Bit by bit, Trump is taking apart the New Deals glorious legacy

[babylonsister]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/dec/24/bit-by-bit-donald-trump-is-taking-apart-new-deal-glorious-legacy

Opinion
Bit by bit, Trump is taking apart the New Deal’s glorious legacy
Heather Cox Richardson

With huge tax cuts projected to create a $1.5tn deficit, cuts to social security and Medicare will surely follow
Sat 23 Dec ‘17 19.01 EST

snip//

In 2017, Trump brought to life the alternative reality portrayed on Fox News, the individualist vision designed to destroy the New Deal. Now that it is exposed to reality, Americans reject it. Trump’s approval rating is at 35%, a historical low.

Nonetheless, it is not clear that democracy will prevail. Trump admires not America’s democratic allies but autocrats: Turkey’s President Erdoğan, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. He has shown astonishing disregard for the law, flouting nepotism and emoluments rules and treating regular government procedures, including the authority of Congress, with disdain.

He has tried to undermine the FBI and American intelligence agencies, shows a disturbing affinity for Putin and Russian oligarchs, and has tried to undermine the authority of special counsel, Robert Mueller, charged with examining the role of Russia in the 2016 election. Acting again from the autocrat’s playbook, he has repeatedly attacked the press and has packed the courts: appointing the supreme court justice Republicans denied to President Barack Obama and 12 circuit judges, more in a year than any other president in history.

And Trump has followers who appear to be willing to rally around him, no matter what he does, even, perhaps, to dismiss as “fake news” any evidence of collusion with Russia that Mueller produces or, maybe, as the president suggested, to let him “stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody”. If Republican leaders are willing to enable Trump’s autocratic enthusiasms in return for oligarchy, American democracy will die.

In the 1850s, when a small group of rich slaveholders took the government away from the majority and tried to create an oligarchy, Abraham Lincoln implored Americans to work to guarantee “that government of the people by the people for the people, shall not perish from the earth”.

Words for Americans to think about in the year 2018.

[Irish_Dem]

1. "that government of the people by the people for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Lincoln's full remarks from that speech, The Gettysburg Address, 1863.
(Note:Seems fitting as we are now engaged in another American civil war.
We The People against the Oligarchs.)


Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

[dalton99a]

2. GOP Leaders Celebrate Decisive Win Over Americans

https://politics.theonion.com/gop-leaders-celebrate-decisive-win-over-americans-1821450809
GOP Leaders Celebrate Decisive Win Over Americans
Wednesday 12:09pm

WASHINGTON—In the wake of the $1.5 trillion tax bill’s historic passage in both the House and the Senate, GOP leaders reportedly celebrated Wednesday their decisive win over everyday American citizens. “This is a monumental victory not only for us, but for everyone struggling under the reign of the average American,” said Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, adding that party leaders made a promise to “take a stand against ordinary U.S. citizens,” before cracking open a bottle of champagne and proudly declaring that “today, we delivered.” “Of course, the fight against the people of this country is not yet over. We won this battle, but the war is still to come. However, if we carry on with the same vigor demonstrated today in our widely opposed tax overhaul, I know that we will prevail over Americans time and time again.” GOP leaders also expressed confidence that they would achieve another dominant victory over the American people as they push to close the deficit by cutting food stamp programs, Social Security, and Medicare.

[shanny]

3. Dismantling the New Deal has been going on for 40+ years.

Don't hang it all on Trump. Running against him is important, but only in the short term. It's time Democrats wrote and started following the progressive equivalent of the Powell Memo. It is appalling that we haven't done it yet.

[Initech]

5. What's even more appalling is we keep voting these assholes in power.

Again and again and again. And they do nothing. We have fallen for our captors.

[babylonsister]

6. Thanks for the info,

from 2012, but you made me educate myself, so thanks. And most likely applicable. I have not read this. Manana.


