This article gives body to the saying that both dominant political parties are corrupt and need each other. It is pretty clear that Biden and all the living past presidents ( except the ailing Carter) were in favor of the majority opinion in the Trump immunity case although they voiced opposition after it was announced, leaving it to be dealt with in the dream of an Amendment later. They all are criminals by reason of their imperial actions if ever a Congress wishes to tackle them. Israel's genocide and apartheid policies are really consistent with American policy. It turns out that the US empire/domination is not possible without violating US law and now it requires law-breaking in the US too.
George W. Bush launched ‘Aggressive War,’ the supreme international crime, with his war against Iraq.
While the US wasn’t, and still isn’t, a signatory to the applicable international laws, both Bush and (Dick) Cheney were unable to travel abroad for fear of being arrested by the authorities in nations that were signatories.
Opponents of our current woes need to get creative. We are the majority. History and justice are on our side.
There are known changes to law which theoretically could restore the checks and balances envisioned in the Constitution. Such changes were made in the aftermath to the Watergate scandal e.g. the War Powers Act and the Ethics in Government Act. These worked for a while until the military industrial complex reasserted itself. It had a plan and a lot of money to spend. The plan arose from the infamous Powell letter which enabled big corporate money to organize itself. There was also the Plan for a New American Century which seeks to harness the then US lone superpower status which relied on the idea that the US no longer needs the UN or diplomacy because it can rely on US military superiority. This was hatched by neocons of both major parties. The democrats found that they could attract donations from corporations too.Then came Citizens United ( vice-versa?). In order to get the corporate money the dems had to go along with policies that did not serve the middle and lower economic classes well which led to inequality of wealth. Even now one does not hear about the US corporate tax code which privileges profits allocated to US foreign subsidiaries ( 0% taxes) curtesy of Trump's 2017 tax boondoggle for corporations. Why use tariffs to bring home manufacturing rather than doing it via tax breaks/penalties to US companies? ( to keep the corporations happy?) So part of the answer could be to establish public funding of elections with hard sanctions for violations.To keep the Supreme Court from making policy decisions it would be helpful to adjust their jurisdiction by statute.
Israel behaves in ways that the US politico-oligarch class envies. If they thought they could get away with it, they would genocide whoever got in their way. Israel is the graven image of American geopolitical power.
It is disheartening to know that the corporate media is in the tank as well. It is marvelous that one could listen to multiple MSNBC commentators on the war over NATO access to Ukraine and not hear any analysis ---or even mention--of the Cuban Missile Crisis or the Monroe Doctrine or yellow journalism. Maybe I missed a reference? Biden was able to gin up a virago of sympathy for Ukraine and hate towards Putin in his efforts to ensure that the war would not be ended until Russia begged for sanctions relief or the Ukrainians did. Biden wished to split the world in two: Them and US. While Trump declared a tariff war on all nations except Russia ( so far ).
Excellent diagnosis, but unfortunately it simply reinforces my view that electoral politics are now a distraction from what is required and a waste of energy. Witness the pathetic spectacle of Bernie Sanders and AOC trying to sheepdog working class Americans into the Democratic Party. I’m now of the opinion that oligarch-funded Uniparty is making one more last and spectacular run to grab all the cash they can and then get out before our well armed citizenry finally recognizes who the real enemy is.
Regarding the article, I think most Democrat politicians and networks are hoping Trump will fuck up so badly they’ll coast to victory in the House and maybe even have an outside chance at the Senate in 2026 and then retake the WH in 2028. Typically, as we saw with Clinton, Obama and Biden, only partially reversing Trump’s rightward thrusts. So we have the ratchet effect that has shoved things further to the right for decades. I liked your suggestion of a shadow political alliance you made on Neutrality Studies to line out a real alternative agenda when the predictable collapses open possibilities. Because we certainly aren’t going to get that out of the bulk of the Dem political network.
I especially appreciated "The problem is that the frame of LeBron James being oppressed because he is black, while my neighbor who digs cans out of the garbage to live is privileged because he is white, is flawed.", as i have on several occasions offered up the question "is the privilege of the white guy living under a bridge in a box that he has a better grade of cardboard than the the black guy living next to him?"
