What We And Bernie Face Is Unimaginable

[scottie55]

When Bernie mentioned "the establishment" and "got in trouble" it got me thinking. What is "the establishment" anyway?

It is the entire pay to play system. Our government. From the lobbyists, and the corporations who hire them, to the politicians hoping to become lobbyists, or go straight into cushy corporate jobs when they leave office. This includes the politician's families too. Politicians who know if they give corporations enough handouts they will be richly rewarded with jobs, security, or simply getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for "speeches" when they leave office. Campaign contributions come to mind too.

I call this the gravy train. The people who enable the wealthy, and help them steal everything they want, while pretending to help the rest of us, or actually helping us a little while they help the wealthy and powerful a lot.

I am not saying these are all bad people. They are simply looking out for themselves, and their families, and not us the tax payer. Unfortunately, it is these people that have caused all of our problems. Also, not all politicians are part of the gravy train, obviously.

It is up to us (the forgotten 99%) to change this behavior in our government. Good luck. They have ALL THE POWER, and they are not afraid to use it. They will crush anyone who threatens their power, and their control of our government. We see it every day. It is sickening. From all out unchallenged lies about everything, to media distortion, and more.

We, the 99% are sick of this corruption, and WE WILL work to change it.

Are you with us, or with the establishment?

[highprincipleswork]

1. And what we have, when we join together, is UNIMAGINABLY POWERFUL!

Come together people!

[Punkingal]

2. Exactly! if only people knew their own power.

[reddread]

5. more than enough have been pushed past the tipping point

complacency will no longer prevail.

[DebJ]

19. Howard Dean.............

[highprincipleswork]

40. Curious. What about Howard Dean?

[DebJ]

56. "YOU have the power." That was his main point. n/t

[highprincipleswork]

57. There you go. Notice slight change. WE, WHEN WE STAND TOGETHER, can accomplish anything.

I used to love Howard Dean.

Bernie may actually have better leadership qualities, and I enjoy that!

[TIME TO PANIC]

3. The pitchforks are coming.

[mhatrw]

4. It's also the corporate media personalities who play the same role.

They get paid big $ to tell us how happy we should be with the few crumbs the "job creators" let fall from their tables.

[reddread]

7. theyre talking heads cashing a check the employers and management bear complete responsibility

and the corporate media answers to the US govt.
who bears the blame?

[Uncle Joe]

6. That's it, scottie.

Thanks for the thread.

[Bread and Circus]

8. Don't forget how the media and the pundits play into it as well. They are a massive part of it.

[Bonhomme Richard]

9. I Hillary really stumbles you can bet Bloomberg will....

jump in.
Why. Because Wall Street knows that if the general election came down to one of the republican nuts or Bernie then Bernie would win. If Bloomberg was in and won, hell, even if the republican nut won, it would be a win for them.
What they will not tolerate is the people winning.

[hopemountain]

18. +++^^^^

sadly, i agree.

[CorporatistNation]

31. As Someone Who Was A Progressive Threatening The Status Quo/Establishment For A Congressional Seat..

I have in a smaller way but in the end had precisely the same kind of lies, media and Democratic Establishment tactics directed against this writer. IT IS Da MONEY!

It IS The CORRUPTION with BOTH Political Parties playing the same game with only a little nuance for OUR consumption. Previously the public did not want to accept the facts as TRUTH...

Now with Bernie they finally are, and from BOTH parties and with fervent conviction that the status quo can be no more.

The Establishment/Powers That Be will stop at nothing to derail ... The Revolution! I can speak with authority that "They" fuck with the electronic voting machines. The Two Party "System" is all about THEM having THEIR guy/gal on either side. Heads THEY WIN.. Tails THEY WIN!

Even when WE think that we have won... WE LOSE! Simple as that.

Bernie mostly but Trump as well fuck up that paradigm roundly... Hence Bloomberg who would not look as obvious as Biden stepping in on the Dem side if Clinton Incorporated ... goes tubular!

[Bonhomme Richard]

37. +1

[Enthusiast]

10. Millions of Americans should unite behind Bernie out of curiosity if nothing else.

I would think millions would want to know what happens when the entrenched wealthy interests are knocked out of their comfortable orbits.

[leftcoastmountains]

11. Good post!

[jwirr]

12. Unfortunately as we know here on DU some of the 99% are

not with us.

[forest444]

13. An American anthem for this age.

Well said, Scottie.

[kristopher]

14. Where to find "The Establishment" and some history on how we got here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511054337

[Peace Patriot]

20. That is an excellent expose of the detailed plans of the rich...

...to skewer public discussion in their favor, gain untoward political power and undo the New Deal.

There are some pieces missing--for instance, raising the cost of a college education so high as the break the back of the student movements for justice and fairness. Corporate political influence on college boards and state legislators helped accomplish that--the end of free public college education, ever-increasing costs and, finally, crippling debt, with the added perk to the banksters of usurious interest on student loans. And I have to say that this horror was abetted by a new class of highly paid college administrators, people whom we would call "liberal" in most respects, but who have received ever-increasing salaries and perks, while students suffered ever-increasing costs. I'd bet most of them are Democrats, but they are blind to this injustice precisely because of their "fat cat" compensation.

