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WEDNESDAY 23 JUNE 2010 Enter, Real Populists Wednesday 23 June 2010 by: Jim Hightower, t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed photo (Image: Lance Page / t r u t h o u t; Adapted: eamoncurry123, JoesSistah) Few people today call themselves populists, but I think most are. I'm not talking about the recent political outbursts by confused, used and abused tea-bag ranters who've been organized by corporate front groups to spread a hatred of government. Rather, I mean the millions of ordinary Americans in every state who're battling the real power that's running roughshod over us: out-of-control corporations. With their oceans of money and their hired armies of lobbyists and lawyers, these self-serving, autocratic entities operate from faraway executives suites and Washington backrooms to rig the economic and governmental rules so that they can capture an ever-bigger share of America's money and power. You can yell yourself red-faced at Congress critters you don't like and demand a government so small that it'd fit in the backroom of Billy Bob's Bait Shop and Sushi Stand, but you won't be touching the corporate and financial powers behind the throne. In fact, weak government is the political wet dream of corporate chieftains, which is why they're so ecstatic to have the tea party out front for them. But the real issue isn't small government, it's good government. (Can I get an amen from Gulf Coast fishing families on that!?) It's necessary to restate the solid principles of populism and reassert its true spirit, because both are now being severely perverted by corporate manipulators and a careless media establishment. To these debasers of the language, any politicos or pundits who tap into any level of popular anger (toward Barack Obama, liberals, the IRS, poor people, unions, gays, immigrants, Hollywood, community organizers, environmentalists et al.) get a peel-off "populist" label slapped onto their lapels -- even when their populist pose is funded by and operates as a front for one or another corporate interest. That's not populism, it's rank hucksterism -- disguising plutocrats as champions of the people. Now is the time for progressives to reassert their populist beliefs and bona fides, for we're living in a teachable moment in which it's possible to reach most Americans with an aggressive and positive approach to achieving a higher level of economic and political democracy. There is a spreading and deepening recognition within today's broad middle class that they've been abandoned to a plutocracy that feels free to knock them down and leave them there. The distain that the power elites have for the rest of us is glaringly and gallingly apparent. * Wall Street billionaires crash our economy but are bailed out at our expense to continue their banksterism against us. * We're told to accept a "jobless recovery" and to sit still for a "new normal" of perpetually low wages, continuing losses of American jobs, and steady erosion of union and consumer power. * We're presented with two flagrant examples of murderous corporate greed --first, at Massey Energy's deadly coal mine, then at BP's deadly offshore oil well -- yet no corporate executive has even been arrested. Do the Powers That Be (whether liberal or conservative) really imagine that the great majority of Americans don't see or don't care about this rank classism, this in-your-face stiffing of the middle class? This is where populists come in. You wouldn't know it from the corporate media, but in just about every town or city in our land you can find some groups or coalitions that, instead of merely shouting at politicians, have come together to find their way around, over or through the blockages that big money has put in the way of their democratic aspirations. In the process of organizing, strategizing, and mobilizing, these groups are building relationships and community, creating something positive from a negative. For the rest of the article....Links: http://www.truth-out.org/jim-hightower-enter-real-populists60686 Very interesting stuff. |
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I've always said that it's not the government that runs the country it's the big corporations.
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Edited by
Kings_Knight
on
Wed 06/23/10 02:50 PM
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Shoulda known ... We DON'T need another Huey Long ...
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I like to call populists "sheeple".
