Author Archives: politicaloptic

Are the Voters to Blame?

Posted on November 28, 2015 by politicaloptic

“Throw the bums out!” So say plenty of disgruntled voters in the face of government shutdowns, filibusters, and obstructions in recent years. Polls show that approval ratings for Congress are hovering around 15%, near their all-time lows. Over 70% say they want a turnover in … Continue reading →

Posted in framing, politics of extremism | Tagged accountability, apathy, cynicism, government shutdown, ideology, negativity, self-fulfilling prophecy, voters | Leave a comment

How Not to Govern: U.S. Highways and Infrastructure the Victim of Ideology

Posted on July 25, 2015 by politicaloptic

Once upon a time, government investment in the nation’s infrastructure was a bipartisan thing. Democrats saw such investment as encouraging jobs, the Republicans saw it as helping business, and everybody agreed that it strengthened the nation. This view has been shared by both parties throughout our history. Democrats were … Continue reading →

Posted in economic policy, politics of extremism, Tea Party | Tagged government responsibility, ideology, infrastructure, Republican Party, Repulicans, starve the beast | Leave a comment

Liberty, Libertarianism, and Solar Power

Posted on June 17, 2015 by politicaloptic

Self-described libertarians David and Charles Koch consistently present themselves as defenders of freedom and choice. Thus Americans For Prosperity, the Kochs’ political arm, states on its website that “free markets make free and prosperous people” and that its objective is “getting government to clear … Continue reading →

Posted in environment, Koch brothers, libertarianism, Uncategorized | Tagged Americans for Prosperity, Arizona, Florida | Leave a comment

A Defender of Public Education Who Spent Time on the Other Side: Diane Ravitch Critiques Corporate-Style Reform

Posted on May 14, 2015 by politicaloptic

Diane Ravitch is perhaps America’s leading defender of public education. A 76 year-old educational historian, she heads the Network for Public Education (NPE), an organization of parents and educators “to strengthen our public school system.” Ravitch is an indefatigable publicist and author … Continue reading →

Posted in education | Tagged accountability, Arne Duncan, charter schools, Diane Ravitch, education reform, No Child Left Behind, privatization, public education, public schools | Leave a comment

Anti-Sharia Fever in Texas: This is How It Starts

Posted on April 21, 2015 by politicaloptic

The mayor of a mid-size Texan city has emerged in recent months as the newest face of Islamophobia. Aligning herself with extremists hostile to Islam, Mayor Beth Van Duyne of Irving, Texas has helped to fan fears about a Muslim arbitration panel … Continue reading →

Posted in Islamophobia, politics of extremism | Tagged American Laws for American Courts, Beth Van Duyne, Center for Security Policy, David Yerushalmi, Irving, Islamic Tribunal, Pam Geller, Sharia, Texas | Leave a comment

How Education Reform Has Turned into a Privatization Movement

Posted on March 28, 2015 by politicaloptic

When the Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) was announced in 2009, it seemed relatively uncontroversial. Supported by the National Governors Association, CCSSI was promoted to establish uniform standards in reading and math for grades K-12 across the nation. It was signed on … Continue reading →

Posted in education | Tagged Arne Duncan, Bill Gates, Common Core, David Coleman, Diane Ravitch, Jeb Bush, privatization, public schools, Race to the Top | Leave a comment

Climate Change Denial on the Right Reinforced by “Worldview” Assumptions

Posted on March 7, 2015 by politicaloptic

Even as we hear reports of 2014’s being the hottest year on the record books, the climate change deniers show no signs of disappearing. In defiance of accumulating evidence and even the changing sentiments of their Republican constituents, GOP lawmakers continue to show little … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian worldview, environment, Religious Right, theology | Tagged Calvin Beisner, CFACT, climate change, Cornwall Alliance, Creation Care, Dominion Mandate, evangelicals, global warming, James Inhofe, Stewardship | Leave a comment

Cuba and the Freedom to Travel

Posted on February 21, 2015 by politicaloptic

Where exactly does the United States stand on one of our basic freedoms, the freedom to travel? The question is relevant because of the enormous ambiguity of the U.S. government on this issue since the beginning of the Cold War. It is especially … Continue reading →

Posted in human rights | Tagged Article 13, Cold War, Cuba, embargo, freedom of movement, freedom of travel, John Kennedy, right to travel, travel, U.S. Supreme Court, Universal Declaration of Human Rights | Leave a comment

Galt and God: Ayn Randians and Christian Rightists Expand Ties

Posted on January 7, 2015 by politicaloptic

Ayn Rand’s followers find themselves sharing a lot of turf with the Religious Right these days. The Tea Party, with its stress on righteous liberty and a robust form of capitalism, has been a rallying point for both groups. Still, the philosophical disharmony … Continue reading →

Posted in Ayn Rand, capitalism, Koch brothers, libertarianism, Religious Right | Tagged Americans for Prosperity, Atlas Shrugged, David Brat, Paul Ryan | 2 Comments

The Paranoid Mindset of the Religious Right and the “Worldview” that Fosters It

Posted on March 26, 2014 by politicaloptic

If one pays attention to the recent rhetoric of the Religious Right, one notices a predictable pattern. Not only does the movement loudly denounce things it doesn’t approve of, but it conjures up images of persecution. Its shrillness exemplifies a … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian worldview, culture war, political rhetoric, Religious Right, secularism | Tagged Francis Schaeffer, paranoid style, persecution, religious liberty | Leave a comment