Diatribune - populism - Comments

I'd be happy to continue our

wyll12 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:58:22 -0600

I'd be happy to continue our discussion on this thread, because quite frankly I like to hear your point of view. You make very good points. It's true, we differ in opinion about Barack Obama, but that doesn't mean we can't discuss his stance on issues and it certainly doesn't mean that we must also disagree on everything else that can be discussed on this site.

Flatter-the-mob populism. Well said. I'm sure I can make the connection here to Barack Obama, but please correct me if I'm wrong. Obama, in your opinion, tells the "mob" what they want to hear when he preaches his gospel of "change".

Change is a buzzword, no doubt about it. Even the word itself is a product of Obama's grassroots machine. The people, the grassroots of the United States, want change. The reason I believe Obama can deliver on his promises of change--and change for the better, because it wouldn't take much to improve the situation in Washington--is precisely because of the movement among his supporters. There are new ideas about Health Care. New ideas about politician-lobbyist relationships. There is an end to the costly war, and a way to pay for everything in the form of the rediculous Bush tax cuts being repealed. All of these things, I believe, come from the ordinary, everyman supporters of Obama, not the tailor-made-grassroots-politician himself. I don't intend to change your mind, nor do I wish to sound enamored by Obama, I just thought I'd openly share with you what I think so we can continue our rather enjoyable discussion.

Thank you

kerry — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:32:51 -0600

Thank you for bringing badly needed attention to this travesty. It is time our government ended legalized loan sharking which is exactly what this is. That goes for all credit card interest rates and fees as well. There was a time when credit cards only charged about two points over prime, now they are over ten and higher. We seem to have the best government money can buy right now.

You make some really good points

kerry — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:45:40 -0600

I think the problem is that most individuals in this country think they are going to be the next Bill Gates, ( the great American ~~dream~~ con job).They don't want equality or anything like it because they think it will interfere with their ability to succeed in life. Also, we are a pretty selfish people. As you mentioned people are more interested in getting and holding than they are in sharing. Europeans are that way so much. They have learned the value of sharing. The thing that amazes me is that people really don't understand that this country generates enough wealth to go around for everybody. But it seems that Americans would rather live poor and dream of riches than actually live well. Go figure!

Progressive Populism

Arion — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:35:39 -0600

David, I am an Edwards supporter all the way, and a union guy from way back. But I have a couple of questions:
1. Why is it that nobody I speak with is interested in income inequality? When I bring it up even progressive eyes glaze over.
2. Who are we speaking for? Is there still anything like a blue collar constituency? I know, in reality we speak for both the middle class and the working class, since both are being equally screwed. But nowhere do I encounter a sense of injustice. On the rank and file level, the union guys are the worst. They have their (semi) secure piece of pie; to hell with the part time Walmart worker, the farmer going under, the small businessman being driven out. How do you unite and galvanize all these folks?
Sinceley, Dick Mulliken