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WEDNESDAY 23 JUNE 2010 Enter, Real Populists Wednesday 23 June 2010 by: Jim Hightower, t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed photo (Image: Lance Page / t r u t h o u t; Adapted: eamoncurry123, JoesSistah) Few people today call themselves populists, but I think most are. I'm not talking about the recent political outbursts by confused, used and abused tea-bag ranters who've been organized by corporate front groups to spread a hatred of government. Rather, I mean the millions of ordinary Americans in every state who're battling the real power that's running roughshod over us: out-of-control corporations. With their oceans of money and their hired armies of lobbyists and lawyers, these self-serving, autocratic entities operate from faraway executives suites and Washington backrooms to rig the economic and governmental rules so that they can capture an ever-bigger share of America's money and power. You can yell yourself red-faced at Congress critters you don't like and demand a government so small that it'd fit in the backroom of Billy Bob's Bait Shop and Sushi Stand, but you won't be touching the corporate and financial powers behind the throne. In fact, weak government is the political wet dream of corporate chieftains, which is why they're so ecstatic to have the tea party out front for them. But the real issue isn't small government, it's good government. (Can I get an amen from Gulf Coast fishing families on that!?) It's necessary to restate the solid principles of populism and reassert its true spirit, because both are now being severely perverted by corporate manipulators and a careless media establishment. To these debasers of the language, any politicos or pundits who tap into any level of popular anger (toward Barack Obama, liberals, the IRS, poor people, unions, gays, immigrants, Hollywood, community organizers, environmentalists et al.) get a peel-off "populist" label slapped onto their lapels -- even when their populist pose is funded by and operates as a front for one or another corporate interest. That's not populism, it's rank hucksterism -- disguising plutocrats as champions of the people. Now is the time for progressives to reassert their populist beliefs and bona fides, for we're living in a teachable moment in which it's possible to reach most Americans with an aggressive and positive approach to achieving a higher level of economic and political democracy. There is a spreading and deepening recognition within today's broad middle class that they've been abandoned to a plutocracy that feels free to knock them down and leave them there. The distain that the power elites have for the rest of us is glaringly and gallingly apparent. * Wall Street billionaires crash our economy but are bailed out at our expense to continue their banksterism against us. * We're told to accept a "jobless recovery" and to sit still for a "new normal" of perpetually low wages, continuing losses of American jobs, and steady erosion of union and consumer power. * We're presented with two flagrant examples of murderous corporate greed --first, at Massey Energy's deadly coal mine, then at BP's deadly offshore oil well -- yet no corporate executive has even been arrested. Do the Powers That Be (whether liberal or conservative) really imagine that the great majority of Americans don't see or don't care about this rank classism, this in-your-face stiffing of the middle class? This is where populists come in. You wouldn't know it from the corporate media, but in just about every town or city in our land you can find some groups or coalitions that, instead of merely shouting at politicians, have come together to find their way around, over or through the blockages that big money has put in the way of their democratic aspirations. In the process of organizing, strategizing, and mobilizing, these groups are building relationships and community, creating something positive from a negative. For the rest of the article....Links: http://www.truth-out.org/jim-hightower-enter-real-populists60686 Very interesting stuff. I now can breath a sigh of relief.. The progressives are going to save us... What a joke.. |
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Considering that a populist does not specify anyone as right, left or center, since it fits into all catagories, it is not a party line issue.
I found the article interesting in that someone recognized that the tea partiers are no better than the big corporations pushing them along. Someone identifies the enemy is not a big government, the enemy is a bad government. Someone identified that the people who are divided share a common concern against the big corporations of this country who are screwing the little guy. Not that I am anti corporation at all but I do see the abuse. It was an interesting article. |
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Divide and conquer; If large corporations and corporate elites can keep the sheeple on the left, the sheeple on the right, and the tea bagger sheeple at each others throats, guess who wins?
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Divide and conquer; If large corporations and corporate elites can keep the sheeple on the left, the sheeple on the right, and the tea bagger sheeple at each others throats, guess who wins? Ah...yeah, I've been thinking the same lately.  Dragoness??? Are you sure it is safe in here???
