Politics Is Being Used To Distract From Economic Reality

[Parisle]

---- You can say a lot of bad things about the republicans, but by God they stick to their gameplan. And I don't mean the White House agenda, either. I am talking about the gameplan handed to them by the corporatist feudal lords,... the Mellon-Scaifes,.. the oil & finance barons,.. a hundred or so families whose names you never hear,.. but they are there. If the republicans are their "first team" spear carriers, then that political mission must largely entail the creating of diversions, the arousing of distracting and emotional decoy issues, and maintaining the convincing appearance of actually representing a percentage of the electorate.

---- Consider the headlines from just the past week or so. The looming collapse of the "housing bubble" is said to threaten the evaporation of trillions of dollars in homeowner equity. Foreclosures at a record pace. Trade imbalance hits another record, as well. Ford Motors about to lose $6 billion, and offering "buyouts" to 75,000 employees. Total debt has the dollar in more jeopardy than ever, and an increasing percentage of that debt is being taken on by foreign creditors,... like China. Outsourcing, offshoring and corporate welfare continue apace,.. and the tidal wave of cheap illegal immigrant labor is being actively encouraged by the radical rightwing PNAC-corporatist faction of the once-respectable GOP. Real wages are down,... CEO compensation is through the roof,.. and this administration is consumately preoccupied with its ability to wiretap and torture.

---- But, have no fear, the sitting administration will tell you that the deficit is lower than expected,.. economy is strong,.. and, oh yeah, unemployment went down another tenth of a percent this month. And this "news" will skitter off the periphery of our civic radar, because we are all preoccupied with war, Iraq, Iran, Abu Ghraib, elections, past elections, who-said-what-about-whom,.. blah, blah, blah,...self-righteous political gossip off the goddamned meter,.. "Oh, isn't this an outrage?" and so on, and so on.

---- The American economy is a shambles. By "American economy," I refer to our overall ability to feed, clothe and house ourselves, stay gainfully employed,.. and produce not only more than we need, but produce something that is better than what the rest of the world is doing. We aren't doing any of that. We have abdicated all the salient ideals and objectives of a national and cultural economy, except one,.... "profit." And this happened for the simple reason that we permit the wrong people to make our important decisions. Democracy was supposed to be a "one man - one vote" deal,.. but the combination of big money, modern media "persuasion" techniques, and the collusive political industry have handed the right of majority will to the uppermost privileged class. And they no longer have any country, nor do they care to be "governed."

---- Remember "It's the economy, stupid?" Well, that's more true now than ever before. In fact, there is probably no time when it is not true. In a world about to erupt into open warfare over dwindling planetary resources, not the least of which is oil, the United States holds two big cards,... our ability to feed far more people than reside here, and our capacity for innovation. But these cards have to be played in a manner which affords the most benefit to the most people. Our present-day economic reality is that every wealth-producing ability we possess is channelled increasingly to fewer and fewer people at the top. And that is riding for a big fall.

[skids]

1. I hear ya...

...even over the snoring of sleeping sheep.

[RandomUser]

2. No. "When your opponent is sinking, throw them an anchor."

I'm not saying that the economic issues aren't important -- they are. But right now, Iraq is dragging Bush and the Republicans down. Don't let them wiggle away.

The Republican's are saying that local issues like the economy are what's important, because they don't want to be linked to Bush and Iraq. The Democrats are trying to "nationalize" the election the way the GOP did in 1994, by tying every Republican to Bush and his misteps from Iraq to Katrina to Wiretaps. Stuff about jobs and "it's the economy, stupid" won't be heard over the the "terra, terra, terra" alerts from Bush.

Think of the difference between the Body Armor ad by Clark's VoteVets group against Allen, and an ad that just complains about the economy, jobs, unemployment, etc (you've seen them in every election cycle, I'm sure). Which would resonate more with the voters, which attacks the Republican's perceived strength and appeals to heartland patriotism to defeat Bush? Which nationalizes the election rather than break it down to local economics? If Republicans are trying to prevent nationalization for fear of connecting to Bush and Iraq, you do the opposite. Never give the enemy what they want.

If they're trying to shift the focus from Iraq to domestic and economic stuff like God, Guns, and Gays, you shouldn't oblige. The American public is souring on Iraq, let's make sure they link that with Republicans, and force every Republican to say whether they "support Bush" or not. If they do, they will go down in the polls with him. If they don't, they'll have a harder time clinging to the "terra, terra, terra" meme.

We're making progress with agressive tactics like the Body Armor ad by the group led by Wes Clark and Paul Hackett. Attack the Republicans on their perceived strength.

[Craftsman]

8. Bread and butter issues are always winners in an election

It is nto the only thing you run on but it is a winner. Because it does not matter if you are to the right or to the left you have kids to feed, car and house payments to make. "It's the economy stupid" elected the only democratic president in 26 years.