And there are some ironies--such as big business 1%ers demanding "equal time" to spread their greed propaganda on campuses (to counter the many "communists" who were running around saying greed is bad). The notion of "equal time"--which we have entirely lost as to our public airwaves (Reagan era kill), and which had a good effect on print publications as well--has quite been destroyed so that politicians, protestors and others, who advocate for the "common good," simply do not get a hearing in the Corporate Media, at all. "Equal time" is dead for the spokespeople of the 99%.

But, anyway, the documents you reveal are fairly complete as to the ways that Big Business decided to buy a country and a government for themselves, back in the early 1970s. It is very important to understand this history. The anti-democratic conditions that we have now--including, I must warn all, elections tabulated by 'TRADE SECRET' computer code, owned and controlled by a small group of far rightwing-connected, private corporations--were created by people, and CAN BE UNDONE by people.

[hopemountain]

27. thank you for the link.

it is a long read but very important in light of the recent attack on bernie for pointing out how non profits can also be "establishment". after 9/11 nonprofits where hard up for donors. donations were going to new york. this is when big corporate interests saw an opportunity to donate to struggling non profits across the country - particularly, grass roots, health, and other efforts. donations from corporate interests come with strings attached. for example, the tobacco companies offered a sizeable donation to the nonprofit i was working for - but we decided against it because we did not want them to "influence" our work and message.

[Paka]

15. K&R

Trite but true, they have the power but we have the people. We just needed Bernie to come along and cheer us on.

[Doitnow]

36. Perhaps instead of saying they may have the power but we have the people,

we should say that they may have the power, but we have the NUMBERS. Heads of organizations are few and like to play their power, but the membership is always many. WE all have the power, so let's bolster each other by emphasizing it.

[Hulk]

16. You are kinder and much more positive than I am at our situation.

I happen to believe "...these are...bad people". What they are doing and have done is a crime against the rest of us that will likely never be able to be rectified in our lifetime.

And I would also state that damned near EVERY ONE of the US Congressmen are corrupt. I can think of only a handful, at most, that are there for "we the people", us! I can count them on one hand. I don't know each and every one, so I'll admit there may be a dozen or more that also fit the bill of honestly keeping our interests ahead of their own. But that is pathetic when you consider there are over 500 Congressmen and women in Washington who are playing the game. Disgraceful!

We have a LOT of house cleaning to do, but we have to start from where we are today. It can be done. It won't be quick, and it won't be easy.

Sorry for my negativity, but it is reality in my view.

[pnwmom]

21. Let's pretend you are right. How does Bernie expect to accomplish any good legislation

with these hopelessly corrupt people?

Why aren't all his promises completely empty?

Remember, Senate elections take place every 6 years. So only 1/3 of the Senators could be replaced in his first four years (at the two year mark). IF we succeeded in replacing them all, which is not going to happen. Not even close.

And we need 60 votes in the Senate to overcome their filibuster.

Meanwhile, Bernie isn't helping to raise money for any Democrats down-ticket.

So how is he going to work his miracles?

[JRLeft]

24. How does Hillary expect to accomplish anything?

[pnwmom]

38. The same way Obama and Bill Clinton did. In progressive, incremental steps,

making compromises when necessary.

Obama had to make a compromise, for example, to get his economic stimulus bill passed. Bernie hated it so much he spoke out against it in an 8 hour filibuster-like diatribe. What did he accomplish? Nothing. What did Obama accomplish? He got a bill passed. It was a smaller stimulus than he would have preferred, but it pulled the economy out of its hole and got it going again.

[JRLeft]

45. With a democratic majority, you forgot about that.

[pnwmom]

47. A democratic majority that Bernie refused to support. You forgot that. You also

forgot that Obama needed 60 votes to get anything past the Rethug filibuster, and Bernie should have been one of the 60.

But he preferred no stimulus at all to helping Obama's pass.

[JRLeft]

48. The Republicans will likely control congress no matter who is in office,

how will Hillary get shit through them?

[pnwmom]

49. She and Bernie -- if he agrees to compromise, which isn't his style -- will both

be limited to incremental, progressive change, similar to what Obama has accomplished.

Neither of them will be elected emperor. Both will have to work with Congress -- something that she acknowledges, but he does not.

[JRLeft]

50. Stop it, republicans aren't cooperating with Obama, McConnell said

no more judges or appointments for him yet they are going to work with Hillary? Who are you trying to fool?

[scottie55]

33. "So how is he going to work his miracles?"

By showing us America is worth fighting for.

By leading.

FDR: "'I agree with you, I want to do it, now make me do it'"

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Talk:Franklin_D._Roosevelt

If those millions of Americans actually had someone, or something to vote for besides "the establishment" they might vote, and our congress and senate would look reeeeeel different.

