Bye, Bye, Miss American Pie

And as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in hell
Could break that Satan's spell...

(CALGARY, Alberta) - Americans are losing it—in fact, may have already lost it—democracy, that is.

There are those who argue for American exceptionalism and on this point I will yield. The United States was the first new country to come out of the 18th century Enlightenment but it was founded under the false pretences of rationalism—the belief that reason and rationality can govern human society. But, as psychoanalyst Carl Jung observed in the 1950s:

“Rationalism and doctrinairism are the disease of our time; they pretend to have all the answers. But a great deal will yet be discovered which our present limited view would have ruled out as impossible. Our concepts of space and time have only approximate validity, and there is therefore a wide field for minor and major deviations.”

“By 1800 all the negatives of the new methods were as obvious as their positive. Looking back on this disorder, our eyes tend to be drawn by the particular political battles of the day. But with the advantage of distance we can also see that the central assumption of Voltaire—of his friends throughout Europe and of the English and the Americans—had been wrong. Humanism was proving itself unable to balance reason. The two seemed, in fact, to be enemies.”

Twenty-five centuries ago Plato outlined the evolution of society through five stages: 1. Aristocracy (rule by the best), 2. timocracy (rule by the honorable), 3. oligarchy (rule by the few), 4. democracy (rule by the people) and finally 5. tyranny (rule by a single person, a tyrant).

The United States is now between four and five without having ever achieved the original goal of the Founding Fathers, isocracy—equal political power for all. In the late 19th century, the U.S. passed through a period of kakistocracy—rule by the worst—and is on the verge of kakistocracy again.

The most successful period of the United States occurred from 1950 to 1973. Through those years there were strong capital controls, fixed exchange rates, strong trade unions, a large public sector, and a general acceptance of government’s role the economy. The average annual growth in per capita real GDP through the world was 2.9 percent—twice as high as the average rate since then. The U.S. has been in economic decline for more than a third of a century. We’ve witness the final takedown in just the last half dozen years or so as the kakistocrats wield their power. As John Ralston Saul summarized in 1992

“Some twenty years ago [about 1972] the democratic, industrialized, developed world began a false but ferocious internal struggle which was said to be between the Left and the Right. It was, in fact, the death rattle of the Age of Reason. The slogans assigned to the two camps were remarkably familiar. Words such as reform, socialist, social democrat and government interventionwere pitted against capitalist, conservative, individualism and established values.”

In 1952, Harvard economist John Kenneth Galbraith published one of his most important books: American Capitalism: The concept of countervailing power. He argued that for a stable society there must be an approximately equal dynamic between big business, big labour and big government.

He proved false the concept of right-to-work laws which only serve big business.

”That the individual worker, needing regularly to eat, often committed to a mortgage and in doubt as to alternatives, can deal on equal terms with the large corporate buyer of labour can be believed only after much careful training.”

There are tens of millions of Americans suffering in ways that, twenty-years ago, would more likely be attributed to a third-world country. Bernie Sanders is a Vermont senator (Ind.) who asked his constituents to write him about their experiences in the current economic debacle. Bob Herbert in the NYT reproduced parts of some of the letters. I reproduce parts of three of them below.

“I am financially ruined. I find myself depressed and demoralized and my confidence is shattered. Worst of all, as I hear more and more talk about deficit reduction and further layoffs, I have the agonizing feeling that the worst may not be behind us.”

“We are the first generation to leave our kids worse off than we were. How did this happen? Why is there such a wide distance between the rich and the middle class and the poor? What happened to the middle class? We did not buy boats or fancy cars or diamonds. Why was it possible to change the economy from one that was based on what we made and grew and serviced to a paper economy that disappeared?”

“I had hoped to be able to support not just myself by this point, but to be able to think about settling down and starting a family. My family always told me that an education was the ticket to success, but all my education seems to have done in this landscape is make it impossible to pull myself out of debt and begin a successful career.”