Focusing on disproportionality is, to my mind, divisive as well - is police brutality wrong because it is being done disproportionally to one group of people, or is it wrong because it is done to any human being?
Identity politics is, to my way of thinking, one of the most subversive concepts that has infiltrated politics, because every "identity" that is defined, by definition excludes others of a different "identity" in that category, eg. "race" black excludes white, or even red or yellow, "straight" excludes "gay", etc. Does shouting Black Lives Matter mean that others don't - does say "All Lives Matter" make one a "racist"
DEI - diversity of what? "Races"? considering that there are no such thing as separate races, we are all on race, the human race, we don't live in a "mutiracial" society - my idea of CRT would be a critique of the concept of race - who would be opposed to that - I think some, if not many members of several "races" perhaps are - why? because that identity provides them with a sense of being part of a separate group that "entitles" them to special consideration - special, because their group has been treated badly by members of another group - and apparently we must stand in line and take our turn in getting our rights - it is our turn to sit in the front of the bus instead of standing in front of the bus ...
How long will it be for all to be treated well if we have to keep taking turns?
Oh shucks, I have more, but at this point I do want to thank Mr. Urie very much for allowing the ability to comment without having to "pay to say" as so many other sites do - I do think others have more to contribute than just money, can't really afford to support so many worthy causes with $ but do wish to contribute with ideas - who knows, some of them might even be good ones :)
excellent summary of the current predicament. I appreciate your sticking to facts rather than gatekeeping for the Dems.
I too avoided the Hands Off democrat bs. There's one in the East Bay coming up, there is a Palestinian contingent so we're coming up from Oakland to support the young people.
This article gives body to the saying that both dominant political parties are corrupt and need each other. It is pretty clear that Biden and all the living past presidents ( except the ailing Carter) were in favor of the majority opinion in the Trump immunity case although they voiced opposition after it was announced, leaving it to be dealt with in the dream of an Amendment later. They all are criminals by reason of their imperial actions if ever a Congress wishes to tackle them. Israel's genocide and apartheid policies are really consistent with American policy. It turns out that the US empire/domination is not possible without violating US law and now it requires law-breaking in the US too.
George W. Bush launched ‘Aggressive War,’ the supreme international crime, with his war against Iraq.
While the US wasn’t, and still isn’t, a signatory to the applicable international laws, both Bush and (Dick) Cheney were unable to travel abroad for fear of being arrested by the authorities in nations that were signatories.
Opponents of our current woes need to get creative. We are the majority. History and justice are on our side.
There are known changes to law which theoretically could restore the checks and balances envisioned in the Constitution. Such changes were made in the aftermath to the Watergate scandal e.g. the War Powers Act and the Ethics in Government Act. These worked for a while until the military industrial complex reasserted itself. It had a plan and a lot of money to spend. The plan arose from the infamous Powell letter which enabled big corporate money to organize itself. There was also the Plan for a New American Century which seeks to harness the then US lone superpower status which relied on the idea that the US no longer needs the UN or diplomacy because it can rely on US military superiority. This was hatched by neocons of both major parties. The democrats found that they could attract donations from corporations too.Then came Citizens United ( vice-versa?). In order to get the corporate money the dems had to go along with policies that did not serve the middle and lower economic classes well which led to inequality of wealth. Even now one does not hear about the US corporate tax code which privileges profits allocated to US foreign subsidiaries ( 0% taxes) curtesy of Trump's 2017 tax boondoggle for corporations. Why use tariffs to bring home manufacturing rather than doing it via tax breaks/penalties to US companies? ( to keep the corporations happy?) So part of the answer could be to establish public funding of elections with hard sanctions for violations.To keep the Supreme Court from making policy decisions it would be helpful to adjust their jurisdiction by statute.
I certainly agree with publicly funded elections. I even remember the debates before the parties eliminated non-uniparty candidates.
But I maintain that anything resembling democracy can’t be recovered without closing the wealth gap between the rich and the rest of us.
Citizens United came at the point of maximum income and wealth concentration. It was an effect, not a cause, although it now facilitates the cause.
Thanks for writing William. Please feel free to keep it up.
