Is America moving back towards the left?

[Guynemer]

First, here is what this thread will NOT be: another finger-pointing, *****-waving, pissing match between 'Poly trolls from both ends of the political spectrum.

I want this to be a reasoned discussion about whether or not the pendulum is swinging back towards the left in America (or, if you prefer, towards the middle).


What prompted this thought was something I've noticed on my pager for the past few weeks. I get random stuff on my pager, news and the like, and every so often I get best seller lists. And whenever the nonfiction best-seller list shows up, I've noticed that political books from the left have outnumbered those from the right.

For example, today the score was Liberals 4 (Moore, Franken, Ivins, Krugman), Conservatives 2 (O'Reilly, Limbaugh), autobiographies 2, history 2. Now, prior to a few months ago, I'd take note on how the list was dominated by those on the right--Coulter, Savage, O'Reilly, Hannity.

Does this shift in what's selling in the bookstores reflect a deeper shift in the political consciousness of the country, particularly in light of Bush's sagging approval ratings?

[Q Classic]

these things are cyclical, imho, but honestly it feels as if the shift is more right than left.

[monkspider]

It depends on who you ask, liberals will say yes, conservatives will say no. The correct answer? Yes.

[Guynemer]

I think only a great fool would deny that the country has moved towards the right overall in the past few years; what I'm getting at is if that shift has ended, or even reversed in the past couple months.

[Tripledoc]

The controllers have discovered what beast they have created and now they are desperately trying to put it back into box it came from by flooding the market with leftist litterature.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Does this shift in what's selling in the bookstores reflect a deeper shift in the political consciousness of the country, particularly in light of Bush's sagging approval ratings?

I think you'd identified the trend in the bookseller lists, but don't know that you have identified it .

The books that dominate on the political seller lists are those that are against the current government. Discontent leads to good book sales. People who are frustrated with current government would buy books that express that, while people who are satisfied don't feel that same need. It doesn't matter what party is in power, the opposition flourishes.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Guynemer
I think only a great fool would deny that the country has moved towards the right overall in the past few years; what I'm getting at is if that shift has ended, or even reversed in the past couple months.

Not at all. The presence of different political books on the best seller lists (how many books compared to how many voters of each ideological stripe? ) is really much more about timing and marketing within the publishing business.

For example, a provocatively titled book like Coulter's Treason will piss off more people on the left than it will inspire people on the right to plunk down money for it. That pissed off-ness converts to frustration about "why don't we ever get our message out" then a book by Franken or Ivins or somebody magically appears.

It's also a likely phenomena that the ideology out of power, or that perceives itself out of power wants to compensate for it's political frustration, and that provides a basis for ideologically friendly authors and media types to produce more work.

If you're a Bush lover, you read the news, brag, smoke big fat seegars because your boy is in power and he's kickin' ass. If you're a Bush hater, you read Ivins while fantasizing about "what if Hillary decides to run." Obviously a generalization to the point of parody - but think about it, how are you going to get your political ideology fixes - by non-fiction if your guys are "in" and by fiction and/or history if your guys are "out."

[DinoDoc]

If you're a Bush lover, you read the news, brag, smoke big fat seegars because your boy is in power and he's kickin' ass. ... Obviously a generalization to the point of parody

Obviously. I don't smoke.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Liar!

[Dis]

Those lists are mainly based on recent books. It just so happens liberals have more recent books than righties like Hannity and Coulter. Though O'Reilly has a new book out.

[Shi Huangdi]

I wouldn't go by political books as an indication of which side is more popular, rather which side is angrier.

[Dis]

In any case america is still moving to the right. Read up on this new target demographic- Nascar dads. Terrible name I know.

the problem with the left is they stand for higher taxes.

And no one wants higher taxes.

So until the leftists start getting a clue what the average american wants, they will continue to be shut out of the executive branch.

As for myself, I am moving more towards the left. I tend to do that with republican presidents. When democrats are president I tend to lean to the right more. Basically I hate whoever is the president at the time . but I hate bush more than just being a conservative. He is an inept president. I gave him the benefit of the doubt before. I figure he could do things right this time, but he hasn't.

[Tripledoc]

Left and right...

Isn't there a third way? Surely there must be some American political writers who are able to elevate above it all and pass judgment on all concerned, or maybe get deep down into the really dark and labyrinthine excesses of the political mind?

It seems to me that all they are doing is providing an alibi for themselves by proxy. The proxy being the political opponent, which then becomes a mirror-image upon which thoughts are cast and then reflected back so as to legitimize beliefs.

[Imran Siddiqui]

It seems to me that all they are doing is providing an alibi for themselves by proxy. The proxy being the political opponent,

Welcome to politics

[Gatekeeper]

I'm still waiting for a good book by a moderate who lays utter waste to both the liberals and conservatives. (In a humorous way, of course.)

Gatekeeper