The Powell Memo: A Call-to-Arms for Corporations

http://billmoyers.com/content/the-powell-memo-a-call-to-arms-for-corporations/

[shanny]

8. You are welcome.

Once you read it, I think it will bring a lot of recent history into focus. Conservatives have been working from this blueprint all this time, and while some of us have been aware, there has never been--afaik--any kind of a counter effort from our side.

It always reminds me how much I hate that rat bastard Nixon (who rewarded the author Lewis Powell with a seat on the Supreme Count--just a sign of things to come).

[loyalsister]

12. welfare reform was a big step

This isn't all on Trump or republicans. The "dignity of work" construct was embraced by neoliberal Democrats. What it really meant was fund our campaigns and we'll provide a low wage workforce for those who want it. The Walton family laughed all the way to the bank.

[tech3149]

4. I don't think tRump is the problem, he's just the symptom

We've been subjected to dominant corporate media for decades that will tell us anything but the truth so long as it doesn't challenge the dominant power structures. Any of you who have been exposed to Thomas Frank or have been politically aware since the 60's should know that the power structure of the Democratic party has been walking away from the working class since the late 60's. For me, the assassinations and the Vietnam clusterfuck are defining issues in my life. I could deal with the Republican party when they were Main Street business supporters but now they only support end stage monopolist business.
What I can't deal with is a Democratic party that is willing to throw the working class under the bus year after year. Why should I support people like Ruben or Emmanuel who call people like me fucking retarded or say "we have nowhere else to go"? I'm not crazy or stupid enough to walk away to some third party that has no chance of doing something on a national level but I'm getting a bit tired of supporting a party that wants my effort and funds on an election year but is willing to let local parties go broke and not support grooming candidates that are willing to work for the best interest of the country. I'm tired of seeing so many local races be uncontested because the local party is just plane broke.
I grew up in a solidly Democratic state, hardassed Union working class. I came back after16 or so years away and the Democratic party was a ghost.
Remember those states that Clinton didn't bother to campaign in? One of those is where I live. Just like the Southern states, if the party doesn't even try to compete, why should they expect our support?
I hate even pointing out the failures of the party. It'll probably get me booted from DU, but if you don't accept reality how can you expect to correct for the errors of the past?

How many of you know about the Powell memorandum? It was a battle cry for the financial elite to wage war against the ideals the Democratic party used to stand for. For almost forty years the party refused to understand the need to fight back on like terms. When they had the opportunity nobody stood up to challenge the propaganda/influence campaign done by the other side. Was that because they couldn't recognize the threat or that they to some degree supported the interest of the opposition?

[babylonsister]

7. Well, here's a feel-good...

‘Fed up’ women voters are preparing to run for political office
By Lisa Hagen - 11/26/17 07:30 AM EST


The head of an influential group that aims to elect female candidates says "women voters who are fed up, angry and want change" are changing the political dynamic ahead of the crucial midterm elections.

Stephanie Schriock, the president of EMILY’s List, told The Hill she’s seeing unprecedented political engagement from women that started with the Women’s March in response to President Trump’s inauguration.

Schriock also said she believes women getting into politics are being galvanized by the allegations of sexual harassment and assault by powerful men that have embroiled some lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

“These women marched, they went home, they organized, they felt that they weren’t alone,” Schriock said in an exclusive interview with The Hill.

More than 22,000 women have reached out to the group about running for office next year and about half of those are under the age of 45. They represent all 50 states. EMILY’s List has so far this cycle held more than 20 trainings across the U.S. that are structured to help them prepare and launch bids.

more...

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/361603-fed-up-women-voters-are-preparing-to-run-for-political-office

[tech3149]

13. I'm all for women running for office and organizing

I'd like to see more of it, especially at the local level. It's not just women who are fed up but I think we need a better balance The only thing I worry about is that power does absolutely corrupt. After my wife spent 16 or so years as an executive she exhibited a level of entitlement that became uncomfortable. I think the same can be said for anyone who holds a position of power or authority without staying grounded in their frame of reference. Just think of Margret Thatcher.

