America's Democratic Collapse

saltwn · #1 (**permalink**) 06-03-2008, 04:11 PM

In a history course I took over 10 years ago, my professor Bill Kaatz outlined the evolution of governments through tribal leaders, land lords, emperors, to the communists and republics of today. He suggested we were moving toward a "corporate government". I just found the following opinion interesting in light of that former statement by Prof Kaatz.

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I used to live in a country called America. It was not a perfect country, God knows, especially if you were African American or Native American or of Japanese descent in World War II, or poor or gay or a woman or an immigrant, but it was a country I loved and honored. This country gave me hope that it could be better. It paid its workers wages that were envied around the world. It made sure these workers, thanks to labor unions and champions of the working class in the Democratic Party and the press, had health benefits and pensions. It offered good public education. It honored basic democratic values and held in regard the rule of law, including international law and respect for human rights. It had social programs from Head Start to welfare to Social Security to take care of the weakest among us, the mentally ill, the elderly and the destitute. It had a system of government that, however flawed, was dedicated to protecting the interests of its citizens. It offered the possibility of democratic change. It had a media that was diverse and endowed with the integrity to give a voice to all segments of society, including those beyond our borders, to impart to us unpleasant truths, to challenge the powerful, to explain ourselves to ourselves.America's Democratic Collapse | Democracy and Elections | AlterNet

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The country I live in today uses the same words to describe itself, the same patriotic symbols and iconography, the same national myths, but only the shell remains. America, the country of my birth, the country that formed and shaped me, the country of my father, my father's father and his father's father, stretching back to the generations of my family that were here for the country's founding, is so diminished as to be nearly unrecognizable.

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I single out no party. The Democratic Party has been as guilty as the Republicans. It was Bill Clinton who led the Democratic Party to the corporate watering trough. Clinton argued that the party had to ditch labor unions, no longer a source of votes or power, as a political ally. Workers, he insisted, would vote Democratic anyway. They had no choice. It was better, he argued, to take corporate money. By the 1990s, the Democratic Party, under Clinton's leadership, had virtual fundraising parity with the Republicans. Today the Democrats get more. In political terms, it was a success. In moral terms, it was a betrayal.

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Clinton's welfare reform bill, which was signed on Aug. 22, 1996, obliterated the nation's social safety net. It threw 6 million people, many of them single mothers, off the welfare rolls within three years. It dumped them onto the streets without child care, rent subsidies and continued Medicaid coverage. Families were plunged into crisis, struggling to survive on multiple jobs that paid $6 or $7 an hour, or less than $15,000 a year. But these were the lucky ones. In some states, half of those dropped from the welfare rolls could not find work. Clinton slashed Medicare by $115 billion over a five-year period and cut $25 billion in Medicaid funding. The booming and overcrowded prison system handled the influx of the poor, as well as our abandoned mentally ill. And today we stand in shame with 2.3 million of our citizens behind bars, most for nonviolent drug offenses. More than 1 in 100 adults in the United States is incarcerated, and 1 in 9 black men ages 20 to 34 is behind bars. The United States, with less than 5 percent of the global population, has almost 25 percent of the world's prisoners.

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While the Democrats have been very bad, George W. Bush has been even worse. Let's set aside Iraq, the worst foreign policy blunder in American history. George Bush has also done more to dismantle our Constitution, ignore or revoke our statutes and reverse regulations that protected American citizens from corporate abuse than any other president in recent American history. The president, as the Boston Globe reported, has claimed the authority, through "signing statements," to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office, asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution.

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Over 800,000 jobs once handled by government employees have been outsourced to corporations, a move that has not only further empowered our shadow corporate government but helped destroy federal workforce unions.

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The disparity between our oligarchy and the working class has created a new global serfdom.

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Take a look at our government departments. Who runs the Defense Department? The Department of Interior? The Department of Agriculture? The Food and Drug Administration? Who runs the Department of Labor? Corporations. And in an election year where we are numbed by absurdities, we hear nothing about this subordinating of the American people to corporate power.

America's Democratic Collapse | Democracy and Elections | AlterNet

Professor Kaatz, by the way, did not suggest that this new form of government was good or bad. He merely took note of it.

