Thom Hartmann: the people are losing in our newly corporate system

[Craig234]

I think well of Thom Harmann (he has the best talk radio show on the air IMO).

The Wisconsin results can be spun different ways, but I think he's right, that if nothing changes, the people are losing the political war in this era of Citizens United.

That's why we need to change things - which likely means a constitutional amendment to restore power to the public.

It can be imagined that over time, 'progressives' go the way of 'liberal Republicans', and there's a new permanent right-wing government not anything like what America is supposed to be.

It's amazing what money can entrench in public opinion, so that everyone 'supports' our new overlords, instead of those stinky smelly hippy progressives who would destroy our country.

Every great power can keep a lot of power by demonizing its opposition, and this will be no exception, if it happens. We've already had a taste of when 'Democrats are unelectable' to the Presidency at times.

To the extent we've had it the other way around, it's only been when Republicans really, terribly screwed up - Watergate and the Great Depression are the only two that come to mind, in fact.

The 2008 crash, in fact, didn't really do it; it was just enough to possibly sway the election.

We're already at the point when simply wanting Americans in the bottom 98% to be prosperous is seen by many as an evil leftist agenda.

Here's his comment with a negative reaction to the two of six Wisconsin wins:

Democracy Died First in Wisconsin – Long Live the Oligarchs
by Thom Hartmann

The Wisconsin recall election was the first major test of the new era in American politics.

That new era began in January of 2010 when the US Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United v. FEC that the political voice of We The People was no longer as important as the voices of billionaires and transnational corporations.

Now we know the result, and it bodes ill for both 2012 and for the tattered future of small-d democracy in our republic.

A few of America’s most notorious oligarchs – including the Koch and the DeVos (Amway fortune) billionaires – as well as untraceable millions from donors who could as easily be Chinese government-run corporations as giant “American” companies who do most of their business and keep most of their profits outside the US – apparently played big in this election.

I say “apparently” because the Supreme Court has ruled that we no longer have the right to know who is really funding our election commercials, or even our candidates themselves.

Thanks to an irrational and likely illegal Supreme Court ruling, we have moved into an era of oligarch-run politics. As much as $40 million of our oligarch’s money was spent in Wisconsin in a handful of local races – a testing laboratory for strategies that will now be used against Democrats nationwide in 2012.

And so now we enter the battle of the oligarchs over the next fifteen or so months.

As the old saying goes, when the elephants fight, the mice get trampled. In this case, the mice aren’t just the voters. It’s democracy itself.

America is now – demonstrably, as proven by Wisconsin – just a few years away from the possibility of a totally corrupted, totally billionaire- and corporate-controlled political system. Political scientists call it oligarchy.

The Citizens United election experiment is over, and the oligarchs won. Long live the oligarchy.

 

[DesiPower]

as the liberals loose grip, they will whine... more and more everyday... there was a whinentry about this on NPR too today evening. These douchbags will keep barking at each other while this country will loose an entire generation of workers... I dont think America will ever recover from this.

 

[Thump553]

Yet another sign of the danger of superpacs:

http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/08/colbertsuperpac-releases-first-ad-vote-rick-parry-at-ames/

 

[Zorkorist]

John McCain, passed Campain Finance Reform like 10 years ago.

Most American's were perplexed then.

This article is nothing more than a rehash, or an attempt to call Corporations Evil.

-John

 

[Craig234]

John McCain, passed Campain Finance Reform like 10 years ago.

Most American's were perplexed then.

This article is nothing more than a rehash, or an attempt to call Corporations Evil.

-John

So, everyone who says anything about the corruption of our elections by corporate donations is nothing but a McCain rehash.

Really, no one should have brought up the topic after McCain's bill. That was the end of any useful discussion.

 

[theeedude]

as the liberals loose grip, they will whine... more and more everyday... there was a whinentry about this on NPR too today evening. These douchbags will keep barking at each other while this country will loose an entire generation of workers... I dont think America will ever recover from this.

Yep, just like Russian liberals whined when Putin and the oligarchs seized power.

 

[Craig234]

as the liberals loose grip, they will whine... more and more everyday... there was a whinentry about this on NPR too today evening. These douchbags will keep barking at each other while this country will loose an entire generation of workers... I dont think America will ever recover from this.

So, you hate the policies as the rich take control American will not recover from; and you hate the people against the policies you hate as whiners. If you wanted to make sense...

 

[BarneyFife]

as the liberals loose grip, they will whine... more and more everyday... there was a whinentry about this on NPR too today evening. These douchbags will keep barking at each other while this country will loose an entire generation of workers... I dont think America will ever recover from this.

Thank the elites that moved our jobs to shitholes like India and China.

 

[Zorkorist]

So, everyone who says anything about the corruption of our elections by corporate donations is nothing but a McCain rehash.

Really, no one should have brought up the topic after McCain's bill. That was the end of any useful discussion.

I'm just calling it like it is.

John McCain, to the consternation of the Republican Party, passed Campain Finance Reform, 10 years ago.

That today, people are crying about corporations influencing elections means:

A) They are partisan, and are only trying to attack Corporations
B) They think John McCain's Campaign Finance Law was too easy to circumvent
C) They don't know anything, and just spread fear, of the unknown, and whatever data they have on hand.

-John

 

[DesiPower]

So, you hate the policies as the rich take control American will not recover from; and you hate the people against the policies you hate as whiners. If you wanted to make sense...

One candidate gets into the race with one billion dollars that he got from God knows where, other side opens the floodgates of dirty money to combat that... why the fuck am I going to worry about any of them again? it just tell me that the situation has become hopeless and I need worry about my next generation and find a way to secure their future and stop paying attention about these swines...

 

[DesiPower]

Thank the elites that moved our jobs to shitholes like India and China.

