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Of course, the House doesn't represent Americans, and neither does the the Senate, Presidency, or even Judical system. It's role is to serve its masters and that's not people like you and me. Money in politics? It's all about money in money. Money equal power or at least access to power. America is an oligarchy as everyone knows or should know by now. It is controlled by the uber-rich and that's not going to change without a fight. We not only need to get rid of Citizens United and create a level playing field, we also need term limits and put an end to gerrymandering. Redistricting needs to be taken out of the hands of politicians and handled by a non-partisian group.
I read that the last congress had a 12% approval rating and yet, of the incumbents running for re-election, 94% were re-elected. If you put the same people back in, aren't you going to get more of the same?
Ice ice and ice all around. It sounds so chilly and adventurous to have such a feel.
2950-10K, I think Ayn Rand's followers believe that it's okay to say anything to get what you want.
She never said it and I think she and some of her followers have said they don't approve of violent or fraudulent means but they were always accused and suspected of secretly, privately thinking it was okay to do that.
I mean, if you were on some kinda bullshit why would you admit it?
Mark J. Saulys ~ How true! Actually, you might want to know that Palindromedary posted a most telling article on this blog about just those "venal profiteers."
https://www.thomhartmann.com/users/palindromedary/blog/2015/03/cost-medical-procedures-various-areas
The very notion that the price of the same procedure can very between $157 and $7,500 should have us all question our for profit health care system and how we govern ourselves.
You're right uLTRAX, right wingers make use of every procedural device without regard for the will of the people, much more so, I think, than Democrats.
If right wingers were given sodium pentethal they'd admit that they don't believe in any "small d" democracy at all but in autocratic governance by elites who are entitled to the benefits of the labor of the common masses, to make up that elite's superfluous wealth, as their due - or, one form or other of plutarchy or oligarchy.
In addition to not even coming close to representing the will of the vast majority of Americans, House Teapublicans also employ "twistifications" when defending their unrepresentative legislation. For example when Tom Reed proposed the house rule that would ultimately cut SSDI, he instead declared the amendment was intended to protect the fund. Thus cutting a popular program gets twisted into saving that popular program, and the media almost always communicates the twisted version to the unsuspecting public. A responsible media would have questioned Reed's real intentions by reporting that polls indicate 70% support expanding the Social Security Fund by removing the cap, a no-brainer populist solution.
Phrases and names like, right to work, family values, defense of marriage act, death panels, liberal media, Americans for Prosperity, job creators, Religious Freedom Restoration, etc. ......all twistifications, and all part of the constant bombardment of misinformation....and all part of the big money overthrow of our Democracy.
"But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security." Thomas Jefferson .....Part of the 1776 unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America.....
Jefferson in 1821 also penned the words, "The great object of my fear is the Supreme Court" ...which he descibed as, "the subtle corps of sappers and miners constantly working under ground to undermine the foundations of our confederated republic." I'm sure Jefferson would find Citizens United a complete abomination and his expressed fear is justified even now in the 21st century.
uLTRAX, the EC is, of course, because initially the U.S. was a union between equal, independent states. It's like the U.N. Security Council. Russia and Israel each have one vote but can't be compared by population.
Don't know if that changes anything, don't suppose.
Kend, some things, like healthcare and education, are not questionable or dispensable, worth what ever they cost - and the cost should be reasonable - if it's not artificially inflated by venal profiteers.
They are not luxuries and we have paid for them before so we know what they cost. If they suddenly have become too expensive then something isn't adding up. Somebody's got a hand where it shouldn't be.
It's quite simple and basic. A just, orderly society is not that monumental a task. It won't kill ya, stop cryin' about it.
Thom wrote: "Why, in our democracy, is the will of the people not being heard? The answer is both simple and tragic - we no longer actually live in a democracy.
We live in an oligarchy. Thanks to the Supreme Court’s Long War against campaign finance law, the billionaires and economic royalists now have more control over our political system than they have in almost a century. This isn't opinion; it’s objective and quantifiable fact."
When were we EVER a democracy that reliably translated the public will into policy? Our system is demonstrably antidemocratic with a mere 18% of the US population getting 52% of the seats in the Senate. The EC can install a candidate as president who was REJECTED by the People. The amendment formula is so screwed up that amendments can be ratified with states that represent about 40% of the population yet blocked by states with as little as 3.5%. A two party system deprives citizens of the ability to vote their conscience and get representation.
It should come as no surprise that such a system makes it easier for the right to block any progressive agenda... more so if the Dems foolishly move to the right.
