Finally, some readers are rallying to my position:
I’m glad you’re devoting space and perspective to North Carolina’s Moral Monday protests, which have left me deeply conflicted. I spent 14 years of my adult life in NC, living in one of its most conservative counties when the state voted for Obama in 2008 and in one of its most liberal counties as state politics veered sharply to the right in 2013. Last month I relocated to Chicago, in part because I couldn’t see a way forward for such a divided state where both sides talk completely past one another.
The passion and goals of the Moral Monday protesters are admirable. I agree with 95 percent of their views. But I want to push back against some of your reader responses. Living in rural NC, I met and befriended many voters who helped elect the current slate of GOP political leaders. These are not folks who shun the poor, the sick, or the uneducated. They simply have (mostly misguided) views on supporting underprivileged groups through limited government action, views that often are unrelated to their faith. Beginning with the premise that these views are sinful, morally bankrupt, and anti-Christian immediately alienates and offends before there is a chance to persuade.
And persuasion is necessary. The GOP’s hold on the legislature is a function of redistricting in 2010 that isolated liberal portions of the state. Daily Kos did a fantastic breakdown of the district demographics here and here. The short version is that Democrats dominate the districts they win, usually against no GOP opposition. But in most districts the GOP has a relatively small advantage. The key to a more sane state government is convincing a handful of non-fundamentalist Republicans (and there are plenty of those in this state) from the rural or semi-urban districts that their party’s platform has been ineffective in helping the sick and poor in their own communities. Casting moral judgement on these voters from afar in Raleigh does not further this cause.
Another makes a vital point:
I haven’t seen demographics brought up yet in this discussion. Young people are increasingly identifying as non-religious, agnostic, or atheist. I live in North Carolina and I listen to conservative talk radio in the car while travelling to/from work. A lot of what is discussed makes sense to me logically, but inevitably, they take a right turn into morality and the Bible and I instantly tune out. I don’t believe I am alone. I think this is the biggest problem the right faces, and it may spell the end of the Republican party if they don’t change tack.
If the left wants to “Bible-up” their message in hopes of capturing religiously conservative older voters, they have to realize that they’re going to lose a large percentage of their younger non-religious audience and will end up in the same position as the right.
Look: I understand if your politics is leftist and you live in a very religious state, you might feel the need to use religious arguments to advance your cause. But be aware of the precedent you’re setting, and the danger of fighting the last war and not the current one.
The Dish 