C-101 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-03-2008, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Clinton's welfare reform bill, which was signed on Aug. 22, 1996, obliterated the nation's social safety net. It threw 6 million people, many of them single mothers, off the welfare rolls within three years. It dumped them onto the streets without child care, rent subsidies and continued Medicaid coverage. Families were plunged into crisis, struggling to survive on multiple jobs that paid $6 or $7 an hour, or less than $15,000 a year. But these were the lucky ones. In some states, half of those dropped from the welfare rolls could not find work. Clinton slashed Medicare by $115 billion over a five-year period and cut $25 billion in Medicaid funding.

Actually, welfare reform was a part of the Contract With America by the republican majorities in Congress. Bill Clinton likes to claim credit for welfare reform, but in all reality is was a conservative idea put into motion by conservatives, and ultimately became a reality because of conservatives.

This professor clearly does not understand the concept of smaller government, and whines and complains about people getting off welfare rolls rather than realizing that they joined the work force and accepted personal responsibility for their own financial welfare.

Slashing entitlement programs decreases the dependency on them by Americans, shrinks the control of the government, and ultimately leads to a greater America because the unemployed are forced to actually earn their living rather than living off other taxpayers hard earned dollars.

So while Mr. Kaatz appears to be compassionate about the poor and needy, he is actually supporting a cause that is to the deteriment of the poor, forcing the poor to remain poor rather than making them independent and prosperous of their own accord.

Quote:

Over 800,000 jobs once handled by government employees have been outsourced to corporations, a move that has not only further empowered our shadow corporate government but helped destroy federal workforce unions.

Oh no, more power to those evil capitalists! RUN!

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The disparity between our oligarchy and the working class has created a new global serfdom.

LOL. I would love to hear some details about this supposed "serfdom".

Quote:

Take a look at our government departments. Who runs the Defense Department? The Department of Interior? The Department of Agriculture? The Food and Drug Administration? Who runs the Department of Labor? Corporations. And in an election year where we are numbed by absurdities, we hear nothing about this subordinating of the American people to corporate power.

Really? Is Robert Gates the CEO of Boeing or something?

Corporate power, give me a break.

If it wasn't for the American people, there would be no corporations.

This professor talks about corporations as if they're an extension of the government's hand.

If anyone watched the congressional hearings with oil executives, they would realize that Corporate America and capitalism are furious at the feds.

mlurp · #3 (**permalink**) 06-03-2008, 06:47 PM

What is true is it failed the citizens who wages failed to keep up with the ever increasing profit of the wealthy and a class of people who once were on Fortune 500 as millionaires are now listed as billionaires.
Yet how much do you have to put into savings each month? Or the ones on the middle rung of the ladder of life. And these same poor are now sharing the streets with families who once were considered middle class with hope , a home and a future. That some how went away for the profit of the wealthy.
I'm sure your training could make less of what I have said. But the fact is in 2008 we are not doings so well are we?

C-101 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-03-2008, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlurp

What is true is it failed the citizens who wages failed to keep up with the ever increasing profit of the wealthy and a class of people who once were on Fortune 500 as millionaires are now listed as billionaires.

No, it forced people who didn't need welfare to get off of welfare. By removing that dependency, it encourages people to expand their wealth, and they ultimately are better off than they were with welfare.

Millionaires did become billionaires, but the new middle class is the old upper class now as well.

I personally don't care how much Bill Gates or Warren Buffet rakes in every year.

Quote:

Yet how much do you have to put into savings each month? Or the ones on the middle rung of the ladder of life. And these same poor are now sharing the streets with families who once were considered middle class with hope , a home and a future. That some how went away for the profit of the wealthy.

"That somehow went away for the profit of the wealthy"?

How did welfare reform magically take money from the poor and give it to the rich?

I doubt "middle-class" families were put out on the streets by welfare reform, as if they were truly "middle-class" they wouldn't be on welfare.

I know the dems think that you're rich if you have a family of 5 and make $75,000 a year, but the "middle-class" being put out on the streets by welfare reform? Give me a break.

Quote:

I'm sure your training could make less of what I have said. But the fact is in 2008 we are not doings so well are we?

Just a test, In what ways are "we" not doing so well?

saltwn · #5 (**permalink**) 06-03-2008, 07:26 PM

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Originally Posted by C-101

......

