"Wokeness" Has Replaced Socialism as the Great Conservative Bogeyman

[robosmith]

Wokeness Has Replaced Socialism as the Great Conservative Bogeyman

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Defining what conservatives mean by wokeness is, as the writer Bethany Mandel learned the hard way this week, not easily done. For the purposes of discussion here, it also isn’t necessary. Many people use the term in different ways, to describe a general constellation of progressive ideas on race, gender, and sexuality, but what matters is the fact that they are using it, and using it somewhat indiscriminately. After all, most of what an earlier generation of conservatives called “socialism” wasn’t really socialist, either.

“Socialism” has faded as a rallying cry because this conservative movement can hardly pretend to be horrified by big government, and it has learned that its voters aren’t especially interested in cutting spending programs, either, at least the ones that benefit them.

Attacking wokeness fills that void—we might even cheekily call this the GOP’s successor ideology—with an alternative that is malleable enough to apply to nearly any situation. But as the SVB story demonstrates, the malleability is also a weakness. If wokeness is an explanation for everything, it is also an explanation for nothing. Although it’s a good way to gather a range of cultural resentments, it offers little in the way of policy ideas to improve lives, even in contrast to vague promises such as trickle-down economics. No one has yet provided any explanation of what an anti-woke bank-regulation regime might look like—and no one will. This is an attack suited to a party that exists only to campaign, with no interest in actually governing. 

 

 

 

 

 

Can anyone here define what YOU mean by "woke"?

 

I say it means to face up (awake) to the historical unfairness of society to mostly minority populations like black, brown, LGTBQ, etc.

Edited April 6, 2023 by robosmith

[Michael Hardner]

They utterly defeated socialism, or it defeated itself.  In any case we are left without an opponent in pursuit of our perfect political economy where everyone is thriving.

[robosmith]

[robosmith]

6 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

They utterly defeated socialism, or it defeated itself.  In any case we are left without an opponent in pursuit of our perfect political economy where everyone is thriving.

All of the most socialistic policies (SS, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP) which ever existed, still EXIST.

Limits were placed on welfare benefits.

[CdnFox]

Woke isn't all that hard. It just refers to the body of topics theories and actions  that fall under the perceived left wing socialist intersectional ideology prevalent today. It is the follow on from social justice warrior for which the precursor was socialist or communist.

It's the left wing version of the 'far right' for many.

Because it includes a body of ideology and practices it's not really appropriate to define it outside of that, as the specifics of those ideologies and practices may change from time to time.

The left hates it because it's becoming a pejorative and being recognized more and more as a 'bad thing' in one way or another and so they'd rather disparage the term. But it works well.

[CdnFox]

1 minute ago, robosmith said:

All of the most socialistic policies (SS, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP) which ever existed, still EXIST.

they aren't socalistic per se - it depends on the implementation. The left was unable to pursue them further and they're nerfed at acceptable levels for the public.

RIght of center people don't really want to see NO social safety net. They recognize it's value. They just want to see it minimized and a focus on recovery back to a taxpaying citizen.

[robosmith]

6 minutes ago, CdnFox said:

Woke isn't all that hard. It just refers to the body of topics theories and actions  that fall under the perceived left wing socialist intersectional ideology prevalent today. It is the follow on from social justice warrior for which the precursor was socialist or communist.

It's the left wing version of the 'far right' for many.

Because it includes a body of ideology and practices it's not really appropriate to define it outside of that, as the specifics of those ideologies and practices may change from time to time.

The left hates it because it's becoming a pejorative and being recognized more and more as a 'bad thing' in one way or another and so they'd rather disparage the term. But it works well.

^This was addressed in the OP.

Quote

But as the SVB story demonstrates, the malleability is also a weakness. If wokeness is an explanation for everything, it is also an explanation for nothing.

It is ONLY the right wing mangling of the term to TRY to fit THEIR AGENDA with no basis in the way it was ORIGINALLY USED by the left.

