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antigop

(12,778 posts)
Sun May 22, 2016, 11:29 AM May 2016

"A party beholden to corporate power cannot simultaneously be the party of ordinary working people"

Hillary Clinton, Corporate America and the Democrats' Dilemma

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/34913-with-hillary-clinton-corporate-america-defines-the-limits-of-acceptable-opinion

To understand the dynamics underlying the Clinton-Sanders nomination contest, it's helpful to remember the old adage that Democrats are supposed to be the party of ordinary working people. As the nomination process plays out, the 2016 race might be remembered as the party's last gasp at being true to that narrative.

A party beholden to corporate power cannot simultaneously be the party of ordinary working people, and thus we can see the Democrats' dilemma. Though the party distinguishes itself from the GOP in some ways - Democrats are more liberal on social issues, for example, and more inclined to defend programs like Medicare and Social Security - there can be no question that corporate money has undue influence on both major parties, not just the GOP. When Hillary Clinton was seen as the inevitable 2016 Democratic nominee, there was no reason to believe this status quo would be challenged. But the rise of Bernie Sanders changes everything.

The genius of the corporate coup that has overtaken US democracy is not that it dominates the GOP - the party that has long favored corporate power anyway - but that it has maneuvered even the opposition party into submission as well. The brightest minds on Wall Street are experts at hedging bets, and they play politics just as they play finance. Such dynamics are key to understanding not only the role of the Clinton candidacy in the eyes of corporate America, but the perceived threat posed by the Sanders campaign with its persistent advocacy for people over corporations.
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"A party beholden to corporate power cannot simultaneously be the party of ordinary working people" (Original Post) antigop May 2016 OP
corporations own RNC, DNC, and MSM oldandhappy May 2016 #1
You used to be able to count on pendulum swings in American politics. gordianot May 2016 #2
Nice analogy! trudyco May 2016 #6
I think that's a great way of stating it. Thank you! nt antigop May 2016 #13
Sanders proved that a successful candidate doesn't need corporate cash. lumberjack_jeff May 2016 #3
which begs the question... antigop May 2016 #5
I don't see any good alternatives. n/t lumberjack_jeff May 2016 #7
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" antigop May 2016 #8
Maybe. lumberjack_jeff May 2016 #9
"If ... Scuba May 2016 #4
thanks, Scuba. nt antigop May 2016 #10
The thing is they aren't rolling along just fine. trudyco May 2016 #11
Thank you! nt antigop May 2016 #12
even corporate raiders are admitting that their model is killing geese for their golden eggs MisterP May 2016 #20
Enablers pmorlan1 May 2016 #14
kick nt antigop May 2016 #15
And it was Bill Clinton who made the deal that took us here. pdsimdars May 2016 #16
And he is who his wife wants to put in charge of our economy jwirr May 2016 #21
I guess some should not have voted Green in 2000 Demsrule86 May 2016 #17
Bullshit. hobbit709 May 2016 #18
Sorry Demsrule86 May 2016 #19
Is the liarman still available for VP? JEB May 2016 #22

gordianot

(15,226 posts)
2. You used to be able to count on pendulum swings in American politics.
Sun May 22, 2016, 11:34 AM
May 2016

The pendulum has fallen off its base and lays on the floor broken.

 

lumberjack_jeff

(33,224 posts)
3. Sanders proved that a successful candidate doesn't need corporate cash.
Sun May 22, 2016, 11:36 AM
May 2016

But when you give those corporations actual votes in the form of Superdelegates... ordinary working people can't compete with that.

The Democratic party has shown that corporate cash isn't a necessary evil, it is a conscious choice. In fact, they consider it so important to side with the corporations that they are willing to alienate millions of voters.

antigop

(12,778 posts)
8. "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"
Sun May 22, 2016, 11:43 AM
May 2016

Quote often attributed to Einstein, but not necessarily his.

 

lumberjack_jeff

(33,224 posts)
9. Maybe.
Sun May 22, 2016, 11:45 AM
May 2016

I'm to old to start from scratch, maybe the kids can create a new economically populist party, but it will take actual throwing of the chair.

 

Scuba

(53,475 posts)
4. "If ...
Sun May 22, 2016, 11:38 AM
May 2016
"If the Democratic Party would fight as hard for the Working Class as the Republican Party fights for the Ruling Class, the Republicans would be a powerless minority party within a few election cycles.

The Democratic Party knows this, the Republican Party knows this, the Ruling Class knows this- and they've been astonishingly successful at making sure the Working Class never learns this.

The status quo was rolling along just fine, until Bernie Sanders came along and mucked it up with his crazy ideas about democracy, equality and justice." ~ Anonymous

trudyco

(1,258 posts)
11. The thing is they aren't rolling along just fine.
Sun May 22, 2016, 11:50 AM
May 2016

Even Billionaires should be aware that they can't put a bubble around global consequences of their actions. They can't put a gate between them and the rest of the world. Eventually their descendants will have to live with what the billionaires wrought. Global warming, contaminated water/soil/air, drought, food production practices or GMOs that wipe out beneficial insects or bring on super bugs ... they can't buy their way out of everything.

It's like they never grew up from being a teen. You know, teenagers engage in risky behavior because they believe the bad stuff happens to other people, that it can never happen to them. That's how coporatists and Billionaires are acting. Real Americans support the middle class. It's what keeps America stable. Real humans take care of the planet, promote peace, etc. Anything else is self destructive.

MisterP

(23,730 posts)
20. even corporate raiders are admitting that their model is killing geese for their golden eggs
Sun May 22, 2016, 02:36 PM
May 2016

Apollo Global Management backs Clinton but Leon Black ought to remember what happened to his father

pmorlan1

(2,096 posts)
14. Enablers
Sun May 22, 2016, 12:50 PM
May 2016

Let's hope that their enablers wake up so that we can reclaim our Party from the corporations that now infest it.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
21. And he is who his wife wants to put in charge of our economy
Sun May 22, 2016, 03:04 PM
May 2016

if she is elected. He tried to destroy us once - please don't give him a second chance.

Demsrule86

(68,351 posts)
17. I guess some should not have voted Green in 2000
Sun May 22, 2016, 01:46 PM
May 2016

This gave the election to Bush and tipped the scales in favor of United...now despite all you high-minded types...you need a great deal of money to run in a presidential election.

hobbit709

(41,694 posts)
18. Bullshit.
Sun May 22, 2016, 01:51 PM
May 2016

Try blaming the 200,000+ so-called Democrats that voted for Bush in Florida allowing them to steal it.

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