so i've been thinking about this palin remark/approach about "pro-american parts of the country," pro or anti-american candidates etc. one thing this expresses is some kind of pretty mindless patriotism: like we just can't be wrong when we're torturing people or invading other countries etc.: a plea for uncritical chauvinism. but on the other hand, i actually do believe that there's something(s) that it means to be an american, that we do have a distinctive history, and, emerging from that, a rough set of values. the country originates in rebellion against authority, as a defense of rights against the incursions of overwhelming state power. it develops a distinctive variety of individualism out of this concept of rights and perhaps out of the isolation of much of the population from world cosmopolitan capitals, people trying to live on a frontier or a wilderness. to me, the essence of the american ethos is expressed in emerson and thoreau. (but, you know, also jefferson and abbie hoffman.) we have had a constant compromise ever since with collectivism and the increase in state power (the overwhelming world political development of the last century), including things like the re-distribution of wealth, m/p's theme of late. now you might think this ideology is wrong or ineffective or anachronistic, but you can't say it's not at the center of american identity. to my way of thinking, an ever-expanding state, a state that takes care of you from cradle to grave (keeping an eye on you throughout), is exactly what this country exists to resist. among, you know, cosmopolitan, educated people, there's not much left of american identity: the only question is whether a, say swedish-style healthcare system works better, whatever that means exactly. all that's left of "americanism" in members of the democratic party is that they vaguely think there should be opportunity (that's what barack says america means). that is, it does make sense to call some regions, especially rural etc "pro-american" and connect this with an attack on the "socialistic" policies suggested by obama. it makes sense to connect this with, perhaps, guns, or tax policy. and also with arts" country music, truck styles, interior decorating, clothing etc: get these right and you're definitely expressing your americanism.
on the other hand, no one in politics is really an emersonian, and of course mccain/palin seem to support adding trillions of dollars to the fed budget etc. in fact, when mccain or palin start opposing drug laws, for example, or an overwhelmingly huge military establishment, then i'll call them pro-american without shuddering at the term.