The working....what? Years ago, I tied my star to Bernie Sanders' wagon and there it has remained. His message was (is) always the same: the disparity of wealth in the US is literally and figuratively killing us, the poor and working class souls are getting steadily poorer and paying more in taxes; the wealthy breezing along. Bernie offered the same message everywhere he went, even when he visited the Lakota people or stopped by in Chicago or when he went to the Arena in San Jose, California. Or when he dropped in on the gang at SNL. He was always Bernie and he put the welfare of ordinary people at the top of his agenda. When he was considered too socialist (or whatever) for the Dems, he was left with a loyal band of supporters who are--as far as I know--still a loyal band of supporters. But officialdom moved on to Biden and, well, so did I as we faced a crisis. We still face a crisis and it is the same crisis: the two organized parties insist on raising money for campaigns, they want big war-chest s to take on those viewed as the enemy. They plan on spending (wasting) a lot of money campaigning and rallying and promoting their chosen leader. But, you know, when you come right down to it, all the this folderole will not change a thing. What would have changed our current plight are people who are willing to look truth in the eye and stop fighting and start facing our manifold challenges. Does either party want to govern or are they both more into an endless cycle of fund-raising, campaigning, and (increasingly) going violent if they don't get their way? Now Trump has decided that he wants to reconfigure the presidency into a ceremonial position with no responsibility...this is incredible but I guess the object of government is not to serve the needs of the people governed but to provide a backdrop for a Grand Spectacle....are we heading down the same road that led to Louis XVI and La Guillotine?
If we were to start down the French path, we would have monarchy, then 1st republic, then Reign of Terror, then Empire (Napoleon), then restoration (of monarchy), then revolution, then 2nd republic, then 2nd empire, then revolution, then 3rd republic, an endless parade of monarchs, republics, empires, restorations, more monarchs...about to make your head spin. I think they are on the 5th republic (or a continuation of the same) with Macron...and we could replicate their series or a similar one of our very own. Where (and when) would it ever end? In the meantime, money would be squandered, heads would roll (quite literally in the French version), and innocent lives would be lost. This sounds wretched...maybe we should be grateful we're not French or maybe it's something to consider. At this point, who knows!
Years ago, I was a French major in college and, as part of the major, I went through French history, not an easy course since French forms of government changed almost as the wind blew. After WWII, the French launched or re-launched the 4th Republic displaced by the VIchy Government which was a stoolie-govt for the Germans. In the 50s/early 60s, the 4th Republic fell because of the revolt in Algeria (I think) and the 5th Republic was launched. As far as I know, the 5th is still going strong or as strong as the govt ever gets in a nation that prizes individuality to the point of disruption. However, the French implemented a strong social safety net and the heavy taxes to go with it and that has been their standard through thick and thin, something the willful French generally get behind. I visited France when I left college and found it a fantastic place full of FRIENDLY and HELPFUL people. (I suppose one can find Frenchmen who fit our stereotype of them.) The cathedrals and art are spectacular and there is so much to love there, especially if one leaves the world-capital Paris behind (if one can do that!) and dares to go where English is generally not heard. In general, life in Europe is far better for ordinary folks, far more modest for the wealthy, far safer for the working class but, like people everywhere, it's never going to be good enough for some.
I noticed that the Democrats are doing the same thing the Republicans were doing absolutely nothing except like you said campaigning for the next election as if they have any platform or material to show us to even motivate us to want to vote for them once again. You can't really cry over something that you never had because they're not offering anything at this point. neither side.
I don't get it when the Republicans were in office Mitch McConnell obstructed anything and everything that would've helped anyone and yet he won his state by almost 60% it was almost a landslide what is that about? something stinks
Yes, yet another thing the Dems are afraid to look into: election fraud in these districts where Dems seem to overwhelmingly support people like McConnell. One of the standard tactics of Conservatism that I've noticed: accuse your opponents of whatever sin you're committing. (I first noticed this when they accused Al Gore of trying to "steal" the election in 2000.) Now, with all the Republican messaging about Democratic vote fraud, they are pretty clearly telegraphing what they themselves are up to.
You bring up a very good point. During McConnell's last election in KY. there were some reports of very strange numbers and irregularities in the larger cities voting numbers (the areas that are mostly Democrats and would not normally be voting for McConnell.) There were reports of "more votes counted than there were actual registered voters for many areas". As you say, "Dems are afraid to look into election fraud in these districts where Dems seem to overwhelmingly support people like McConnell." But these reports got swept under the carpet and ignored in midst of the massive amount of Republican accusations of Democratic voter fraud in the presidential election. McConnell's votes should have been recounted, but weren't. I have since questioned if McConnell was actually reelected.
As the old adage holds: "When you point the finger, there are three more pointing back at you". There was never a more clear example than the efforts of today's Republican strategists.
But yes, I’m puzzled why the DNC just gives these situations a pass, instead, running token candidates who may be “politically correct” from a leftist perspective, but have little chance of winning. Seems like a waste of resources that could be more effectively applied.
I'm not quite sure the Democratic party can ever recover from letting Wall St. off the hook for the last financial crisis. For so many people, that was the nail in the coffin, the indisputable evidence that they are too broken to continue, too attached to the corporate cash funnel. We needed those responsible to be frog-marched publicly to prison for the rest of their lives. Instead, they took even more of our tax dollars so those bankers could get their bonuses, gave us poorly constructed, weak regulations, and confirmed that no amount of documentation of crimes committed will cause the wealthy to pay in America, even with Dems in charge.
One thing no one wants to admit, or even look into the mirror at themselves to find out, is Obama’s betrayal of the working/middle class and the fealty given to the bankers and corporations is what led directly to Trump, who is a symptom of the sickness not a cause. Instead they cast around blaming everything and everyone but themselves : the Russians, racist voters, hackers and on and on. They are incapable of self reflection. They have learned nothing and refuse to even try, opening the door to the inevitability of Trump or another Trump-like fake populist in 2024.
Do you know what I find when it comes to Democrats winning , the Republican party is always able to come in and sabotage. it's because of the voters, Lazy Democratic voters for decades would put in a president and then go away and Republican voters will come in and insert Republicans in the Senate and in the house. At that point the Republicans will begin sabotaging as much as possible and that Democratic president would pay the price for it & the cycle would go on and on and on. And now here we are where republicans have had so much access that they are now overpowering the government. They laid back and let the Republicans take the voting rights act in 2013 when they didn't vote in 2010 now we're in trouble.
if it feels better you can blame a president but the truth is it is the voters.
The voters need to be given a reason to come and vote. Over and over again the Democrats break their promises to the working & middle classes and do the bidding of the donors, banks and corporate lobbyists. People have had enough.
Unfortunately, voters tend to use their vote to voice opposition to what they don't want, rather than voting for what they do want. And since the Republicans notoriously offer NOTHING to vote FOR, (when was the last time they actually had a platform?)it leaves voters with no choice but to vote against the failings of the Democrats, even when those failings may have been caused by the obstruction of the Republicans.
As far as I can see it’s Democrats that are stopping Biden’s BBB Bill, just like they have with voting reforms. There are more corporate Democrats who are using Manchin & Sinema as cover whilst they are equally as corrupt and beholden to donors and corporations.
My view through the prism - the Vietnam War created MORE lasting animosity between those that were drafted vs. those that had college deferments than just about anything else. THAT whole "Blue collar" distrust of rich kids that could dodge the draft and not be sent "In Country" IMO created a huge and lasting schism. I had many friends that were sent out there and came back with varying degrees of f*cked up-edness physically and psychologically. But moreover with far reaching financial and medical effects screwing families up in very profound and material ways over an arc of three generations or more. [I can certainly attest to that - even though I'm of a later generation. ]. .
