The study went on to say: "Regardless of presidential approval ratings and the outcomes of the 2004 elections, it is undeniable that conservative public policy institutions and their philanthropic supporters have had a tremendous impact on Congress's and the administration's penchant for waging war, curtailing civil liberties, and slashing taxes and social spending. It is critical, then, to revisit NCRP's past work on conservative philanthropy, expanding the number of foundations that were originally studied, as well as consider the influence of other sources of private capital that have brought the United States to its current state of record budget deficits at home and imperialistic militarism abroad. [...] "
Axis of Ideology - Conservative Foundations and Public Policy: Executive Summary by Jeff Krehely, Meaghan House and Emily Kernan, National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, March 2004.
Awareness is everything! Still most progressives in the US seemed genuinely shocked and confused in the aftermath of the 2004 election. Yet, as the excerpts above indicate, for many years the coming together of the Right into what it is today was being planned and the strategies implemented right under the nose of progressives and liberals. How could this have come about? Why was there no warning or reaction? What was the opposition doing and why was it not paying attention? Meanwhile, one voice from the Canadian Right IS taking note of the path followed by its counterpart in the South and appears to be ready to follow suit: Rescuing Canada's Right
Awareness is everything! The question is whether progressives in Canada will take heed also. Perhaps they are judging by this initiative from the Council of Canadians.
Seeing what has happened to our neighbour to the south, I keep getting this sinking feeling of "something wicked this way come". What are the risks that we too will be caught sleeping at the switch?
Stumble It!
The book is full of childish rhetoric and little information. Many references in each chapter, most are un-credible sources of opinion. Well, OK there is a good review of the PC and C parties -- Part One. About 23 pages that is a good read; little enough that you could give it a quick read on the shelf.