Middle class needs to fight back now

Spook

Platinum Member
Nov 29, 1999
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Keep this on topic or it will be locked

Anandtech Moderator

Middle class needs to fight back now

Never been a big fan of Dobbs, and I know he's pushing his book, but this article speaks to me.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- I don't know about you, but I can't take seriously anyone who takes either the Republican Party or Democratic Party seriously -- in part because neither party takes you and me seriously; in part because both are bought and paid for by corporate America and special interests. And neither party gives a damn about the middle class.

Our country's middle class is not just collateral damage in what has become all-out class warfare. Political, business and academic elites are waging an outright war on working men and women and their families, and there is no chance the American middle class will survive this assault if the dominant forces unleashed over the past five years continue unchecked.

They've accomplished this through large campaign contributions, armies of lobbyists that have swamped Washington, and control of political and economic think tanks and media. Lobbyists, in fact, are the arms dealers in the war on the middle class, brokering money, influence and information between their clients our elected officials.

Yet in my entire career, I've literally never heard anyone in Congress argue that lobbyists are bad for America. In 1968 there were only 63 lobbyists in Washington. Today, there are more than 34,000, and lobbyists now outnumber our elected representatives and their staffs by a 2-to-1 margin.

According to the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity, from 1998 through 2004, lobbyists spent nearly $12 billion to not only influence legislation, but in many cases to write the language of the laws and regulations.

Individual firms, corporations and national organizations spent a record $2.14 billion on lobbying members of Congress and 220 other federal agencies in 2004, according to PoliticalMoneyLine. That's nearly $6 million a day spent to influence our leaders. We really do have the best government money can buy.

But as I discuss in my new book, "War on the Middle Class," what if we all resolved that we would not permit either the Republicans or Democrats to waste their time and ours with wedge issues? Both parties love to excite their bases by focusing on wedge issues like gay marriage, the pledge of allegiance, school prayer, judicial appointments, gun control, stem cell research and welfare reform.

Each of these wedge issues is important in varying degrees to large numbers of us, but none of them rises to the level of urgency or the requirement of immediate change in public policy.

These issues are raised by both political parties to distract and divert public attention from the profound issues -- like educating our youth, economic inequality and the war against radical Islamic terrorists -- that affect our daily lives and the American way of life. Imagine the consternation in Washington if both parties had to contend with a national electorate whose political affiliation had dramatically changed within a matter of weeks or months.

In both Republican and Democratic administrations, Congress has passed and sustained billions of dollars in royalty payments and subsidies to big oil companies; pushed through a corporate-written, consumer-crippling bankruptcy law; embraced the death of the estate tax; approved every free trade deal brought to a vote; and supported illegal immigration for the sake of cheap labor.

The party strategists and savants are telling us that fewer Americans will turn out to the polls than ever before, disgusted by a disgraced former congressman. But we don't have to wait for the midterm elections to begin to engage in our new political life.

There's something all of us could do that would have an immediate impact and send a powerful message to both corporation-dominated political parties and to our elected officials in Washington. Our so-called representatives in both parties have been working against the interests of the middle class for so long that they take our votes for granted, or they take advantage of the fact that a sizable number of us don't vote at all.

So what if a majority of us decided once and for all to walk into our town and city halls all over the country and change our party affiliation from Republican or Democrat to independent? What if that sizable number of us who don't vote at all decided to register as independents? For the first time in decades, working middle-class Americans might just get the attention of our elected officials in Washington.

Our middle class has suffered in silence for far too long, and it cannot afford to suffer or be silent much longer. Hardworking Americans have not spoken out about their increasingly marginalized role in this society, and as a consequence they're all but lost their voice.

Without that strong, clear and vibrant voice, all the major decisions about America and our future will be made by the elites of government, big business and the dominant special interests. Those elites treasure your silence, as it enables them to claim America's future for their own.

I sincerely hope that we will find the resolve to face these challenges to our way of life, and we do so soon. George Bernard Shaw said, "It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."

I'm stupid enough to be absolutely sincere in the hope that middle-class America will awake soon and take action.
 

ayabe

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2005
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Too bad the vast majority of people in this country are on auto-pilot or only care about abortion and gay marriage.

Hey as long as Survivor doesn't get cancelled, it's all good.

Besides, we need lobbyists to "educate" lawmakers about the issues.
 

GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
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America's greatness died in the 1960s. We were not up to the challenge.

Our military is just a police force for Corp. USA.
 

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
72,326
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Your job is to work and buy work and buy work and buy. Life is not for living. You will do that in heaven.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,085
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Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
America's greatness died in the 1960s.

You can blame that on the hippies

Nah, the Hippies were in response to what killed the "greatness". They were a Last Stand of the People.
 

jrenz

Banned
Jan 11, 2006
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Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
Originally posted by: sandorski
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
America's greatness died in the 1960s.

You can blame that on the hippies

Nah, the Hippies were in response to what killed the "greatness". They were a Last Stand of the People.

QFT

So the last stand of the people was a mass endulgence in illicit drug use and unrestrained sex? No wonder they failed.
 

ayabe

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2005
7,449
0
0
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
Originally posted by: sandorski
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
America's greatness died in the 1960s.

You can blame that on the hippies

Nah, the Hippies were in response to what killed the "greatness". They were a Last Stand of the People.

QFT

So the last stand of the people was a mass endulgence in illicit drug use and unrestrained sex? No wonder they failed.



lol

Yeah it's too bad we can't relive the 50's, you lost that battle, so stop crying about it.
 

Corn

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 1999
6,389
29
91
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
Originally posted by: sandorski
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
America's greatness died in the 1960s.

