It is hard to exaggerate the disaster that passes for American democracy these days. Have a look at today's news. A "historic" cut in spending has been achieved, the "largest in history," $38.5 billion. Yet what is actually in this spending cut? There is no report of that. You can't find the list of cuts in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, or anywhere else. The negotiations are a show, a TV cliffhanger, not a negotiation over actual programs affecting 300 million Americans.
Does the list of budget cuts even exist? Were the negotiations about a number ($38.5 billion, or $61 billion, or something else) but not specific programs? If there was no list, how did the negotiators decide on how much to cut? If there is a list, why haven't the American people seen even a glimpse of it all week, even after the negotiations have been concluded?
Of course neither the White House nor congressional leadership has shown the slightest interest in keeping the American people informed about any step of this process, and they have evinced even less interest in reflecting the values and opinions of the American people. Public opinion counts for almost nothing these days in guiding public policy.
The White House is basically an ally of the Republican Party. Even the president's words chortle with delight:
"A few months ago, I was able to sign a tax cut for American families because both parties worked through their differences and found common ground. Now, the same cooperation has made it possible for us to move forward with the biggest annual spending cut in history."It reminds me of the old Russian joke: "We were at the edge of the cliff. Now we've taken a giant step forward."
President Obama's words are incredible. The tax deal last December was perhaps the greatest domestic policy shame of our time. In that particular capitulation to greed, he agreed to extend the tax breaks for the richest Americans, slash their estate taxes, give other corporate tax breaks, and raise the deficit by nearly $1 trillion over 2011 and 2012. Now, he has agreed with the far right to slash entitlements spending for the poor in another "historic" act of cooperation. One more such historic act of cooperation and we'll be completely ruined.
The president says yesterday's accord "is an agreement to invest in our country's future," but that "needed infrastructure projects will be delayed." He says that in tough times, families sacrifice to "afford what's really important," but that "programs people rely on will be cut back." There is, of course, not a shred of sacrifice by Wall Street, Big Oil, the nation's millionaires and billionaires, the health insurance industry, or any of the other lobbies that the president and much of Congress count on to fund their re-election campaigns.
In poll after poll, the actual views of the public about the budget are clear: cut military spending, raise taxes on the rich, and cut health care costs by taking on private health insurers. These are the policies put forward last week in the "People's Budget" (which I recently wrote about) proposed by the leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Even though we don't know the still secret details of the $38.5 billion in the cuts, we can be sure that not one of these sensible mainstream ideas is even remotely represented in the new "historic" agreement. The president and the congressional leadership of both parties are pursuing the opposite strategy: cut taxes for the rich; sustain record-high military spending and indeed a growing number of wars; turn over even more of health care to price-gouging private health insurers; and cut urgently needed help for the poor, the public schools, higher education, and the unemployed.
In the end, we have gotten from President Obama what we feared from Senator McCain: an expanded war in Afghanistan, an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts, sharp cuts in spending for communities and programs for the poor, a continuation of Guantanamo and military tribunals, unchecked bankers' pay and bonuses, and enough loopholes to reduce corporate taxes to less than 2 percent of GDP this year, despite a boom in corporate profits.
America, sooner rather than later, will gear up for a new political movement, one that is dedicated to fairness and justice as in the People's Budget rather than to corporate wealth as in today's budget agreement. Sooner rather than later, perhaps even by next year, a presidential candidate and dozens of congressional candidates will succeed in doing what President Obama could and should have done in 2008: to win on the basis of small donations and social networks without the need to sell out to Wall Street, the oil industry, and the other lobbies. It can be done, though Obama in fact went for the big corporate donors as well.
Many in the Huffington Post community of readers and writers think that things are already too late for America. They believe that our democracy has been irretrievably lost to the special interests. I share their frustration but believe there is real reason for hope. We are at the stage of history when the curtain is being pulled back to reveal the Wizards of Oz. The political spin-masters in the White House and Congress, the media manipulators led by Rupert Murdoch, and the oil money led by the Koch Brothers will all come to learn that despite their vast wealth and cynicism, they will not stop Americans from reclaiming their democracy.
Follow Jeffrey Sachs on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jeffdsachs
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The Democratic Party only appealed to those wealthy barons who thought taking it all for themselves too fast might promote social and economic instabilities that would render their loot less valuable in the long term. The Republicans appeal to those who want all of it, now, and it can't be fast enough...with the gov't out of their way, there would be nothing to stop them from completely enslaving the entire country.
So you see, both parties are just tools for these wealthy parasites who will eventually suck the blood and value out of our nation in their greed-lust, regardless of which party is in power.
And its sad to realize that we must hope for the kind whims of one of these parasites to provide only temporary relief. Sounds like we're pathetic serfs praying for the goodwill of the lord of the land.
