The Tipping Point?

We are coming to a tipping point in America. We are coming to the time, as we have before, where one national meme gives way to another. The meme that we have been following since 1981 is "what is good for corporate America is good for us all." The sub-meme is "government is a hinderance to corporate America, and therefore bad for Americans."

We, the unwashed masses, are waking up to some realities.

• Reality #1: There is no corporate "America," just multinational corporations that have headquarters in America.
• Reality #2: The distribution of money in our economy has become unjust.
• Reality #3: Government itself isn't necessarily bad, but our elected leaders are mostly corrupt.
• Reality #4: Because of this corruption, we don't have a political spectrum representing the people, just government by and for narrow corporate interests.

Reality #1

Corporations are not evil, nor are they good. They are amoral entities that exist to help the corporation's bottom line. They do not sit in mahogany-paneled rooms and plot to destroy America. But if, say, environmental regulations  get in the way of profits, then they will fight those regulations - especially if fighting is cheaper than compliance. Likewise, they do not sit in a circle asking how they can benefit the nation - that is not their responsibility. Their fiduciary duty is to their shareholders, and to the company's bottom line.

Unfortunately, things that are good for a corporation's bottom line that are bad for us are polluting, paying less (or in many cases NO) taxes, trimming their work force, outsourcing American jobs, and avoiding compliance with health, safety and labor regulations. All of these things impoverish or endanger American citizens, and lower our quality of life. But I would again point out that this does not make corporations evil - it is what they do. It is the role of government to regulate the behavior of corporations, so they don't shit all over the commons, and the citizens of America. 

And people see this now. It is common knowledge, for instance, that in 2010 GE paid NO FEDERAL INCOME TAX, and in fact, got a rebait. Joe lunchpail, who paid his taxes in 2010 gave part of that to GE. Same for some banks, same for big oil. And yet, Democrats rush to defend Wall Street's tax shelters. BP not only fouled the gulf, but killed 12 people in that infamous rig explosion. Yet you had a Republican Congressman apologizing to them for the harsh words that some in DC were using at them. Our government is supposed to protect the average guy from the powerful's abuse. But that is not happening, so corporations continue to suck all the nation's money right up to the top, which brings us to...

Reality #2

We have the worst inequity of income distribution since they have been keeping track. Our disparity between rich and poor puts us on par, according to recent economic studies, with Mexico and the Philippines. The top 400 richest people in American have more money than the bottom 50%. The bottom half is over 150 million people. The six Walmart heirs have more money than the bottom 30%! No, no...six people have more money than the poorest 100 million Americans. That is insane. Also, since the mid 1970s, the American middle class has barely held steady with inflation as far as income. That is, except the last five years. In that span, we have lost seven percent. We are getting crushed. Why are we getting crushed?...

Reality #3

Our government is the longest-lasting system of constitutional government in the world. Our framework works to, more of less, serve the people. We don't always like it, it's not always fair, but it has worked for about 230 years. 

Now, however, our government works to serve the top 2% almost to the exclusion of all else. Those that govern haven't completed the transformation, but they are working hard to get rid of entitlements (that we are, by the way, entitled to), and to shape the tax structure to insure a permanent upper/ruling class in the United States. Shit like this has gone on since the founding - like Hamilton and Washington and their buddies swindling Revolutionary War vets out of their bonds. But it feels like this is a tipping point. 

American has been raided. Corporate raiders have cleaned the safes and cupboards, and now they're shorting the United States. The credit downgrade was just the first move. Once Social Security is scooped up into bags marked "swag," and state education budgets are transferred to a few corporations, and all the prisons privatized, we will cease to educate ourselves, have no cushion for our elderly and handicapped, and fall into third world status. We are getting crushed, squeezed as it were, because the ruling elite want to suck the last juice out of us before moving on, like fat locusts. And why is this happening?

Because our government leaders are in the employ of these locusts. Their campaign money, and their future wealth comes from the corporate oligarchy. This is true for their staffers, and for cabinet officials, and for generals and colonels in the military. Serve the master, get your reward. Not just in campaign funds (bribes), but in future jobs, speech fees and consulting fees. And, this is legal. But it is wholly and utterly corrupt. Our elected leaders are, by and large, whores who we pay six figure salaries, get great benefits and pensions, but only blow the oligarchs. We are left with empty pockets holding our dicks. 

So, does anyone represent us?

Reality #4

Basically, no. If you are lucky enough to have Bernie Sanders as a Senator, you have maybe the last principled senator in America. Now, some conservatives do go to bat for their voters on social issues, and swing hard. And a few so-called liberals do the same. But they both cater first and foremost to the top 2%. Republicans do this openly, having claimed the mantle of "pro-business" for a long time they have no trouble voting to erase regulations that save children's lives or keep the nation from becoming a toxic waste dump. Democrats, however, are having a much harder time doing this. As the final looting of America begins, the votes they must take are more egregious, and harder to defend. 

So, you get Senators like Patty Murray, who has liberal cred for voting against Bush on the Iraq War, put in place to shepherd the corporate agenda through the Super Committee. Barney Frank and Chris Dodd who rail against Wall Street, and yet wink and nod as their bill gets watered down, especially where the horribly dangerous derivatives gambling is concerned. And, oh my god, President Obama, who often executes his office to the RIGHT of how Bush Jr. did - with Democrats like this, who needs Republicans? 

Seriously though, as voters who care about our own economic plight, we have NO CHOICES to make between Democrats and Republicans. We don't have a "left" and a "right" any more. We have a far, far right corporatist party, and a right wing corporatist party. The right wing corporatist party dallies on a few social issues, but does not waver from ANY legislation that protects the bonus of a CEO.

So, where does that leave the 98% of American voters? Well, if you are super right wing, you can go with either party, as they will speak to your economic and foreign policy mythology, or vote Republican and have them cater to your draconian, Old Testement-based social agenda. If, however, you are an American who does not want to be economically fucked hard, while bent over the meat-counter of corporate America, you have no choice. The question really becomes: do I bother getting off the couch. Many potential Democratic voters in 2010 answered "no."

Soon, it will be 2012, and the answer will be "hell no!" The Democratic Party, and its de-facto leader President Obama have not done the job for the 98%. Sure, he has scolded us, and told us we are unreasonable, and backed down from just about EVERY fight from the so-called opposition, but some how...that's just not enough. We now see that losing those fights is his job. He is supposed to lose, so that the corporate oligarchy wins. We see this, and have lost hope. We see this, and know that the Democratic party is a dead end. The 98%, economically, have no representation in our national government (with very few exceptions).

The next burst of energy from the average working American will come as a protest, and as organized action to change the rules. Perhaps a Constitutional amendment to change how campaigns are financed. Perhaps as a third party, one that does damage to both of our established parties. Perhaps all of the above. But it's coming soon. 

Let's hope so, anyway.