Right-Wing Anger and the 9-12 Event

Tomorrow we will see a "major" (yawn) fringe right event, the 9-12 march on Washington D.C. Initiated by Glen Beck based on his 9 Principles and 12 values—many of which Beck and his disciples regularly violate (check his first value honesty). This event is intended to look like a grass-roots event, but it is being orchestrated by Freedom Works, which in turn is led by led former(?) corporate lobbyist and former Republican Majority Leader Dick Armey (his name says it all). Freedom Works is running the event's official website and charging other organizations to participate. (Yeah that's grass roots. I wonder what it used to cost to participate in a peace rally.)

But no matter how Astroturf the organization, the most of the participants will be non-corporate-affiliated citizens—very angry non-corporate affiliated citizens. The question is, "Why are they so angry?" A common answer from a participant is, "I want my country back!" which is then followed by some blather about Obama turning the country socialist (blather because those using the word obviously couldn't define socialism if you gave them a week often conflating it with fascism, Nazism, and communism, not of which Obama has shown any leaning toward.)

Many commentators equate this anger for racism, and many of those who will chant the misinformation (death panels, government takeover of healthcare, subsidies for illegal immigrants, etc.) that every credible news source has debunked, will be racists—they will oppose anything proposed by a black president. But that is not entirely the case.

Largely the teabaggers, birthers, and others at this rally are reactionaries. This is a word we too seldom use these days. To call this group the radical-right is to miss the point. Radicals favor extreme change in the basic social or economic structure. The reactionary right is opposed to what they see as a change in the basic social or economic structure. They want to go back to the way the country was in 1950 (or, in the case of those like Joe the Plumber, how they imagine it was).

That is why facts have no influence on this group. Show them that the health reform bills make end of life counseling with a doctor entirely voluntary and they will say, "I don't believe that," or "that's not the way it will be." Show them Obama's birth certificate on line and the Governor of Hawaii's authentication of it, and they will say, "I don't believe that." They are information proof because what they say they are angry about is not what has them angry and fearful. And there is nothing that can be done for them. The 1950s train has left the station, and it isn't coming back.

In many ways, I feel for the reactionary right. At age 57, I feel like the world has changed almost beyond recognition. Technological progress seems to be racing social change to see which will outdistance me first. And I am well educated, socially tolerant, and technologically adept. What must it seem like if you are intellectually or emotionally unprepared to keep up? It must feel like your country has been taken away from you.

It will help if we understand that the common participants at tomorrows events are reactionaries, angry about what the can never have—a return to the "good old days." Obama and healthcare reform are merely symbols of the change in the times that these citizens resent.

We should save our anger for the Republican Leaders (many of whom, like South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson, are true reactionaries themselves) who will stoke and manipulate this reactionary furor. And rest assured, no matter how the media plays this, it will be a tempest in a teapot. Best estimates are that there will be at most 100,000 attendees (50,000 is more likely). Two million of us crowded into Washington to see Obama's inauguration.