Most of my friends in the manufacturing communities (working men and women) still in large measure have this basic visceral level of hate and mistrust of well monied ruling (educated) elites esp. from the "Left" that somehow (patronizingly) know 'Better" what it is that THEY really want or more specifically NEED. (Rightly or wrongly- its still present.).
The one way that people can really drag themselves out of the sh*t is with FREE higher education and FREE Health care as well as drug pricing that is not predatory and exploitative.
Telling someone they need "More" democracy is a little abstract and unhelpful for most people.
Give people something that will tangibly and materially improve their lives.
Child care is important but the OTHER pieces need to be in place so people can actually advance and (who knows) in time, the REAL - US economy (not the stock market) can actually start to thrive. You know - like other 'Developed" nations [facepalm].
What RR is saying here really chimes with me.
I'm totally OK with knocking down the Democratic party and building - IT - BACK Better
^^^ That's a lot of projection - (projective identification) - if you think about it.
"Build Back Better !" ,
Nooooo
The Democratic "Party" NEEDS to be (Built Back Better) - rebuilt mostly from scratch so that it actually stands for something so there IS a CREDIBLE FOUNDATION to then further build upon
Good quality information on the WEB costs $$$ ! (Barrier to high quality information in the DIS- 'Information age" ) .
Robert Reich increasingly (perhaps deliberately) has been referencing on-line newspaper articles. So publications like the Washington Post - NYT and the UK's Guardian having an on line presence at some point will prompt for subscription $ so you can read on. The Print industry is still struggling.
With RR's cited NYT's David Leonhardt's article I had to hand over personal information or access the article via the FB-(Meta)-"portal" - (which sucks b*lls on many levels to begin with) - but then later I click on then link that Leonhardt's article cites for his "Buddy" / Colleague Nate Cohn's NYTs deeper analysis of this particular topic that Leonhardt uses as the basis of his argument... Except I can't read it 'cuz I've reached my limit of how many NYT (on line articles I have read) like 12 or something ~ Similar with Washington Post , kinda getting there with the Guardian.
So seems according the Obama way of doing things that campaign finance from corporate donors is essential to BUY sufficient air time to get ANY kind of message out there.
So I have to say that if my literal cousins in Appalachia are downloading "Donkey porn" (bear with me) one pixel at a time on Dial-Up while having FOX "NEWS" blasting in the other ear 24/ 7 THEN what are the chances that my cousin is going to diligently hand over personal information to access key articles from the WP, NYTs or foreign press to even-handedly analyze the deeper and nuanced counter arguments ????
The younger generation doesn't actually know (on balance) what information actually resides in GOOD (University level) libraries and assumes that if it's not on the WEB or one click away THEN it (literally) doesn't exist. [Expansion of local libraries in poorer communities and inter library loans is important I think - big picture.]. Meanwhile we have this multidimensional near infinite LAKE of very shallow information that is much more accessible.
I would predict the eventually TRUE and proper "Electronic Town Halls" will emerge where "People power" does actually make a difference and hence mitigate some of the need for massive campaign $.
Try your public library - many have online subscriptions that offer free access to a wide range of newspapers and journals to people with library cards.
* Or those that are Marx-curious that tune into Professor Richard Wolf would know "Theeeee UniTTTed States of America does NOT HAVE A LABOUUUUUUUUUUUUR PartY !!!"
It seems that the Powers That Be in America have always done a brilliant job at convincing the working class to vote against their best interests with the help of organized religion(!?), and as a result, the American Joe & Jane see anything slightly socialist, any social reforms, as the root of the almighty evil Communism. I don't think Joe & Jan have even read Karl Marx but they are convinced that for instance, raising the minimum wage (that has nothing to do with Communism) will bring the end of America as we know it and they've been convinced that America is 'great' and shouldn't be changed as if you take away from rich people the economy is sure to collapse. So the working class will keep on voting against raising minimum wages, against Healthcare for All, and sadly against anyone who is trying to make life better for them and bring much needed social reforms that we know work as seen in many many other countries. It's a brilliant vicious circle engineered by the wealthy.
* Although now that I think about it 'French Structural Marxism" is a 'THING" :-) Sooooo, not unlike a religion with dense splintered texts that are very tricky to interpret other than what Marx originally wrote.
Marx's treatment and view of "History" was pretty valid for its time... but start in on the preferred interpretation of "Praxis" then the New Testament 'Synoptic Problem" suddenly looks VERY sensible by comparison.
Labour ? Labor ? - in the UK they have a Labor party or New Labor as the opposition to the conservative Bench - formerly Wigs and Tories that also historically switched politics with each other. Nov 5th Guy Fawkes night... (cough cough). - no Catholic "Plots " here :-)
Literally "s*ck balls " on many levels i.e. META / Book of Face controlled portals for access to credible-ish and better information-ish and journalism.
Ze Frank - to the rescue ^^^ " True Facts: Lurking in the Deep " - We need more science literate "Peeps" of and in government not just congressional committee members that meet now and again to create collected papers of a meeting (about this topic and that topic) to then be summarily filed and stored at the Library of Congress to never be seen by human eyes again. But having "Met" the brief of considering difficult sciency stuff 'cuz don't ever let science get in the way of political ambition and "Policy making" especially when short term gain and $ is involved.
^^^ Ze Frank's channel ~ excellent scientist and incredible all round human and satirical human of the first order. Neuroscience and molecular biology to the president of BuzzFeed Motion Pictures / chief research and development officer for BuzzFeed up to April 2019 - now pursuing other endeavors.
Wonder if Ze Frank - ever found German grammar to be a total "Mind f*ck" as it was for me; or was he borne knowing German grammar encoded into his epigenome ? ;-)
I have been aware of the Dems Betrayal since I came back from Viet Nam! It's like they HATE WORKING FAMILIES AND UNIONS because they've had the Majority a couple of times and you'd think they could REPEAL TAFT-HARTLEY IF THEY CARED ABOUT WORKERS! NOPE! Plus, as proof about how bad it is, there was a Graph the Late talk show Ed Schultz displayed that showed the decline of UNION MEMBERSHIP that EXACTLY MIRRORS THE LEVEL OF DIMINISHING WORKING FAMILY WEALTH! It's clear where our wealth is going! BILLIONAIRES ARE STEALING 40 YEARS WORTH OF productivity gains by workers!
Born and bred Republican until the wheels came off in 2008, I voted for Obama without ever even hearing him speak. I’m not sure what else he could have done given the cards he was dealt. The same goes for Biden now given the mess Trump left as well as Biden’s quest for this mythical bipartisanship. In my subsequent political wanderings as an Independent, it’s only been the progressive democrats that seem to be working for the things that make any sense to me, in particular Bernie Sanders. My regret now is that I wasn’t a registered Democrat in the 2016 primaries so I could vote for him. Maybe my newfound faith in the Progressive Caucus is to end up going bust as well, but I believe that they are only ones that will push for the changes needed for a more equitable and prosperous country. Again, putting my money where my mouth is, I no longer donate to the DNC but instead to Justice Democrats.
I have long been troubled by all of these inconsistencies and contradictions. But I doubted my concerns because I trusted the wisdom and integrity of our Democratic leadership, and I was not hearing anyone who was challenging it -- except perhaps Bernie Sanders. Dr. Reich's comments finally ring loud and true, and lay bare the deeply rooted duplicity underlying it all. Thank you.