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WEDNESDAY 23 JUNE 2010 Enter, Real Populists Wednesday 23 June 2010 by: Jim Hightower, t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed photo (Image: Lance Page / t r u t h o u t; Adapted: eamoncurry123, JoesSistah) Few people today call themselves populists, but I think most are. I'm not talking about the recent political outbursts by confused, used and abused tea-bag ranters who've been organized by corporate front groups to spread a hatred of government. Rather, I mean the millions of ordinary Americans in every state who're battling the real power that's running roughshod over us: out-of-control corporations. With their oceans of money and their hired armies of lobbyists and lawyers, these self-serving, autocratic entities operate from faraway executives suites and Washington backrooms to rig the economic and governmental rules so that they can capture an ever-bigger share of America's money and power. You can yell yourself red-faced at Congress critters you don't like and demand a government so small that it'd fit in the backroom of Billy Bob's Bait Shop and Sushi Stand, but you won't be touching the corporate and financial powers behind the throne. In fact, weak government is the political wet dream of corporate chieftains, which is why they're so ecstatic to have the tea party out front for them. But the real issue isn't small government, it's good government. (Can I get an amen from Gulf Coast fishing families on that!?) It's necessary to restate the solid principles of populism and reassert its true spirit, because both are now being severely perverted by corporate manipulators and a careless media establishment. To these debasers of the language, any politicos or pundits who tap into any level of popular anger (toward Barack Obama, liberals, the IRS, poor people, unions, gays, immigrants, Hollywood, community organizers, environmentalists et al.) get a peel-off "populist" label slapped onto their lapels -- even when their populist pose is funded by and operates as a front for one or another corporate interest. That's not populism, it's rank hucksterism -- disguising plutocrats as champions of the people. Now is the time for progressives to reassert their populist beliefs and bona fides, for we're living in a teachable moment in which it's possible to reach most Americans with an aggressive and positive approach to achieving a higher level of economic and political democracy. There is a spreading and deepening recognition within today's broad middle class that they've been abandoned to a plutocracy that feels free to knock them down and leave them there. The distain that the power elites have for the rest of us is glaringly and gallingly apparent. * Wall Street billionaires crash our economy but are bailed out at our expense to continue their banksterism against us. * We're told to accept a "jobless recovery" and to sit still for a "new normal" of perpetually low wages, continuing losses of American jobs, and steady erosion of union and consumer power. * We're presented with two flagrant examples of murderous corporate greed --first, at Massey Energy's deadly coal mine, then at BP's deadly offshore oil well -- yet no corporate executive has even been arrested. Do the Powers That Be (whether liberal or conservative) really imagine that the great majority of Americans don't see or don't care about this rank classism, this in-your-face stiffing of the middle class? This is where populists come in. You wouldn't know it from the corporate media, but in just about every town or city in our land you can find some groups or coalitions that, instead of merely shouting at politicians, have come together to find their way around, over or through the blockages that big money has put in the way of their democratic aspirations. In the process of organizing, strategizing, and mobilizing, these groups are building relationships and community, creating something positive from a negative. For the rest of the article....Links: http://www.truth-out.org/jim-hightower-enter-real-populists60686 Very interesting stuff. Are those the same lobbiests that Obama hired for his staff? |
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Divide and conquer; If large corporations and corporate elites can keep the sheeple on the left, the sheeple on the right, and the tea bagger sheeple at each others throats, guess who wins? Ah...yeah, I've been thinking the same lately. Dragoness??? Are you sure it is safe in here??? I can never guarantee safety on these boards but I will always look out for ya 
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Ah-the international corporate giants.
The OP article illustrates one side of the corporate giant but as we all know there are always more than one side to any issue. For better or worse we are inextricably tied to corporations, we are not only dependent on what they provide; we require their good will which comes down to us in the form of grants, charity, donations and the like. Philanthropists, entrepreneurs and those who just want to increase sales or induce customer loyalty are many of the same forces which have heralded industrialization in newly developing countries. They, those ‘entities’, have led us into globalization. Without the international corporate giants the luxurious lifestyle we experience in the U.S. would be non-existent. In the 1600’s European States created the incorporated entity because doing so fostered growth and gave more power to the State. Corporate entities evolved in the U.S. in the middle 1800’s and being the great visionary he was, even Abraham Lincoln was concerned: I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. ... corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed. — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 21, 1864 (letter to Col. William F. Elkins) Ref: “The Lincoln Encyclopedia”, Archer H. Shaw (Macmillan, 1950, NY) Certainly corporations spend billions on lobbying and as PACs and other political funding. Two things that occur to me regarding all this: 1. The lobbying and any other persuasive mechanisms used by corporations actually create a lot of jobs – really, a lot. At a time when people need them most we don’t want to discourage that spending. 2. Even if a corporation or a corporate PAC completely funded an entire campaign of an ‘elected’ official, it doesn’t mean that official is required to reciprocate in any way. Actually the bigger problem is that governments, both Federal and State, likewise depend on the wealth that corporate success extends to both the public and private sectors. So when it seems that government agents are “reciprocating” what we really have to question is, are they in fact acting with favoritism and loyalty to a campaign contributor or are they watching out for the economy and other social benefits which would not be there if it were not for corporations? The truth is, our lifestyle could not be affordable if it were not for the mega corporations, but were we to drastically change our extravagant lifestyles to ‘starve’ the corporations, we would only drive them away, and be left without luxuries, without jobs, and without the charitable contributions which support the underprivileged – and most would be underprivileged. |
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Redy, I do not believe that the corporations are evil per se but I do believe that they should be limited in government. Their interests can make the common man a minority influence in the government.