[pnwmom]

39. Roosevelt had the advantage of strong Democratic majorities in both houses.

None of the Dems in 2017 will have that advantage.

[Hulk]

43. Then that is where we need to focus our energy....NOW!

And DWS doesn't help the cause one stinking bit! We need to spend every dollar the DNC gets strategically and early to gut Congress of the red cancer that has plagued the Obama administration.

[pnwmom]

46. I agree. And Hillary has been raising money for down-ticket races but Bernie has not.

How does he expect to have a Congress he can work with if he doesn't help?

[JRLeft]

17. If he loses I will switch parties the next day.

[pnwmom]

22. *

[Hulk]

44. And how is that going to make any difference !

I'm losing faith with the Democratic Party, but switching parties? I don't get the rationale, other than just wanting to burn the whole country down.

[glinda]

23. It is sort of akin to "hiring a CEO" when you elect them in. Not like they answer to those

who elected them. And seriously to some extent this goes for some "organizations" also although they are supposed to be in touch with those their services are supposed to help. But when they endorse wit their members having say in the process then....
The tight ring of people has helped them survive but perhaps some got lost along the way.

[sadoldgirl]

25. I think you might have forgotten a few parts:

MIC, CIA, NSA, and FBI as well as all corps
depending on them

No, we all realize it will take huge effort and a
lot of time and persistence.

[Kip Humphrey]

26. its classic top-down vs bottom-up change...

you might get some neat stuff (interstate highways, men-on-the-moon,etc.) top-down, but big change (women's right to vote, 40-hour workweek, pensions, paid vacations, etc.) come almost exclusively from bottom-up change effort.

[hopemountain]

28. yes, same goes for the $$$$$

influence on non profit and for profit businesses/organizations often dependent on corporate donations and corporate funders. there are always strings and favors attached - such as seats on their governing/ voting boards, influencing the final product, campaign or project.

[randome]

29. So what are you doing to change things?

Are you organizing protests? Getting in the faces of politicians to tell them what you think? Or is making entries on DU about the extent of it?

The problem with making a broad statement such as 'the 99% are sick of this corruption' is that it's likely untrue. Most don't pay any attention because they have what they think are better things to do. And part of the reason for that is that the digital age has brought money and better times to many.

We are more united by the Internet than at any time in history. We are also divided by the very same processes that connect us. It's quite a conundrum.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Leonard Cohen, Anthem (1992)[/center][/font][hr]

[scottie55]

32. I Protest

I march, I call congresspeople, I put up signs. I attend meetings, I caucus, and I vote. I fund raise, and someday I may even run for office as a problem solver.

I am thinking about flying to Flint/Lansing for a while and protest outside the governors townhouse. You know, the "I poisoned thousands, so what" governor.

Folks, it is fun.

[randome]

35. You have my support, then.

I just don't think there are enough active individuals as you described. The majority of us are busy living our lives rather than worrying about politics or whether or not the rich are paying their fair share. Maybe cynicism is responsible for that but it seems that's how it is.

What the 'revolution' needs is many more leaders inspiring many others to do as you are doing. It needs numbers and I don't see that right now.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Leonard Cohen, Anthem (1992)[/center][/font][hr]

[DrBulldog]

30. We have the one thing - if we do our job as citizens - that the billionaires don't have.

Millions upon millions of ENGAGED voters. The key condition is being continually ENGAGED. And frankly, it has been over 30 years since the monstrous "trickle down" arrived and we all gullibly accepted it that the American people have started to re-take that healthy proactive attitude we left behind in the 60s and the 70s. And Bernie is the first politician in all these years to courageously open the door for us. Let us ALL walk through it on voting day.

[TBF]

34. It's kind of like a big pyramid scheme -

with just a lucky few at the top and then everyone else. The critical thing to remember is that there are MANY more of us than them.

[99th_Monkey]

41. I have no illusions about what Bernie and all of us supporting him are up against

that is one of the biggest reasons I support his candidacy, because I know full well.

Having worked for Rob't F. Kennedy in both OR and CA, believe me I know.

And I know that Bernie knows too, along with his wife & family, and yet he made the
decision to stand with 'the little people' to fight the good fight, come what may. I have
huge respect for this man for many reasons, but this is one of the biggest ones.

[bvar22]

42. I WILL say they are bad people.

People who advance the agenda of The RICH at the expense of the Working Class and Poor....
ARE "Bad People"....or people without a conscience who are commonly called Sociopaths.

[riversedge]

51. umm. Sounds like -my way or the highway--thingy.

.................Are you with us, or with the establishment?............

[draa]

54. We've been with the establishment for decades.

Now it's time for them to be with us.

[alcibiades_mystery]

52. HEROES!!!!

[Jarqui]

53. I've got my 6 prong pitchfork all ready to go!!

[marions ghost]

55. We have the numbers

--to take back this country.