Elizabeth Warren: "The New Populism Is a Fight for America's Values"

[KoKo]

Friday, 23 May 2014 10:41 By Elizabeth Warren, Campaign for America's Future | Op-Ed

Throughout our history, powerful interests have tried to capture Washington and rig the system in their favor. From tax policy to retirement security, the voices of hard-working people get drowned out by powerful industries and well-financed front groups. Those with power fight to make sure that every rule tilts in their favor. Everyone else just gets left behind.

Just look at the big banks. They cheated American families, crashed the economy, got bailed out, and now the six biggest banks are 37 percent bigger than they were in 2008. They still swagger through Washington, blocking reforms and pushing around agencies. A kid gets caught with a few ounces of pot and goes to jail, but a big bank breaks the law on laundering drug money or manipulating currency, and no one even gets arrested. The game is rigged – and it's not right!

But it isn't just the big banks. Look at the choices the Federal government makes: Our college kids are getting crushed by student loan debt. We need to rebuild our roads and bridges and upgrade our power grids. We need more investment in medical research and scientific research. But instead of building a future, this country is bleeding billions of dollars in tax loopholes and subsidies that go to rich and profitable corporations. Many Fortune 500 companies, profitable companies, pay zero in taxes. Billionaires get so many tax loopholes that they pay lower tax rates than their secretaries. But they have lobbyists – and their Republican friends – to protect every loophole and every privilege. The game is rigged – and it's not right!

Or take a look at what's happening with trade deals.

For big corporations, trade agreement time is like Christmas morning. They can get special gifts they could never pass through Congress out in public. Because it's a trade deal, the negotiations are secret and the big corporations can do their work behind closed doors. We've seen what happens here at home when our trading partners around the world are allowed to ignore workers rights and environmental rules. From what I hear, Wall Street, pharmaceuticals, telecom, big polluters, and outsourcers are all salivating at the chance to rig the upcoming trade deals in their favor.

MUCH MORE of FULL SPEECH-- HERE AT:

http://truth-out.org/progressivepicks/item/23895-the-new-populism-is-a-fight-for-americas-values

[rhett o rick]

1. You can see why the Blue Dogs / ConseraDems fear her. She speaks the truth, and they

cant handle the truth. That's why they hate whistle-blowers and protestors. And yet they will tell you they are liberals.

[Enthusiast]

4. Blue Dogs and Conservadems are in it for the monetary rewards.

They have no moral component. They do not understand the meaning of enough.

[winter is coming]

2. K&R. Thanks for posting this. n/t

[Enthusiast]

3. Elizabeth can change the trajectory. We cannot afford another mistake.

[rhett o rick]

5. We need to fight within the Party but we must recognize it's up hill. The Wash DC Democratic Party

Machine is controlled by conservatives that carry water for the oligarchs (The Carlyle Group).

We must fight for our values via progressive organizations outside the Party also.

[KoKo]

6. Liz Warren "Gets It!" Does she have a chance to make a difference?

Her message is so strong along with Bernie Sanders. Would love to see them run as a Team.

Anyone else think their message is so strong that it's the sign of the times that BOTH should have a VOICE TOGETHER in 2016?

[winter is coming]

7. Bernie's unlikely to run if there's another candidate credibly espousing populist ideas.

So no, I can't imagine a Warren/Sanders or Sanders/Warren ticket.

[KoKo]

8. Why do you think that?

I don't think they could win...but that they could be a VOICE for a NEW Movement...........and, I think that both might be up for that.

So why do you think Bernie wouldn't go along with that just to get their Voices into the Primary Debates where we on the Left so much need their voices.

[winter is coming]

9. I don't think Bernie would bother running if there were already another candidate covering

the same ground. I wouldn't at all mind seeing him do it; I just don't expect it.