[herbie]

Truthfully, woke is the bogeyman of the GOP not all Conservatives. The MAGA/extreme right is trying to make actual conservatives around the world think it is.
But what do you expect from people hiding under the bed since 1950 from the Red Menace? HTG no one else in the world sees national healthcare, pensions, welfare as anything other than the normal duty of gov't. It's laughable to hear squeals that the Democrats are 'left' from south of the 49th.

I do know that if you're an @sshole at heart, you'll applaud every anti-woke thing you can because it screws someone else but not you.

[reason10]

1 hour ago, robosmith said:

Wokeness Has Replaced Socialism as the Great Conservative Bogeyman

Can anyone here define what THEY mean by "woke."

 

 

 

Can anyone here define what YOU mean by "woke"?

 

I say it means to face up (awake) to the historical unfairness of society to mostly minority populations like black, brown, LGTBQ, etc.

Actually, Woke is a combination of communism and Nazism. And they are made up of (rhymes with pour ons) who blame Trump for everytthing.

[reason10]

2 minutes ago, herbie said:

Truthfully, woke is the bogeyman of the GOP not all Conservatives. The MAGA/extreme right is trying to make actual conservatives around the world think it is.
But what do you expect from people hiding under the bed since 1950 from the Red Menace? HTG no one else in the world sees national healthcare, pensions, welfare as anything other than the normal duty of gov't. It's laughable to hear squeals that the Democrats are 'left' from south of the 49th.

I do know that if you're an @sshole at heart, you'll applaud every anti-woke thing you can because it screws someone else but not you.

There is no such thing as a MAGA extreme right. MAGA makes up most of America. Both alt Right and Woke are fringe hard left and right minorities. Woke just goose steps louder, But no sane adult will admit to being "woke" just as pretty much every LIBERAL is ashamed of that title. (And they should be.)

[herbie]

Just now, reason10 said:

MAGA makes up most of America

keep believing that....
Can't explain exactly what woke is OR when America used to be great either.

[Rebound]

2 hours ago, CdnFox said:

Woke isn't all that hard. It just refers to the body of topics theories and actions  that fall under the perceived left wing socialist intersectional ideology prevalent today. It is the follow on from social justice warrior for which the precursor was socialist or communist.

It's the left wing version of the 'far right' for many.

Because it includes a body of ideology and practices it's not really appropriate to define it outside of that, as the specifics of those ideologies and practices may change from time to time.

The left hates it because it's becoming a pejorative and being recognized more and more as a 'bad thing' in one way or another and so they'd rather disparage the term. But it works well.

It’s anything you don’t like?

[reason10]

1 hour ago, herbie said:

keep believing that....
Can't explain exactly what woke is OR when America used to be great either.

Asked and answered. THIS

and this

is Woke.

America was great during the Reagan administration, where the economy was the best of all time and America's deadliest enemy (The Soviet Union) was defeated by this great president without firing a shot.

https://www.heritage.org/taxes/report/the-real-reagan-economic-record-responsible-and-successful-fiscal-policy

Despite the steep recession in 1982--brought on by tight money policies that were instituted to squeeze out the historic inflation level of the late 1970s--by 1983, the Reagan policies of reducing taxes, spending, regulation, and inflation were in place. The result was unprecedented economic growth:

• This economic boom lasted 92 months without a recession, from November 1982 to July 1990, the longest period of sustained growth during peacetime and the second-longest period of sustained growth in U.S. history. The growth in the economy lasted more than twice as long as the average period of expansions since World War II.¹⁰

• The American economy grew by about one-third in real inflation-adjusted terms. This was the equivalent of adding the entire economy of East and West Germany or two-thirds of Japan's economy to the U.S. economy.¹¹

• From 1950 to 1973, real economic growth in the U.S. economy averaged 3.6 percent per year. From 1973 to 1982, it averaged only 1.6 percent. The Reagan economic boom restored the more usual growth rate as the economy averaged 3.5 percent in real growth from the beginning of 1983 to the end of 1990.¹²

Before the OBAMA VIRUS (which tanked the economy) the TRUMP administration gave America the greatest economy of the 21st Century.

https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/trump-administration-accomplishments/

Before the China Virus invaded our shores, we built the world’s most prosperous economy.

