Washblog

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Laissez faire vs socialism.

Happily, this is the third millenium. We have the benefit of knowing how economies work. Why the rich get richer. Why the poor stay poor. In brief, inequity is the inevitable result of market based economies. Without active downward redistribution of wealth, we get a very unbalanced society.

Fortunately, some people remember that balancing wealth and democracy has always been the challenge for our nation. Conservative author Kevin Phillips, for instance. He's been writing about it for 30+ years. It's also a truth that most rank and file Democrats and progressives know intuitively. Even if the corporate owned Democratic leadership doesn't remember.

To my continual shame, I haven't been able to figure out what the fix is. Capitalism is the efficient allocation of resources. Socialism is ensuring that there's a reasonable floor which the least fortunate amoung us can't fall below.

What we need to figure out is how to reward merit while making sure everyone gets a fair shot in this life.

Meanwhile, there are things that are absolutely necessary.

First, we must end corporate personhood. That would go a long way to reducing the generational aggregation of wealth.

Alternately, if the pro-corporatists insist on the rights of individuals for legal entities, then I insist that we (society) have the right to execute them. I mean that literally. Including the board members and executives. For instance, Dow Corning kills 1,000s of people in India. That's murder. The punishment is execution. (After a speedy conviction in a court of law, of course.)

Second, we must remove the role of money in politics. For instance, spending money is now considered free speech. So, effectively, wealthy people have more representation than the rest of us. That's not democratic. That's plutocratic. Interestingly, the people of Texas figured this out during the last progressive revolution. (The laws that Tom Delay violated.)

Okay, it's late. I'll stop there.

There was a time when the "greenhorn" on the crew was trying to get the (well it was actually a mule) donkey to move out and get along hauling the load. And the critter just stood there and wouldn't move at all. After awhile, the grizzled old Pack Train leader came along. After chewing out the greenhorn, he grabbed a big log, whacked the mule (donkey) right between the eyes. And the caravan got under way.

Griz said to green, "sometimes you just need to get their attention". Maybe, just maybe the attention of the American people and the people who hold the sacred Honor of representing them in Congress have had enough sticks, two by fours, and logs whacked in their face and might soon have a clue. If not, we'll need to get out some more "cluesticks" and keep whacking.

Dave Gibney Pullman

It's not just oversight. It's Iraq. It's the budget. It's immigration.

On the last one, the Republicans have spearheaded the National Restaurant Association's fight against a meaningful Social Security ID Card system for decades. They have virtually been in charge of the legislative effort to keep it easy to employ illegals, bur because the Dems are so afraid to say anything or attack on substance, they can't cash in.

You can't run "not to lose" votes in the middle forever. You have to run to win and that means promoting your programs and attacking the other guy.

As I watch ANOTHER blown opportunity being peed away

like 2004, 2002, 2000 ... 1996 ... 1984 ...

I keep asking myself,

what makes these people "leading" this loser party tick?

I can ONLY come to the conclusion that:

they are corrupt, or they are politically incompetent, or a mix of both.

Supposing they aren't corrupt, then,

WHY are they so freaking incompetent?

WHY do we keep supporting them?

rmm.

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