So while Mr. Kaatz appears to be compassionate about the poor and needy, he is actually supporting a cause that is to the deteriment of the poor, forcing the poor to remain poor rather than making them independent and prosperous of their own accord.........

No. Bill Kaatz is not the author of this article. He was an old prof who suggested the next phase of "governing" would be the business world. He absolutely never took a liberal or conservative stance on history, even went out of his way to present all sides in hot topic issues.
I was merely reminded of his remarks when I read this opinion of Chris Hedges who made these remarks in a keynote address on Wednesday, May 28, at Furman University in South Carolina.
I am terribly sorry if I led readers to believe he (Kaatz) authored this. I merely wanted to give him credit for the prediction. However it plays out, I think that prediction came true. And some will see it as "the death knell for democracy" as this guy Chris Hedges. Others may think it is just another phase of social growth. Still others may welcome the "sensibleness" of putting successful businessmen in charge of social structure. Those views are debatable. And of course whether or not the prediction that business would rule countries instead of communism/democracies etc. is also debatable.
I just wanted to point out my error and clarify any misunderstanding.

C-101 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-03-2008, 07:55 PM

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Originally Posted by saltwn

I just wanted to point out my error and clarify any misunderstanding.

No, it was my error in thinking Kaatz authored this. Sorry.

saltwn · #7 (**permalink**) 06-03-2008, 08:27 PM

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C-101: Slashing entitlement programs decreases the dependency on them by Americans, shrinks the control of the government, and ultimately leads to a greater America because the unemployed are forced to actually earn their living rather than living off other taxpayers hard earned dollars.

I agree with this statement.
In my opinion (and I know it's harsh) we should do away with welfare altogether except for aged, orphaned, or disabled persons. I would not qualify an illiterate person for welfare/housing/health care if that was the only disability.
Many would argue we will have a vast underclass out of work. The only problem I can foresee is we need to work on illegal immigration and revamp our worker visa program to become an adjunct to a system of vigilant recruitment of poor/undereducated Americans to work in those industries now filled by aliens.
Not everyone is college material. Not everyone is trade school material. Some would do well to pick fruit or be a maid and earn an honest living.

C-101 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltwn

Not everyone is college material. Not everyone is trade school material.

LOL, yeah. Well, Mr. Obama thinks you're wrong and wants college education for every student that does community service first.

I can't think of any plan that Obama has that doesn't incorporate some kind of blatant socialism in it. "You can go to college at the taxpayer's expense, even though you goofed off in high school, provided you do some social work for the government and community first."

Now, that isn't an actual quote, but that's what he wants.

Obama is effectively taking away the need for students to try hard in high school, as they're getting into college no matter what.

Meanwhile, our education standards drop to another all-time low.

Great plan, Obama, great plan.

mlurp · #9 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C-101

No, it forced people who didn't need welfare to get off of welfare. By removing that dependency, it encourages people to expand their wealth, and they ultimately are better off than they were with welfare.

Millionaires did become billionaires, but the new middle class is the old upper class now as well.

I personally don't care how much Bill Gates or Warren Buffet rakes in every year.

"That somehow went away for the profit of the wealthy"?

How did welfare reform magically take money from the poor and give it to the rich?

I doubt "middle-class" families were put out on the streets by welfare reform, as if they were truly "middle-class" they wouldn't be on welfare.

I know the dems think that you're rich if you have a family of 5 and make $75,000 a year, but the "middle-class" being put out on the streets by welfare reform? Give me a break.

Just a test, In what ways are "we" not doing so well?

My point is that not evey one on welfare was robbing the system. The govt. needs to stop those who don't deserve it from getting it. And with the removal there are still some who don't deserrve it getting a check, food stamp etc.

Quote: but the new middle class is the old upper class now as well. End Quote: You sure of that? Like evey one who was middle class 10 years ago are now that much better off even with the decline of manufacturing and the out sourcing of thousands of jobs.

Welfare reform didn't put any middle class familes into the streets but the Housing Crisis did. And who was behind that? We will know much more in the near future.
In fact I never mentioned welfare reform did I. Your training did you well. Your the one using that one to pass of our current economy situation, not me!

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