Kremastics

For the last half century or more the American people have been damned fools. It may be too late to do anything about it; in fact it almost certainly is too late.

(CALGARY, Alberta) - Many, if not most, Americans are in serious denial. The country they know and love is almost finished. As Lincoln famously said: “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” and America has never been so divided. The Democrats hate and fear the Republicans, and the Republicans hate and fear the Democrats. With extreme polarization, the grounds for compromise and common ground are basically nonexistent. For the ordinary citizen the United States is ungovernable.

America will go on, but most of its people will not—at least not in ways they hope and expect. There children are going to be far worse off.

The poverty rate across the country is 14.3%, the highest it has been since 1994 (after 12 years of Republicans). There are a record number of uninsured. The Department of Agriculture reports record “food insecurity.” Eleven million households have mortgages that are underwater—but no one is bailing them out.

This is about kremastics—the unlimited accumulation of wealth. The top one percent of Americans earn a fifth of the income and control a third of the wealth. The rate of accumulation is accelerating.

The Republicans are the bad guys here, but the Democrats are not significantly better. Members of both parties have sold their souls to the plutocrats. President Obama could work to make the United States a better, fairer, more humane society, but the politics prevents him from doing much. He has the bully pulpit, but even mentioning that he favours tax increases for the wealthy threatens his re-election. Perhaps he has been purchased, as well.

The Republicans are doing whatever they can to eviscerate the EPA because regulations for the safety of all the people—you, the reader—are burdensome to business and cut into profits. People are expendable, profits are not.

The Republicans want to cut the top individual tax rate from 35% to 25%, in order to “promote growth and job creation”—even though this strategy has been proven to be a fallacy. The year-over-year change in G.D.P. and changes in the historical top marginal tax rates show reduced taxes for the wealthy and job creation are not correlated.

The top tax rate for the top 1% of households came down a fifth from 1979 to 2007, while the tax rate for the average household came down less than a tenth.

Through those same years, the tax rate on the top 400 households in America—those with an average annual income of nearly $350 million—fell by more than a third. The tax rate for these supermillionaires is now lower than the tax rate for the average taxpayer. That’s you. If you want your personal taxes to go down, make two or three hundred million dollars a year—then you’ll be safe from tax increases.

The Economic Policy Institute, reports that “between 1992 and 2007, a time in which income for the average household and top 1 percent grew 13% and 123%, respectively, the income for the top 400 households grew fully 399%.”

In 1960, in The Waste Makers Vance Packard wrote in the last sentence: “The central challenge seems to be this: Americans must learn to live with their abundance without being forced to impoverish their spirit by being damned fools about it.”

There it is: For the last half century or more the American people have been damned fools. It may be too late to do anything about it; in fact it almost certainly is too late.

It has happened because it has mostly been invisible, although not entirely. When Enron happens; when hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer money is used to bail out banks, when Wall Street players get hundreds of billions of dollars in individual bonuses; and when it is reported that one of America’s largest companies, GE, not only pays no taxes but actually is entitled to a refund, it’s obvious that, collectively, the American people are either extremely gullible or very stupid. Take your pick, but the result is the same.

In September 2009, Keith Olbermann commenting on Joe Wilson shouting that Obama was a liar, said:

“It is this week evident that the greatest threat to this nation is not terrorism, nor the economy nor H1N1 nor even bad health care it is rank wilful stupidity. When did we come to extol stupidity ahead of information, and voodoo superstition and prejudice ahead of education. How many Republicans believe in death panels, and brownies and elves. When did we start to listen to and to erect the impregnably dense….The time has come to rise up and take this country back, to again make it safe for people who actually completed the seventh grade…This nation cannot survive the continued acceptance, the continued endorsement, the continued encouragement, the continued institutionalization of stupidity.”

But, says P. J. O’Rourke: “No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we’re looking for the sources of our troubles, we shouldn’t test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.”