Exactly and they have the politicians in their pockets, and they are never going to let anyone focus on the real problem... they will keep filling the airwaves with bull shit to suppress any focus on the real solutions... or fill the pockets of an idiot who can "energize" the crowd

 

[Craig234]

One candidate gets into the race with one billion dollars that he got from God knows where, other side opens the floodgates of dirty money to combat that... why the fuck am I going to worry about any of them again? it just tell me that the situation has become hopeless and I need worry about my next generation and find a way to secure their future and stop paying attention about these swines...

Like always, you can disengage, and surrender. That's a disastrous choice.

 

[Craig234]

Exactly and they have the politicians in their pockets, and they are never going to let anyone focus on the real problem... they will keep filling the airwaves with bull shit to suppress any focus on the real solutions... or fill the pockets of an idiot who can "energize" the crowd

We have a minority in office who are progressive not 'in their pockets'. You can allow them to be replaced, or you can support more progressives.

 

[rchiu]

Thank the elites that moved our jobs to shitholes like India and China.

What would you have the elites do? First you refuse to have more tech works move into the US where at least they can be productive American/Tax paying resident. Then the liberals keep piling up more tax, more employee benefits, more expensive health care, hiring of employee becomes hugely expensive. And then American companies are asked to compete with Chinese and India companies and their cheap labor without any help or protection from the government. And then there is no direction, no planning like economic zones/technology zone in cities/states with cheaper labor by the government.

What, pray tell, do you expect the "elites" do, burn their money and live in the poverty just because all the politicians (from both side) can't do jack to help American business?

 

[Zorkorist]

What would you have the elites do? First you refuse to have more tech works move into the US where at least they can be productive American/Tax paying resident. Then the liberals keep piling up more tax, more employee benefits, more expensive health care, hiring of employee becomes hugely expensive. And then American companies are asked to compete with Chinese and India companies and their cheap labor without any help or protection from the government. And then there is no direction, no planning like economic zones/technology zone in cities/states with cheaper labor by the government.

What, pray tell, do you expect the "elites" do, burn their money and live in the poverty just because all the politicians (from both side) can't do jack to help American business?

Good post, rchiu.

-John

 

[sportage]

The thing to worry about for both sides, addressing people losing ground, are the religious driven candidates. Perry belongs to a society where they believe THEY are the chosen apostles. And their holy anointment is to takeover every segment of society. Perry believes he is the chosen apostles of Christ, set on a mission. If that doesn’t scary the crap out of every American (democrat, republican, far left, far right), I don’t know what would.

 

[Craig234]

What would you have the elites do? First you refuse to have more tech works move into the US where at least they can be productive American/Tax paying resident. Then the liberals keep piling up more tax, more employee benefits, more expensive health care, hiring of employee becomes hugely expensive. And then American companies are asked to compete with Chinese and India companies and their cheap labor without any help or protection from the government. And then there is no direction, no planning like economic zones/technology zone in cities/states with cheaper labor by the government.

What, pray tell, do you expect the "elites" do, burn their money and live in the poverty just because all the politicians (from both side) can't do jack to help American business?

'The Elites' are largely doing what makes short-term sense for themselves - because our democracy has failed to ensure incentives for them to do things better for society.

Of course, that's largely of 'the elites' lobbying their money and spending their wealth to block the government from passing policies better for the nation.

 

[Zorkorist]

The thing to worry about for both sides, addressing people losing ground, are the religious driven candidates. Perry belongs to a society where they believe THEY are the chosen apostles. And their holy anointment is to takeover every segment of society. Perry believes he is the chosen apostles of Christ, set on a mission. If that doesn’t scary the crap out of every American (democrat, republican, far left, far right), I don’t know what would.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

As long as we have the Constitution to protect us, I don't think you have to worry about people's Religousness.

-John

 

[lothar]

Amazing that people can have problems with corporations funding elections, but no problems with unions funding elections.

 

[Craig234]

Amazing that people can have problems with corporations funding elections, but no problems with unions funding elections.

Wrong. Corporations funding elections is *far* worse for society - far worse agenda, far more money, etc.

But despite that, I don't know any liberals who don't support restrictions applying to both corporations and unions.

 

[sportage]

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

As long as we have the Constitution to protect us, I don't think you have to worry about people's Religousness.

-John

Not until president Perry convinces enough in congress they shall rule by God's constitution and not mans constitution. Think that could not happen?....

 

[Craig234]

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

As long as we have the Constitution to protect us, I don't think you have to worry about people's Religousness.

-John

I'm making a new naivete of the week award for this post.

 

[Zorkorist]

Not until president Perry convinces enough in congress they shall rule by God's constitution and not mans constitution. Think that could not happen?....

If it happened, we would no longer be the United States of America.

No, I don't think it could ever happen, as you posted.

We, as a Country are leaning far further to the right today. We are beginning to understand how we have been taxing, regulating, insuring, and spending foolishly.

Religion has little to nothing to do with this; it remains inconsequential.

-John

 

[Nebor]

Like you say in the OP, most people LIKE the way things are heading. Democrats always end up looking bad in the public eye, and people vote in Republicans repeatedly.

Maybe American has outgrown democracy, and a well educated oligarchy or plutocracy is the way forward.

 

[Craig234]

If it happened, we would no longer be the United States of America.

No, I don't think it could ever happen, as you posted.

We, as a Country are leaning far further to the right today. We are beginning to understand how we have beem taxing, regulating, insurancing, and spending foolishly.

Religion has little to nothing to do with this; it remains inconsequential.

-John

The right-wing people you describe are suckers who fall for the following:

Step 1: skew the tax system so that it's redistributing wealth to the top.

Step 2: Take a 'principled' stand against all tax increase. They'd be happy to end those tax loopholes for the rich except that they're principled against any increases.