The ruling class in the U.S. doesn't really care which party is in "power,"

they only care that they still have access to that power regardless of who or which party is currently holding the office. The whole partisan theater of Dem. vs. Rep. and campaigns and election results is just a sideshow to distract the populace and provide the illusion that there is a democracy. I realized this about 15 years ago in a conversation with friend of mine, who works in a medium-sized corporation and is personal friends with that corporation's CEO. My friend said, "(Name) is going to a luncheon with Bill Clinton today, so I really have no work on my desk for the day." I said, "Bill Clinton? I thought he hated him. Why is he going to a luncheon with him?" My friend said, "They always donate to both sides in any election, that way they have access no matter who wins. That's just standard practice, I think." I can only conclude that loyalty to a party in hopes of achieving some goal is pretty futile. I believe a lot of Republicans were secretly disappointed in Bush and Cheney but just wouldn't express that openly. So withdrawing support for Democrats, thereby "letting the Republicans win" isn't that scary of a scenario, for me anyway, as the rich and powerful still get their way whether the Democrats or Republicans win. For my part I'm only planning to support politicians who stay true to their roots, true to their cause, true to their voters and true to their campaign promises, which are causes and promises I agree with. The D or R after the name is increasingly irrelevant. It's about class, not party.

It's time to unite Brothers and Sisters.

no truer words.

The fans cheer wildly, but the fact is that it has nothing whatsoever to do with the real game.

"The whole partisan theater of Dem. vs. Rep. and campaigns and election results is just a sideshow to distract the populace and provide the illusion that there is a democracy."

You are so right. Sad, but very, very true.

Maybe the next President should be

My letter to my Senators.

Why don’t you end the health care drama now and admit that you are all in the hip pocket of the banksters of Wall Street, the drug companies and the insurers and those who would prefer that we give away our billions in worthless wars, and to Israel, and to other countries instead of helping Americans.

I'm starting to think that the best thing that could happen to Congress is a total replacement because it has become corrupted and beholden to special interests. Prove me wrong.

I like the plain and simple talk. If Reagan had one admirable skill, it was the ability to distill the concept into one sentence that would ring in people's ears. I miss that sort of blunt, to-the-point talk instead of endless posturing, speculating and second-guessing what they think the public wants to hear instead of telling it like it is.

Full text at link.

http://www.saskndp.com/history/mouseland.php3

"It's the story of a place called Mouseland. Mouseland was a place where all the little mice lived and played, were born and died. And they lived much the same as you and I do.

They even had a Parliament. And every four years they had an election. Used to walk to the polls and cast their ballots. Some of them even got a ride to the polls. And got a ride for the next four years afterwards too. Just like you and me. And every time on election day all the little mice used to go to the ballot box and they used to elect a government. A government made up of big, fat, black cats.

Now if you think it strange that mice should elect a government made up of cats, you just look at the history of Canada for last 90 years and maybe you'll see that they weren't any stupider than we are.

Now I'm not saying anything against the cats. They were nice fellows. They conducted their government with dignity. They passed good laws--that is, laws that were good for cats. But the laws that were good for cats weren't very good for mice. One of the laws said that mouseholes had to be big enough so a cat could get his paw in. Another law said that mice could only travel at certain speeds--so that a cat could get his breakfast without too much effort.

All the laws were good laws. For cats. But, oh, they were hard on the mice. And life was getting harder and harder. And when the mice couldn't put up with it any more, they decided something had to be done about it. So they went en masse to the polls. They voted the black cats out. They put in the white cats....."

The true enemy of liberal intentions is not the ruling class - it's the government. It's the source of power for the ruling class. I've come to the conclusion that the only way to create a more equal, free, and fair society, is to strip more and more power away from the government. Every time government grows in power, the ruling class uses that power against everyone else.

We cannot defeat the ruling class by using government, because their wealth will always trump us. Those with the gold always make the rules, and will continue to make the rules. The only way to fight back is to fight against rules in the first place. The fewer rules there are, the easier it is for the poor and disadvantaged to prosper and grow their way out of poverty.

money & capital.

Government can act as a defense the poor and disadvantaged have against the rich an powerful (i.e., with minimum wage, civil rights, workplace regulation, progressive taxation, etc.). It doesn't always of course, and corporations and the rich are constantly trying to pervert and distort government to favor them, and you're right, they usually win, but not 100% of the time. Without any government or rules I fear we would return to the type of economic system of 100 years ago which was worse than what we have now, in my opinion. Elimination or reduction of taxes and elimination or weakening of rules and regulations seem to me to the the primary goals of the right wing, so your point could actually be used as a right-wing talking point.

for the under class to overthrow the ruling class and bring the system back to 'reset'.

It is a difficult thing to do but I predict it will happen sooner than you think.

it's become painfully obvious we are - all of us - owned. The reason the Bush presidency seemed so strong is because he was their total tool. Ponder how little corporate resistance Bush encountered with "his" agenda. I'd like to believe that - unlike shrub - Obama is not their man. Unfortunately, his choices so far belie that belief.

after the gargantuan effort to get him elected, only to have the real influence happen behind closed doors, to see him being directed by the insiders and corporatists rather than the American public at large. This is crystal clear with the whole health insurance thing. What they are trying to pass now is what the corporations want. The whole process of electing Obama was just to make us think we have a democracy. Once elected, he then just caters to the behind-the-scenes influence brokers and corporate lobbyists, like Karen Ignagni, president of the corporate lobbying group "American's Health Insurance Plans." Who cares what she wants or what the industry wants? They already have what they want. Apparently Obama listens to them and gives them what they want, while we are left in the dust. Clinton did the same thing, signing NAFTA and all that. And yet these things are always touted as benefitting all Americans when they really aren't. It makes the entire political process seem useless, when electing Clinton, Pelosi, Reid, Obama carries an expectation with it that is simply short-circuited by the behind-the-scenes deal-making that takes place between the elected officials and these various interests (usually corporate interests) after the election and inauguration is over with. Why even bother with the political process when it is so easily ignored by the politicians as soon as they get into the office? It's clear now that it's not how the "real game" is played.

Too bad the teabaggers don't get this.

Easiest way to ensure that the path to more wealth accumulation is always open, when you have 'friends in high places' you throw a bone to once in a while to stay on your side.

The working people in this country have fewer friends in the government since I have been alive, and I do not see this trend reversing any time soon.

The game is rigged against us as long as 'money = speech'.

Why would any congressman or senator pay any attention to what I have to say, when a massive contributor sends a lobbyist into their office and just 'out-votes' me with a bag of money?

and I don't have the solution except to look at other countries that have been able to overcome it to some extent and try what they did to overcome it. I also believe that political change follows social change, so what has to happen first is social change, and the society in general has to view corruption and corrupt politician as dirty, evil, abhorrent and unacceptable, rather than just the current resignation to it as "well that's just the way it is."

I've met many a super rich in my day and they care as much if not more than many of the poor. They have the same insane paranoid beliefs as the middle class and poor. It's a misconception that they "think" different than you because they have more access to power.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

was saying the same thing just last night on his show.

Nothing short of real-live revolution will change anything in this fucked-up country.