• America gained 7 million new jobs – more than three times government experts’ projections.
• Middle-Class family income increased nearly $6,000 – more than five times the gains during the entire previous administration.
• The unemployment rate reached 3.5 percent, the lowest in a half-century.
• Achieved 40 months in a row with more job openings than job-hirings.
• More Americans reported being employed than ever before – nearly 160 million.
• Jobless claims hit a nearly 50-year low.
• The number of people claiming unemployment insurance as a share of the population hit its lowest on record.
• Incomes rose in every single metro area in the United States for the first time in nearly 3 decades.

Delivered a future of greater promise and opportunity for citizens of all backgrounds.

• Unemployment rates for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and those without a high school diploma all reached record lows.
• Unemployment for women hit its lowest rate in nearly 70 years.
• Lifted nearly 7 million people off of food stamps.
• Poverty rates for African Americans and Hispanic Americans reached record lows.
• Income inequality fell for two straight years, and by the largest amount in over a decade.
• The bottom 50 percent of American households saw a 40 percent increase in net worth.
• Wages rose fastest for low-income and blue collar workers – a 16 percent pay increase.
• African American homeownership increased from 41.7 percent to 46.4 percent.

Brought jobs, factories, and industries back to the USA.

• Created more than 1.2 million manufacturing and construction jobs.
• Put in place policies to bring back supply chains from overseas.
• Small business optimism broke a 35-year old record in 2018.

Hit record stock market numbers and record 401ks.

• The DOW closed above 20,000 for the first time in 2017 and topped 30,000 in 2020.
• The S&P 500 and NASDAQ have repeatedly notched record highs.

Rebuilding and investing in rural America.

• Signed an Executive Order on Modernizing the Regulatory Framework for Agricultural Biotechnology Products, which is bringing innovative new technologies to market in American farming and agriculture.
• Strengthened America’s rural economy by investing over $1.3 billion through the Agriculture Department’s ReConnect Program to bring high-speed broadband infrastructure to rural America.

Achieved a record-setting economic comeback by rejecting blanket lockdowns.

• An October 2020 Gallup survey found 56 percent of Americans said they were better off during a pandemic than four years prior.
• During the third quarter of 2020, the economy grew at a rate of 33.1 percent – the most rapid GDP growth ever recorded.
• Since coronavirus lockdowns ended, the economy has added back over 12 million jobs, more than half the jobs lost.
• Jobs have been recovered 23 times faster than the previous administration’s recovery.
• Unemployment fell to 6.7 percent in December, from a pandemic peak of 14.7 percent in April – beating expectations of well over 10 percent unemployment through the end of 2020.
• Under the previous administration, it took 49 months for the unemployment rate to fall from 10 percent to under 7 percent compared to just 3 months for the Trump Administration.
• Since April, the Hispanic unemployment rate has fallen by 9.6 percent, Asian-American unemployment by 8.6 percent, and Black American unemployment by 6.8 percent.
• 80 percent of small businesses are now open, up from just 53 percent in April.
• Small business confidence hit a new high.
• Homebuilder confidence reached an all-time high, and home sales hit their highest reading since December 2006.
• Manufacturing optimism nearly doubled.
• Household net worth rose $7.4 trillion in Q2 2020 to $112 trillion, an all-time high.
• Home prices hit an all-time record high.
• The United States rejected crippling lockdowns that crush the economy and inflict countless public health harms and instead safely reopened its economy.
• Business confidence is higher in America than in any other G7 or European Union country.
• Stabilized America’s financial markets with the establishment of a number of Treasury Department supported facilities at the Federal Reserve.

 

No Democrat president in the entire history of America has achieved such miraculous success as Reagan and Trump.

 

Edited April 6, 2023 by reason10

[CdnFox]

3 hours ago, robosmith said:

^This was addressed in the OP.

It is ONLY the right wing mangling of the term to TRY to fit THEIR AGENDA with no basis in the way it was ORIGINALLY USED by the left.

