The United States is being transformed into a banana republic

[Orwellian_Ghost]

A class of people is starting to form, apologizing for and defending the oligarchy in exchange for a certain amount of privilege and comfort, and beating down the peasants or anyone who speaks for them. It is remarkable to me to hear them, since they sound exactly like the upper class mouthpieces in Latin America have sounded all these years and use almost precisely the same arguments. They are singing a bittersweet, syrupy, seductive song - the sing song lullaby of the oligarchy.

[CJCRANE]

1. Don't you mean oligarhy?

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[nightrain]

16. I'm not so sure that there's an "Obama-hating left", but certainly a critical

bunch inviting him to cease some of the previous policies and actions, and to institute and promote more humane policies and actions, to correct some strategic errors.

I think using "hate" is far too extreme.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

19. That's just a device

used by the ever rightwards shifting centrists' to quell discussion about policies of import.

Political realities mean nothing to these people and theory even less. Few if any of these people in my experience can discuss e.g. political appointees and how that reflects upon ultimate policy decisions.

[nightrain]

29. yes. and hyperbole needs to be countered.

[Indenturedebtor]

39. I agree - we move further right every year

Even when we vote Left they take us Right. And there's always someone there to defend the figurehead and call you unpatriotic or looney for crying foul.

The corporations run this country and much of the world. Anyone who refuses to admit that has their head up their ass. And what the corporations want is for you to work more for less pay and not make any trouble for them when they pollute your drinking water, and poison your children.

Why is this so hard for people to see? It explains the last 40-50 years so perfectly.

[SandWalker1984]

43. I agree with Indenturedebtor - but you left out the latest - health care and climate change

The more I read, the more I am convinced that legislation regarding both are more about wealth distribution to the top than about health care reform or reducing climate changing pollution.

If the health care bill passes, as currently written, how long will it be before the subsidies to help Americans pay for the mandated private insurance are lowered or dropped all together? Republicans, when in power, wanted to abandon the SCHIP program for children's health care -- if they can do that to children, what makes you think they will be concerned about subsidies for the rest of us to pay for mandated insurance that can increase premiums year after year without regulation?

We need to get the corporations out of control of Washington and the only way I know of to do that is campaign finance reform and lobbying reform. Which leads to one last question - will members of Congress kill the goose that lays their golden eggs?

[Indenturedebtor]

52. Yep and Nope

You're right that this is all that 99% of our legislation is about, and nope they won't kill that goose.

We're good and buggered.

[nightrain]

54. very good point about subsidies being removed at some future date by folks who

don't want to support them anylonger...

So we have enough money for endless war and empire-building, but not enough to really provide health CARE to our people. Priorities are really backward, and the distress we feel about it shows up in acting out (violence).

[Nikki Stone1]

56. Yes.

Thanks for recognizing that.

[Larry Ogg]

42. You exhibit authoritarian reasoning at its perilous worst.

Alas truth be dammed, you know your right because those who agree with you say you are.

But if subjective reasoning is what makes you happy; by all means ignore the facts…

[Greyhound]

3. Uncanny, ain't it?

How long until the razor wire, machine gun emplacements, and quasi-governmental "security" forces are deployed to protect their gated communities?
:kick: & R

[bikingaz]

35. how does next Wednesday fit your schedule?

By the way, that was a sarcastic remark

[fascisthunter]

4. the apologists sound like Glenn Beck

[CJCRANE]

5. The OP sounds like Glenn Beck.

I've been away for a while but there seem to be some Rovian techniques on DU today.

[Starry Messenger]

6. Are you joking?

When did Glenn Beck give a shit about the poor? Clue me in here.

[CJCRANE]

7. These are all Glenn Beck talking points and the exact same words

that Beck uses.

(It doesn't mean Beck believes it but this is almost exactly what Beck said).

[Starry Messenger]

8. Again, did Glenn Beck take on the plight of the poor?

The OP is talking about comfortable fat asses throwing poor people to their own devices to grab at a few goodies. Is that something that Glenn Beck critiques? Somehow I doubt he gives a rat's ass, since he is himself auditioning for the oligarchy.

[CJCRANE]

10. I know nothing about the poster except for their words on the page

and they are using the same terminology as Glenn Beck.

It sounds like you haven't actually watched Glenn Beck (there are usually clips in the Political Videos forum).

[Starry Messenger]

11. Well if you string words together differently

they create a different meaning. That's why it is good to read for comprehension as well as checking for vocabulary. If you can come back with a quote from Glenn Beck that shows that he cares about poor people in this terminology you mention, you might have a case. I am familiar with Mr. Beck and I'm pretty sure you will not find such a quote.