Agreed. There is next to no difference at all between the two. Neither support the values of ordinary Americans - but are fighting for the values of Wallstreet and Big Business.
We no longer have a democracy of We the People. It is over and likely never to return.
Vote for, support, volunteer for, and donate money only to Progressive-Democrats/ candidates and Progressive organizations only. Then and only then will there be a real Evolution in Politics.
Read more by Chris Hedges:
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/04/11
I read his article and ordered his new book.
Thanks.
1. Public apathy and ignorance. We live in the age of instant gratification. Most of the voting public would rather watch endlessly corrupted news coverage, programs like American Idol, and play video games or play with their latest PDA. Finding answers and truth is time consuming and requires thought. As it do this entry to your message, I note that there are now fewer than 600 responders. Sad. There should be at least 50 times that number, considering how many have online access to Huffington.
2. The power of the American plutocracy. All of our elected officialdom is beholden, not to those who elect them, but to the moneyed interests which pay for their trips to office. This is not new, but has become a matter of the moneyed interests owning both parties outright. No matter who gets our vote, they have been co-opted and corrupted by their “handlers.” Why do I say “plutocracy?” Because that is what a power apparat is called when oligarchs control governance.
So, I believe that we have taken that fatal step, and that your optimism is romanticism in an age when those who amass and covet wealth and assert an iron-fisted control over global humanity, are no longer American, and are even questionably human.
Just accept your fate and become a cog in the wheel of corporatism and republicanism? Coast, because you think you will be comfortable enough anyway?
Where there is no hope, there is no future. I would suggest that to die trying and fail is better than to die and not having tried at all.
http://bayard-progressiverationalism.blogspot.com/2011/04/averting-catastrophe-looming-debt.html
I'm looking for feedback. And, I am like most of you out there: I am as terrified as ever in my life, and that includes during the Cuban Missle Crises when the threat of nuclear war was as real as it's ever been.
The time is right---enough of us are fed up and I would even vote Ralph Nader at this point.
I will not vote TB or Repub, but if someone steps up that backs what Jeffrey says, I'll campaign, push and send money to them. Right now the only ones getting my money is Russ Feingold and Progressives United. When they say they are supporting Obama's campaign fund, I quit sending $$ and let the chips fall where they may.
Be our hero and help us start a campaign to get a third party candidate that is viable. Our small voices need to be streamlined and made into a chorus. Otherwise we have to hold our nose and vote or stay at home.
Can you help organize a march on DC to voice our discontent? Can you help us get out the word we want change that is "necessary" because the "Hope you can believe in" fizzled after the election.
People say we are self defeating if we try to do this, but what difference does it make at this point------our choices right now are just "more of the same" whoever we vote for---Nothing is going to change. If our reps want to roll over, let them We have the power to change the status quo if we wish, and I'm wishing.
You are right we need a third party and soon. I live in California an there are so many people that want a third
party( for Moderates). We just do not know how to get it started. Maybe twitter would be a start. Our government is now the party of corporatist. Corporations have closed down the voices of the people with their money.
I don't hve twitter nor a cell phone so I can't go that route, but the more that do the better.
We need just one person with some backbone and name recognition to get it on the road. WE also need to allow enough time for people to get to DC instead of these short notice crowds that don't get any coverage. 3 or 4 months from now. Some people need to save their pennies to get there--especially the unemployed.
Why can't the liberals, Dems, Independents get their act together like those frighteneing hateful T's and Repubs! They manage to get their people to go---why can't we---I'm getting so disheartened I'm ready to just give up if something doesn't happen.
I would suggest that "moderate" is a bad term. The word is typically used in the context of "moderating" between 2 opposing parties. I don't think that's really what we want!
What we really want is lobbyists and cash out of our gov't, That is the key to change, and without it, nothing will ever budge from the status quo. I guarantee it.
A true grassroots campaign can make it happen if we get the right person in there. I don't think you realize the magnitude of people who have had all they can take and aren't going to take any more by suporting shills.
No, we won't all agree, we never do, but we can aspire towards a time when we can all agree enough to get the job done.
Really now? Isn't that just the essence of the capitalistic system?
Evidently, you have far more negotiating leverage, when dealing with your cable company, insurance company, big box retaliler, oil company, bank, or mortgage company than I do.
We have a job to do. www.opensecrets.org
I know it's easy, and even kinda fun, to blame Nader for the Bush administration, but if Gore had run a competent race, he Nader would have been no greater a factor than any of the other third party candidates from history...certainly less of a part than Perot played in getting Clinton elected in '92.
Lots of up and coming buying power in China. Thats one of the reasons they moved the factories there.