Yes Mr Saulys you are right beer and education are a poor comparable. Maybe I should have had a little less beer and a little more education. Sorry. But shouldn't we know what things cost us before we purchase them. Including war, roads, education, green anything etc. then put it to a vote with the voters knowing the true cost. I have always believed we should change how we tax. What ever we tax this year is what we can spend next year. They can't spend more then the collected amount. That way the would always be on budget. If they don't have enough they raise taxes or spend less. Simple
Kend, you're making no sense again. Free beer and free education are not comparable.
John Pranke, you are right, at least to a degree. The problem is the two party duopoly and lack of proportional representation.
Many apparently voted Republican this last time in spite of their great progressiveness. I almost did!
My Congressional rep. is a Dem co sponsoring fast track for TPP. I sure didn't want to vote for him. Fortunately we had a Green Party candidate running who I could vote for but otherwise it woulda been a dilemma.
Not everybody had that option, though, and then went "from the frying pan to the fire" as the system causes them to with the limited choice they have when they're unhappy about governance by incumbent Democrats.
I just finished The crash of 2016 & all this stuff is so scary. I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong with America but that book did it. Thank you. Your blog today just reiterates it. I would love to do what I can to stop these evil people who threaten our values & our freedoms. I don't really care about me it's my children I fear for. Not doing anything about climate change be she they will lose money they don't need & making it so my children can't breath or even have land to live on someday makes me so angry. Not that I can do anything about it.
Kend ~ Yes, perhaps they should include the budget in their questions. For instance, they should ask what they would rather pay for, the ACA (Affordable Care Act) or the OCO (Overseas Contingency Operations) of the military. I don't recall it ever put to a popular vote what House Republicans are trying to do by cutting much needed money for Health Care to pay for their illegal wars overseas. Some $20 Billion if this article is correct. I for one certainly would have loved to have something to say about that!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/25/house-gop-passes-budget_n_6942408.html
It's also technology. Everybody has their own "pocket media" now with virtually unlimited choice. There is no common mass media, no community of information. Everything is subscriber only and tailored to individual tastes and preferences, everyone is siloized. I'd bet most progressive Americans don't even realize they are the in the majority. They think this country is very conservative and that they are in the minority and this helps Republicans get away with what they do. It causes the majority of Americans to accept the contradiction of Congress believing they are in the minority so "what can you do".
Republicans, PR experts (skilled liars) that they are, know this full well and fully exploit it claiming this falsely perceived, illusory majority, which their PR machine, in fact, created, to justify their unpopular actions.
Mathboy ~ Well said! You took the words right out of my mouth.
Now the progressive change institute should ask the same questions including how much their taxes are going to go up to pay for all of it and see if they get the same result. I am in favour of free beer for all if I don't have to pay for it as well.
Yes Thom, we live in an Oligarchy. Agnotology was the duplicitous tool used to turn the USA into one. This Culure of Corruption continues.
Agnotology: Part one of six parts
http://renewablerevolution.createaforum.com/who-can-you-trust/resisting-brainwashing-propaganda/msg2849/#msg2849
I agree, most of my fellow working class people want those things. Far too many don't vote because they think "both sides are the same" or "it doesn't make a difference", and there are a disturbing number or rascists and bigots who are worried the ******* and the like will get their stuff. The intentional plot to dissuade and discourage people from voting or voting against their own interest has and is working.
Republicans not only don't listen to the voters at large, but they try to lie to them, and convince people that things are not what they appear. Example: 4 days ago Hoosier republicans put an elephant in the room (RFRA); today, they're trying to claim it's not an elephant; but, everyone with eyes wide open see the elephant. (Punny symbology intended).
We're not stupid, and we're not blind; but, why do we let them treat us as though we are?
Maybe Atheists, Jews and Muslims should refuse to serve anyone wearing a crucifix or ash on their forehands.
Roland
The comparison in the fourth-to-last paragraph doesn't seem instructive, since it seems to show government resistance to doing what the "elites" want (if 80% of elites want something, it has only a 45% chance of getting enacted). I'd like to see a comparison of how likely policies are to get enacted with a certain level of elite support vs. the same level of popular support, and what happens when elite support and popular support are at odds vs. when they are in accord.
I would be against a pure democracy because I would have to read all those damn bills.
Why does anyone believe that pure democracy would be mob rule?
Pure democracies seem to have the common thread that no one shows up to vote (e.g. ancient Greece and labor unions).
It is frustrating.
I agree, absolutely. Campaign promises are made to be broken. They are made to build up our hopes and pull in the votes.
In our current caste system where money equals speech and power, campaign promises to the untouchable lower and middle income castes can, and almost always are trumped by back room deals.
As the saying goes: Money Talks, Buull Shiit Walks.