When G. W. Bush tried to put his personal lawyer, Harriet Miers on the Supreme Court in 2005, Jonathon Chait in the New Republic summed it up:

“It's hard not to suspect that a good number of social conservatives have simply been co-opted by the Republican establishment. That would explain why, while social conservative intellectuals and commentators have almost unanimously rejected Miers, social conservative organizations have had a far more mixed reaction. While some criticized Miers, Dobson praised her, and she won unqualified endorsements from Jerry Falwell and groups like the Christian Coalition and the American Center for Law and Justice. With allies like these, Bush doesn't have much incentive to work harder to reward his social conservative base. No wonder the poor, nutty bastards got hosed again.”

The only way America can be saved is through individual action right on the ground. And I don’t mean people like the tea-party wackos who want to return the country to the 1950s or even the 1850s. Fantasy, pure and simple and denial, equally pure and simple.

Ordinary Americans have to start organizing, block by block and neighborhood by neighborhood. Elect among yourselves people you know and trust and begin by working against corrupt city governments, governments that work for the plutocrats and not for you. Take those back, then build from there. This is actually a simplistic suggestion but is potentially the most effective.

Daniel Johnson was born near the midpoint of the twentieth century in Calgary, Alberta. In his teens he knew he was going to be a writer, which is why he was one of only a handful of boys in his high school typing class — a skill he knew was going to be necessary. He defines himself as a social reformer, not a left winger, the latter being an ideological label which, he says, is why he is not an ideologue. From 1975 to 1981 he was reporter, photographer, then editor of the weekly Airdrie Echo. For more than ten years after that he worked with Peter C. Newman, Canada’s top business writer (notably on a series of books, The Canadian Establishment). Through this period Daniel also did some national radio and TV broadcasting. He gave up journalism in the early 1980s because he had no interest in being a hack writer for the mainstream media and became a software developer and programmer. He retired from computers last year and is now back to doing what he loves — writing and trying to make the world a better place

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Lynn Simmoms April 20, 2011 8:25 am (Pacific time)

Douglas there were no "found votes" in Wisconsin. In fact approximately 15,000 votes from a small Wisconsin town had the vote party breakdown on their website after the polls closed that evening. It was the county official who did not immediately post the results, and the AP reported that they had all the county votes tallied. In fact it was the AP who errored in not verifying that 100% of the votes were reported. Since the AP is not an "official" reporting group/organization, it has been an over-reaction. Also as I've seen reported, and on this website, the town that had not had their votes reported by the AP, the total vote count was actually less than their normal count during a non national election. Everything was pretty normal and the state canvassers repoted that the other day. Someone jumped the gun Douglas with what they thought was a 200 vote winning margin. Please note that over 10,000 votes were reported in Madison that showed only votes for the judical candidates, no votes for the other candidates or other issues. A recount at this time has not been decided, but I hope they do. The Tea Party has no official political function with regards to national/state legislation Douglas, and a recount would be paid for by the state because the winning margin is within the percentile fraction to have one free of charge if the loser so desires.

Douglas Benson April 20, 2011 5:08 am (Pacific time)

Annon take a look at the election results from Wis. not only did every Rep get their arse handed to them but it looks like they pulled the good old election rigging scam with supreme court justice Posser . An election that was a slam dunk before Gov. Walkers attack on workers . Oh gee we "found" 4,000 votes ,just enough to force the Dems to pay for a recount if they did a hand count I bet those votes would vanish. An activists job is hard when you see ten or twenty people show up and not long ago that would have been a good turnout .Well since Wisconsin I have seen no less than 100 and as many as 1,500 people show up at rallies . I still havent seen one move from our tea party "back to the constitution" folks to restore our rights .Not one single bill ,no hearings,no committies . They should be all over HSA,TSA,FEMA,habeous ,Posse com.war spending etc. wouldnt you think they would go after these programs first . Peace

Anonymous April 19, 2011 12:17 pm (Pacific time)

Douglas could you point out where someone in the republican party has been politically defeated by progressives in Wisconsin? I hear a lot of bluster, but no records of some kind of over the top defeats. Thanks

Douglas Benson April 19, 2011 10:35 am (Pacific time)

