America To Establishment: Who The Hell Are You People?
BY DAVID LIGHTMAN
[email protected]
The people who spend two bucks for chili at the Courtesy Diner at Laclede Station Road can’t fathom why anyone would pay Hillary Clinton $225,000 to make a speech.
Nor can they understand why the U.S. Senate is taking a 17-day break for Easter after spending much of their time last week fuming over the Supreme Court vacancy. Somehow, people all over America are saying loudly and clearly this election year, Washington and its enablers – the media, the political pros and Wall Street – don’t understand us.
That’s why, all over this slice of middle America, exasperated people got up before dawn on a cold, 37-degree morning recently to spend four hours in a line so long that from its end people couldn’t even see the Peabody Opera House, where they would hear Donald Trump. And it wasn’t just Trump. In the next two days, other folks nearby lined up to hear the outsider talk from Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Bernie Sanders, Ind.-Vt.
They share the same grievance. In 2016 America, the deepest divide is not between Democrats and Republicans. It’s not even between conservatives and liberals. It’s between Us and Them – the people versus The Establishment.
“They’re political bureaucrats who would like to control the people,” said Sandy Garber, a St. Charles real estate agent, when asked to define the establishment.
Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article68042192.html#storylink=cpy
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ladjf
(17,320 posts)"Idealists" and "Realists" you mean. I quote because that's how the people who are for the establishment would talk. In a sense, they are truthful but at the same time ignoring principle liberties for these "realistic standards". Idealists may exaggerate or flat out falsify the "realistic standards" that are achievable but see the goal of liberties and principles needed.
merrily
(45,251 posts)pejorative. You could at least have added some snark about unicorns and/or ponies.
unicorns and ponies. No No I think idealist is enough. maybe I am giving too much but anything else is fantastical.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)Among these are:
*The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;
*The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
*The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
*The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
*The right of every family to a decent home;
*The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
*The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
*The right to a good education.
All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.
[font size=3]America's own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for all our citizens.[/font]
Please note that the above are stipulated as Basic Human RIGHTS to be protected by our government,
and NOT as COMMODITIES to be SOLD to Americans by For Profit Corporations.
I consider them to be "ideals", and every single "ideal" is worth the work to move toward them. At one time, they were the platform of the Democratic Party.
Unfortunately, that is no longer true.
--bvar22
a mainstream FDR/JBJ DEMOCRAT who has been labeled "far Left fringe".
I haven't changed,
and will continue to fight for the above values and ideals.
It is not important that we get all the way there today. It will be enough to just move toward them.
That is why there was so much hope in the 60s and early 70s.
Unfortunately, the Democratic Party has been running away from them since them, and is now indistinguishable from the Republican Party of the 80s.
"It is not necessary to see the whole staircase, just take the next step" ---Dr Martin Luther KIng
Bernie IS "the next step".
noretreatnosurrender
(1,890 posts)is not something people who support establishment candidates think much about. They are the go along to get along crowd. They always have been and they always will be.
mehneh
(39 posts)"Don't kick something that isn't broken for/to them". their satisfaction for politics(or whatever) now is half the reason we are in this mess. I didn't understand the first part of the sentence.
Warpy
(111,121 posts)if they'd ever voted for them. It's your SOB who's got to go!
However, I've never seen the electorate quite this surly before, not even in "throw the bums out!" 1994. Trump would have been laughed at in 1994.
zalinda
(5,621 posts)It's more of name recognition than anything else. The fact is that most people couldn't tell you who is representing them. Most people are just to tired and worn out to pay much attention. It's only when their rep makes the news for doing something awful that they will pay attention, and then it has to be REALLY bad.
Z
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)If it is us versus them, then why the hell aren't we the people voting to change that? How do we wake up the majority, because so far, we've been letting the fox run the hen house. We can change it, but we don't or won't.
It's up to us to fix this. Bernie is trying to lead us to change, but he can't do it if we don't wake the hell up and get involved.
Those of us on a democratic board like this are already awake. How do we reach the rest of the democratic voters out there to wake up and learn a little and vote? How can we use social media to let everyone know how critical it is they they talk to everyone they know to get out and vote? Not just one person here or there...but a national movement?
We keep trying to blame it on the establishment, but we are allowing it to happen. And yes, I know the establishment and the media are working together to keep the flock in the pen, but still...we have the power to change it and Bernie is here to open the gate to set us free.
But still, our turnout in the voters polls is still abysmal. Democrats could win every election in many states, if we would just get out and vote. Even if people didn't take the time to learn, but voted straight party ticket, it would be better than what is happening right now.
jello
(33 posts)People in droves are DEMORALIZED...they lost everything or near everything in the so-called Great Recession which was and is still for many a Great Depression 2.0: homes, equity, life savings, jobs. People are struggling, many working crappy 2 and 3 jobs, and then there are people like my daughter who are single parents, loaded with college debt, trying to better themselves, and hoping there is a job at the end of it all. Obama makes great speeches, but he did little to nothing to help anyone but the big banks. He squandered every opportunity he had to help the working poor and the middle class.
Warpy
(111,121 posts)as studies in past years have shown and most Reps spend their time fundraising and even when they're grandstanding assholes, they get returned to office.
zalinda
(5,621 posts)who their representative is, chances are less than 50% will be able to tell you. Some people may be able to do a multiple choice quiz to pick out their rep, but wouldn't be able to tell you outright who the person is. A Senator may be easier to name, as there is only 2 to keep track of. Now, a congressperson will be a much harder person to name, as there are so many of them, and which is federal and which is state?
Now, I keep up on politics, and I know my Senators, but my congressperson, I'm not sure. The one guy got in, but then he lost the next election, and I'm not sure he got back in. The simple fact is, I don't remember if it is a man or a woman that is my congressperson at the present time. But, when election time comes around, I will remember the name and vote accordingly, without having to look it up.
