The Republicans and right-wing aren't the real problem.

Please hear me out before you break out the popcorn. :popcorn:

Yes the last seven years have been an unmitigtated disaster. It would be hard to overstate the orgy of corruption, incompetence and devastation our country has been subjected to in the last seven years.

But Bush and his GOP cronies are just a symptom of something larger and more pernicious. That is the loss of a true liberal counterbalance in society to the rampages of uncontrolled free-market pirates. The complete erosion of government as a rein on the powerful, and as a protector of the average individual and the disadvantaged.

It is also a complete surpression of humanistic social values by the forces of greed. A frightening concentration of power and wealth in the hands of the Corporate Elite and their Political Stooges. The complete lack of a protector of the general population against the abuses of the system by entrenched special interests.

It can be seen in many individual issues. To take just one example, it is frightening to think that the Wall St. Journal and Dow Jones are now just another fiefdom in the empire of Murdoch, who already controls far too much of the media landscape, nationally and globally. But has that really been challenged by any of the politicians who supposedly represent the public interest? No, there has been a deafening silence -- so far. :banghead:

The pace of mergermania that started in the 80's has continued unabated -- AND LARGELY UNCHALLENGED within the current political framework. :banghead: :banghead:

That is one of the core problems that has been ignored by the leaders of both parties. America is being sold out, lock-stock and barrel. The majority of Americans DO NOT want this to happen. But because they see so few politicians stepping up to the plate -- (or those who do being ignored or marginalized by the media and DLC types) -- they either become too cynical and apathetic to care, or they succumb to phony issues like "culture wars" and guns.

In order to REALLY shift the USa in a more positive direction, this whole system of interrelated corruption and distraction has to be challenged. The logical vehicle for this in politics should be the Democratic Party.

If we make the mistake of running a meaningless campaign in 08 that merely pays lip service to the hunger for reform, or that merely limits the problem to the "Republican Right Wing" then we will either lose or have a meaningless "victory" that will merely perpetuate the morass.

>>That is the loss of a true liberal counterbalance in society to the rampages of uncontrolled free-market pirates.

I firmly believe we (as a general system, not individual) have lost the empathy of other countries.

When I saw SICKO, the stories of the people in hard times were sad, but we have been conditioned to it - for many it's "well what can you do?".

What REALLY unhinged me was seeing how other countries CAN accomplish it. And that they DO accomplish it. How they CARE and ENJOY what they are doing. How many people feel that sense of waste every day in their job because its all about the bottom line $$ at the expense enjoying life? THAT is what the rise of the corporations have taken away from every one of us.

"Well, what can we do?"

There's a lot we can do. However, it will require a combination of leadership that really "gets it" and a collective recognition by the general population that there are solutions that are possible.

It's a chicken-and-egg question, though. How to break through the current cycle of apathy-fatalism-timidity.

Republican or democrat - both depend on "donations" from corporations and therefore owe favors. As long as the continues it doesn't matter who is running things.

It does matter who is running things.

However, the donations and favors(i.e. mutual extortion) do tend to blur the distinctions.

it a problem.

A party at risk - A country at risk

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3326012#3329138

"...Here's the major point: You need to separate the legislative process from the "platform" process..."