Big business, not religion, is the real power in the White House

[biscotti]

snip: from a very insightful article
Those who want to take on the Bush administration should keep all this in the forefront of their mind. The Christian right may be the juicier, more telegenic target, but they are not the sole, or even central, driving force of US policy. To take the most serious example, toppling Saddam Hussein was hardly a priority for evangelicals; but invading Iraq, with its oil reserves, was certainly appealing to US big business.

Where does that leave Democrats? It suggests that in November, and again in 2008, they should train their sights on the real enemy. It does not pay to get into a fight with "values voters". More important is to make a values case of their own, putting the moral, even religious, arguments against poverty, environmental despoliation and a greed culture. That could even work as a wedge issue - splitting "values" Republicans from boardroom ones. As for the rest of us, we shouldn't be distracted by a stunt on gay marriage. We should know exactly what it is we are up against.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1791825,00.html

[AndyTiedye]

1. The Unholy Alliance

The cheap labor Rethuglicans hire crooked preachers like Ralph Reed to keep the workers in line.
No theocracy has ever fallen to a popular uprising in over 5000 years of recorded history.

[Donkeykick]

2. I do agree...

with you; however, you must remember that it is easier to fight what you can see; not what is hidden.

[eallen]

3. Most big business couldn't give a rat's ass about Iraq.

Microsoft isn't affected. Nor HP. Nor American Express. Nor Coca Cola. Nor Johnson & Johnson. Nor Pfizer. Nor Verizon. Nor Walmart. Caterpillar might benefit from that kind of war, since Halliburton and similar companies buy their equipment. Boeing gets some benefit.

Going down the list of Dow or S&P companies, most really don't have a stake in the war.

This notion that "big business" speaks with one mind on political issues like Iraq is pretty silly. Some companies will benefit from the war spending. A few will have business disrupted by the war itself. Most, really aren't that affected one way or the other. Iraq never was a big market.

It's ironic, that I've read opposing explanations of why the oil companies would want the Iraq war. Some say it is to gain access to Iraqi oil. (Question: which ones have done so?) Others say it was to limit Iraqi oil getting to market and driving prices up.

[theoldman]

5. I don't totally disagree with you but these companies need

government contracts. The only way to get them is to contribute to a political party in power.

[theoldman]

4. Big business provides the money and the religious right

provides the votes for Republicans. The Democrats need a similar system. It takes both money and votes to win an election. Think about all of the candidates that had a lot of money and still lost the election. I think that Democrats can come up with the money but are too fragmented among the voters.

[Vidar]

6. Of course.

[shrike]

7. No brainer

I'm sure many a Republican laughs behind his hand when dealing with the Christian Right. But, it brings in the votes.