Of course, those average people who are beaten down, are also being kicked! A phone manufacturer posted a job announcement with the message: “No Unemployed Candidate Will Be Considered At All,” and a Texas electronics company announced online that it would “not consider/review anyone NOT currently employed regardless of the reason.”

Looking at the current political terrain, it’s clear that Americans will continue to vote against their own best interests. If Gov. Walker in Wisconsin manages to make his anti-labour laws stick, then the first step towards tyranny will follow. The ironic thing is that the Second Amendment gun-nuts are going to be most in favour of Walker-type of legislation, unable to see or understand where it will lead until it’s too late. Their guns will be useless.

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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Hank Ruark March 3, 2011 11:31 am (Pacific time)

Bill G, Mills, et al: Supreme Ct. just ruled corporations have NO RIGHT to PERSONAL PRIVACY to prevent disclosure of documents under federal Freedom of Information Act. This defies, denies, defeats Court interpretations freeing huge new corporate contributions for political purposes as right to political speech, once confined to living, breathing, eating (and --pardon!--defecating) humans. Thus it becomes entirely clear this set of selected so-called "conservative" Justices now confirm by their actions that "Down" can mean "UP", depending on where you stand when judging. moresoon on pattern of continuing key decisions building framework for this Constitutional distortion of corporate structure as if human--with clear impacts on this whole series from Dan, providing invaluable background for deep changes already underway --as in Wisconsin and other states.

Mills March 3, 2011 11:24 am (Pacific time)

Hank you've made some excellent points on FOX, but in the final analysis, those points are lost on the highly informed Fox viewers, which includes people of all political ideology.

Hank Ruark March 3, 2011 8:02 am (Pacific time)

To all: Many seem to have forgotten the Reagan regime was also Cheneyfied with his "leadership" already at work, leading on to what became undoubtedly the worst Presidency in our history: Bush II.

Hank Ruark March 2, 2011 11:53 am (Pacific time)

To all:
For solid, factual "I was there..." info on Reagan regime, do not miss the truly-
"insider" detailed informative book by David Stockman: "The Triumph of Politics".

Nobody can question the insights and information he supplies unless, indeed, they, too, were side-by-side with the Great Communicator --who turns out to be a very polished actor playing the role of his life...and knowing that was the situation, with all due humility sometimes displayed.
Stockman makes extremely clear the extremely dangerous situation thus evoked, with heavy emphasis on the false role assigned and played to the hilt of "supply side" economics, when even its supported in the WH knew all too well how unsupported it really was.

Hank Ruark March 2, 2011 8:28 pm (Pacific time)

To all: Re Fox News --and thus Roger Ailes, since he runs the whole works-- see Alternet website for latest re his coming indictment and possible jail time for telling an employee to lie on legal inquiry. Leaving details there to whet your interest on what he is accused of doing, which is precisely how Aussie press guru Murdoch, his boss and employer, has been known to operate for decades, after inheriting his press empire. IF true -and he is "innocent until proven guilty"-- do you want your news content chosen by such as that would prove him to be ???

Hank Ruark March 2, 2011 7:57 pm (Pacific time)

Bill G. et al: Appreciate, honor and respect you well-express view on Fox, sir. What I share comes from mine own long and sometimes painful contacts, some with the very persons you speak of at Fox, and with many others in the profession, as well as constant confirmation via actual contact myself. The view of Fox from within the profession surely is worth attention by viewers who may not be as well equipped to judge, with comparative content readily at hand, and with some using professionally-prepared check and similar reporting tools, which is where the reports/cited in the two major Jrnslm reviews come from. SO pay your dollar or whatever via TV exoosure and settle for your own eval-uation; that's the American way. Does not change professional evaluation and history, however, not a damned bit...and if I have dental work it won't be by untrained mechanic; similarly for world-shaking or even much less impprtant news, I will still want to depend on the top channels as seen by those whose very professional lives depend on their judgment --and on their ethics, too... !!l