Chase hasnt been paying attention. Wisconsin and Scott W. the progressives are motivated and the Rep.party is taking a beating like never before . The tea baggers are a sick joke and also losing members as people see the effects .Lawsuits on second amm. wont do it ,laws from congress will like say making firearm confiscation or participating in such TREASON punishable by death.As well as charges for those that ordered such durring Katrina for deprivation of rights .Without accounability there is no law. I agree we should do away with the electorial college for the highest office in this nation. Did I miss something about the tea party ?I thought they were all about return to the constitution . I ask again just what part of shall be taxed in proportion to their property is so wrong .If I pay 25% there is zero reason BA ,GE,Chase,etc. cant pay the same they make much more than I do why shouldnt they pay the same so much for AMT. By the way I read the federal papers the anti federalist papers and the 10th ammendment . While you may not like social safety nets and regulatory bodies the people have spoken that they want these liberating programs that have given us individualism [somewhat to our detriment]. These programs are constitutional as congress has the authority to lay taxes for the general welfare .Mabey they should put those taxes in the states and let them distribute them to social and regulatory programs but something tells me that would be a cluster F%#@#.CA ,NY and others would recieve the most while say Wyoming would get next to nothing . Im out Peace

Chase April 18, 2011 6:18 pm (Pacific time)

Douglas Benson what are you writing about regarding the Tea Party not passing any congrssional bills? Of course not! You have any concept on just who they are and what they are agitating for? By the way the R's did not have their arse handed to them, just the opposite. This is 2011, it was the 2010 race last year not 2008. Regarding 2nd Amendment issues, there are several well funded organizations that have filed lawsuits in New Orleans, Chicago and many other locations that have defiled that "right." May I suggest you read the Federalists papers, review the laws in your state and look at the 10th Amendment. As far as a 3rd party that could pick off conservatives, will not happen. We learned in 1992 with Ross Perot and our vote got diluted and one of the worst most dishonorable people took office. By the way Daniel, we are taking our country back, maybe you should see what's happening on the state local levels. Of course that would require some research and those at the New York Times have no concept of that aspect of reporting, so there goes your primary source.

Open Eyed American April 18, 2011 5:34 pm (Pacific time)

Dan:

If you could somehow manage to remove your obvious hatred for all things American from your writing, people might be able to stick with you enough to actually learn from your intelligence but you seem to insist on erecting that screen of hatred.

Editor: Why can't people separate their nationalism and personal feelings from fact? Your obvious hatred of Canadians is the only thing this is about. Don't tell me you're bothered by his writing, you are simply bothered because you hate Canadians. Maybe if you accepted that the United States is a wreck of a country then you could start to see the points being made. I live here, I do not admire this nation; I admire people in it and things that have happened in its name, but the list of reasons to hate it are everywhere. And here's the funny part; God knows everything. I mean it may not be funny for people who have to face a life of denying right and wrong when they face God. We are all here for a fairly short time. The United States used to only persecute other nations, now days it is coming after its own. The corporations are America today. The big pharma commercials on TV, those are America today. The dead rotting bodies in the Middle east and the broken hearted children whose parents were killed by American rednecks who barely operate at a level higher than Israel, and man that is bad, really bad. So all the smoke and mirrors can confuse a person, but God knows all and those who root for war and pain and suffering and death... he's coming for you. I suggest changing your ways, we need to vastly reinvent American politics and I fear it is far too late for that.

Douglas Benson April 18, 2011 7:06 am (Pacific time)

Tea party ? Don't make me laugh.Republicans are going to get their hindquarters handed to them . I see they even stooped so low as to rig the election for supreme court justice in Wisconsin because it's so important to them since the left is getting motivated . The Rs got their arse handed to them in almost all the races after the people saw the game plan. What concerns me is the Ds are rounding up the people that want and will vote for real change instead of new parties . The day is still young so we will see . Let's face it if we don't put people in office that depend on votes more than campaign contributions nothing will change .

The tea party says they are all about the constitution so just how many bills have they written and submitted to return to the constitution ? No bills to end HSA abuses ,no bills to shore up the second ammendment against FEMA and others ,no bills to end illegal searches ,illegal detentions,Illegal harrassment ,the right of habeous corpous ,posse com., the list goes on and on and yet not one bill ,not one committee. No hearings on firearm confiscations durring Katrina ,no new 9/11 hearings ,unconstitutional wars,war crimes trials for Bush and co. I could go on all day . Hows that return to the constitution working out ? The only thing I see is they are a new tool to try to end all social saftey nets and regulatory agencies that protect the people . While these programs may have no constitutional basis they reflect the founding fathers vision of a free nation . Notes on the state of Virginia [Thomas Jefferson ]The poor ,unable to support themselves are maintained by an assesment on the persons in their parish.