In my country we would say that you are telling a truth larger than a temple. The Democratic Party has been holding hands with big money for decades. You have pointed it out so clearly. Yet the Republican party holds their hands even stronger. I remember Trump accusing the Democrats of sending jobs overseas and that he would bring them back. Well, he was partly right, the Dems were responsible, but so were the Republicans. Both parties are responsible and what were once vibrant manufacturing towns like Detroit, Buffalo, Pittsburg and Gary Indiana are hollowed out ghost towns. There's plenty of blame to go around. And Biden is well on his way in the holding hands game. You are well aware. FDR must be turning in his grave. And now he cant even muster the will to get two corrupt members of his party to give some crumbs to the working class. With the greatest respect, I scratch my head and wonder how someone as brilliant and conscientious as you can still be a part of this party. That is something I just don't understand.
Yes, and remember the bill Biden supported that made it almost impossible for the poor and uninfranchised, actually just about any average citizen, to file for bankruptcy. That was a perfect example of holding hands with the corporate powers. As always, we were promised something good, something positive for us if the bill passed. Surprise! The carrot disappeared once they got what they wanted.
I might not be appreciated for mentioning Biden in such a bad light but I believe it's important to know where, and with whom, we stand. No one is perfect.
My read since Trump 2016 is that people vote their identity. Period. Nothing else matters. And I have to say I've been slow on the uptake given the evidence not only for this but for related phenomena. I'll give just two examples. When countries go to war (in a way just an extreme form of voting), the battle cry on both sides is always the existential threat to our very way of life. Our way of life even trumps our actual lives. Modern psychology keeps re-confirming that we make all or almost all of our important and seemingly reasoned decisions with our lower brain stem and then rationalize that decision without knowing that is what we are doing.
I think Dems should be looking after the real needs of citizens, and so should the GOP, because that is a critical feature of any humane government. But I don't think that wins most elections. People have to feel at a very organic, non-rational level that they are voting for their cultural identity. We see this too in such other forms of "voting" as people disowning their own children due to some difference in values that are held as defining. We humans even disown our own children over identity politics. How much more proof do we need that this is what blows past all other considerations?
So, as many build back better jobs as possible should be filled by working class people in red states because god knows they can't run their own economies, and because the least abstract self-interest in politics is one's own job. If they know they have a job because of Biden and they know they may lose that job because of the next GOP asshole, that might affect their vote. But additionally, Dems must reach people's identities. The question is, if one is not doing that based on religious and racial bigotry, how is it to be done?
In my parent's generation, it was about being a post-WWII American, which is perhaps one of the reasons LBJ's Great Society appeal resonated enough to have some impact. Today, with so little faith left in America in general and in government in particular (for those left of the radical right), that isn't going to do it. Being the post-WWII good guys isn't our national identity anymore, if we even have one at all. I don't know what will reach the masses, but there are people who have spent their adult lives studying this sort of thing (sociologists, historians, political scientists), and people who know how to sell abstract things like identity and emotion (marketing).
So, my take is, by all means let's please keep trying to do what's best for people, but let's stop imagining that this makes a compelling impression on a culture that is increasingly sociopathic. We need to play identity politics because that is the only kind of politics there is. The great trick is to figure out a form of identity politics that will really draw people without playing on bigotry, but on things that are positive that people still identify with outside of the "liberal elite" college-educated lefties. If we are so educated, can't we figure this out? Aren't a lot of us sociologists, political scientists, historians, and marketers?
I do know one thing that will not reach what you term "the masses" and that is lumping individuals calmly and automatically into a group called :the masses. I believe that most people prefer to be thought of as unique and special, "well there's no one in the world exactly like me." (I believe this is true even when people clump together to support Donald Trump (or Joe Biden), when people are willing to hide who they really are (or think they are) to get along with a large and clumpy group supposedly held together by "shared beliefs."
Years ago--actually before the Democratic Party Primaries--Bernie Sanders got the idea of holding a town hall meeting in a red state. He chose not to screen out the many Trumpers or old-school conservatives but offer tickets on a first-come-first served basis, so he got a mixed bag. (I think what I caught on the internet of that specific town hall was representative of many Bernie town-halls leading up to the primaries in the individual states.) At the town hall I saw, people were welcomed to ask questions of any sort and the questions were not screened or "approved" in advance; the event was totally ad lib.
Bernie gave a brief and very clear explanation of what the problems facing the country were (largely the disparity in incomes and wealth between those at the economic pinnacle and those down the chain) and then he took questions. I remember one woman who went to the heart of it with her question about Bernie's concern for the concentration of resources at the top and Bernie managed to explain patiently and carefully what was at stake and why we needed to address the issue of income inequality. The woman announced after he had answered her question that she was convinced and would support his candidacy with her vote. I did not watch Bernie's campaign from town hall to town hall but I remember clearly that he took his message to all sorts of communities, especially to people without means and usually ignored by the power and wealth people directing such campaigns. For me, it was confirmation of what I had observed about Bernie: his clarity, his respect for all those who cared to come out and hear his message; and his acceptance that, while he could win over many with his honesty and integrity, he was not going to win over everyone but they were still individuals worthy of respect and courtesy and honesty. They may have been considered part of "the masses," they may even have considered themselves that way, but to Bernie they were people trying to make a decision and whether it turned a voter to him or not he accorded them the very same respect and honesty.
I do not believe we would be where we are today if Bernie had been able to win the day but I do not know for sure. As long as we persist in assigning people to "the masses" instead of treating them with dignity and integrity, we will always end up wrangling and accusing each other instead of trying to resolve the problems of the voters who are---when all is said and done--unique individuals and not "the masses" we (and sometimes they) take them(selves) for.
Bernie is the model for how it should be done. We watched several of his town halls, and I found myself inspired, and sometimes tearful, for those who asked questions, and Bernie's often tender responses to them. I know we've got what we've got, but I continue to believe that we've all been cheated by the Clyburn messaging, and the sudden surrender of all the other candidates, backing Biden. And once again, the media was no help whatsoever. How many of the others who purportedly represent us could (or would, for that matter) conduct such a genuine, sensitive, respectful town hall? It's endlessly disheartening to me.
That said, even with the whittling down of BBB and hard infrastructure plan funding, it's hopeful to see some movement toward more progressive policies. I'm grateful for Bernie's influence on this administration. I'd rather it be the whole loaf, but I think we may get more than we would have otherwise.
Thank you, Mark, for your comments. When I saw Bernie's town hall, I thought and hoped it was typical for such an event and you have convinced me that, well, Bernie was the real deal. I was fortunate to meet him in person in San Jose (he did get around!) and, again, he answered all questions with the same patience, kindness, and respect for the inquiry and the inquirer. Years ago, I read that the most important public servant we have going for us (ALL OF US) is none other than Bernie Sanders. The author of the article seemed to think that Bernie would be the most influential leader when the history book is written on this particular generation. I hope that this is true. No one has been truer to his core beliefs, his convictions, than Bernie. Well, we can lament that the powers-that-be managed to still his voice and lead us to BIden but, in the end, there will be many of us who will support Bernie's proposals and do what he does: try to educate and communicate his beliefs and hopes, try to convince others, and accept what will work while still pressing on to lift the bar to something of greater benefit for all.
So can either party, as they presently exist, actually fill this role? It seems more and more that a third party might knock some sense into the arena, if they represented the policies and platforms designed to benefit our working class. It would break the 50/50 logjam for one thing. Maybe the 'Indivisible' party...
I think a third party will still be less effective than a significantly reformed existing party. People are loathe to go off-brand. This third party would almost certainly be at a disadvantage with respect to expertise and connections. I'm with you in spirit, but I just don't think it would work out well in any short period of time, and w need action many yesterdays ago.
Democrats need to realize that republicans target the amygdala by messaging fear the most powerful motivator. Democrats use intellectual arguments to target the cortex which is woefully weaker than the primal fight or flight response. Democrats need to use fear of rising republican fascism with every message and breath or fascism will win.
