Oligarchy

[Triana]

[Bill Fishlore]

1. Not the good old days

America is still waking up groggy from the golden days of 1945 when we had half the world's GDP and were idolized as the acme of democracy and freedom.

The oil shocks of the 1970s signalled that a new global economic era was fast approaching while the turbulence of the 1960s and the Vietnam disaster revealed deep flaws in our social structure and government system.

Alas, we failed to make a soft landing on the new world order and, instead of finishing the remodelling bgun with the New Deal, opted for a fuzzy set of beliefs called reaganomics and conservatism.

The result has been a drop in rank from unquestioned Number One to middle rank in those areas where we once led the world: medical outcomes, public education, environmental protection, upward mobility, and living standards generally. We are a huge but fractious country steadily bankrupting ourselves in useless military adventures. We are unable to feed all our children. Veterans are committing suicide hourly. Our murder and incarceration rates are the highest in the developed world.

There has been only one winner in this half-century of decline: the rich and super-rich. There is a lesson here.

[KansDem]

4. Astute observations!

There has been only one winner in this half-century of decline: the rich and super-rich.

And your summary is spot on!

Welcome to DU!!

[lewebley3]

15. Joe Sestak for VP of Penn: Naval commander and loyal Dem

[AntiBank]

32. loyal Dem who Obama, Biden, Casey, Tester, etc shit all over

Joe Sestak's last stand against the Democratic Party
Washington Democrats are spending big to defeat one of their own in a must-win Pennsylvania Senate race.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/sestak-pa-primary-221644#ixzz4B6irBoEe

DREXEL HILL, Pa. — There’s no ideological civil war underway here. No, this is all personal — just former Navy Adm. Joe Sestak making his last stand against Democratic Party leaders who’ve been trying to sink him for six years and counting.
On paper, Sestak is about everything Democrats could want in a Senate candidate: a charismatic, decorated veteran elected to the House from a swing district who nearly defeated Republican Pat Toomey in 2010, one of the toughest election years for Democrats in decades.

But the independent streak that attracts voters is precisely what worries national Democrats so much about Sestak: They believe, for the second time since 2010, that he could blow a winnable Senate race because of his tendency to reject the slightest hint of marching orders from party bosses. Sestak is the first to admit he likes doing things his way, and party leaders quickly tired of constantly being told, in so many words, to take a hike.

In response, the whole D.C. Democratic gang is all-in for Sestak’s main Democratic rival, Katie McGinty — from Barack Obama and Joe Biden to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.). More than that, the national party is dropping more than $1 million to push McGinty past Sestak — a rare move by Democrats in a Senate primary that reflects their level of disdain for him.

snip

A high-ranking Democratic senator whom Sestak refuses to name allegedly asserted to him: “Sestak, whenever I tell you anything, the only answer will be, ‘yes.’”

snip


Trust me, Hillary is not picking him, he isnt leashable

[WordsFromOurSponsor]

34. Hmmmm

Still trying to understand the Sestak non nsequitor. Is he running for something else now?

[lewebley3]

39. No, but that's makes him a good choice: Hillary said she wants someone that

can step in for her and look after country in a crisis is necessary.

[SpankMe]

6. Great comment. Thanks.

You're so new, here at DU. Tell us how long before you're totally pissed off with the place! It's had its ups and downs lately. It's been a net positive for me. But, there have been a lot of trolls of late.

[chapdrum]

10. Well said, Bill.

Welcome to DU.

[yurbud]

12. re post WW II: It wasn't that US was so frickin capitalist or had the right mix of socialism..

and capitalism or such a great democracy.

We were the largest country that didn't have the war fought on its soil.

I realized this reading something about the kitchen debate between Khrushchev and Nixon in 1959.

The take home was supposed to be that Americans had a higher standard of living than the Soviets and therefore our economic and political system was superior.

Whether or not our way was superior, the Soviet Union had the bulk of World War II fought on their land, decimating their cities and their industries.

The same is true with our European allies.

We thought our shit didn't stink because we were making stuff while everybody else was still clearing rubble and burying the bodies.

By the mid to late 70's, that started to change.

[TexasBushwhacker]

21. So true. Thanks for pointing that out. N/t

[ChiciB1]

26. So True... What So Many Don't Know Is That It Was The Russians

who bore the brunt, but has never been credited for their role in winning WWII. Has nothing to do with the Russia of today, but so many historians will say that it was Russia that won the War!

I'm not going to provide links to those of you who are skeptics, DO SOME RESEARCH and find out! NOT hard to find!

[yurbud]

29. That's why it was criminal Obama skipped that World War II event in Russia last year

God forbid we acknowledge their role defeating the Nazis and undermine the new Cold War they're trying to gin up in Washington.

[ChiciB1]

36. Yes, I Commented About ANACONDA & What The United Nations ed

coalition that is being amassed on the border of Russian. Since I said I heard it on The Thom Hartmann Show some idiot replied that Thom was a propagandist basically dissing the seriousness of the situation.

I'm SO FED up with too many uninformed people here and all over this country! A simple Google search or some OTHER search engine would lead them to dig a little deeper.

I do not know who you support, but for me Hillary is such a hawk and I fear where she may lead us. It's been said she's more hawkish than Bob Gates.

I'm sick of constant War and this action is being called a precursor to perhaps a World War III. I know it sounds propagandist but I'M not trying to spread rumors only trying to say BEWARE!

[yurbud]

37. Hillary is better than Trump on domestic issue but on foreign policy, Trump MIGHT start

some unnecessary wars, but Hillary definitely will.

Which does not mean I would vote for Trump.