Bill G March 2, 2011 6:37 pm (Pacific time)

Mr. Ruark, and others, I watch (tape) many of those shows on FOX, CNN, and MSNBC and then play them back when I have the time, usually while exercising. I generally fast forward topics (and personalities) that bore or offend me, but I usually go back and watch even those segments that irritate me because I want to hear all arguements/viewpoints. Though I appreciate your long background in Journalism, us everyday folks can really figure out what's going on in our world, and how it's being reported. This country was built by us everyday folks, thank you very much. There are some well-grounded reasons why the major networks and papers like the NY Times have been losing readers/viewers and while networks like FOX are succeeding. Your average viewer/reader out there is more sophisticated than some think. The poster Mills asked for some examples of inaccurate reporting, so have you got something that shows a pattern of willful distortion? Obama has been interviewed twice by O'Reilly, the last one prior to the Super Bowl. It drew a huge worldwide audience, and other than some of his competitors trying to create some noise, it was a good interview for the time allotted. Again can you provide some distortion examples? That network attracts people of all ideologies, both participants and viewers, and they come, watch and talk because all sides are able to present their views. Maybe some of you who bad mouth FOX should watch for a while and see how many people of all political bent participate, and how the news department shows provide primary sources if you want to follow up on your own. I have read many of those different organizations/personalities that denigrate FOX, and their subjective bias and out of context analysis is so easily exposed as the hatchet jobs that they are. Jealousy, or an agenda of questionable direction? Certainly not adversely impacting them. Saying who owns or who manages the network influences it's content, well where is the proof? I sure see that influence over at some other networks, and maybe that's why their viewer base is shrinking away?

Hank Ruark March 2, 2011 11:29 am (Pacific time)

Mills: Sorry to be so abrasive on issue of Fox News-values,but fact of development process, set up precisely for affects and impacts now achieved, is very "sore issue" within the profession. ONLY real proof is professional analysis of broadcast content, which you can find in refs. easily available, dissencting language to show facts and how/distorted/debased/differentiated to convey purposeful misinformation to all. Have done some-of-that myself in other channels, and process is part of work over-years in propaganda and precise-language study...still trying to learn how to do allathat strong and well and clearly understandable for all. That's what and why professional ethics on mater is so damned important and why workers in field try so hard to do it "the right way" --with heavy responsibilities NOT to misinform those dependent on knowing the truth to guide their own lives. Google up Rupert Murdoch for very nauseating background; alla same Ailes, too...

Charlene Young March 2, 2011 10:19 am (Pacific time)

Hank regarding your 7:56am post: Yes, I am familiar with those colorful rumors, and have read many different interpretations of events preceeding the call for an "unlawful strike", in violation of Federal Statute. President Reagan carried out the law, and there was no major slowdown of global air travel nor an uptick in aircraft accidents. I had several friends who worked for the FAA back then, and received a lot of first hand info from people who were members of the involved union. All those I knew personally went to work and ignored their union bosses. Smart move as history clearly demonstrates. The same thing is happening in Wisconsin, the majority show up and work as per their responsibility to the state's citizens who pay their wages. Regarding President Carter and his military adventures, a dollar short and a day late. Rumors and conspiracies are a part of life, so in the final analysis, where's the evidence?

Hank Ruark March 2, 2011 9:53 am (Pacific time)

C, et al: For more re new-view on our mutual friend Ronald Reagan, check out OREGONIAN website for Sunday Edit Page feature "Ronald Reagan, the anti-Reaganite" by Jacob Heilbrunner. Appeared 2/6/2011; originally published in Los Angles Times but I have no date. While there, check out column by O's own David Sarasohn: "A decidely new view over Reagan's 100th". Much more on hand, for mine own RR study forthcoming if the wheels don't fall off...!!

