Very basic questions about our Economy and Politics. Reasonable responses requested

[Armstead]

Many of us (myself included) get into snarping matches over variations on a very basic theme that seems to be very divisive in the Democratic Party and the center-to-left side of the spectrum in general.

In an effort to take a step back, I am asking a few basic questions that I hope people will respond to in an honest and objective manner. I will promise to behave myself (or at least try to) and not get into any pissing matches in response.

This is an attempt to understand the honest basis behind the positions people here hold on related issues. Rather than being flame bait, I hope this will elicit honest and clear explanations for why people hold the particular positions they do.

The questions:
Do large corporations and wealthy investors and owners-- and the values they espouse -- have too much power over our country?

Is that a major problem, or just a fact of life?

And....ta da...Has the approach of the Democratic Party to these issues over the last 30 years been helpful in controlling this, not helpful at all or has it contributed to the problem?

My own answers in a nutshell are that I believe excessive corporate power and the mentality behind it has become an oppressive force in our society. I believe the Democratic Party has contributed to this in recent decades. I also believe that the Democratic Party SHOULD be the countervailing force to this.

[PowerToThePeople]

1. yes, major, contributed. eom

[elleng]

2. Yes, Yes, and No,

I agree with you, especially aggravating that the Democratic Party NOW appears to be doing little to counter the strength of the 'others,' especially re: addressing repug congressional power monopoly. I don't think this has been the case for 30 years, but sure seems to be now that Dem Party is ignoring its proper role. I don't contribute to the Party.

[Egalitarian Thug]

5. Ted Kennedy and Tip O'Neill. Have you forgotten that without these two,

reagan's entire agenda was DOA?

I thought so.

[El_Johns]

3. I agree with you; but the Democratic party will never be a countervailing force again IMO.

[Egalitarian Thug]

4. Yes. Hell yes. And "are you fucking kidding me?". America's hard right turn toward stupid,

now this is the important part,...

could not have happened with out a ton of support from the Democratic Party and the parasites that run it.

[JDPriestly]

6. I agree with you.

[okaawhatever]

7. Yes, they have too much power. I do think the dem party has contributed somewhat, no one will be

the countervailing force until citizens united is overturned and campaign finance/media laws are changed.

While Congress gave the corporations much of their sway over politics, citizens united took it to the nth degree. A Democrat can fight this in very left leaning districts but won't be able to fight the money in less aware, less left leaning districts.

Congress is playing the hand both we and scotus gave them. The corporate owned media won't educate the voters, or rather, the miseducate the voters. Corporations and special interest groups spend billions changing the outcomes of elections, all the way down to school board.

I don't think we'll be able to change the rules overnight. It will take a Democratic Pres and congress. Once corporations can't buy elections their power will diminish. Also, once the economy is better and they are fighting for good employees versus now, when employees are fighting for a job, things will get better.

The democratic voters and supporters need to realize we're sending our soldiers into battle equipped with a slingshot when the other side has rocket launchers. If we don't change the rules of the game, we'll never find someone to win.

[Egalitarian Thug]

9. Congress is playing the deck it carefully and purposely stacked.

If anything is to be fixed, it will be fixed by people with no allegiance to any party but do hold it with their constituents.

If you're imagining that the Democratic Party is going to save us, you can get the same results in church or a casino. All of them are happy tell you what you want to hear and take your money. At least the church and the casino will give you a drink.

[JoePhilly]

12. +1, And I'd add ...

If we as Democrats spent more time fighting the GOP, and less time fighting amongst ourselves, we'd be doing far better.

We make significant progress in 2008, then give it right back in 2010.

Then, we sit around complaining that almost nothing gets done.

[hfojvt]

8. about the 3rd question, Dean Baker said it for me

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022085948

[JHB]

10. Yes, major, and contributed. And you could arguably push that to 40 years...

...when a number of things came together:
Demographic shifts reducing the relative strength of Democratic strongholds;
The Southern Strategy and other Republican/Conservative efforts to break up the Democratic coalition;
The Buckley v Valeo decision, striking down political contribution restrictions on free speech grounds;
Polarization of the Democrats about he Vietnam war, and internal bitterness over that split's contribution to the losses of the presidential elections in 68 and 72;
Changes in technology and international trade that made some of the New Deal structures dated and in need of update or course correction;
The 70's oil embargoes and high inflation;
Conservative actively marketing their views to political elites (founding think tanks) and 'working the refs' via accusations of "liberal media bias";
The rise of television advertising as a major tool in political campaigns

In short, it was a situation where some changes were needed, money had become more important than ever to politicians, and money started flowing in to ensure the changes were made in a certain direction -- one that freed up still more money for lobbying and campaign contributions, and got the attention of those seeking it.

[Armstead]

11. Good analysis IMO