The Overton Window
This post is in regard to the actual Overton Window concept, not Glenn Beck’s book that was released this month. I did post a link regarding the book here.
To explain what the Overton Window is, lets go right to the source. Mr Joe Overton (left) died in a plane crash on June 30th, 2003 but continues to be a source of inspiration. He worked in a “Think Tank” at the Mackinac Center. Mr Overton thought the Think Tank should focus on education of the people and lawmakers to evoke change in politics. At this point, I should note this Think Tank is labeled as “Far right” by the “Far Left.” This should come as no surprise but, in fact, they are “a nonpartisan research and educational institute dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Michigan citizens by promoting sound solutions to state and local policy questions.”
The Mackinac Center explains the window as Joseph Overton’s observation that “in a given public policy area, such as education, only a relatively narrow range of potential policies will be considered politically acceptable. This “window” of politically acceptable options is primarily defined not by what politicians prefer, but rather by what they believe they can support and still win re-election. In general, then, the window shifts to include different policy options not when ideas change among politicians, but when ideas change in the society that elects them.” Mr. Overton’s theory has some basis in complex public choice economics yet it’s very easy to grasp.
The window slides up and down, NOT left and right. This was done on purpose so it would not confuse people. Most of us think in terms of left and right politics. A blog here, wrongly shows the window as moving left and right. It also attempts to show that the window is way over to the right. I have to digress some so please bare with me.
Assuming it even worked this way, it has never been on the “right” unless you were actually a person with far left beliefs. This diagram was made under President Bush Jr so I can see a liberal, socialist, or just radical extremist thinking it was way over to the right. For example, if you were an anti-war idiot that thinks nothing is worth fighting for, then the window would appear to you as shifted way to the right. Again, this is NOT the Overton Window, but a modified use of his window. If this same graph reflected reality in the current political environment of 2010, it would actually look like this:
My views are based on our Founding Fathers ideas for our country. It is also based on documents critical to keeping the correct course for the United States. This includes, but not limited to; The United States Constitution, The Federalist Papers, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, and any similar documents I could read that would let me peer into the minds of some of the greatest men to ever walk this earth. These views will undoubtedly get labeled as “Far Right” thinking to people with ideas of government that have never worked anywhere. Ideas that the Founding Fathers seemed to go out of their way to avoid. These Socialists, Communists, Liberals, progressives, (insert radical, anti-American ideology here), all seem to think of the U.S. Constitution as some sort of Wikipedia for them to mold on the whims and wants of a small portion of the populous. When it becomes the U.S. ConstiWiki, our country will fall shortly after and rightly so. Digression’s over.
Now, a little more on the ACTUAL Overton Window. This interactive illustration explains it best. Basically Mr. Overton put a range of policies in a vertical column or axis. Overton’s Window covers a range of policies considered to be politically acceptable at a given point in time.
If it’s acceptable in the eyes of the public, then the window brackets or covers it. Political decisions inside this window can be made without fear of losing public office. He also placed Most Freedom (i.e. less government control) at the top and Least Freedom (i.e. more government control) at the bottom. The example above is from the Mackinac Center. I placed the window where I think it currently is in regards to gun ownership in the USA. Yes, it could shift down a bit more, but this is just an example. This is on a federal, not local level. As a side note, gun ownership is guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, but several states and cities defy this document and our federal government in an attempt to shift the Overton Window down. If this can be done, Americans might look the other way as a constitutional right is taken away. More likely some extremist Supreme Court Justice will change the definitions of the Constitution and pretend you never had a right in the first place.
If you can move the window, then ideas that are currently considered outside the window can become acceptable. Mr. Overton gave degrees of acceptance:
-Unthinkable
-Radical
-Acceptable
-Sensible
-Popular
-Policy
The Overton Window can be applied on smaller scales like city, state, or personal. It is generally used in reference to policies of the United States federal government. The Overton Window of a state may be well out of sync with the nation. California, for example, has put gay marriage inside their Overton Window, but the national Overton Window still considers it in the Radical range.
The window is moved by the people, not the politicians. Joseph Lehman, President of the Mackinac Center, wrote “many believe that politicians move the window, but that’s actually rare. In our understanding, politicians typically don’t determine what is politically acceptable; more often they react to it and validate it. Generally speaking, policy change follows political change, which itself follows social change. The most durable policy changes are those that are undergirded by strong social movements.” Mr. Lehman further stated “lawmakers who support policies outside the window are one of two kinds — true leaders [Ronald Reagan perhaps?] who have the rare ability to shift the window by themselves, or politicians who risk electoral defeat because they are perceived as out of touch [Obama, Reed, Biden?].”
