Long promoted the idea of taxing the rich to pay for his schools and highways that would benefit the average citizen. Critics claimed the program for the state to purchase school textbooks was a form of socialism.  Long stood his ground and defended his social programs.  It is interesting to see the recent shift in Southern politics in regard to social programs like Long advocated.

Huey had an interesting supporter by the name of Gerald Smith.  Smith sought to capture Long's political machine to run for public office after Long's assassination.  Smith was a nationally known preacher in the Disciples Church. Long was rumored to run for President.  Later on Smith would run for the highest office in the land.  Smith was an early building block for the Religious Right in the nation.  The founder of the Arkansas Passion Play published the magazine named, The Cross and Flag. Smith attempted to blend far right politics with the Christian faith.  Smith had a reputation as a union buster but still tended to identify with Long's compassion for the poor in the nation.

Paul Ryan represents a radical shift in this Southern populist movement.  His distaste for government programs that aid the poor is the case in point.  Ryan will find a receptive audience in the new South which has changed views on social programs.  Government assistance to the needy is now viewed as crippling.  When I first arrived in our East Texas county the split was less than one in ten being Republican.  If the latest turn out in our area is an indicator, the ratio had stayed the same, but the party has switched.  

Last week in Tyler, Texas the largest Baptist church in the region hosted a rally for concerned pastors.  Tony Perkins and his Watchman at the Wall organization were in charge.  James Robison, the man who claims he single handedly brought Ronald Reagan to the Whitehouse was a featured speaker.  Robison, Perkins and crowd represent the radical shift in economic views.  Robison believes the regulation of the market caused the 2008 economic disaster.  Erik Stanley of the Alliance Defense Fund was present to encourage pastors not to worry about 501c3 problems.  The pastors must speak out to denounce the limits placed on the market by the current socialist leaders in the nation.  Green Acres Baptist Church hosted the meeting.   The invitation I received came from a pastor who has worked closely with the Governor Perry movement.  He warned that he saw dangerous steps taken to muzzle pulpits which might land many of the pastors in prison.

The shift from Smith/Long to Ryan is significant.  Ryan's views on Medicare and other social programs are a long way from what Huey Long practiced.  Throngs of crowds used to cheer Long as he promised to represent them and denounced big business in the state that ran the show and failed to pay their share of taxes.  The same economic groups in the South will not be as receptive as in Long's day.

Southern Baptists, who once tended to admire government social programs and public education  represent the trend.  Most Rigorous Right literature I am acquainted with now carries lengthy articles bashing government assistance programs.  The Kingfish's message died at the hands of an assassin's bullet.  One might wonder what the South might have looked like if he had lived.