Bob Herbert: When Democracy Weakens

[flpoljunkie]

February 11, 2011
When Democracy Weakens
By BOB HERBERT

As the throngs celebrated in Cairo, I couldn’t help wondering about what is happening to democracy here in the United States. I think it’s on the ropes. We’re in serious danger of becoming a democracy in name only.

While millions of ordinary Americans are struggling with unemployment and declining standards of living, the levers of real power have been all but completely commandeered by the financial and corporate elite. It doesn’t really matter what ordinary people want. The wealthy call the tune, and the politicians dance.

So what we get in this democracy of ours are astounding and increasingly obscene tax breaks and other windfall benefits for the wealthiest, while the bought-and-paid-for politicians hack away at essential public services and the social safety net, saying we can’t afford them. One state after another is reporting that it cannot pay its bills. Public employees across the country are walking the plank by the tens of thousands. Camden, N.J., a stricken city with a serious crime problem, laid off nearly half of its police force. Medicaid, the program that provides health benefits to the poor, is under savage assault from nearly all quarters.

The poor, who are suffering from an all-out depression, are never heard from. In terms of their clout, they might as well not exist. The Obama forces reportedly want to raise a billion dollars or more for the president’s re-election bid. Politicians in search of that kind of cash won’t be talking much about the wants and needs of the poor. They’ll be genuflecting before the very rich.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/12/opinion/12herbert.html?src=ISMR_HP_LO_MST_FB

[polichick]

1. Bless Bob Herbert - he speaks the truth. k&r

[randr]

2. The largest threat to our democracy is an uninformed public

The fact that a large percentage of American's are spoon feed nonsense from the fright wing media has given rise to a public so uninformed on important issues that they fail to respond to real emergencies.

[polichick]

3. It's not just the right. Some people here will accept any line of bullshit...

...as long as the right "leader" says it.

[flpoljunkie]

4. Yes, but it is Congress who is owned by the banks. Just ask Dick Durbin.

Ignorance and lack of participation is certainly a big problem, because things won't change if we don't demand change.

[xchrom]

5. the epitaph was when SCOTUS picked our president for us.

'here lies america:
once great now late.'

[polichick]

6. Yes, that was the beginning of the end...

And it continued with the Ohio vote that stole the election from Kerry using machines provided by a Republican donor who promised to "deliver Ohio to Bush" - and with Citizens United.

The hardest pill to swallow is the fact that Democratic leaders are in collusion. They have not fought for fair and verifiable elections on our behalf. You couldn't even get them to vote for public financing at this point.

[BeFree]

9. HELLO!!

Somebody gets it!! You do know you are a minority, right?

Most people won't even consider that the reason the politicians don't listen to us is:

THEY DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER TO US ANYMORE!!

[polichick]

12. Perhaps Current TV will help educate Americans about what is really happening. nt

[flpoljunkie]

10. The 111th Congress failed to vote on the Fair Elections Now Act to publicly finance their campaigns.

President Obama supported public financing of Congressional campaigns when he was a Senator. Other than supporting the DISCLOSE Act, Obama has done nothing to support his once held position. A bought and paid for Congress is far more dangerous to our democracy than a President who does not accept public financing and runs a national campaign.

Tragically, the Citizens United v.. FEC ruling has only further corrupted our campaign finance system and will cause even more money to pour into our federal campaigns. Thank you, John Roberts' court!

It's damn discouraging!

[polichick]

11. To me it shows that change will not come through this party's leaders because...

...the current system works for them the same way it works for Republicans.

[flpoljunkie]

7. The fact big money lobbyists can legally bundle campaign contributions for Congressmen is key

We have the best Congress corporate campaign contributions can buy, and these corporate special interests do not give hundreds of millions of dollars for 'good government.' They expect a return, and, they get it.

[chill_wind]

8. You said it.

And that goes for presidential campaigns, too. K & R.