I have degrees in psychology, law, and medicine and wholeheartedly support the points within your article. However, they are aimed at the reasoned brain. Again, although I agree with all those points, they only have minuscule effect in challenging the primal fear response. Democrats must counter with an equally powerful fear of the rise of fascism or democracy is unfortunately doomed.
Hi Ken, thanks for the feedback. Some folks are just too far gone, but hopefully, there are enough moderates on the Right that can be pulled back to the table. Yes, I think fighting against fascism would be a great approach and a unifying cause if presented correctly. Similarly, climate change should be framed as a massive opportunity to create new industries, jobs, etc. while saving our children's future.
Agreed. If anyone reading this hasn’t already seen it, check out the republican national convention from last year. It was absolutely stuffed with lies and emotional appeals including the overdriven screaming that Kimberly Guilfoyle did. The whole thing that I saw - and admittedly I couldn't stand to watch much - was one emotional appeal after another, the majority based on easily proven lies. They appealed to all that is worst in us: fear, greed, tribalism and ignorance. Considering the percentage of our population that aligns with those things I'm deeply concerned about where this country is headed. It is SO much easier to destroy than it is to build and if people can be convinced that destruction is the right path to take imagine where we might end up. People who don't have any interest in building can feel positive about the destruction they indulge in.
Exactly. I'd have to have both parties relying on baseless emotional charge to attract voters but it unfortunately seems to work to some extent and when it does it’s almost impossible to counter with logic and reason. The republicans have become the party of Idiocracy and I'm far from the first person to see that.
I've pleaded with my Democratic reps/senators for 5 years to do just this, to no avail. They are determined to pretend that the threat is not existential.
You need to shout your talk from the roof tops! No one, not even democratic leaders like Bernie have summed it up as well as you have. Somehow, your messages need to get out to the working class people. Once they understand what is happening to them, they will have the ability to defend their interests. They may feel all of these things you mention, but they don't have the language to enable them to make effective arguments. You or your deputy need to get out to these rural communities and spread the word to the people that are affected. WORDS DO MATTER!
You're damned right Democrats abandoned the working class years ago, and I place the blame initially with Bill Clinton, Al Gore and other conservative, Southern, white Democrats (The New Democrats) who thought abandoning FDR's substantial legacy would attract red "Democratic" voters who embraced Reagan.
In addition to embracing Reagan's neoliberal governing philosophy, the Clinton Administration greatly increased the carseral state, made the poor destitute through Welfare Reform, and offshored much of our manufacturing base through trade treaties
Such betrayals are expected from the GOP, but when such actions are perpetrated by "Democrats" I begin to understand the term" two parties, one tent."
Thank you for your thoughts/wisdom. I'm an appreciative student. But can you imagine what we would be talking about tonight if McAuliffe had squeaked out a win in Virginia on Tuesday? I'm sorry to be so pessimistic, but I really fear there will never be another fair election. Thank goodness our Democracy was saved in 2020 because conservatives did not have all their people in place. They do now! Poll watchers to intimidate. Biased election officials to turn loses into wins. Legislatures ready to claim fraud and demand endless audits. The promise to persecute "Election Crimes" (Florida 's new idea just tonight). We can analyze what the Dems are doing wrong, what we need to change, how to get money out of politics, how we can reach out better to the working class, etc. etc. etc. Without the power to make changes at the polls, isn't it all futile,
Nancy—Granted the person you most want to hear from is Prof. Reich. Still, I can’t resist responding because I couldn’t agree more. As I imagine you know, the Freedom to Vote Act that Manchin helped draft ensures (1) that all eligible voters easily can register to vote and stay enrolled and (2) that eligible votes are cast, counted correctly, and certified without interference and without their being diluted through partisan gerrymandering.
Which brings me to the filibuster, a rule I contend is the origin for everything that is disfunctional in our politics. Though I’ve given up on either Manchin or Sinema signing on to a filibuster carve out to protect voting rights, I fail to understand why Schumer has failed to introduce a rule change that would replace the 60-vote threshold to end debate with a 41-vote threshold to continue debate, thus shifting the burden from the majority to the minority. Imagine the impact of a rule change that required 41 Senators to be present, speaking nonstop solely about the issue at hand, to sustain a filibuster. Additionally, try and imagine either Manchin or Sinema mounting a credible opposition to defy this rule change.
Every congress critter who submits bills written by donars or votes for those same bills and accepts money from corporations needs to be called on it come election time. Primary Opponents should hammer the points to the voters that the sitting congress critter it the reason we don't have lower drug prices, improved health care, a living wage and affordable housing. Add in climate changes, poor infrastructure like roads, water pipes and clean air and water.
Point out the traitors of the working class and vote another candidate in.
That was one of the criticisms of Hillary Clinton when she was running for president. The Democrats went to fundraisers held for wealthy patrons. She did not show up in rural areas. No big bucks there.
If I receive one more e-mail from a Democratic candidate soliciting my support by trying to scare me with the looming Republican menace, I just may have to give up. If Democrats really want to hang on to, or even expand control of Congress, it’s easy: just deliver on the policies that got them elected in the first place. But so far, a year into the current administration,
- No aggressive response to assault on voting rights
- No accountability for seditionists inside Congress and out
(in fact, Gates laughing about the havoc they’ll cause upon regaining the House)
- No universal healthcare
- No student loan forgiveness
- No nixing the filibuster
- No Supreme Court expansion (or followup on vetting improprieties)
- No halt in weapons sales to genocidal regimes
- NY Trump family investigation apparently shut down
Liberal/Progressive as I am, I can understand why conservatives might characterize Dems as weak, frightened, wimps who can’t get anything done.
yeah they think because repubs are so offensive we have no choices but to wait till they feel like doing their jobs. but mines is to get out and vote suppose we all cut and run (vote independent or primary) maybe that'll add some fuel to the fire. this is ridiculous, now theyre on vaction once again as if they deserve one 🙄. seems all this backroom talking is achieving nothing at all.
Schumer knows whats at stake he should have made them work through the holiday, especially the fence riders who are catering to special interest groups. heck add some pressure. Thats what Gregg Abbott did when he was sabotaging. he held hearing after hearing till they were forced to sign his aggregious and treasonous bills.
I voted my paycheck. As a member of the IBEW for 50 years, I voted for the party that would make workers' wages a living and prosperous wage. Over the years, the Republicans always either Froze Wages, Like Nixon or were anti-Union like Trump so the only party that was left that could win was the Democrats. I voted for Bernie Sanders in 2016 and 2020 primaries and the progressive Democratic party, that really supports unions and a higher minimum wage than the poverty minimum wage offered today, never seem to win.
The working....what? Years ago, I tied my star to Bernie Sanders' wagon and there it has remained. His message was (is) always the same: the disparity of wealth in the US is literally and figuratively killing us, the poor and working class souls are getting steadily poorer and paying more in taxes; the wealthy breezing along. Bernie offered the same message everywhere he went, even when he visited the Lakota people or stopped by in Chicago or when he went to the Arena in San Jose, California. Or when he dropped in on the gang at SNL. He was always Bernie and he put the welfare of ordinary people at the top of his agenda. When he was considered too socialist (or whatever) for the Dems, he was left with a loyal band of supporters who are--as far as I know--still a loyal band of supporters. But officialdom moved on to Biden and, well, so did I as we faced a crisis. We still face a crisis and it is the same crisis: the two organized parties insist on raising money for campaigns, they want big war-chest s to take on those viewed as the enemy. They plan on spending (wasting) a lot of money campaigning and rallying and promoting their chosen leader. But, you know, when you come right down to it, all the this folderole will not change a thing. What would have changed our current plight are people who are willing to look truth in the eye and stop fighting and start facing our manifold challenges. Does either party want to govern or are they both more into an endless cycle of fund-raising, campaigning, and (increasingly) going violent if they don't get their way? Now Trump has decided that he wants to reconfigure the presidency into a ceremonial position with no responsibility...this is incredible but I guess the object of government is not to serve the needs of the people governed but to provide a backdrop for a Grand Spectacle....are we heading down the same road that led to Louis XVI and La Guillotine?
