How the US political machine works for the few at the expense of many

[JohnnyCougar]

I have often wondered how, in a Democracy where rich people get just as many votes as poor people, that the rich and powerful keep winning. If the top 1% of income earners control the majority of the wealth in this country, why aren't the poor voting for candidates that pass more favorable laws for them? Why have tax cuts favored the rich time and time again?

The answer is, they have us divided: poor versus poor. Middle class versus middle class. They have taught us to hate each other. FReepers hate us because we don't fear God. We hate them because they do. Poor Republicans hate us because they see the Democrats as a Washington insider party. Democrats hate Republicans because they are a Wall Street insider party.

The problem is, this conflict only benefits the Republicans. Democratic policy is set to benefit the less well off. The less well off are too busy hating the other "less well offers" than hating the Republican plutocracy that screws them. And by "less well off," I mean the middle class and the upper-middle class that aren't politically connected, as well as the lower class.

Our energies are divided against each other like this:


When the real division of power looks like this:


Since Democrats are the party of responsibility, it will be up to us to correct this aberration. All those Bible thumping FReepers are being screwed just as bad as everyone else, if not worse. It is our job to stand up for them, too. There is no reason for them to hate us. There is no reason for us to hate them. They have been the victim of a generation-long propaganda campaign telling them that Democrats want to destroy their culture, religion, and way of life. We want to do nothing of the sort, but we only give off that false impression when we chastise them and make fun of them calling them rednecks and hicks, and when our politicians do not speak their language.

It is easier than many people think to end the pseudo-war going on between the poor and middle-class. All you have to do is reach out and listen. Although it takes two to make a thing go right, many Republicans will be surprised if a Democrat is willing to listen to their problems. We all have more in common than we are told, and if we can find common ground with Republicans, we can bring them over to our side. The natural forces encourage them to come over to our side anyways. They have healthcare problems, children to feed, etc. The "culture war" crap is nothing but a Karl Rove psy-op to distract people from who really has their hand in the honey pot. The division created by the fake "culture war" was created by Republicans to help the Republicans win when only a slight minority benefit.

The division of political energies should look more like this:


The one politician I have confidence to shape a scenario like this is Howard Dean. He is concerned about everyone who should be interested in Democratic politics. When he reaches out, we will be surprised at how many people we will see reaching back. If we can destroy this fake "culture war" crap, we will begin to see enormous progress for our party, and eventually the death of the Republican party once again.

[Warpy]

1. The problem is how we finance campaigns.

Nobody is really able to wake up one morning and say, "Gee whiz, I'm gonna run for governor/congress/the senate, president!" Even if he's Bill Gates, the cost of these campaigns has grown so enormous that he'd put a serious dent in his personal fortune.

No, what happens is that they're contacted by a consortium of rich men who say, "Son, we think you'd be a bangup candidate for public office, and we're gonna sponsor you!"

So we're only offered candidates who are handpicked by the rich in both parties.

40 years ago, when unions were powerful, the unions could get together and back pro labor candidates. However, since the 40 year war against unions has succeeded in destroying their political power, as well as much of their membership, this is no longer the case.

So we're stuck. It's why we won't see a truly prolabor, procitizen candidate until we change the appalling way our campaigns for public office are run and funded.

We all know what needs to be done. However, the candidates proposed and backed by the rich like the system just the way it is. It's how they got where they are.

[TomClash]

2. Here's a flash

Many Democrats would rather not talk economics. They want a party that focuses on social issues or foreign policy or something else, anything but a modest redistribution of wealth from the dividend class to working people.

I will back a candidate in 2008 who will talk plainly to workng class whites, not mock them. I have a strategy. I have the contours of a plan. And I think I have the person. If I don't I'm going to create her or him myself come hell or high water.

[JohnnyCougar]

3. Kick.

:kick:

[JohnnyCougar]

4. Kick again.