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Edited by
Kings_Knight
on
Wed 06/23/10 08:23 PM
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Populism defined:
"Don't tax you; don't tax me - tax that feller behind the tree." - Huey P. Long |
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WEDNESDAY 23 JUNE 2010 Enter, Real Populists Wednesday 23 June 2010 by: Jim Hightower, t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed photo (Image: Lance Page / t r u t h o u t; Adapted: eamoncurry123, JoesSistah) Few people today call themselves populists, but I think most are. I'm not talking about the recent political outbursts by confused, used and abused tea-bag ranters who've been organized by corporate front groups to spread a hatred of government. Rather, I mean the millions of ordinary Americans in every state who're battling the real power that's running roughshod over us: out-of-control corporations. With their oceans of money and their hired armies of lobbyists and lawyers, these self-serving, autocratic entities operate from faraway executives suites and Washington backrooms to rig the economic and governmental rules so that they can capture an ever-bigger share of America's money and power. You can yell yourself red-faced at Congress critters you don't like and demand a government so small that it'd fit in the backroom of Billy Bob's Bait Shop and Sushi Stand, but you won't be touching the corporate and financial powers behind the throne. In fact, weak government is the political wet dream of corporate chieftains, which is why they're so ecstatic to have the tea party out front for them. But the real issue isn't small government, it's good government. (Can I get an amen from Gulf Coast fishing families on that!?) It's necessary to restate the solid principles of populism and reassert its true spirit, because both are now being severely perverted by corporate manipulators and a careless media establishment. To these debasers of the language, any politicos or pundits who tap into any level of popular anger (toward Barack Obama, liberals, the IRS, poor people, unions, gays, immigrants, Hollywood, community organizers, environmentalists et al.) get a peel-off "populist" label slapped onto their lapels -- even when their populist pose is funded by and operates as a front for one or another corporate interest. That's not populism, it's rank hucksterism -- disguising plutocrats as champions of the people. Now is the time for progressives to reassert their populist beliefs and bona fides, for we're living in a teachable moment in which it's possible to reach most Americans with an aggressive and positive approach to achieving a higher level of economic and political democracy. There is a spreading and deepening recognition within today's broad middle class that they've been abandoned to a plutocracy that feels free to knock them down and leave them there. The distain that the power elites have for the rest of us is glaringly and gallingly apparent. * Wall Street billionaires crash our economy but are bailed out at our expense to continue their banksterism against us. * We're told to accept a "jobless recovery" and to sit still for a "new normal" of perpetually low wages, continuing losses of American jobs, and steady erosion of union and consumer power. * We're presented with two flagrant examples of murderous corporate greed --first, at Massey Energy's deadly coal mine, then at BP's deadly offshore oil well -- yet no corporate executive has even been arrested. Do the Powers That Be (whether liberal or conservative) really imagine that the great majority of Americans don't see or don't care about this rank classism, this in-your-face stiffing of the middle class? This is where populists come in. You wouldn't know it from the corporate media, but in just about every town or city in our land you can find some groups or coalitions that, instead of merely shouting at politicians, have come together to find their way around, over or through the blockages that big money has put in the way of their democratic aspirations. In the process of organizing, strategizing, and mobilizing, these groups are building relationships and community, creating something positive from a negative. For the rest of the article....Links: http://www.truth-out.org/jim-hightower-enter-real-populists60686 Very interesting stuff. Thier is a whole lot of truth in this article. We are a country that is told what we should believe by the news media. They hone in on small segments and make things go on for days like this is a big deal to sway public oppinion. And of course who owns our media? Want to watch a good documentary about how this has been going on for 10+ years at least with a agenda to make us believe what the big boys want us to. Just watch this documentary. Even Walter Kronkite speaks outr against the modern day media and who they work for. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6737097743434902428# |
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Populism defined: "Don't tax you; don't tax me - tax that feller behind the tree." - Huey P. Long Populism, defined either as an ideology[1][2][3][4] (more rarely and uncommonly), a political philosophy[5][6][7] or a type of discourse[8][9], is a type of political-social thought that juxtaposes "the people" against "the elites", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of political or social movements. It is defined by the Cambridge dictionary as "political ideas and activities that are intended to represent ordinary people's needs and wishes". [10] |
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Edited by
Kings_Knight
on
Wed 06/23/10 09:02 PM
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Right ...