Bernie was and is the real deal. No BS.
He's all BS...Sorry! (Bernie Sanders)
Those are his initials! LOL!
Lanae Isaacson, with all due respect, we cannot have another French revolution! (except in our dreams where we prevail!)
If we were to start down the French path, we would have monarchy, then 1st republic, then Reign of Terror, then Empire (Napoleon), then restoration (of monarchy), then revolution, then 2nd republic, then 2nd empire, then revolution, then 3rd republic, an endless parade of monarchs, republics, empires, restorations, more monarchs...about to make your head spin. I think they are on the 5th republic (or a continuation of the same) with Macron...and we could replicate their series or a similar one of our very own. Where (and when) would it ever end? In the meantime, money would be squandered, heads would roll (quite literally in the French version), and innocent lives would be lost. This sounds wretched...maybe we should be grateful we're not French or maybe it's something to consider. At this point, who knows!
I have never been there, but it seems they have something for the high taxes they pay. I have no desire to rush over there, though.
Years ago, I was a French major in college and, as part of the major, I went through French history, not an easy course since French forms of government changed almost as the wind blew. After WWII, the French launched or re-launched the 4th Republic displaced by the VIchy Government which was a stoolie-govt for the Germans. In the 50s/early 60s, the 4th Republic fell because of the revolt in Algeria (I think) and the 5th Republic was launched. As far as I know, the 5th is still going strong or as strong as the govt ever gets in a nation that prizes individuality to the point of disruption. However, the French implemented a strong social safety net and the heavy taxes to go with it and that has been their standard through thick and thin, something the willful French generally get behind. I visited France when I left college and found it a fantastic place full of FRIENDLY and HELPFUL people. (I suppose one can find Frenchmen who fit our stereotype of them.) The cathedrals and art are spectacular and there is so much to love there, especially if one leaves the world-capital Paris behind (if one can do that!) and dares to go where English is generally not heard. In general, life in Europe is far better for ordinary folks, far more modest for the wealthy, far safer for the working class but, like people everywhere, it's never going to be good enough for some.
I noticed that the Democrats are doing the same thing the Republicans were doing absolutely nothing except like you said campaigning for the next election as if they have any platform or material to show us to even motivate us to want to vote for them once again. You can't really cry over something that you never had because they're not offering anything at this point. neither side.
I don't get it when the Republicans were in office Mitch McConnell obstructed anything and everything that would've helped anyone and yet he won his state by almost 60% it was almost a landslide what is that about? something stinks
Yes, yet another thing the Dems are afraid to look into: election fraud in these districts where Dems seem to overwhelmingly support people like McConnell. One of the standard tactics of Conservatism that I've noticed: accuse your opponents of whatever sin you're committing. (I first noticed this when they accused Al Gore of trying to "steal" the election in 2000.) Now, with all the Republican messaging about Democratic vote fraud, they are pretty clearly telegraphing what they themselves are up to.
You bring up a very good point. During McConnell's last election in KY. there were some reports of very strange numbers and irregularities in the larger cities voting numbers (the areas that are mostly Democrats and would not normally be voting for McConnell.) There were reports of "more votes counted than there were actual registered voters for many areas". As you say, "Dems are afraid to look into election fraud in these districts where Dems seem to overwhelmingly support people like McConnell." But these reports got swept under the carpet and ignored in midst of the massive amount of Republican accusations of Democratic voter fraud in the presidential election. McConnell's votes should have been recounted, but weren't. I have since questioned if McConnell was actually reelected.
As the old adage holds: "When you point the finger, there are three more pointing back at you". There was never a more clear example than the efforts of today's Republican strategists.
But yes, I’m puzzled why the DNC just gives these situations a pass, instead, running token candidates who may be “politically correct” from a leftist perspective, but have little chance of winning. Seems like a waste of resources that could be more effectively applied.
I'm not quite sure the Democratic party can ever recover from letting Wall St. off the hook for the last financial crisis. For so many people, that was the nail in the coffin, the indisputable evidence that they are too broken to continue, too attached to the corporate cash funnel. We needed those responsible to be frog-marched publicly to prison for the rest of their lives. Instead, they took even more of our tax dollars so those bankers could get their bonuses, gave us poorly constructed, weak regulations, and confirmed that no amount of documentation of crimes committed will cause the wealthy to pay in America, even with Dems in charge.
One thing no one wants to admit, or even look into the mirror at themselves to find out, is Obama’s betrayal of the working/middle class and the fealty given to the bankers and corporations is what led directly to Trump, who is a symptom of the sickness not a cause. Instead they cast around blaming everything and everyone but themselves : the Russians, racist voters, hackers and on and on. They are incapable of self reflection. They have learned nothing and refuse to even try, opening the door to the inevitability of Trump or another Trump-like fake populist in 2024.
Do you know what I find when it comes to Democrats winning , the Republican party is always able to come in and sabotage. it's because of the voters, Lazy Democratic voters for decades would put in a president and then go away and Republican voters will come in and insert Republicans in the Senate and in the house. At that point the Republicans will begin sabotaging as much as possible and that Democratic president would pay the price for it & the cycle would go on and on and on. And now here we are where republicans have had so much access that they are now overpowering the government. They laid back and let the Republicans take the voting rights act in 2013 when they didn't vote in 2010 now we're in trouble.
if it feels better you can blame a president but the truth is it is the voters.
The voters need to be given a reason to come and vote. Over and over again the Democrats break their promises to the working & middle classes and do the bidding of the donors, banks and corporate lobbyists. People have had enough.
Unfortunately, voters tend to use their vote to voice opposition to what they don't want, rather than voting for what they do want. And since the Republicans notoriously offer NOTHING to vote FOR, (when was the last time they actually had a platform?)it leaves voters with no choice but to vote against the failings of the Democrats, even when those failings may have been caused by the obstruction of the Republicans.
As far as I can see it’s Democrats that are stopping Biden’s BBB Bill, just like they have with voting reforms. There are more corporate Democrats who are using Manchin & Sinema as cover whilst they are equally as corrupt and beholden to donors and corporations.
All done in public and often on camera!
My view through the prism - the Vietnam War created MORE lasting animosity between those that were drafted vs. those that had college deferments than just about anything else. THAT whole "Blue collar" distrust of rich kids that could dodge the draft and not be sent "In Country" IMO created a huge and lasting schism. I had many friends that were sent out there and came back with varying degrees of f*cked up-edness physically and psychologically. But moreover with far reaching financial and medical effects screwing families up in very profound and material ways over an arc of three generations or more. [I can certainly attest to that - even though I'm of a later generation. ]. .
Most of my friends in the manufacturing communities (working men and women) still in large measure have this basic visceral level of hate and mistrust of well monied ruling (educated) elites esp. from the "Left" that somehow (patronizingly) know 'Better" what it is that THEY really want or more specifically NEED. (Rightly or wrongly- its still present.).
The one way that people can really drag themselves out of the sh*t is with FREE higher education and FREE Health care as well as drug pricing that is not predatory and exploitative.
Telling someone they need "More" democracy is a little abstract and unhelpful for most people.
Give people something that will tangibly and materially improve their lives.
Child care is important but the OTHER pieces need to be in place so people can actually advance and (who knows) in time, the REAL - US economy (not the stock market) can actually start to thrive. You know - like other 'Developed" nations [facepalm].