Hogwash. It's actually the same usage. The left used it to mean someone  who has, or the act of having, become accepting of a wide variety of left wing ideology, and the right means it to mean the same thing.  but the right (and now society in general) identifies those traits as being less positive and the word has become a pejorative.  But it still means the same thing. 'This is left wing ideology, you accept this ideology as being legitimate, you are woke".  The farther left, the more woke. Leftist mean it in a good way, everyone else means it in a less good way.

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If wokeness is an explanation for everything, it is also an explanation for nothing.

That is just plain childish. First off - as i said and apparently as you agreed it's not an explination for everything, it's an explanation of a variety of left wing and intersectional ideology.  it's like saying "Math could mean anything".  No - math refers to numeric and alphanumeric calculations in general ecompassing trig, quadratics, etc etc.  It means something very real and solid even tho it's a term that encompass a lot.

I mean - the term 'universe' means everything that is within space-time,  you don't get more 'everything' than that - but nobody would argue it means nothing.

It's a nonsense phrase that one might hear in a childrens movie.

[robosmith]

6 minutes ago, CdnFox said:

Hogwash. It's actually the same usage. The left used it to mean someone  who has, or the act of having, become accepting of a wide variety of left wing ideology, and the right means it to mean the same thing.  but the right (and now society in general) identifies those traits as being less positive and the word has become a pejorative.  But it still means the same thing. 'This is left wing ideology, you accept this ideology as being legitimate, you are woke".  The farther left, the more woke. Leftist mean it in a good way, everyone else means it in a less good way.

That is just plain childish. First off - as i said and apparently as you agreed it's not an explination for everything, it's an explanation of a variety of left wing and intersectional ideology.  it's like saying "Math could mean anything".  No - math refers to numeric and alphanumeric calculations in general ecompassing trig, quadratics, etc etc.  It means something very real and solid even tho it's a term that encompass a lot.

I mean - the term 'universe' means everything that is within space-time,  you don't get more 'everything' than that - but nobody would argue it means nothing.

It's a nonsense phrase that one might hear in a childrens movie.

It was NOT originally used to describe general "left wing ideology." It was specifically used to describe what I said in the OP; the RECOGNITION of equal rights of various MINORITY groups. AKA, blacks, browns, LGBTQ, etc, and the historical denial of those rights. You know, things like the FACT that Black Lives Matter, despite the way they are treated by cops.

The right wing mangled it to refer to whatever left wing ideology they didn't like. 

[BeaverFever]

4 hours ago, CdnFox said:

Woke isn't all that hard. It just refers to the body of topics theories and actions  that fall under the perceived left wing socialist intersectional ideology prevalent today. It is the follow on from social justice warrior for which the precursor was socialist or communist.

It's the left wing version of the 'far right' for many.

Because it includes a body of ideology and practices it's not really appropriate to define it outside of that, as the specifics of those ideologies and practices may change from time to time.

The left hates it because it's becoming a pejorative and being recognized more and more as a 'bad thing' in one way or another and so they'd rather disparage the term. But it works well.

In other worst it’s whatever you say it is. The Salem Witch Trial folks couldn’t have said it better n

[CdnFox]

1 hour ago, Rebound said:

It’s anything you don’t like?

nonsense. thats the kind of trivial mental diarrhea some on the left push but it's a dumb thing to say or think.  I don't like sad movies. Woke isn't sad movies.  Woke is specifically ideology that is recognized as left wing or far left. Often something that is more about 'muh feels' than facts.  It's not just anything someone doesn't like. 

[CdnFox]

2 minutes ago, BeaverFever said:

In other worst it’s whatever you say it is. The Salem Witch Trial folks couldn’t have said it better n

No, you'd have to be 7 levels of dumb to think that.  Oh...  sorry.

It specifically refers to ideology that is left wing or far left including specifically the intersectional culture war stuff.

It's not hard kiddo. Try again - maybe get your mommy to explain.

That's twice you've shown up now and claimed i've said something i didn't. here's a hint for you  in life - if you have to constantly lie to prove your point, you don' t have a very good point.