[izzie]

3. Hard to believe that this Republican can even mess this up

But Bush has out done himself in Mess. I can hardly believe that my sister hit it so well. She told us 'Mark my words this Bush will leave a mess every place. I have met men like him and they always do. Some one will have to clean up after him' and she said this when he came into office. Since the night he got 'voted' in it has been one big mess. He is sort of like 'Pigpen' on Snoopy. The kid with all the dirt and I think it is his name.

[lapfog_1]

4. I know this won't be popular with some DUers

but the phrase "tidal wave of cheap illegal immigrant labor" plus outsourcing triggered a thought:

A lot of the jobs threatened by this corporatist trend are the remaining manufacturing and
farm worker jobs... jobs that used to be the core of the unions... unions that used to be the
core of the middle class and the democratic party.

So... while *I* believe that the only good way to stop illegal immigrants is to bring their wages up
in their own countries and provide the illegals hope of a better life in their native lands... that's
a long term goal and is coupled with foreign cooperation...

But we face a very important election NOW... important to the future of our nation (will we have a
constitution and a system of government with checks and balances?.. for example).

So... let's run to the right of the repukes on the illegal immigrant problem (yeah, it sucks, but it will
win us cross over votes and make us look "strong on defense"... in this case D-FENCE).
So let's propose building a huge fence and upping the border patrol and put teeth into employee status checks
with real punishment for corporations that don't check. Don't talk to me about Canadian border... that's
a canard. If we run to the "right" on immigration, we may lose some latino votes, but we might gain more
votes from repukes (and those count twice, as I'm sure you are aware).

So that we don't lose latino vote... put out the message about social justice for people in Mexico and
Latin America... and, though no guest worker program, call for a large increase in LEGAL immigrants
from Latin America

[Vinca]

5. You're going to get flamed, but you've got a point.

It might be fun to go to their right just for the entertainment value. Can you imagine what the 'pukes would do if Democrats took to the floors of Congress and demanded not only a fence, but a wall . . . and, what the hell, a moat? And guards . . . every 6 feet. They could opine about how liberal the Republicans are. (I know, now I'm being flamed, too, but it's out of the Republican playbook. Lie, cheat and steal until you win the election and then do whatever the hell you want.)

[lapfog_1]

6. Yup. that's what I have in mind

Promise 'em a "Great Wall of Norte America", get the votes... hell, hack the vote if we have to (be the
last ones to hack it!)

Then, while taking a long time to build that wall, start some serious discussions with our neighbors to
the south about how they can help out AND build themselves a better society at the same time.

[papau]

7. Average income after inflations decreases under Bush since 2001

http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/histinc/p01ar.html

Table P-1. CPS Population and Per Capita
Money Income, All Races: 1967 to 2004

(Population as of March of the following year. Income
in current and 2004 CPI-U-RS adjusted dollars 28/)
__________________________________________________________
Per capita income
______________________
Year..................Number.........Current $.....2004 $
2004..................291,155 ..... $23,848 ..... $23,848
2003 .................288,280 ......23,276 .......23,902
2002 .................285,933 ......22,794....... 23,943
2001 .................282,082 ..... 22,851....... 24,384
2000 .................279,517...... 22,346....... 24,511
1999 .................276,804 ..... 21,239 ...... 24,074
1998 271,743 20,120 23,286
1997 269,094 19,241 22,582
1996 266,792 18,136 21,739
1995 25/ 264,314 17,227 21,204
1994 24/ 262,105 16,555 20,872
1993 23/ 259,753 15,777 20,310
1992 22/ 256,830 14,847 19,589
1991 251,434 14,617 19,770
1990 248,886 14,387 20,162
1989 246,191 14,056 20,678
1988 243,685 13,123 20,135
1987 21/ 241,187 12,391 19,704
1986 238,789 11,670 19,190
1985 20/ 236,749 11,013 18,440
1984 19/ 234,066 10,328 17,869
1983 231,852 9,494 17,082
1982 229,587 8,980 16,828
1981 227,375 8,476 16,824
1980 225,242 7,787 16,908
1979 18/ 223,160 7,168 17,282
1978 215,935 6,455 17,026
1977 214,159 5,785 15,915
1976 17/ 212,566 5,271 15,426
1975 16/ 211,140 4,818 14,909
1974 16/15/ 209,572 4,445 14,894
1973 207,949 4,141 15,250
1972 14/ 206,302 3,769 14,749
1971 13/ 204,840 3,417 13,783
1970 205,214 3,177 13,384
1969 202,189 3,007 13,278
1968 200,139 2,731 12,585
1967 12/ 198,120 2,464 11,809

[sendero]

9. I think...

.... people have been hearing "the economic sky is falling" for so long that they don't believe it any more. Well, just because someone cried wolf unnecessarily a few times does not mean the wolf is not at the door this time.