[ChiciB1]

38. My Sentiments Exactly... So, As I've Said So Very Many, Many Times

in the past and now... Be careful of what you wish for. Bill Clinton attended the funeral for Mohamed Ali which actually OFFENDED many who were there. I'm aware that Ali was a controversial personality having voted for Ronald Reagan, but he was aware of what The Clintons were about.

Bill Clinton attending his funeral IMO is just ANOTHER way that The Clintons do whatever is necessary to promote more the "faux" illusion that they do so well to persuade and promote themselves. It is what it is and I do have to give credit to how they've mastered to sell themselves in much the same way as the characters in House Of Cards, Frank & Clair Underwood. Having watched the latest Series my FIRST reaction to the last scene was... Bill & Hillary Clinton.

I have no idea or clue why it ended as it did, but I can't get over the the similarities. I also know that I'm not alone in thinking this way, it's been a topic that's come up many times when my family and friends have talked about the show.

My Country Right Or Wrong... a thought that has prevailed in this country for far too many years. CHANGE is needed NOW! Time will tell!

[lewebley3]

40. The Clinton admin was largely peaceful : Clinton's chose not to invade Iraqi:

and when they did order military actions in Kosovo they went with allied support, and
not single American was killed. Populations were able to go home after the actions and
while the refuges fled the were given food and shelter. There are streets named
of the Americans in Kosovo in thanks to the Clinton's.

[yurbud]

41. Hillary has a slightly different record as senator & sec of state

[lewebley3]

42. Presidents have policies authority not Senators or Sec: your point is moot

[yurbud]

43. Senators vote for foreign policy initiatives like WARS and Secretaries of State choose how to enact

policies of the president and in some cases, are given the latitude to set policy.

[whatthehey]

35. IIRC 80% of all German combat fatalities were by Russians.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

18. So what are we going to do about changing it?

Welcome to DU.

[Raster]

22. Welcome to DU!

"There has been only one winner in this half-century of decline: the rich and super-rich."

[JDPriestly]

23. K&R.

[panader0]

24. Welcome to DU. I look forward to reading more of your posts.

[ChiciB1]

27. I'll Welcome You To DU, But I Know Many Will Be Leaving Soon, Still

thanks for your very truthful thoughts.

[zentrum]

2. Love Fugelsang

Wish he had been Bernie's speech writing consultant. He says what needs to be said so sharply.

[rhett o rick]

3. Looks like it ain't gona get better soon.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

7. No, it's not, just more shifting of our nation's wealth and policies...

Last edited Thu Jun 9, 2016, 02:30 PM - Edit history (1)

...to benefit the few at the expense of the many.

[rhett o rick]

14. I hope we haven't already passed the point of no return on getting our democracy back.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

20. It's going to take one hell of a fight

to reclaim it.

[bahrbearian]

5. "Never ever , Pie in the Sky"

[midnight]

8. Thank you John-spot on.

[LS_Editor]

9. American Exceptionalism.

[jtuck004]

11. Problem is, over half the country is convinced that is a positive. n/t

[Martin Eden]

13. We can't, We can't, We can't, We can't ......

..... because we've been conditioned to believe we can't have universal Single Payer health insurance, free education, a living wage, and time off to live.

[mnhtnbb]

16. No way people in this country want to work to live: they live to work.

[Jopin Klobe]

17. Keep a group of Humans afraid and confused and ...

... you can talk them into Hell ...

... like now, for instance ...

[Dont call me Shirley]

19. Where's his sarcasm thingy? Because being sick with no insurance is a death sentence not a fucking

JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ChiciB1]

25. ABSOLUTELY LOVE John Fugelsang! Very Strong Bernie Supporter, But

said he will support Hillary BECAUSE of the danger of TRUMP. I've heard him speak about this election so very many times and he totally supported Bernie's issues cause and MOVEMENT. But, now I'm sure he won't upset the apple cart, but he has been exceedingly fair and strong for what Bernie has been able to do and really wants the movement to continue. I've heard him say that this country really NEEDS to start looking at what has happened under the way our Government has been operating for far too long!

IMO, if he had more leeway and IF it wasn't for TRUMP I feel he would rather the nominee wasn't Hillary, but he will do what he feels he needs to now.

[colsohlibgal]

28. Why Don't More Comprehend This?

We used to have essentially non profit healthcare. The insurance companies would be a pool of office workers and maybe 2-3 bosses making 40-90 percent more or so. Just ordinary overhead.

My parents were lower middle class. My Dad needed major back surgery when I was nine, old enough to know this was not a real money worry for my folks.

The for profit con started with HMOs in the Eighties. They got you in with low prices then lowered the boom quickly. It is just plain evil. What does some clown in a penthouse making 6 million a year add to health care delivery? All they do is add financial crisis to people already dealing with cancer or injury.

And we do get less vacation and later retirement. Life indeed in the Oligarchy.

Wake up people!

[pansypoo53219]

30. zombie joe mccarthyism. brainwashed idiots thinking socialism=communism.

and the bootstrap bullshit.

[colsohlibgal]

31. Really

Too many are too dense or too absorbed with brainless reality TV to know socialism is our roads, our police, our fire department, etc, they know more about media creations like the Kardashians

In Communism the state owns everything, not with socialism, as in democratic socialism.

We had it about right with FDRs New Deal and ever since the plutocrats have been dead set on dismantling it...and the B Actor Reagan really went after it.

[Rex]

33. We were taken for a ride as consumers, two income families were robbed of their prosperity

decades ago. Trump is the Grand Old Plutocracies favorite plutocrat. They want to finish off the middle class.