To have all public expences,whether of the general treasury ,or of a parish or county [as for the maintenance of the poor ,building bridges ,court-house &c.] supplied by assesments on the citizens ,IN PROPORTION TO THEIR PROPERTY. OMG socialism ,what were those founding fathers thinking? Peace

Anonymous April 17, 2011 5:29 pm (Pacific time)

You have no clue what the tea party is. Not a clue. I was part of it years ago in the grassroots, but quit after sarah palin and glenn beck took over. The tea party does not exist anymore. They are just republicans again. Shows you how much you know. Anyway, posting a link for ya. I know canada is one of the countries, along with australia, that has HIGH cencorship on the internet, thus your ignorance. But this article comes from canada, so it should work..Dont forget to check the links in the article. If canada did not censor them from you. You best wake up, and start looking at what is happening to your own country. http://www.agoracosmopolitan.com/home/Frontpage/2008/09/15/02612.html

Hank Ruark April 17, 2011 12:35 pm (Pacific time)

Friend Dan: Thank you --again !-- for further repetition of my song-and-theme as in your last two pghs. Rest is great, too --and highly accurate on detail. If you don't know Charlie Savage's book, cited in my Third Part:CHOICE you will find it a huge new source. "Exceptional" we remain --as you et al will see in next decade; be sure to send me msgs, somehow, on how it comes out !!!

Lynn Simmons April 17, 2011 10:14 am (Pacific time)

Well Daniel I guess my husband Mark, a Tea Party activist with an MBA from Stanford, and a major philanthropist, has you on the same page as I in regards to your less than accurate accounting of what is going on in America. My guess is that if your crtitics ignored you, then your posters would be few, and of little intellectual value to boot. DID YOU SEE SARAH PALIN'S SPEECH IN MADISON WISCONSIN THE OTHER DAY? YOU SHOULD TRY ENLARGING YOUR VIEW ON HER AND GIVE A LOOK SEE, she really has tapped into a significant movement. I expect that she has a better than 55% chance of becoming president. If she announces by early summer, she will win: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QW5AEUyJQg

Less than accurate? Point out the inaccuracies. It's pretty standard that those who disagree with my presentations for ideological reasons have no counter-facts.

Let the scales fall from your eyes.

Mark April 17, 2011 9:54 am (Pacific time)

Pretty typical rant from this writer, devoid of any intellectual value. Mr. Benson, there is in fact a 3rd party, so to speak, that is forming inside the Republican party, and it is led by conservatives. Even that narcissist Donald Trump is tapping into the mood of the American electorate with his current populist speaking out against the Obama regime/Cabal. All this new excitement will be absorped into the new forming Republican leadership, and whoever becomes the presidential candidate will have an election similar to Reagan's 1984 election when he won 49 states. The democrats, and the msm, that is their defacto pr arm, have been diminishing for several years, and will soon be gone. Who is Nancy Pelosi? No doubt another radical faction will appear, but they will never gain power. See what is happening in Canada and all over Europe (see Finland elections), and the far lft is fading on a nearly geometrical downward trend.

What is needed is an I love America party, not an I love Money party.

Douglas Benson April 17, 2011 8:36 am (Pacific time)

We can thank Gov.Walker and a few others for their insanity .The people are fed up and seem to be staying that way not just show up a couple of times to rallies . Generally advocacy groups see poor turnout and participation . Today they are seeing so many people coming in they are having a hard time organizing them all.
Bottom line is this election cycle is going to be mighty interesting .I predict that there will be third party winners that win on shoestring budgets .They cant truly buy the votes thats what they fear the most. Even if they dont win elections are decided on small margins most of the time.Independents that threaten those margins are quickly bribed with positions or attacked by the other parties on all fronts . FACT if we start local with state legislatures and Governors we will be heard win or not . Peace

I hope you're right about the third parties, Doug. Just so long as it is not wacko parties like the tea party and their ilk.

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