Israel behaves in ways that the US politico-oligarch class envies. If they thought they could get away with it, they would genocide whoever got in their way. Israel is the graven image of American geopolitical power.
Situation in Yemen resembles Gaza more and more each day, but the MSM isn't really reporting on it, let alone critically.
It is disheartening to know that the corporate media is in the tank as well. It is marvelous that one could listen to multiple MSNBC commentators on the war over NATO access to Ukraine and not hear any analysis ---or even mention--of the Cuban Missile Crisis or the Monroe Doctrine or yellow journalism. Maybe I missed a reference? Biden was able to gin up a virago of sympathy for Ukraine and hate towards Putin in his efforts to ensure that the war would not be ended until Russia begged for sanctions relief or the Ukrainians did. Biden wished to split the world in two: Them and US. While Trump declared a tariff war on all nations except Russia ( so far ).
America been circling the big white oval bowl since ‘nam
This is the country that I was born in and will likely die in. For ourselves and the world, we have to figure this out.
The hard part is getting past the propaganda, which leaves me feeling that my friends have been turned into zombies.
Excellent diagnosis, but unfortunately it simply reinforces my view that electoral politics are now a distraction from what is required and a waste of energy. Witness the pathetic spectacle of Bernie Sanders and AOC trying to sheepdog working class Americans into the Democratic Party. I’m now of the opinion that oligarch-funded Uniparty is making one more last and spectacular run to grab all the cash they can and then get out before our well armed citizenry finally recognizes who the real enemy is.
Regarding the article, I think most Democrat politicians and networks are hoping Trump will fuck up so badly they’ll coast to victory in the House and maybe even have an outside chance at the Senate in 2026 and then retake the WH in 2028. Typically, as we saw with Clinton, Obama and Biden, only partially reversing Trump’s rightward thrusts. So we have the ratchet effect that has shoved things further to the right for decades. I liked your suggestion of a shadow political alliance you made on Neutrality Studies to line out a real alternative agenda when the predictable collapses open possibilities. Because we certainly aren’t going to get that out of the bulk of the Dem political network.
It was good to see you on Neutrality Studies, one of my favorite podcasts, and one of the more thoughtful. Pascal is always insightful.
Thank you for this piece !
I especially appreciated "The problem is that the frame of LeBron James being oppressed because he is black, while my neighbor who digs cans out of the garbage to live is privileged because he is white, is flawed.", as i have on several occasions offered up the question "is the privilege of the white guy living under a bridge in a box that he has a better grade of cardboard than the the black guy living next to him?"
Focusing on disproportionality is, to my mind, divisive as well - is police brutality wrong because it is being done disproportionally to one group of people, or is it wrong because it is done to any human being?
Identity politics is, to my way of thinking, one of the most subversive concepts that has infiltrated politics, because every "identity" that is defined, by definition excludes others of a different "identity" in that category, eg. "race" black excludes white, or even red or yellow, "straight" excludes "gay", etc. Does shouting Black Lives Matter mean that others don't - does say "All Lives Matter" make one a "racist"
DEI - diversity of what? "Races"? considering that there are no such thing as separate races, we are all on race, the human race, we don't live in a "mutiracial" society - my idea of CRT would be a critique of the concept of race - who would be opposed to that - I think some, if not many members of several "races" perhaps are - why? because that identity provides them with a sense of being part of a separate group that "entitles" them to special consideration - special, because their group has been treated badly by members of another group - and apparently we must stand in line and take our turn in getting our rights - it is our turn to sit in the front of the bus instead of standing in front of the bus ...
How long will it be for all to be treated well if we have to keep taking turns?
Oh shucks, I have more, but at this point I do want to thank Mr. Urie very much for allowing the ability to comment without having to "pay to say" as so many other sites do - I do think others have more to contribute than just money, can't really afford to support so many worthy causes with $ but do wish to contribute with ideas - who knows, some of them might even be good ones :)
excellent summary of the current predicament. I appreciate your sticking to facts rather than gatekeeping for the Dems.
I too avoided the Hands Off democrat bs. There's one in the East Bay coming up, there is a Palestinian contingent so we're coming up from Oakland to support the young people.