|
||
The Election Seen Through a Class Prism: Why Obama Will be Our Next President
Class is the real "C-word" in America. The pretense is that class is a European thing. The myth is since we cast off a monarchy at independence we are all somehow middle class.
Of course nothing is further from the truth. It is in the interest of the class that rules to keep that pretense going. But there are times when the charade crumbles. We are living through one of those times now.
The economic collapse has exposed the fault lines of class running through the country. In these rare periods the class that is always aware it's a class uses its Republican Party front organization to condemn defenders of common interests. They accused them of engaging in "class warfare" for daring to oppose the very same warfare that is always waged against them.
Republicans have been successful in recent elections inducing workers and poor Americans to support the class that fights against their interests. Giving tax breaks to the wealthy; shipping jobs overseas and sending their daughters and sons to die in wars necessary only to enrich the economic elite is hardly in common folks' interests. Yet these folks have supported Republican candidates. Why? Not only because of single issues like abortion, patriotism and guns, but because they bought the ideology of extreme economic individualism and a skewered sense of elitism.
Rulers and their media have turned the charge of "elitism" on its head. They have obscured growing economic elitism and focused exclusively on cultural and intellectual elitism. If incomes were more or less even, individuals would distinguish themselves through their intellectual and cultural achievements. In a system where the populace is kept down culturally to more or less the same level, individuals distinguish themselves by how much money they make.
Republicans encourage workers and the poor to deride those who rise above the nation intellectually rather than those who rise above it through wealth, even if it is accumulated through corporate malfeasance or financial sleight of hand. The Republicans prod people to condemn East Coast and California "elites", while protecting their elite corporate and Wall Street allies.
In a perfect world, instead of cultural democracy and economic elitism, there would be the opposite.
This distorted idea of "elitism" was an early issue in the McCain-Obama battle. Obama was branded the elitist because he is smart and a polished speaker. McCain wasn't an elitist, though he owned more houses than he could remember. McCain seemed to be getting away with it. When he chose Sarah Palin it seemed a brilliant move to get the anti-intellectual Joe Six Pack vote.
In good times a message of intense economic self-interest works because even the worse-off believe their ship will come in some day.
But the economic collapse has seriously damaged the Republican idea that it's all up to the individual and society be damned. It has especially put in doubt their view of government as interloper.
What they long tried to hide is now plain to see: if you take the referees out of a football match the stronger side will at first run up the score in great excitement but eventually order will deteriorate and the game will be destroyed for everyone.
Financiers have a responsible job. But instead of orderly providing capital to society to run an economy, they gambled with other people's money to enrich themselves, bringing the economy down around us.
Government came to the rescue to clean up their mess with socialism for the rich: the nationalization of big parts of the financial sector. Could there be a starker repudiation of everything the Republicans believe in? Could anything be more embarrassing for them? The truth about class privilege became plain to many average Americans who'd bought the Republican story.
The collapse opened the way for Obama to deliver a more progressive message. It is not surprising that it has worked so far.
McCain responded with the S-word. He attacked Obama for being a Socialist at the very moment the socialist tactic of nationalization is saving the country he claims to put first. It is almost as silly as Sarah Palin complaining in her debate with Joe Biden about government intervention on the very day the government was acting to rescue the country from the hands of the economic elitists; or as dumb as McCain complaining about "spreading the wealth" when a). $750 billion is being spread to negligent bankers and b). Americans losing their homes and jobs might not object to wealth being spread around a little.
McCain and Palin have tried to use Socialism as a charge to bring Obama down because they are counting on confusion about what Socialism means. What kind of socialism are they talking about? Many Americans who lived through the Cold War have a knee-jerk reaction against what they see as the Big Brother state controlling their lives.
"Now is not the time to experiment with [spreading the wealth]," Palin told voters in Latrobe, Pa., last Friday. "They do that in other countries where people are not free and where work ethic is not rewarded. And when an entrepreneurial spirit is absolutely stifled. And that's exactly what his plan will do to Americans and to the children who we are trying to teach work ethic and the reward for hard work."
This fear tactic rests on Americans not knowing the difference between Stockholm and pre-1990 Moscow. It's not clear whether Palin knows the difference herself.
There have been two extreme economic systems in the past century--Soviet-style socialism in which the government owns everything in a command economy and laissez faire or market fundamentalism where government has almost no role, which is what the Bush administration gave us. Both were utter disasters.
The middle ground combines both systems, mixing free enterprise with heavy government regulation to create the successful Social Democracy of Scandinavia and Western Europe, where average people have more freedoms than we do. It is not utopian. It exists and it has brought social peace and prosperity. They let you run a business too, but government corrals you with needed regulations, lest you get too greedy and threaten universal health care, free universities, long-term unemployment and other benefits for all citizens. Curbing greed puts a check on the army occupying foreign countries too. Some wealthy Europeans wanted to break free of this corral to be as rich as their counterparts across the Atlantic. But the collapse has turned even free-marketers like Nicolas Sarkozy back to Social Democracy.