Z
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)jello
(33 posts)
jalan48
(13,837 posts)I have yet to hear Hillary, (who has made millions of dollars giving speeches to big banks and corporations) or any of her supporters tell us why they agree with the Republicans on this.
A Simple Game
(9,214 posts)to be in Washington most of the time. Bring them home to live among the people they represent and to win their praise or feel their wrath if they don't do a good job. You would see fewer lifetime politicians if they faced the citizenry every day.
Let them have a week or two a year in Washington for formal occasions. Make the lobbyists come to their office in Podunk or Wherever USA and see how many they can persuade to pass laws for them when the citizens they are supposed to represent are there to see what is going on and give instant feedback.
Perhaps we should also demand they have a public meeting room between their office and the main entrance for the town busybodies to populate. An alarm on the emergency exit in the back would also be necessary for public safety.
Vote2016
(1,198 posts)
ram2008
(1,238 posts)The people you keep voting for, duh!
billhicks76
(5,082 posts)Everything else been tried...over and over and over.
Initech
(100,028 posts)We're tired of Wall St. bleeding us dry, and we're tired of our do nothing government doing nothing. Actually they do less than nothing. Then we get shit like Flint's water crisis and there's no convictions or indictments or anything. The criminals in power get off scot free and continue to get off scot free. And even if we do elect Bernie Sanders and he has a super majority in Congress do you think they will treat him any differently than they treated Obama? Do you expect things will get done overnight?
SmittynMo
(3,544 posts)Look at the last 50 years. We let them run the show, and TOTALLY fuck everything and everyone. It so damn close to an oligarchy at this stage, I fear we may never get our democracy back if not for Bernie.
I'm totally burned out or BERNED out, whichever way you want to take it. 
MisterP
(23,730 posts)basselope
(2,565 posts)People are willing to vote Trump just to overturn the apple cart.
appalachiablue
(41,102 posts)Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) on the Banks and Congress, "They basically own the place", 2009.
Thespian2
(2,741 posts)My neighbors here in Nova Scotia are more aware of US politics than many of my friends and relatives in the US...
A friend dropped by today, and we had a good laugh about the Clown Show...Repukkkian Party...and a few serious words about why Americans should nominate Bernie...
appalachiablue
(41,102 posts)Thanks to the establishment's biased corporate Media and dumbing of the populace, but not completely thank heaven.
Nova Scotia much be quite nice. Other than a couple 1 day trips to Canada when in Detroit and Seattle, and friends with relatives in Toronto I'm fairly lame on Canadian matters. But what I've seen of the new Liberal Party and PM Justin Trudeau is terrific. Same with the labor unions, Medicare, banking regulation, more. Saw Edinburgh, Dublin, interesting.
certainot
(9,090 posts)the republican rebellion follows to a large extent what the talk radio gods are telling them and a lot of that gets down to their dissatisfaction at the failure of the obstruction- even though it has set us back the last 2 decades, obama has managed some successes over the absolutist authoritarian freaks who fuel the talk radio teabaggerness.
the parameters and motivations for their rebellion may be fueled by poverty and frustration but their talk radio gods have been defining the culprits as liberals and democrats and especially obama, and now they're turning on the guys who failed to stop obama- but not for any rational reason.
their 'rebellion' to a large extent is vs an elite and washington insiders in the republican party who have failed to stop obamacare and obama, have been compromising and playing footsie with obama and the dems who tey have been told are trying to destroy the country and constitution and the christian american way of life.
they're pissed off that their leaders have failed to stop the black african muslim fascist communist dictator running a liberal 'regime' but they still think its their politicians in washington who were not radical enough, who compromised with obama, who are to blame - instead of the talk radio gods who have brought them (and us) to this.
they're rebelling because the talk radio gods who were directed and scripted by GOP establishment think tanks to turn dems into demons and create the alternative reality that has shit out a big talking yam failed to deliver, and they are now shifting the blame to their masters.
cer7711
(502 posts)Last edited Fri Mar 25, 2016, 08:37 PM - Edit history (2)
. . . working in tandem with a feckless consolidated media, the merger of corporate and state interests, declining union membership, the refusal to reinstitute job-protective tariffs and Glass-Steagall, the denial of a living wage and Medicare-for-all to the working- and middle-classes of this country have transformed a once prosperous democracy (wherein the wealth was shared--if not equitably, at least reasonably, amongst the 1% and the 99%) into a cynical, shredded-safety-nets, social-Darwinist plutocratic oligarchy.
Can everyone articulate this?
No.
But they can and WILL go out and pull a lever for the anti-establishment candidate this year--and every possible following year--until things change; that is to say, until some measure of security and prosperity is restored to their hard-scrabble, worker-insecure lives.
THIS is the message the outraged public is sending the inside-the-beltway, I'm-sorry-I-can't-hear-you Washington elites of both parties.
Lorien
(31,935 posts)which is why the ultimate establishment politician would be the worst possible choice for our party.
I find that most of the people I know who are OK with Clinton are people who have never struggled financially or with chronic health issues. They watch a lot of TV, read glossy magazines, go to brunch with well heeled friends, have no student loans, so everything is fine to them. They like the current system and don't want it tinkered with, even if it means killing a million more innocent civilians in the Middle East. They like to project their privilege on to Bernie supporters when they themselves have no idea at all what the bottom 70% of wage earners lives are like.
that the word establishment is back in the political discussion after many decades of disuse...a sign of the times and this time lets not let this movement slip out of our grasp...its too important.
NorthCarolina
(11,197 posts)for the remainder of the year.
Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)The Democrat are forced to do the shit policies they push for b/c of Republicans,
pathetic bullshit is what some people accept as "realistic"...."pragmatic."