What RR is saying here really chimes with me.
I'm totally OK with knocking down the Democratic party and building - IT - BACK Better
^^^ That's a lot of projection - (projective identification) - if you think about it.
"Build Back Better !" ,
Nooooo
The Democratic "Party" NEEDS to be (Built Back Better) - rebuilt mostly from scratch so that it actually stands for something so there IS a CREDIBLE FOUNDATION to then further build upon
~ Obviously.
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Meanwhile - I'll try to dig up the actual article that Prof. Reich cites and sit down and try and read it - lol.
Good quality information on the WEB costs $$$ ! (Barrier to high quality information in the DIS- 'Information age" ) .
Robert Reich increasingly (perhaps deliberately) has been referencing on-line newspaper articles. So publications like the Washington Post - NYT and the UK's Guardian having an on line presence at some point will prompt for subscription $ so you can read on. The Print industry is still struggling.
With RR's cited NYT's David Leonhardt's article I had to hand over personal information or access the article via the FB-(Meta)-"portal" - (which sucks b*lls on many levels to begin with) - but then later I click on then link that Leonhardt's article cites for his "Buddy" / Colleague Nate Cohn's NYTs deeper analysis of this particular topic that Leonhardt uses as the basis of his argument... Except I can't read it 'cuz I've reached my limit of how many NYT (on line articles I have read) like 12 or something ~ Similar with Washington Post , kinda getting there with the Guardian.
So seems according the Obama way of doing things that campaign finance from corporate donors is essential to BUY sufficient air time to get ANY kind of message out there.
So I have to say that if my literal cousins in Appalachia are downloading "Donkey porn" (bear with me) one pixel at a time on Dial-Up while having FOX "NEWS" blasting in the other ear 24/ 7 THEN what are the chances that my cousin is going to diligently hand over personal information to access key articles from the WP, NYTs or foreign press to even-handedly analyze the deeper and nuanced counter arguments ????
The younger generation doesn't actually know (on balance) what information actually resides in GOOD (University level) libraries and assumes that if it's not on the WEB or one click away THEN it (literally) doesn't exist. [Expansion of local libraries in poorer communities and inter library loans is important I think - big picture.]. Meanwhile we have this multidimensional near infinite LAKE of very shallow information that is much more accessible.
I would predict the eventually TRUE and proper "Electronic Town Halls" will emerge where "People power" does actually make a difference and hence mitigate some of the need for massive campaign $.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiD_WGyqdig&t=03s
Bernie and "Bob" live stream multi-strike 'town hall" ^^^ / discussion.
Try your public library - many have online subscriptions that offer free access to a wide range of newspapers and journals to people with library cards.
AND worth pointing out that the USA does not actually have a LABOUR PARTY - Duh*.
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* Or those that are Marx-curious that tune into Professor Richard Wolf would know "Theeeee UniTTTed States of America does NOT HAVE A LABOUUUUUUUUUUUUR PartY !!!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMp6pCpsSOg
A different but sometimes very worthy slice of things...
It seems that the Powers That Be in America have always done a brilliant job at convincing the working class to vote against their best interests with the help of organized religion(!?), and as a result, the American Joe & Jane see anything slightly socialist, any social reforms, as the root of the almighty evil Communism. I don't think Joe & Jan have even read Karl Marx but they are convinced that for instance, raising the minimum wage (that has nothing to do with Communism) will bring the end of America as we know it and they've been convinced that America is 'great' and shouldn't be changed as if you take away from rich people the economy is sure to collapse. So the working class will keep on voting against raising minimum wages, against Healthcare for All, and sadly against anyone who is trying to make life better for them and bring much needed social reforms that we know work as seen in many many other countries. It's a brilliant vicious circle engineered by the wealthy.
@Diane de Warren ~ What you set out there / "here" ? - IS excellently crafted, very concise and exactly to the point. Couldn't agree more.
https://highgatecemetery.org/
^^^ Marx* is buried in the East cemetery of Highgate "Fame" in London ~ Maybe when I get back there one day I should pay a visit.
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* Although now that I think about it 'French Structural Marxism" is a 'THING" :-) Sooooo, not unlike a religion with dense splintered texts that are very tricky to interpret other than what Marx originally wrote.
Marx's treatment and view of "History" was pretty valid for its time... but start in on the preferred interpretation of "Praxis" then the New Testament 'Synoptic Problem" suddenly looks VERY sensible by comparison.
^^^ These are only the musings of a pure amateur.
Labour ? Labor ? - in the UK they have a Labor party or New Labor as the opposition to the conservative Bench - formerly Wigs and Tories that also historically switched politics with each other. Nov 5th Guy Fawkes night... (cough cough). - no Catholic "Plots " here :-)
*Wolff not wolf. lol
Whig not wig ,
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Whig-Party-England
Whig - " ... whatever its origin in Scottish Gaelic—was a term applied to horse thieves..."
🧐 ......... 🤔
Speaking of things that appear to
Literally "s*ck balls " on many levels i.e. META / Book of Face controlled portals for access to credible-ish and better information-ish and journalism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giqtGYLQ_xM
Ze Frank - to the rescue ^^^ " True Facts: Lurking in the Deep " - We need more science literate "Peeps" of and in government not just congressional committee members that meet now and again to create collected papers of a meeting (about this topic and that topic) to then be summarily filed and stored at the Library of Congress to never be seen by human eyes again. But having "Met" the brief of considering difficult sciency stuff 'cuz don't ever let science get in the way of political ambition and "Policy making" especially when short term gain and $ is involved.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVpankR4HtoAVtYnFDUieYA
^^^ Ze Frank's channel ~ excellent scientist and incredible all round human and satirical human of the first order. Neuroscience and molecular biology to the president of BuzzFeed Motion Pictures / chief research and development officer for BuzzFeed up to April 2019 - now pursuing other endeavors.
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Wonder if Ze Frank - ever found German grammar to be a total "Mind f*ck" as it was for me; or was he borne knowing German grammar encoded into his epigenome ? ;-)
I have been aware of the Dems Betrayal since I came back from Viet Nam! It's like they HATE WORKING FAMILIES AND UNIONS because they've had the Majority a couple of times and you'd think they could REPEAL TAFT-HARTLEY IF THEY CARED ABOUT WORKERS! NOPE! Plus, as proof about how bad it is, there was a Graph the Late talk show Ed Schultz displayed that showed the decline of UNION MEMBERSHIP that EXACTLY MIRRORS THE LEVEL OF DIMINISHING WORKING FAMILY WEALTH! It's clear where our wealth is going! BILLIONAIRES ARE STEALING 40 YEARS WORTH OF productivity gains by workers!
Democrats don't hate working families; they just like big campaign dollars more.
Born and bred Republican until the wheels came off in 2008, I voted for Obama without ever even hearing him speak. I’m not sure what else he could have done given the cards he was dealt. The same goes for Biden now given the mess Trump left as well as Biden’s quest for this mythical bipartisanship. In my subsequent political wanderings as an Independent, it’s only been the progressive democrats that seem to be working for the things that make any sense to me, in particular Bernie Sanders. My regret now is that I wasn’t a registered Democrat in the 2016 primaries so I could vote for him. Maybe my newfound faith in the Progressive Caucus is to end up going bust as well, but I believe that they are only ones that will push for the changes needed for a more equitable and prosperous country. Again, putting my money where my mouth is, I no longer donate to the DNC but instead to Justice Democrats.
Haven't donated to the DNC since they sabotaged Bernie in 2016.
Amen
I have long been troubled by all of these inconsistencies and contradictions. But I doubted my concerns because I trusted the wisdom and integrity of our Democratic leadership, and I was not hearing anyone who was challenging it -- except perhaps Bernie Sanders. Dr. Reich's comments finally ring loud and true, and lay bare the deeply rooted duplicity underlying it all. Thank you.