So with the Overton Window explained, I’d like to make some comparisons to the current political environment. The current administration feels that because they won the election, they have a good handle on where the Overton Window currently sits. The Obama administration and Congress continues to pass legislation that is clearly unpopular with the majority of Americans. This leads me to believe he sees himself as a “true leader.” When in fact, I think he easily falls in the “out of touch” category. I think most of Congress falls in that category now. The rise and growth of the Tea Party is good evidence of the backlash from action after action taken outside the Overton Window. Instead of reversing their course, the Obama Administration and Congress has increased its radical actions. The socialization of medical care, spending increases that dwarf any administration in the history of the U.S., H.R. 5175 attacks on grassroots efforts and free speech, and numerous other acts of idiocy [many mentioned on this blog in other topics].
The Obama administration won an election where only 56.8% of the voting population turned out. That number is nothing unusual. Irresponsibly, about half of America doesn’t even care to vote. So anyway, they convinced approximately 27% of American voters to vote for them. Much of this was done with the help of the media to convince the “ignorant masses” to vote for “change” and “hope.” I don’t mean the people are ignorant per se, just that many American’s are ignorant of politics and history.
Those that don’t vote are the most ineffectual of citizenry. These individuals are ignorant of history and what a privilege it is to vote. They are also unaware of how remarkably important every vote is, even in our electoral system. They wrongly assume the right decisions will be made for them by others. The other piece to the ignorant masses is the portion of the population that was taken it by what even I have to admit was an excellent marketing campaign. The problem is, NO ONE that researched the candidates should have even considered voting for him. Many of these people (or sheeple) only watched CNN and others who gave 80% of their coverage to Obama. They let the media influence their vote rather than research it themselves. The only votes Obama SHOULD have received would have been from the fringes of society. Those with racial prejudices (a “black” man is running so I have to vote for him because I’m black too), the far left, and those with extremist ideology. That is not all the vote he captured. Many self proclaimed Independents voted for him because they fell into being influenced by the media. Luckily, many recognize their mistake now. Some got swept up in the hype of logos and slogans for “change.”
Several others said they were “Blue Nose Democrats” so they felt obligated to vote that way. Even a few (not all) of my black friends voted for him. Conservative, military guys! One guy is so caught up in the hype that he is actually still defending Obama, trying to justify socializing medicine, justifying spending trillions, and justifying redistribution of wealth. If President Bush had done these things they would be ready to fight over it. One asked me if I was racist! I explained I hate Obama’s white half as much as his black half, so no. Seriously though, I hate his beliefs and traitorous behavior. I could care less about his skin.
The Obama administration and supporting liberal congressmen are aware of the Overton Window. They continue to enjoy the aid of most major news stations to keep pumping the ignorant masses with propaganda. They know the only way to “shift the window” is to influence enough people. This can be done if the people stay part of the ignorant masses. If the people don’t read history, historical documents, and compare where we were supposed to be going with where we are now, then we are doomed to stay on the same destructive path. The Obama administration sugar coats reality with words that camouflage the truth. Like calling illegal immigrants undocumented workers or it’s no longer a War On Terrorism its whatever the politically correct word is for that now. They chocolate coat fecal matter and tell you its a chocolate bar.
I am hopeful that Obama and the radical left congressmen have awakened the sleeping giant again. I’ve talked to Independants that admit they made a mistake voting for Obama or some other liberal. I see and attend the Tea Parties and witness patriots with similar values, not the monsters portrayed on what seems to be state run media. I’ve also talked to and read about some Americans that have finally woken up to the fact they need to vote. Better late than never.
The bottom line is all of these anti-American radicals must be defeated in this fall election and up through 2012. Preferably not replaced with fresh patriotic faces, not the dirty politician that changes sides just for votes. If not, that means we are left with a divided country. I don’t just mean a difference of opinion, I mean the differences that start civil wars. I mean a government that no longer represents you or your beliefs and that forces their values of socialism on you. I mean destroying the military by forcing them to openly accept homosexual behavior as normal. I mean destroying the rights, beliefs, and vision initially given to us by the Founding Fathers!
I am not advocating a civil war, but I am noting that if we can’t get the radicals under control, then all the elements are there for some dark days ahead for our country. After we get our country back and under control, we should be able to repeal most of the damages caused by the radicals. Perhaps we can convince the socialists and other radicals to move to a country that practices what they believe in. Most patriots can’t leave this country as this is the last truly free Republic in the world. Once its light is extinguished, there is nowhere else to go.
I hope the explanation of the Overton Window was helpful. I also hope my opinion was well received. If not, get access to your own blog and influence the ignorant masses. After all, what do I know? I’m just a guy that would actually read a bill before signing it. I’m also the kind of guy that would actually read about history and our republic before I changed it.
copyright 2010 K-ROD
No liberals were water-boarded in creating this post.
Opinions are that of the posters, not necessarily TPF’s