[West]

Wokeism is just lefties trying to rebrand themselves

[BeaverFever]

33 minutes ago, CdnFox said:

Hogwash. It's actually the same usage. The left used it to mean someone  who has, or the act of having, become accepting of a wide variety of left wing ideology, and the right means it to mean the same thing.  but the right (and now society in general) identifies those traits as being less positive and the word has become a pejorative.  But it still means the same thing. 'This is left wing ideology, you accept this ideology as being legitimate, you are woke".  The farther left, the more woke. Leftist mean it in a good way, everyone else means it in a less good way.

That is just plain childish. First off - as i said and apparently as you agreed it's not an explination for everything, it's an explanation of a variety of left wing and intersectional ideology.  it's like saying "Math could mean anything".  No - math refers to numeric and alphanumeric calculations in general ecompassing trig, quadratics, etc etc.  It means something very real and solid even tho it's a term that encompass a lot.

I mean - the term 'universe' means everything that is within space-time,  you don't get more 'everything' than that - but nobody would argue it means nothing.

It's a nonsense phrase that one might hear in a childrens movie.

In other words “woke” is any idea that can be labeled “left wing”

 

Left wing is any political idea that not accepted by conservatives 

Therefore “woke” is any political idea not accepted by conservatives. 

 

“Don’t worry we only want to ban things that are woke.  You’re not woke are you?”

[reason10]

22 minutes ago, robosmith said:

It was NOT originally used to describe general "left wing ideology." It was specifically used to describe what I said in the OP; the RECOGNITION of equal rights of various MINORITY groups. AKA, blacks, browns, LGBTQ, etc, and the historical denial of those rights. You know, things like the FACT that Black Lives Matter, despite the way they are treated by cops.

The right wing mangled it to refer to whatever left wing ideology they didn't like. 

WRONG, as usual. 

Woke is NAZISM, hate, terrorism, lies and worst of all, LIBERAL.

Blacks, browns and queers experienced their GREATEST prosperity under the mainstream conservative Trump administration.

https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/trump-administration-accomplishments/

Delivered a future of greater promise and opportunity for citizens of all backgrounds.

• Unemployment rates for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and those without a high school diploma all reached record lows.
• Unemployment for women hit its lowest rate in nearly 70 years.
• Lifted nearly 7 million people off of food stamps.
• Poverty rates for African Americans and Hispanic Americans reached record lows.
• Income inequality fell for two straight years, and by the largest amount in over a decade.
• The bottom 50 percent of American households saw a 40 percent increase in net worth.
• Wages rose fastest for low-income and blue collar workers – a 16 percent pay increase.
• African American homeownership increased from 41.7 percent to 46.4 percent.

Last time Democrats provided that many jobs for blacks, they were living in Africa and brought here in boats and chained to the floor.

Minority rights were achieved by REPUBLICAN PARTY legislation, first of which was to FREE THE SLAVES and give them AND WOMEN the right to vote, all IN OPPOSITION TO DEMOCRATS.

Woke is a product of the cosmic IGNORANT young brats who never read an unbiased history book and were socially promoted through inferior blue state public schools.

[reason10]

3 minutes ago, West said:

Wokeism is just lefties trying to rebrand themselves

Pretty much. They kinda got laughed out of the room when lefties tried to call themselves "centrists" and "progressives." A goose stepper by any other name, huh?

[CdnFox]

25 minutes ago, robosmith said:

It was NOT originally used to describe general "left wing ideology." It was specifically used to describe what I said in the OP; the RECOGNITION of equal rights of various MINORITY groups. AKA, blacks, browns, LGBTQ, etc, and the historical denial of those rights. You know, things like the FACT that Black Lives Matter, despite the way they are treated by cops.

Nope. Sorry - tonnes of examples out there of the left wing using it differently than that - that's just a little revisionist history on your part.

Of course it ALSO meant that - that would be an example of left wing ideology. Certainly the intersectional culure wars the left started would encompass that. But it wasn't relegated to that.

25 minutes ago, robosmith said:

The right wing mangled it to refer to whatever left wing ideology they didn't like. 