"Don't tax you; don't tax me ... tax that feller behind the tree." What do you think Huey practiced as Governor ... ? Populist demagoguery is what got him elected. He played to the 'Sheeple Gallery' - just like today's 'populists' do ... "Vox Populi" - the "Voice of the Sheeple" ... |
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Right ... "Don't tax you; don't tax me ... tax that feller behind the tree." What do you think Huey practiced as Governor ... ? Populist demagoguery is what got him elected. He played to the 'Sheeple Gallery' - just like today's 'populists' do ... "Vox Populi" - the "Voice of the Sheeple" ... It seems "don't tax you etc" fits the republicans today and popular vote it appears is not a bad thing? Voice of the people does include you. |
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"Don't tax you; don't tax me ... tax that feller behind the tree."
That still means exactly what it meant when Huey used it ... NOTHING. It's a FICTION. It will ALWAYS be a fiction. Just like the 'Voice of the Sheeple' ... It is, however, an interesting 'warm and fuzzy' diversion and an exercise in Neuro-Linguistic Programming ... |
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Redy, I do not believe that the corporations are evil per se but I do believe that they should be limited in government. Their interests can make the common man a minority influence in the government. The point is that wealth has ALWAYS had the greatest influence over power of any kind. Unlike the private wealth of the past, portions of corpoarte wealth are redistributed in numerous beneficial ways throughout society. I absolutely agree with you that corporate interests are better served because of that wealth, and often over the interests of us common folk. But then we have to consider the places from which the interests are coming: - The common folk, the majority of whom have limited education, and almost no knowledge of cultures beyond our borders, nor trade, nor how we fit into the world economy. - The wealthy, more educated, and mostly international corporate elites, who understand laws, markets, trade, and economy and with that knowledge and their expereince they are more in tune with what is good for government, for growth and trade and the welfare of the general public. So yes they have greater influence BUT as the OP suggests, grassroots movements are finding new pathways of influence, organizing - for example consider the many human rights non-profit organizations or the huge and very influential environmental non-profits - all corporate entities and international. So perhaps non-profits will be the ticket to balance the exchange of influence - after all, including the charitable organizations, the economy of the non-profits of this country is so large that if it were a country it be ranked the 7th largest economy in the world. So while we cannot easly relieve ourselves of Capitalist Corporate influence - we can find ways to compensate but it takes commitment of both effort (volunteerism) and money (donations). Are we yet a country willing to extend ourselves for the sake of public good above some portion of our own? |
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Edited by
Dragoness
on
Wed 06/23/10 09:22 PM
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KK Now that you are not making any sense and showboating to see your own typing, I will move on.
The populist ideals spoke of in this article are interesting in that they do not coincide with party lines but speak of people looking for the betterment of people. Whether the article is completely right or not, which I never said either way, it is interesting and speaks to those who are looking for a less hatefilled way to address issues of today. I think the article is a good one. Worth the read. Worth consideration. |
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