Robert Reich: Will Of The American People Being Subordinated By Demands Of Giant $$$-Making Machines

[kpete]

The Final Lesson Of BP
user-pic
By Robert Reich - July 29, 2010, 9:36AM

..............

The will of the American people is being subordinated to the demands of giant money-making machines called global corporations that can now spend or threaten to spend unlimited amounts of money in support of any politician willing to help them make more and against any who might cause them to make less.

This is the final lesson of BP.

What should you do? As with the loophole-ridden finance reform law, and the new health law that richly rewards Big Pharma -- get angry, not cynical. Commit to getting big money out of politics, even if it takes us years.

more:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/07/29/the_final_lesson_of_bp/#more

[Warpy]

1. A minor quibble with terminology

Those machines haven't been money making machines for decades.

They're money stealing machines, sucking fees out of every level of the economy. It's one major reason we're all so broke.

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. +1. nt

[lib2DaBone]

3. The lobbyists swarm over Capital Hill like cock roaches...

What is the estimate.. over 3000 lobbyist visits weekly?

Envelopes full of cash, Bahama Vacations, free dinners, free apartments...the politicians are out of control.

The final straw was when BP turned the U.S. Coast Guard into their own private police force in the Gulf..... no one noticed, the media said nothing... life goes on.

[Blackhatjack]

4. IF you control the MSM, You control the message ... and if you control the message...

... you can convince the victim you are 'bleeding' them for their own good up to the point that they die.

Corporate power in this country cannot restrain itself from exploiting this country's assets and its citizens.

[flyarm]

5. + 1 million! well said! eom

[Bitwit1234]

6. The first thing this country needs is an honest caring and truthful

media. And all political affiliations should be kept out of them.

[Land Shark]

7. And the will of the people is regularly subordinated in election voting systems & halls of Congress

[democrat2thecore]

8. Reich is always SO good. He is brave, says what he means and means what he says

I appreciate his honesty about the state of the party today. He thinks dissent within the party when things don't go as expected by ANY part of the party - is a healthy thing! I agree. Engagement and discussion is democracy in action. Arguing the fine points of policy within our party is very important so that the platform actually MEANS SOMETHING.

[Kurovski]

9. K&R. (nt)