The vilification of George Soros is an ugly anti-Semitic canard, continuous with the vilification of the Rothschilds and the medieval Jewish moneylenders.
But it's more than that. Soros is proof that great wealth need not be used to increase the power of the superrich over the non-rich. Soros works to diminish that power; he proves that another way with wealth is possible. Like FDR, who wasn't Jewish, he is a traitor to his class.
“Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example" - Mark Twain
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I just wonder if anything that has been said or written about George Soros is nearly as bad or as voluminous as what I have heard or read about the Koch Brothers over the years, much of it emanating from the Times. As for the writer's assertion that Republicans of the 1950s would have revered his ideals, that may or may not be so, but I can assure her that Democrats of the 1950s - Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Stevenson, Humphrey, etc. - would have no place in today's Democrat Party and would probably opt to be Republicans!
@Joe Pearce
What policy initiatives would you say is the basis for your statement? What policies does the Democratic party support that leads "you" to think those giants of America would switch parties? The only policies that i can think of from the 50's, that you might claim are the republican administration efforts to roll back civil rights and voting rights. Although, those are more in line with the 50's, not the 60's. The 50's were a time a strong progressivism that bouyed the middle-class. The national highway system comes to mind. This generations Republican party only seems interested in the upper classes. Their efforts to destroy the public unions (through court actions) is not a very 50's thing to do. Agree or disagree?
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@Joe Pearce
Why do you use "Democrat" as an adjective?
And don't tell me it's because Donald Trump said that that's the party's real name. What reference source backs him up?
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@Joe Pearce
You sound like you think they would all have turned around to work against the very programs they championed. And it was the old Dixiecrats that suddenly became Republicans after Johnson got the Civil Rights act passed! And the Republicans are still working to undo it all these years later!
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The vilification of George Soros is an interesting example of the inconsistency of the current thinking of the right. From their stated principles, the right should applaud an individual profiting in a legal and ethical way from the stupidity of the government, such as Soros did when he speculated against the British Pound. He used these profits to propagate free speech.
The link between Trump and the GOP demonstrates the demise of true conservatism and its replacement by populism. Mindless following, which does not allow for discussion, replaces principled thinking, which allows it.
Mindless following sees an Open Society as the big enemy. Sad.
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There is a lot to be done in the US. Aging infrastructure, environmental poisoning from everything from lead pipes to superfund sites, poor schools, poor neighborhoods, the drug crisis, protection for low lying areas, clean up from hurricanes, tornados, the list of immediate and necessary clean up is long. The list of volunteers needed is long. And none of this requires much political and ideological wrangling, just roll up sleeves and work to get it done. As I read through the NY Times articles I see so much ideological rhetoric that has no obvious solution, no beginning and no end. Words are effortless. How about we concentrate on our own neighborhood and its immediate problems, get involved and accomplish something useful, concrete and doable? Isn't that an innovative idea that does not involve partisan mud slinging? We might actually get so busy and involved that we forget about hate. When you get involved in building your community strengths and fixing what needs help, hate just seems to go away. You are too busy with concrete visable success. We need more of this. It drives out anger. We all need an alternative to anger. Hate thrives on anger.
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@joyce
You mean working to be a community organizer to help local folk like Obama did back in the day and for which he was roundly castigated by Republicans?
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I prefer the concept of one person, one vote. Billionaires of any stripe who use their money to give themselves outsized political power are deplorable. It’s not surprising that people criticize him for bending democracy even if they agree with his principles. One person, one vote.
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@Rick
Really? Citizens United unleashed a flood of money from corporations that has distorted our Democracy. The Koch brothers have spread their vast resources across a wide range of conservative and libertarian politicians and organizations for many years to avoid environmental regulations, government oversight, and accountability.
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so what's Sheldon Adelson, chopped liver?
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I agree. This far-right brand of populism is mythology, plain and simple. It produces a narrative that is compelling for certain types. Neither facts nor context nor education is needed. They cherry-pick pieces of information from around the world to support their prejudice, fear, and ignorance. George Soros is a Christmas tree upon which they hang all of their favorite conspiracy theories. Fox and Clear Channel radio have done a great job turning him into a cartoon-like super villain, and their audience has bought it. Reminds me of those disgusting illustrations of Jews and Jewish conspiracies in Nazi Germany.
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