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- cross-posted to:
- [email protected]
Summary
In his farewell speech, President Joe Biden warned of a growing “oligarchy” in the U.S., where extreme wealth and power threaten democracy.
Comparing modern elites to 19th-century robber barons, he called for reforms to hold the wealthy accountable, as done in the past.
Biden also criticized a “tech-industrial complex” concentrating power and spreading disinformation, weakening democracy.
His remarks sparked a surge in Google searches for “oligarchy.”
The speech comes amid rising concerns about policies favoring billionaires, like Trump’s tax cuts and potential cuts to social safety programs.
I like blaming Biden and all but let’s be real we are in this mess because a bunch of the people that occupy the underclass with us are actively fighting against us and for the rich ass rulers.
And the reason to blame for that is that Democrats have shown they don’t really care about working class people. So these people end up falling for the propaganda of the right since there’s no real counter to it, especially with the Democrats capitulating on issues like immigration during this election. We need an actual progressive or labor party to bring these people away from the right. But the Democrats continue to refuse to become that party and without better voting systems a third party will only really work on the local level.
Of course Democrats care about working class people. The party is just currently run by a bunch of overly educated elites that don’t have an interest in listening to the workers. Because when they do listen they hear complaints that are all over the place. The Dems moved to the right a long while ago, and around the globe liberal parties are all facing major setbacks, and our liberal party here in America is farther right than most of our democratic peers. My point is that neither of our political parties will ever do what you are asking for without being forced to action by the people.
Except our electorate is so broken that 30+% of them voted for the billionaire party and are waiting patiently with their hands cupped for that sweet trickle down. Except they are more than likely about to get austerity before they get dental coverage. I really don’t know how to get through to some of these people, they either don’t understand a ton or have fundamentally different values. Values that are in opposition to the basics of a liberal democratic system. Part of me wants to shake every one of the taxes are theft post tea party MAGA clowns and take them on a tour of where the real theft is… like say any of the multiple private space companies that launch rich assholes into orbit and sadly bring them back.
A big part of the problem is the underclass republican supporters are just little authoritarian tyrants themselves. Given the chance they are all too ready to pull the ladder up behind them.
Given the choice between kids in cages, outrageous nepotism and kakistocracy, insurrection, blatant authoritarianism, and LITERALLY ANYTHING ELSE, nobody should need to convince you to choose “anything else”. It should be self evident.
Democrats may suck, but “I voted for pre-hitler because you didn’t sell something I wanted to buy” looks way worse on the voters who just can’t see the value or the difference. You are right we should have better options, but I reject the idea out of hand that the rise of trumpism rests solely on democrats not being exciting. Likewise I wouldn’t say they are the ones voting against their own interests.
It’s not solely resting on that but I think it’s a large part. There’s a lot of people who just don’t vote or care about politics at all because there’s no good options. Many of them were excited and drawn out by Obama but ended up getting burned when he didn’t bring the real change they were looking for. They then got excited for Bernie but again got burned when he didn’t win and was pushed back on by the entire party. So now these people are just staying home and not voting. If you promised and carried through on many of the popular issues like healthcare for all you would activate these people and not have to worry as much about the maga movement since you would have a lot more voters excited to go out to vote for you. People aren’t as excited about going out to vote against Trump which is why we saw much lower turnout this year. Democrats just can’t really excite people and until they can they are just relying on people hating Trump enough it motivates them to go and vote.
If progressives were as united as the bigots the ratchet could turn the other way but it won’t because their are so many voters that are too busy cutting off their nose to spite their face while hiding behind false bravado that doesn’t accomplish anything.
The ratchet isn’t gonna turn the other way until the problem of money in politics is dealt with. Until then there won’t be a real progressive candidate to rally around as in the case of Bernie they get pushed back against by the donors and the rest of the party. I do think there are some problems with people not wanting to unite under one candidate but we’re not even really at the point where that’s the main problem as the bigger problem is donors and the establishment of the Democratic party.
Who is going to vote for less money from lobbying?
No one in government except the few progressive Democrats who are routinely demonized and belittled by the rest of the party. The only way I see it happening is if Bernie or someone like him can pull a Trump and win the presidency and completely overhaul the party.