[CJCRANE]

12. Beck's whole schtick is populist...he's a fake populist

just like any Rovian or teabagger.

[Starry Messenger]

13. Populism does not necessarily ensure that you care about poor people

fake or not. The OP is actually a leftist, the kind that Beck thinks Obama is but isn't. So this conversation is kind of ironic.

[CJCRANE]

15. The OP is words on a page.

I don't know his or her or real political motivation so I judge the words.

[Starry Messenger]

20. And what did the words say CJCRANE?

Did they say that ACORN threatened our way of life? Did you read that in there too? Glenn Beck does not know how to spell or correctly use "oligarchy". The OP does. That is an excellent basis for judgment without even knowing the political leanings of an OP.

[CJCRANE]

24. Beck has appropriated

some of the terminology of the left so it can get confusing.

But I must admit that the OP seems to know what he's talking about, unlike Beck.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

17. You're very confused here

Propaganda causes such things.

A very real populist such as Paul Wellstone was in fact ridiculed by Obama however I can understand how you could be confused by the OP if you are prone to believe such propaganda as you might encounter through the mainstream media be it Fox or the NY Times.

As one who has never heard a word or ever seen this Glenn Beck character let me suggest you start by killing your television and picking up some books on political theory, ideology and perhaps, in reference to my post, some history on the oligarchy in Latin America.

One thing which is evident here is that the political discussion in this country is so skewed to the right that the ever-ready centrists in fact line up in allegiance with the right-wingers on every issue of economic importance.

[CJCRANE]

23. Fair enough.

Beck has actually appropriated the terminology of the left for his own purposes so it can get confusing. Just beware that Beck has accused Obama of exactly the same things.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

27. This is done intentionally

For an idiot like Beck or Limbaugh they probably just echo this stuff in reactionary mode without any pre-designed script. Doesn't matter. For the more sophisticated outfits, think tanks, etc. they spend extraordinary time and energy scripting out the language of the debate.

So e.g. if they can get the "Obama is a socialist" meme, nothing could be further from the truth as Obama himself has stated, into the political consciousness of the public then it's an excellent way of constricting and narrowing the range of the entire discussion. We see that on display here as well. Now if you get such absolute madness as conflating true populist or left-leaning ideas with ardent right-wingers you can muddy the waters to such an extent that the discussion won't even get past first base. And that's what a lot of folks want in what passes for the joke of a political discussion we have at present in most of America.

Oh yeah and just plain and simple reactionary name-calling.

[troubledamerican]

57. Yes. CJC is obfuscating intentionally. It's a tactic.

[SandWalker1984]

44. Didn't know terminology belonged to either 'side'

Where do we go to sign up words for our team or their team?
What happened to 'our' team?
Or rather, should it be 'our' team against the corporate team?
Labels!

:crazy:

[CJCRANE]

46. You'd be surprised...

There are words and phrases that are associated with being liberal or conservative memes, especially in the blogosphere, as any long-time DUer will tell you.

Part of the problem is that Beck has copied our ideas and used them against us.

I used to be one of the "loony left conspiracy theorists" here on DU during the Bush era. I've seen Beck simply recycle our conspiracy theories and use them against the Obama administration. I've even seen ideas that I (and other LW bloggers) posted on DU (during the last 8 years) pop up on his show!

That's why I'm more careful these days and try to not to post as many :tinfoilhat: theories.

[arcadian]

58. Exactly

Beck tries to come across as being non-partisan. It's all bullshit though.

[Odin2005]

9. I see I'm not the first to think "sounds like Glenn Beck"...

:rofl:

[Mari333]

14. we are downgrading rapidly

when WalMart becomes an upscale place to shop, and dollar stores flourish, and half the kids are on food stamps, and the only jobs left are minimum wage burger flippers, and privatized prisons full to the brim provide slave labour for huge multinational corporations, and wars are being waged constantly , yeah, we are sliding down into some deep shit.
knr

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. It's an oligarchy propped up by borrowed money and mercenaries. It won't last. K&R

Unfortunately, like most empires in decline, it is flailing around trying to hold the empire together.

[lonestarnot]

21. They suck, now keep fighting!

[Subdivisions]

22. Bananamerica. n/t

[mitchum]

25. K & R

[The Backlash Cometh]

26. In some places, it has already happened.

[varelse]

28. I notice it didn't take long for one of their attack dogs to appear here

:(

[CJCRANE]

30. I'm just a guy who doesn't like Glenn Beck.

I don't dispute the OP's point, was just trying to figure out where he was coming from, something which the poster has now clarified.

