democracy as we know it and replace it with a government more like the one that existed before the New Deal instituted the social safety net, regulations and higher taxes to pay for it.

If you want a front row seat to watch this happen in real time, particularly the House, and to some extent the Senate sessions this week.

The House meets Wednesday and Thursday beginning at 9 a.m., while the Senate meets Thursday beginning at 10 a.m.

Garry Rayno may be reached atgarry.rayno@yahoo.com.

Distant Domeby veteran journalist Garry Rayno explores a broader perspective on the State House and state happenings for InDepthNH.org. Over his three-decade career, Rayno covered the NH State House for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Fosters Daily Democrat. During his career, his coverage spanned the news spectrum, from local planning, school and select boards, to national issues such as electric industry deregulation and Presidential primaries. Raynolives with his wife Carolyn in New London.

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Culture Wars Take Over NH House this Week - InDepthNH.org