[shanny]

9. Amen.

[Initech]

14. The problem is the billionaires.

We can point fingers at Paul Ryan or Mitch McConnell all we want. The bottom line is - they're expendable. When they get to be too unpopular, they will be cast aside, and that is what seems to be happening now.

The problem is the billionaires. They are out of control, aided by a party drunk with power that's been compromised by a hostile foreign entity. There's no real solution for this other than we need to get back to our roots and start ruling by the constitution, and tell Fox News to go take a hike.

[Blue_Tires]

10. But I thought Donnie was the person who actually engaged working class white folks?

How do they feel knowing they've been played for absolute marks?

And I also have to give my mandatory "Thanks Dems for staying home or voting 3rd party because Hillary wasn't exciting enough for you..."

[tech3149]

15. I call bullshit on that whole narrative

In my county, a place that I grew up in the median income is about $20K over the national median. The vote was 2-1 for tRump and just about 1% was for third party and write in candidates. Most of these people are educated professionals but it's an exurb of a major media market. The only paper is a RW rag. Broadcast media is a wasteland of media dreck. Most people I interacted with during the election and otherwise aren't like us. They have lives that don't allow much time to dig through the shit we have for news to be well informed on politics. And don't forget the media was eating up every second of possible tRump coverage and ignoring everything else.

[Blue_Tires]

18. If you're gonna call BS on my whole narrative

I hope you've got something more than one district in an unnamed state backing you up...

Meanwhile I can reel off dozens of high-profile liberal pundits on Twitter announcing to the world they were staying home and encouraging others to do so, too

[tech3149]

19. I put as much faith in those high profile pundits

as I do in all those that predicted Clinton was a sure win. This whole series of discussions is one major reasons why I find better places to go than DU. Too many here are suffering from tRump derangement syndrome at has accept anything that challenges him without critical analysis of the underlying facts. There is every reason to challenge tRump on easily proven issues, most notably financial relationships. Anyone who spent any amount of time in the NY media market from 74 through 2000 should know he was a crooked con man. Ask yourself, what major media outlet actually reported on his crooked relationships during the primaries? Why not? They were all sucking his dick for whatever salacious shit they could deliver to advertisers.
If you want to be honest about who elected tRump, check the dominant corporate media.

[honest.abe]

20. "Trump derangement syndrome"

If you are not paranoid about what this lunatic is capable of as President of this country then you are not paying attention.

[Blue_Tires]

22. Oh well, there's the door wiseguy....

We'll miss you...

[C Moon]

16. I think this all started with Reagan; and the GOP finally found Putin to help them in this evil deed

[eShirl]

21. THIS

[Xolodno]

23. Reagan was actually a die hard advocate for FDR and the New Deal.

...it was his brother, GE and the "Red Scare" that changed him. Even after that, he still admired his leadership and never disparaged FDR.

He even got a few things right, use Keynesian principles, government expenditure to pull out a recession, get the hell out of Lebanon during its civil war and was willing to work across the aisle with Democrats.

His philosophy was only slightly enacted. It was right wing media that changed a flawed person into a deity.

In today's political environment, even Reagan is too liberal by the GOP. Republicans are now openly flirting with fascism...it has nothing to do with "free market capitalism". Hell, even Adam Smith would say what the GOP wants isn't capitalism.

[C Moon]

24. I'm speaking of the Reagan administration. They began trickle down, taking down unions

and the demise of the middle-class.
I don't care who Reagan was as a person.

[Xolodno]

25. That I can agree with. But all too often DU falls for the same trap...

...as Rethugs do.

They deify Reagan as some kind of a saint. On the Dem side, we deify him as some sort of "grand demon"...which feeds Rethugs. Reality is, he was neither. If we can agree that he had the right idea on ABC...but was completely wrong on everything after that, it will go a long way.

[L. Coyote]

17. Check your pockets everyone, and your balance sheet.