The collapse presents a President Obama with an opportunity not seen since FDR. He can seize this new popular awareness of the dangers of unbridled capitalism to usher in a new American era that builds on FDR's reforms. If taxpayers can afford $750 billion for the banks it should be easier to pay less for national health care, more accessible education, infrastructure upgrades and investment in alternative energies.
Obama faces three obstacles. First he must tread carefully with a populace uncertain of the difference between Stockholm and Moscow. He must carefully explain the delicate balance between valid self-interest and responsibility to community. Without using the highly charged S-word, he must teach the nation the benefits of a mixed economy, government regulation and nationalization of health care, not just banks.
The second obstacle might be Congress, even with a 60-seat Democratic majority. While Republicans and John McCain were the greatest proponents of government deregulation of business and Wall Street there has been troublesome bi-partisan support for it. Bill Clinton could have vetoed the repeal of the 1933 Glass-Steagall Act that his Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin cooked up. That Act was put in after the previous Depression to prevent commercial banks from gambling with the people's money.
Democrats, including Obama, supported the $750 billion bailout package. Even Republican strategist Ed Rollins said wealthy Congressmen of both parties were pleasing their Wall Street backers with that vote and not their constituents. Wall Street had paid for the service with campaign contributions. It was a kind of insurance: when they screwed up, Congress-for-the-rich would save them. It was House Republicans voting against the earlier version who heard the outcry from a heartland whose eyes were suddenly opened to class privilege in America.
The third obstacle might be Obama himself. He will get a big mandate tomorrow. If Bush could use a sliver of a mandate to invade Iraq, Obama should have the political capital to make serious changes to the system.
The legacy of the Depression of '09 will be largely in his hands.
Every 80 years or so these economic cataclysms occur, vindicating the Left who carp on the sidelines during soaring markets, waiting for a collapse since wealth and power are never voluntarily given up. This is a rare moment to rearrange priorities, to make the system fairer for more Americans. After all, isn't democracy the widest possible diffusion of wealth and power?
Socialism hasn't been an issue in a presidential campaign since Nixon accused McGovern of it in 1972. Before the collapse no one would believe it would become one again. Obama joked that the extent of his socialism was sharing some toys as a child. It's a good joke days before an election. But it's no joking matter after Jan. 20th.
www.politicalodyssey.com
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Class is the real "C-word" in America...couldn't have worded it any better!
Hopefully all winners and losers will have class and graciousness.
Well written! I lived in the US for many years, and never managed to remove the constant low-grade pain caused by the invisible, unspoken contradictions of a society where the accumulation of wealth is perceived as the highest and loftiest objective. Beyond Obama's intelligence and competence, what I most admire is his style, and his determination to walk the talk of a non-divisive philosophy. The world is proud of your 44th president already! Thank you for your article.
Having already written on a 'socialist' theme on Alec Baldwin's "Voting for Truth" blog, I want to respond with a declaration of support for a socialism that is as close to man's social instinct as can be envisaged.
Firstly, all political ideologies and processes are masks and manipulations of the underpinning social instinct. It matters not whether a society is free and democratic, or enslaved and totalitarian, all societies arise out of the social instinct, and the need for cohesive agreement between individuals constituting a self-protecting community who can abide and dwell in peace and growth. It is from this that nations were and are born, but it is the politicizing of the agreements for cohesion that have and will shape the history of a nation.
The Constitution of America is a social codification of agreement, laying down certain non-political and non-religious tenets to stand as a litmus to the reasons for the nation's birth. Those reasons are not only extant today, but are more important than ever. The 'why' for America's birth is the 'why' for the 2008 election, indeed for all elections that have and will take place. To participate in the election today, is to express the social instinct of the nation, and to realign oneself to the tenets of the Constitution.
Since the election is fixed, in a drunken country of bigoted, paranoid hypocrites, who don't even realize that no break has ever been made from monarchy, or that the stock market crash was just to increase the value of the wealthy's homes and devalue the rest of real estate, Obama doesn't stand much of a chance; just in case the rulers underestimated the minimal awareness of the voters, plan B might be to have something happen to Obama after he is elected, and Biden, one Republican posing as a democrat, is then the President, or something happens to both of them, and Bush remains President, because McCain was not elected and cannot take the Presidency; Rush Limbaugh did say Bush would not step down until the War on Terror is won.
You know absolutely "zip" about our constitutional rules of succession to the presidency, right?
There is no scenario under which Bush could retain/resume the presidency. None. And the military of this country would never take part in a coup.