You can blame that on the hippies

Nah, the Hippies were in response to what killed the "greatness". They were a Last Stand of the People.

QFT

So the last stand of the people was a mass endulgence in illicit drug use and unrestrained sex? No wonder they failed.


Hey dude, like, expand your mind man.......
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,085
5,618
126
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
Originally posted by: sandorski
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
America's greatness died in the 1960s.

You can blame that on the hippies

Nah, the Hippies were in response to what killed the "greatness". They were a Last Stand of the People.

QFT

So the last stand of the people was a mass endulgence in illicit drug use and unrestrained sex? No wonder they failed.

That was just part of the rebellion(sp) against the Vietnam War.
 

jrenz

Banned
Jan 11, 2006
1,788
0
0
Originally posted by: sandorski
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
Originally posted by: sandorski
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
America's greatness died in the 1960s.

You can blame that on the hippies

Nah, the Hippies were in response to what killed the "greatness". They were a Last Stand of the People.

QFT

So the last stand of the people was a mass endulgence in illicit drug use and unrestrained sex? No wonder they failed.

That was just part of the rebellion(sp) against the Vietnam War.

No, the war was used as an excuse for it. How do you rebel against a war by getting high and screwing 5 girls (guys...) a night?
 

fitzov

Platinum Member
Jan 3, 2004
2,477
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Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
Originally posted by: sandorski
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
America's greatness died in the 1960s.

You can blame that on the hippies

Nah, the Hippies were in response to what killed the "greatness". They were a Last Stand of the People.

QFT

So the last stand of the people was a mass endulgence in illicit drug use and unrestrained sex? No wonder they failed.

Didn't you ever see Austin Powers: it was about freedom from squares like you, baby.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,085
5,618
126
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: sandorski
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
Originally posted by: sandorski
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
America's greatness died in the 1960s.

You can blame that on the hippies

Nah, the Hippies were in response to what killed the "greatness". They were a Last Stand of the People.

QFT

So the last stand of the people was a mass endulgence in illicit drug use and unrestrained sex? No wonder they failed.

That was just part of the rebellion(sp) against the Vietnam War.

No, the war was used as an excuse for it. How do you rebel against a war by getting high and screwing 5 girls (guys...) a night?

Government: You're fighting this war whether you like it or not. (draft)

People: Screw you! (sex, drugs, and wholesale rejection of everything the Government holds dear)
 

ayabe

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2005
7,449
0
0
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: sandorski
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
Originally posted by: sandorski
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
America's greatness died in the 1960s.

You can blame that on the hippies

Nah, the Hippies were in response to what killed the "greatness". They were a Last Stand of the People.

QFT

So the last stand of the people was a mass endulgence in illicit drug use and unrestrained sex? No wonder they failed.

That was just part of the rebellion(sp) against the Vietnam War.

No, the war was used as an excuse for it. How do you rebel against a war by getting high and screwing 5 girls (guys...) a night?


Where do you come up with this stuff? This sounds like a handout from a Justice Sunday event.
 

Schadenfroh

Elite Member
Mar 8, 2003
38,416
4
0
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: sandorski
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
Originally posted by: sandorski
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
America's greatness died in the 1960s.

You can blame that on the hippies

Nah, the Hippies were in response to what killed the "greatness". They were a Last Stand of the People.

QFT

So the last stand of the people was a mass endulgence in illicit drug use and unrestrained sex? No wonder they failed.

That was just part of the rebellion(sp) against the Vietnam War.

No, the war was used as an excuse for it. How do you rebel against a war by getting high and screwing 5 girls (guys...) a night?

and worst of all not being able to remember any of it because you were so loaded on dope!
 

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
72,326
6,039
126
Originally posted by: Corn
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
Originally posted by: sandorski
Originally posted by: jrenz
Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
America's greatness died in the 1960s.

You can blame that on the hippies

Nah, the Hippies were in response to what killed the "greatness". They were a Last Stand of the People.

QFT

So the last stand of the people was a mass endulgence in illicit drug use and unrestrained sex? No wonder they failed.


Hey dude, like, expand your mind man.......

I'll be damned if Corn isn't right. What could be better than drugs and unrestrained sex. Now in the truth of expanded consciousness I see why I learned to hate Hippies. Those bastards lived everything I dream. The broke free of the chains of fear that have always kept me in my small mental prison. Those mofos had fun and lived. Damn them.

If You're Goin... To San Francsico...
You're gonna meet some gentle people there

For those who come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there
In the streets of San Francisco
Gentle people with flowers in their hair

All across the nation such a strange vibration
People in motion
There's a whole generation with a new explanation
People in motion people in motion

For those who come to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there

If you come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there

For those who come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there
In the streets of San Francisco
Gentle people with flowers in their hair


 

GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
6,986
0
0
To be on topic for a bit.

It's sad that middle class America needs lobbyists to entice the asshats they elected into
representing them. We are sold out for bribes and/or sex. Our government is for sale!

You guys on this forum that wave the flag are blinded by it.

Not all hippies were getting stoned trying to save the world but that is how the media made it seem.

The first ppl into Vietnam after we fled were the seven major oil corps. Vietnam said "Go away."
Damn! That sure impresses me.

You guys can argue the reasons why. Many of the Vietnam vets commited suicide, became homeless alcoholics, abused thier children/wives and/or died on the streets.
Get ready for a fresh batch of throw away service people after Iraq comes to it's end, probably with US fleeing by helicopter just like Vietnam.

<---- 59yo Navy brat totally disgusted with my Country and some of it's people.