I agree with you - we are headed for a massive correction that will effect everyone but the richest Americans. Looking at it, and the way it is coming about, it almost looks planned.

But, planned or accidental, America is in deep sneakers economically and the forces arrayed against us are overwhelming. I do believe that Americans will hold Republicans accountable, as they should. That is just about the only silver lining I can think of.

[Parisle]

10. I posted about that a while back,..

---- It very much DOES have the appearance that that the wealthiest and corporate class is girding for something,... either an economic collapse which they know to be inevitable,.. a radical political shift,.. possibly even the societal effects of a dire environmental or medical revelation. There ya go,.... the "Red Death" is coming,... and Bush is Prince Prospero inviting his rich, courtly pals to safety while the rest of us suffer....

---- But the next question becomes, "How bad will it be?" Worse than the 25% unemployment of the Great Depression? Worse than the currency collapse of the Weimar Republic? Something from a Road Warrior flick?

[sendero]

12. Nobody can tell...

.. how bad it will be. Some folks think that the gov't can forestall any serious problems with monetary sleight of hand, count me as one who thinks they've already been sleighting as fast as they can and it hasn't worked. In fact, it's made it much worse.

My wife and I have put a lot of time, money and effort into insulating ourselves, but only the super-rich have even a chance of really being insulated, and we're not super rich :)

We live in interesting times. I care mostly because I have teenage kids, and am fearful of what they will be coming of age in. But, we're just here for the ride after all :)

[nealmhughes]

11. Glad you have seen the light....

David Brock and Greg Palast have been preaching to the choir for a spell now, and finally everyone is getting to hear the sermon.

All the Taliban, Talibangelist, AEI "senior fellows", Heritage talking points, etc. are nothing more than a major distraction to reality. Now, some of the neocons are "true believers" but most of them are opportunists who don't want to work or really write, just bloviate on the cable shows.

Unfortunately, the neocon agenda (Ari Cohen meets the ghost of antiTrotsky) about "power" was just enough to say "cool" to our oilochracy and Diva Rand inspired Congress/corporate powers (peas in a pod) and now the results are in: "free trade", neoliberalism, and a growth of the greedy slime of the multinationals' boardrooms and their enablers (the present US Congress, with few excepted) take over America and the entire world slowly, step by step, inch by inch, until slowly the BushCo,Inc. agenda blows up in their faces with the Iraq war, after the attack of 9/11.

September 11 2001 gave the neocons a voice that was already loud, a phony "intellectual" basis upon which to "spread democracy (and multinational monopoly capitalism along for the ride)". Jerry Falwell, Hagee, Robertson, and all the other right wing Jesus machine kicked in, as usual to their corporate masters and told us how Jesus wants revenge! The Heritage/AEI crowd, bought and paid for out of mega corporate money with impressively titled "fellows" and "senior fellows," spew out Terra! Terra! Terra! at every turn, enabled by knee-jerk lazy journalists and Congress: throw money at it: Halliburton knows what to do... Soon Iraqi oil will be too cheap to meter, thwarting OPEC.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. The megacorps have an agenda that isn't written down anywhere: it is too obvious to have to be recorded, as actions speak louder than words. The agenda is simple: China is to make the electronic trinkets for the consumers, Arabia is to supply the oil at their cartel prices, Iraq is to be conquered to get rid of the wild card in the oil agenda, the Baathist secular Arab Socialism doctrine and entrench US military power in the form of bases there to protect the Arabian oil. The fact that Saddam was a tyrant was just perfect, and not believing that Old Sammy and a bunch of guys who had been Uncle Ronnie's heroes just a decade before were actually a bunch of batshit crazy wild eyed extremists out for revanche on the US for touching "holy" Arabian soil and whipping women who showed their faces in public and hanging gay youth.

We played with fire in Afghanistan. We threw gasoline on the fire in Iraq to put it out. The only winners I see are the "reconstruction" dollars, the coming bases on the Gulf, a renovated Taliban/al Qaeda and absolute chaos in Iraq. But, the chaos has a reward: the oil traders in London, NYC, Frankfurt, etc. are kept in a tizzy, buy! No, sell! Buy! Volatility leads to artificial scarcity, which coupled with the cartel's stranglehold is lovely for ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, and all the usual suspects. Meanwhile, the Chinese quietly get their Iranian oil to fuel their serfs' labor for our megacorp sold trinkets. Jesus and Moses and Ayn Rand and Paul Wofowitz tell us it is "fantastic," Heaven on Earth, except for the lies upon which all this is based, and how the megacorps/WTO/NAFTA/CAFTA have driven our standards downhill constantly since they came to power.

We get poor, the rich get richer and Ayn Rand trumps Paul Wolfowitz. Meanwhile Baghdad bleeds and the guns get fired at Arlington and in small town cemeteries throughout the USA...