You might want to reconsider that absolutist mindset and take the time to read some of the executive orders Dubbya has put in place during his time in the White House.
I am optimistic today [something of a rarity for me], but the truth is, when it comes to BushCo, never say never.
Anyone read '1984' lately?
I don't have to...it is burned into my brain, as is Huxley's "Brave New World." I think we're suffering from a strange combination of those dystopian visions...which is even more frightening....
I lived in Amsterdam for six years. The Netherlands -- the first country to recognize the independence of the United States -- is basically a center left, socialist nation. Everyone has access to healthcare insurance and while working there, I had eight weeks of vacation. EIGHT WEEKS.
Who, WHO has eight weeks of vacation here? No one.
Socialism. Lived it, loved it, bring it on.
"The collapse presents a President Obama with an opportunity not seen since FDR. He can seize this new popular awareness of the dangers of unbridled capitalism to usher in a new American era that builds on FDR's reforms..."
I have been trying to make this point to people since this financial crisis began. I challenge anyone who survived the depression to call FDR a Socialist, just the right POTUS at the that moment in history. Unfortunately because we are less literate collectively many know nothing of FDR, his presidency and the reforms and programs that restructured this nation and prepared it to truly face the world's threats and become its defender and leader.
Obama is not a socialist but why being one is such a demonized position in the US is beyond my comprehension. Socialism is a legitimate political position. Your five day week, eight hour work day, no child labor and all the other goodies are the fruits of hard fought battles by socialists. Those who were against them are the same one who are against you now. Being ignorant about your own history of class struggle allows others to manipulate what you can and you cannot think.
The rest of the world celebrates the first of May as their labor day. May Day commemorates a historical even that happened right here in the good old US of A. How many Americans even know that? Think for second why you were unaware of this fact.
If you don't believe there is a class struggle going on this country listen to what Warren Buffet has to say: “There’s class warfare, all right,” Mr. Buffett said, “but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.” ( http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/26/business/yourmoney/26every.html )
Although not a socialist I do believe a vibrant socialist Left is essential to rebalancing our political spectrum. The center of gravity is stuck too far to the right. The way to correct this is to revive the socialist Left. When the world "socialist" ceases to signify something negative to most Americans you will know our system is back in balance.
Nice. Thanks.
Excellent article and comment.
I was a late teen during Michael Manley's socialist period here in Jamaica and that's when free education and steps toward free health care were established. We could talk forever about the problems of that era, but that is always the case in all periods of change.
Jamaica has a long and very proud history of trade union activity that protects workers rights. Women here can walk into any pharmacy WITHOUT a doctor's prescription, and buy birth control. Women also have free access to birth control at public health centers. Although not perfect by a veryyyy long shot, health care access is almost free here. All of these, and more, are required as a foundation for establishing true equality and access to power and wealth worldwide.
I wrote an email to my sister in the US just last night with a follow-up earlier this morning and the theme of our discussion was class issues in America and the world. I never understood why the US presidential candidates didn't really speak about poverty issues in this campaign until Obama started being lambasted for being socialist because he wants to cut taxes for persons earning less than $250,000. My sister says that figure is changing daily but whatever the figure, the idea is a start.
Post too long.. see below for continuation….
I thank Life Itself that Americans are now poised to be led by someone who will help to heal a few of these issues about access to power and resources so that the process of creating equality in basic ways can move forward. There will always be a 'rich' class but it has to eventually be in the context of everyone having the basics of good food, clothing, shelter, health care, education, money supply and full self expression.
Wherever we hail from, we are all citizens of the same world and we all have to 'live and play well together'. There is more than enough to go around, to share and to additionally provide much wealth to those who choose to create wealth for themselves and their families.
The what's missing is the will to collectively co-create use the resources we have been blessed with in a way that benefits everyone so that life on the planet works for everyone.
Again, I wish President Obama and Vice President Biden much love and support from all of us to carry out their mandate for the good of America and the entire planet.
How true, the conservatives have moved this country way right and now
it's an opportunity to bring the country back to a sensible middle.
If we drop the demagoguery over liberal and socialism and stop the
right wing from defining the terms we will be able to dig our way out
of the morass of their phony "free market" capitalism and faux rugged individualism.
It's been corporate welfare and redistribution of the nations wealth to the rich.
And the "rich" are not millionaires, that's pocket change for the real rich.
We need to care for the millions of people who make this country work. That's us.
Well said. It's either a new and better New Deal or revolution. I'm mad as hell, and I can't take it anymore.
don't get over confident make sure all of your family and friends who support Sen. Obama know where their polling places are and help them get there if they need a ride make sure that they take their ID with them the league of women's voter's has a great site that can help people find out where they can vote and what ID they may need to take with them.
http://vote411.org/
GET OUT AND VOTE
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