Nope. They use it to refer to left wing ideology or far left ideology which does include  the culture wars, sure.  But includes ohter things as well. Such as AOC's suggesting that we ban airplanes. etc.

In fact - here's AOC and newsweek agreeing on that very fact from back in 2021

https://www.newsweek.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-aoc-why-democrats-woke-problem-election-1646842

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has fired back at political commentators who suggest Democrats face a "woke problem," following last week's poor election results.

Webster's Dictionary defines "woke" as: "Aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice)." However the term has also been used as an insult.

Which is how everyone has been using it since day one. Aware of the issues and 'facts'.  Especially about social justice issues - but not exclusive, and especaily about racial issues, but not exclusive.

Sorry, You were wrong. Since day one 'woke has referred to issues that the left and far left subscribe to and that definitely includes intersectionality, but not JUST intersectionality.

[CdnFox]

10 minutes ago, BeaverFever said:

In other words “woke” is any idea that can be labeled “left wing”

Well - there's a SLIGHT difference between ideology and ideas, but i suppose that's not ENTIRELY wrong. Lets say yes with caveates.

10 minutes ago, BeaverFever said:

 

Left wing is any political idea that not accepted by conservatives 

No, that would be dumb. Conservatives are strongly against slavery. Being pro slavery would not be 'woke'.  Conservatives are against burning dogs for fun. That would not mean burning dogs was woke.

There are even some ideas that both the left and the right agree on more or less, so they span political lines and couldn't be said to be left wing.

Left wing ideology is specifically that ideology which is accepted by the left exclusively by the left. just as right wing ideology is ideology accepted by the right and not accepted by the left.

This is pretty straight forward.

10 minutes ago, BeaverFever said:

Therefore “woke” is any political idea not accepted by conservatives. 

No as noted, and it's generally better to let people address your first example of being retarded before proceeding to another example.

10 minutes ago, BeaverFever said:

 

“Don’t worry we only want to ban things that are woke.  

-Said no one ever.

10 minutes ago, BeaverFever said:

You’re not woke are you?”

I doubt that i would be considered to represent an ideology that is exclusive to and accepted by the left   LOL

Now smarten up and try harder. That was even worse than your last attempt. You can do better than that,

[robosmith]

10 minutes ago, CdnFox said:

Nope. Sorry - tonnes of examples out there of the left wing using it differently than that - that's just a little revisionist history on your part.

Of course it ALSO meant that - that would be an example of left wing ideology. Certainly the intersectional culure wars the left started would encompass that. But it wasn't relegated to that.

Nope. They use it to refer to left wing ideology or far left ideology which does include  the culture wars, sure.  But includes ohter things as well. Such as AOC's suggesting that we ban airplanes. etc.

In fact - here's AOC and newsweek agreeing on that very fact from back in 2021

https://www.newsweek.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-aoc-why-democrats-woke-problem-election-1646842

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has fired back at political commentators who suggest Democrats face a "woke problem," following last week's poor election results.

Webster's Dictionary defines "woke" as: "Aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice)." However the term has also been used as an insult.

Which is how everyone has been using it since day one. Aware of the issues and 'facts'.  Especially about social justice issues - but not exclusive, and especaily about racial issues, but not exclusive.

Sorry, You were wrong. Since day one 'woke has referred to issues that the left and far left subscribe to and that definitely includes intersectionality, but not JUST intersectionality.

Nope. Original use was quite DIFFERENT. Sorry but YOU (and right wingers) don't get to redefine the original meaning.

 

Quote

The term’s break into mainstream language came from the Black Lives Matter movement, which used the hashtag #staywoke in the wake of racial injustices spreading across the US.

In 2012, when unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin was shot dead in Florida by neighbourhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, the term was used heavily to raise awareness of the movement.

This has led to criticism by some that those who mock ‘woke’ are being insensitive to its modern usage and the plight of racism. Others argue that its specific link is not widely known.

Why do some people dislike the term?

It has become a common term of derision among some who oppose the movements it is associated with, or believe the issues are exaggerated. It is sometimes used to mock or infantilise supporters of those movements.