In my country we would say that you are telling a truth larger than a temple. The Democratic Party has been holding hands with big money for decades. You have pointed it out so clearly. Yet the Republican party holds their hands even stronger. I remember Trump accusing the Democrats of sending jobs overseas and that he would bring them back. Well, he was partly right, the Dems were responsible, but so were the Republicans. Both parties are responsible and what were once vibrant manufacturing towns like Detroit, Buffalo, Pittsburg and Gary Indiana are hollowed out ghost towns. There's plenty of blame to go around. And Biden is well on his way in the holding hands game. You are well aware. FDR must be turning in his grave. And now he cant even muster the will to get two corrupt members of his party to give some crumbs to the working class. With the greatest respect, I scratch my head and wonder how someone as brilliant and conscientious as you can still be a part of this party. That is something I just don't understand.
Yes, and remember the bill Biden supported that made it almost impossible for the poor and uninfranchised, actually just about any average citizen, to file for bankruptcy. That was a perfect example of holding hands with the corporate powers. As always, we were promised something good, something positive for us if the bill passed. Surprise! The carrot disappeared once they got what they wanted.
I might not be appreciated for mentioning Biden in such a bad light but I believe it's important to know where, and with whom, we stand. No one is perfect.
He doesn't need the other party!
My read since Trump 2016 is that people vote their identity. Period. Nothing else matters. And I have to say I've been slow on the uptake given the evidence not only for this but for related phenomena. I'll give just two examples. When countries go to war (in a way just an extreme form of voting), the battle cry on both sides is always the existential threat to our very way of life. Our way of life even trumps our actual lives. Modern psychology keeps re-confirming that we make all or almost all of our important and seemingly reasoned decisions with our lower brain stem and then rationalize that decision without knowing that is what we are doing.
I think Dems should be looking after the real needs of citizens, and so should the GOP, because that is a critical feature of any humane government. But I don't think that wins most elections. People have to feel at a very organic, non-rational level that they are voting for their cultural identity. We see this too in such other forms of "voting" as people disowning their own children due to some difference in values that are held as defining. We humans even disown our own children over identity politics. How much more proof do we need that this is what blows past all other considerations?
So, as many build back better jobs as possible should be filled by working class people in red states because god knows they can't run their own economies, and because the least abstract self-interest in politics is one's own job. If they know they have a job because of Biden and they know they may lose that job because of the next GOP asshole, that might affect their vote. But additionally, Dems must reach people's identities. The question is, if one is not doing that based on religious and racial bigotry, how is it to be done?
In my parent's generation, it was about being a post-WWII American, which is perhaps one of the reasons LBJ's Great Society appeal resonated enough to have some impact. Today, with so little faith left in America in general and in government in particular (for those left of the radical right), that isn't going to do it. Being the post-WWII good guys isn't our national identity anymore, if we even have one at all. I don't know what will reach the masses, but there are people who have spent their adult lives studying this sort of thing (sociologists, historians, political scientists), and people who know how to sell abstract things like identity and emotion (marketing).
So, my take is, by all means let's please keep trying to do what's best for people, but let's stop imagining that this makes a compelling impression on a culture that is increasingly sociopathic. We need to play identity politics because that is the only kind of politics there is. The great trick is to figure out a form of identity politics that will really draw people without playing on bigotry, but on things that are positive that people still identify with outside of the "liberal elite" college-educated lefties. If we are so educated, can't we figure this out? Aren't a lot of us sociologists, political scientists, historians, and marketers?
I do know one thing that will not reach what you term "the masses" and that is lumping individuals calmly and automatically into a group called :the masses. I believe that most people prefer to be thought of as unique and special, "well there's no one in the world exactly like me." (I believe this is true even when people clump together to support Donald Trump (or Joe Biden), when people are willing to hide who they really are (or think they are) to get along with a large and clumpy group supposedly held together by "shared beliefs."
Years ago--actually before the Democratic Party Primaries--Bernie Sanders got the idea of holding a town hall meeting in a red state. He chose not to screen out the many Trumpers or old-school conservatives but offer tickets on a first-come-first served basis, so he got a mixed bag. (I think what I caught on the internet of that specific town hall was representative of many Bernie town-halls leading up to the primaries in the individual states.) At the town hall I saw, people were welcomed to ask questions of any sort and the questions were not screened or "approved" in advance; the event was totally ad lib.
Bernie gave a brief and very clear explanation of what the problems facing the country were (largely the disparity in incomes and wealth between those at the economic pinnacle and those down the chain) and then he took questions. I remember one woman who went to the heart of it with her question about Bernie's concern for the concentration of resources at the top and Bernie managed to explain patiently and carefully what was at stake and why we needed to address the issue of income inequality. The woman announced after he had answered her question that she was convinced and would support his candidacy with her vote. I did not watch Bernie's campaign from town hall to town hall but I remember clearly that he took his message to all sorts of communities, especially to people without means and usually ignored by the power and wealth people directing such campaigns. For me, it was confirmation of what I had observed about Bernie: his clarity, his respect for all those who cared to come out and hear his message; and his acceptance that, while he could win over many with his honesty and integrity, he was not going to win over everyone but they were still individuals worthy of respect and courtesy and honesty. They may have been considered part of "the masses," they may even have considered themselves that way, but to Bernie they were people trying to make a decision and whether it turned a voter to him or not he accorded them the very same respect and honesty.
I do not believe we would be where we are today if Bernie had been able to win the day but I do not know for sure. As long as we persist in assigning people to "the masses" instead of treating them with dignity and integrity, we will always end up wrangling and accusing each other instead of trying to resolve the problems of the voters who are---when all is said and done--unique individuals and not "the masses" we (and sometimes they) take them(selves) for.
Bernie is the model for how it should be done. We watched several of his town halls, and I found myself inspired, and sometimes tearful, for those who asked questions, and Bernie's often tender responses to them. I know we've got what we've got, but I continue to believe that we've all been cheated by the Clyburn messaging, and the sudden surrender of all the other candidates, backing Biden. And once again, the media was no help whatsoever. How many of the others who purportedly represent us could (or would, for that matter) conduct such a genuine, sensitive, respectful town hall? It's endlessly disheartening to me.
That said, even with the whittling down of BBB and hard infrastructure plan funding, it's hopeful to see some movement toward more progressive policies. I'm grateful for Bernie's influence on this administration. I'd rather it be the whole loaf, but I think we may get more than we would have otherwise.
Thank you, Mark, for your comments. When I saw Bernie's town hall, I thought and hoped it was typical for such an event and you have convinced me that, well, Bernie was the real deal. I was fortunate to meet him in person in San Jose (he did get around!) and, again, he answered all questions with the same patience, kindness, and respect for the inquiry and the inquirer. Years ago, I read that the most important public servant we have going for us (ALL OF US) is none other than Bernie Sanders. The author of the article seemed to think that Bernie would be the most influential leader when the history book is written on this particular generation. I hope that this is true. No one has been truer to his core beliefs, his convictions, than Bernie. Well, we can lament that the powers-that-be managed to still his voice and lead us to BIden but, in the end, there will be many of us who will support Bernie's proposals and do what he does: try to educate and communicate his beliefs and hopes, try to convince others, and accept what will work while still pressing on to lift the bar to something of greater benefit for all.
Totally agree. Bernie is the only one in DC who is fully supporting the working people and families. He is the real deal!!
Amen to that. Very glad you were able to see him in person.
I agree with you. Thus, we need a new New Deal!
So can either party, as they presently exist, actually fill this role? It seems more and more that a third party might knock some sense into the arena, if they represented the policies and platforms designed to benefit our working class. It would break the 50/50 logjam for one thing. Maybe the 'Indivisible' party...
