John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY RIAZ MALIK IN MINT PRESS
“Obama’s Frustration with Clinton Campaign Should be a Warning to Dems
"Will Democrats stop wasting their time rehashing conspiracy theories and actually start opposing Trump on Venezuela? On mass surveillance? On tax breaks to the wealthy? On defense spending?"
If only, but I'm afraid there are sound reasons why they behave that way.
The Democrats, as a party, are as much a part of the imperial power structure of the United States as the Republicans are.
When it comes to such topics as those in the quoted list above, the two parties are virtually a single party.
They represent two wings, with one wing, the Democrats, differing only by talking to some degree about social issues at home.
That seems to give some comfort and satisfaction to many Americans of a mildly progressive inclination.
But it is always just talk.
Because imperial and military demands leave no resources available for social issues.
And because strong political careers are built through respect for the power establishment, where the money is, there are few promising politicians who want to work towards solving social issues anyway.
It is so much easier and rewarding to just go along, go along with the Pentagon, the CIA, a plutocratic system tax and social system, corrupt lobbying, and money-drenched politics.
The Democrats do not offer real alternatives in almost anything.
We see a brave and capable figure like Tulsi Gabbard, but she is largely ignored by Party officials and by the corporate press. She’s allowed to make her efforts, but her voice is not allowed to reach average Americans on a daily basis the way voices like, say, Biden's are.
I'm pretty sure the average American, if interviewed, would think the views of Tulsi Gabbard as “far out there” or “not sensible,” maybe even that worst of all possible charges, "unpatriotic." That is, if they even recognized her name.
Why is that? Because average Americans are kept in an environment insulated against such concerns. The bulk of Americans resemble people from a religious institution who have been kept from many harsh realities and have been convinced by constant repetition that they are protected by things being just the way they are. After all, American patriotism is virtually a religion, a secular one.
America’s press and politicians, most of them, serve as pastors or mothers-superior for right-thinking.
It’s always that way in a society with the kinds of goals and attitudes represented by America’s power establishment, an establishment which consists of the nation’s privileged having their interests served and protected by bought-and-paid-for government and by powerful agencies such as the Pentagon and CIA.
It’s pretty much a closed system, although minor players, like a Tulsi Gabbard, are allowed to speak to keep up the appearances of a free society, however they can only give their speeches without a microphone, in effect. Unheard – by most people most of the time – is almost the same as not existing. That’s how it works.
Radio’s earliest days proved the immense power on people’s minds of constant repetition of some message and of the great value of name recognition. Later, television did the same, only even more forcefully. And a truly massive industry in marketing and advertising and influencing grew up as a result. American politics have completely adopted its methods to keep the establishment’s interests foremost.