[Bonobo]

31. I was going to jump on you too. But then I READ the thread. nt

[bvar22]

32. The economic disparity continues to widen.

The Middle Class IS shrinking as more "Middle Class" families are falling below the Poverty Line, and the rate is increasing.

"The American Worker can WILL (be forced to) compete with any worker in The World"...after his family is hungry enough.

Higher Education, which was easily affordable in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, has been placed out of reach of the Middle Class, and turned into a For Profit SCAM by the Banksters.

GOOD "Middle Class" Jobs that once provided a comfortable income, good Health Care, and retirement have been shipped overseas and replaced by McJobs.

I would say the OP makes a valid point.

K&R

Would you like some fries with that?

[Bucky]

33. No it's not. Stop being silly.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

36. Sure it is

In the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, the ratio of CEO pay to the average paycheck fluctuated between 30 and 40 to 1. This year’s ratio is estimated to be 317 to 1.

In 1955 the 400 richest people in the country were worth an average $12.6 million, adjusted for inflation. In 2006, the 400 richest increased their average to $263 million, that is, over twenty times more, representing an epochal shift of wealth upward in the U.S.

[Subdivisions]

37. Please elaborate. n/t

[Bonobo]

34. There is nothing left in the play and now they are stealing the scenery.

Seriously, I think so. I think they know they have run us into the ground and now they are just stealing the set, the lights, the cameras, etc.

[juno jones]

47. Like Frank Zappa's warning of the brick wall at the back of the theater.

Yeah, They're stealing the props right out from under us.

[Bonobo]

49. That is EXACTLY right. The "illusion of freedom" is no longer persuasive. nt

[Larry Ogg]

38. Divide and conquer comes in many colors

And the majority of sheepeople are simply too color blind to see what is going on.

But as a consolation too the white shirts, they will be the last ones to drown on the sinking ship of pretend democracy…

K&R

[Odin2005]

53. Typical kook reasoning.

Dismiss all critics as dumb sheep fooled by The Man. :eyes:

[TheWatcher]

40. The United States HAS BEEN transformed into a banana republic.

But other than that, as usual, you and I totally concur.

Imagine my surprise. ;)

Perhaps Neal Peart Said it best (And Geddy Lee Sang It.)

And keep in mind, this was 32 Years Ago

When they turn the pages of history
When these days have passed long ago
Will they read of us with sadness
For the seeds that we let grow?
We turned our gaze
From the castles in the distance
Eyes cast down
On the path of least resistance

Cities full of hatred, fear and lies
Withered hearts and cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude and
Scoffing at the wise

The hypocrites are slandering
The sacred halls of Truth
Ancient nobles showering
Their bitterness on youth
Can't we find the minds that made us strong?
Can't we learn to feel what's right
And what's wrong?

WHAT'S WRONG?

Cities full of hatred, fear and lies
Withered hearts and cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude and
Scoffing at the wise

Can't we raise our eyes and make a start?

Can't we find the minds to lead us

Closer to the Heart?

-Rush "A Farewell To Kings"

[branders seine]

41. wrong tense.

2000 erased any doubt that it already is.

[SandWalker1984]

45. Top 1% obtained 2/3 of income gains between 2002 - 2007

Study shows a stunning gap between U.S. rich and poor


The rich have left the poor far behind in the United States.

That's according to data posted on the Web site of the National Union of Public and General Employees.

It shows that the top one percent of income earners obtained two-thirds of the income gains between 2002 and 2007.

The gap between the top one percent of income earners and the bottom 90 percent is greater than at any time since 1928, according to the NUPGE.



You think this was an accident that the top 1% got richer????

[juno jones]

48. K&R! n/t

[shanti]

50. i absolutely agree

we're going down the same path.

[roody]

51. Pretty soon comes the coup d'tat.

Obama's lack of spine on Honduras will bite him.

[HamdenRice]

55. How can you know a banana republic if you've never been in one and the hot pockets keep coming

down to the basement rumpus room of world wide Trotskyite revolution headquarters?

Sounds like just a bunch of babbling nonsense from an extremely sheltered little boy.

Btw, Mom says take a break from the world wide revolution game RIGHT NOW to get your pepperoni hot pockets before they get COLD!!!

[Bonobo]

59. Wow, like you TOTALLY ranked him out, dude!

Kewl!

You fucking rock!

Hot pocket! What a rank-out! You rule!

[applegrove]

60. Yup. With the distribution of wealth in the USA heading towards that of venezuela (and

venezuela's distribution of wealth improving under Chavez) the USA could one day become "the" case study as banana republics go. If the neocons and the radical right wingers have their way.

[maryf]

61. So we just have to sing louder!!

K&R in solidarity.