I think a third party will still be less effective than a significantly reformed existing party. People are loathe to go off-brand. This third party would almost certainly be at a disadvantage with respect to expertise and connections. I'm with you in spirit, but I just don't think it would work out well in any short period of time, and w need action many yesterdays ago.
Democrats need to realize that republicans target the amygdala by messaging fear the most powerful motivator. Democrats use intellectual arguments to target the cortex which is woefully weaker than the primal fight or flight response. Democrats need to use fear of rising republican fascism with every message and breath or fascism will win.
It's more than just the amygdala. Look into Terror Management Theory (it has nothing to do with Terrorism - it is a well-understood area of Social Psychology). It is also possible to counter fear without using fear... https://democracyrebooted.medium.com/creating-fear-obedience-and-control-340469b6d539
Joe: Thank you for a thoughtful article.
I have degrees in psychology, law, and medicine and wholeheartedly support the points within your article. However, they are aimed at the reasoned brain. Again, although I agree with all those points, they only have minuscule effect in challenging the primal fear response. Democrats must counter with an equally powerful fear of the rise of fascism or democracy is unfortunately doomed.
Hi Ken, thanks for the feedback. Some folks are just too far gone, but hopefully, there are enough moderates on the Right that can be pulled back to the table. Yes, I think fighting against fascism would be a great approach and a unifying cause if presented correctly. Similarly, climate change should be framed as a massive opportunity to create new industries, jobs, etc. while saving our children's future.
Agreed. If anyone reading this hasn’t already seen it, check out the republican national convention from last year. It was absolutely stuffed with lies and emotional appeals including the overdriven screaming that Kimberly Guilfoyle did. The whole thing that I saw - and admittedly I couldn't stand to watch much - was one emotional appeal after another, the majority based on easily proven lies. They appealed to all that is worst in us: fear, greed, tribalism and ignorance. Considering the percentage of our population that aligns with those things I'm deeply concerned about where this country is headed. It is SO much easier to destroy than it is to build and if people can be convinced that destruction is the right path to take imagine where we might end up. People who don't have any interest in building can feel positive about the destruction they indulge in.
...and no sign of policy/platform. Bizarre.
Exactly. I'd have to have both parties relying on baseless emotional charge to attract voters but it unfortunately seems to work to some extent and when it does it’s almost impossible to counter with logic and reason. The republicans have become the party of Idiocracy and I'm far from the first person to see that.
"Hate to have" not "have to have" 🙄
Great that is what we all need. more fear!
I've pleaded with my Democratic reps/senators for 5 years to do just this, to no avail. They are determined to pretend that the threat is not existential.
You need to shout your talk from the roof tops! No one, not even democratic leaders like Bernie have summed it up as well as you have. Somehow, your messages need to get out to the working class people. Once they understand what is happening to them, they will have the ability to defend their interests. They may feel all of these things you mention, but they don't have the language to enable them to make effective arguments. You or your deputy need to get out to these rural communities and spread the word to the people that are affected. WORDS DO MATTER!
You're damned right Democrats abandoned the working class years ago, and I place the blame initially with Bill Clinton, Al Gore and other conservative, Southern, white Democrats (The New Democrats) who thought abandoning FDR's substantial legacy would attract red "Democratic" voters who embraced Reagan.
In addition to embracing Reagan's neoliberal governing philosophy, the Clinton Administration greatly increased the carseral state, made the poor destitute through Welfare Reform, and offshored much of our manufacturing base through trade treaties
Such betrayals are expected from the GOP, but when such actions are perpetrated by "Democrats" I begin to understand the term" two parties, one tent."
Thank you for your thoughts/wisdom. I'm an appreciative student. But can you imagine what we would be talking about tonight if McAuliffe had squeaked out a win in Virginia on Tuesday? I'm sorry to be so pessimistic, but I really fear there will never be another fair election. Thank goodness our Democracy was saved in 2020 because conservatives did not have all their people in place. They do now! Poll watchers to intimidate. Biased election officials to turn loses into wins. Legislatures ready to claim fraud and demand endless audits. The promise to persecute "Election Crimes" (Florida 's new idea just tonight). We can analyze what the Dems are doing wrong, what we need to change, how to get money out of politics, how we can reach out better to the working class, etc. etc. etc. Without the power to make changes at the polls, isn't it all futile,
Prof. Reich?
Nancy—Granted the person you most want to hear from is Prof. Reich. Still, I can’t resist responding because I couldn’t agree more. As I imagine you know, the Freedom to Vote Act that Manchin helped draft ensures (1) that all eligible voters easily can register to vote and stay enrolled and (2) that eligible votes are cast, counted correctly, and certified without interference and without their being diluted through partisan gerrymandering.
Which brings me to the filibuster, a rule I contend is the origin for everything that is disfunctional in our politics. Though I’ve given up on either Manchin or Sinema signing on to a filibuster carve out to protect voting rights, I fail to understand why Schumer has failed to introduce a rule change that would replace the 60-vote threshold to end debate with a 41-vote threshold to continue debate, thus shifting the burden from the majority to the minority. Imagine the impact of a rule change that required 41 Senators to be present, speaking nonstop solely about the issue at hand, to sustain a filibuster. Additionally, try and imagine either Manchin or Sinema mounting a credible opposition to defy this rule change.
Points to keep hammering home.
Every congress critter who submits bills written by donars or votes for those same bills and accepts money from corporations needs to be called on it come election time. Primary Opponents should hammer the points to the voters that the sitting congress critter it the reason we don't have lower drug prices, improved health care, a living wage and affordable housing. Add in climate changes, poor infrastructure like roads, water pipes and clean air and water.
Point out the traitors of the working class and vote another candidate in.
That was one of the criticisms of Hillary Clinton when she was running for president. The Democrats went to fundraisers held for wealthy patrons. She did not show up in rural areas. No big bucks there.
If I receive one more e-mail from a Democratic candidate soliciting my support by trying to scare me with the looming Republican menace, I just may have to give up. If Democrats really want to hang on to, or even expand control of Congress, it’s easy: just deliver on the policies that got them elected in the first place. But so far, a year into the current administration,
- No aggressive response to assault on voting rights
- No accountability for seditionists inside Congress and out
(in fact, Gates laughing about the havoc they’ll cause upon regaining the House)
- No universal healthcare
- No student loan forgiveness
- No nixing the filibuster
- No Supreme Court expansion (or followup on vetting improprieties)
- No halt in weapons sales to genocidal regimes
- NY Trump family investigation apparently shut down
Liberal/Progressive as I am, I can understand why conservatives might characterize Dems as weak, frightened, wimps who can’t get anything done.
yeah they think because repubs are so offensive we have no choices but to wait till they feel like doing their jobs. but mines is to get out and vote suppose we all cut and run (vote independent or primary) maybe that'll add some fuel to the fire. this is ridiculous, now theyre on vaction once again as if they deserve one 🙄. seems all this backroom talking is achieving nothing at all.
Schumer knows whats at stake he should have made them work through the holiday, especially the fence riders who are catering to special interest groups. heck add some pressure. Thats what Gregg Abbott did when he was sabotaging. he held hearing after hearing till they were forced to sign his aggregious and treasonous bills.
I voted my paycheck. As a member of the IBEW for 50 years, I voted for the party that would make workers' wages a living and prosperous wage. Over the years, the Republicans always either Froze Wages, Like Nixon or were anti-Union like Trump so the only party that was left that could win was the Democrats. I voted for Bernie Sanders in 2016 and 2020 primaries and the progressive Democratic party, that really supports unions and a higher minimum wage than the poverty minimum wage offered today, never seem to win.