Hank Ruark March 2, 2011 9:37 am (Pacific time)

Mills: Twi major pro/jrnls are CJR from Columbia and AJR from U/Maryland. I've been subscriber to both ever since early Thirties... AJR's website is www.ajr.org; ditto for cjr. Check out their content list for full detail re desperate distortions and much professional damage from Murdoch/Ailes combo to build Fox, to extend, strengthen Far Right talk radio already dominated by same private interests.

Hank Ruark March 2, 2011 7:56 am (Pacific time)

C: Gotta call yr attention to wording you quote from Reagan source re union. Do you find a single word there about the main cause they did not reach any agreement --no action whatsoever on the major safety issues and ongoing problems the union cited, as the major reason for their actions. This "overdescribe and distort" work is typical of what RR's press gurus and others perpetrated, as those who worked content then have reason to recall. By the way, what do you recall re the October Surprise ? Have you ever seen press accounts of the flaming-heli crash ending the Carter rescue attempt which so enraged the public ? At one time rumors strong underground had it that the crash was internal sabotage, meant to bring on precisely that public response. Some contemporary coverage even now refers to Iran/Contra as perhaps the SECOND such situation, not the first time illegal transfer of arms was affected....

Hank Ruark March 2, 2011 7:46 am (Pacific time)

Mills: Long history on Fox genesis which you obviously do not know. Aussie press guru Murdoch set out to build it, bought Roger Ailes to do the dirty work, and has now succeeded in shaping the most drastic departure from journalistic ethics and longtested guidelines in world history. For solid professional background, as for those of us who deplore Fox here, seek out Columbia Journalism and other authoritative sources. Re watching for solid experience on which to judge, have done so enough to "see with own eyes" and feel in own stomach the constant dstortisions and misinformation peddled to naives who know no better of their own culture than to swallow it. That's informed opinion from within the profession I've honored for 50 years. What's your background, degree of training for evaluation, and working experience from which to be so damned poorly-opinionated ? Judgement of professional content and performance is best done by those within the profession, don't you agree! Or do you seek out shoe clerk for a medical opinion ? A car mechanic for evaluation and treatment of toothache? If you wish examples of why we within journalism feel as we do, there are numerous books you can find --if you care to read.

Mills February 28, 2011 9:48 am (Pacific time)

FOX NEWS. If you want the straight poop on the union uprising, go to FOX. Why are you liberals so obsessed with it? Let’s set aside the fact that the other 24-hour news channels have a liberal bias while Fox pundits lean to the right for a minute; I understand the politics. What I want to know is, why is Fox News the devil incarnate to you people while the other networks are just “opinionated?” I watched a clip last night of an overly crazed liberal screaming “FOX LIES!” over and over at the top of his lungs. As is usually the case, when asked for an example, he had nothing. He wouldn’t even stop screaming long enough to give it a shot. Here’s another question: Have any of you actually watched Fox News enough to have an informed opinion or are you just parroting what you hear from the likes of Chris Mathews and Bill Maher? My experience with liberals suggests the latter. Lots of hemming and hawing when I ask for examples. Many of you tell me you watch Fox, but I have my doubts. As much as you detest Bill O’Reilly, I challenge you to give me an example of one program on another network that provides the same amount balance of opinion and panelists as is the case on The Factor every night. You might also check out Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace. Once again, you’ll see a balanced debate on the issues. No name calling, condescension or character assassination. You might actually find that refreshing for a change. Otherwise you just become putty in the hands of those who hate America, and those who give voice to these haters.

Charlene Young February 28, 2011 8:04 am (Pacific time)

Henry Ruark and others, to change the 1978 law referenced below it will have to be done by congress. Odds on that happening currently are about the same as during the 2009 thru 2010 period. There exists some very good reasoning behind the laws that have oversight on federal employees. Please keep in mind all of these laws were passed by a democratic congress. Please also note all government employees serve at the pleasure of "We the people." To understand the present, a working knowledge of the past sure helps, and misinformation and poor interpretations just hinder reality. My prayers are no one gets hurt, but it's obvious whose been doing the A and B as per the media: "Congress passed a law forbidding strikes by government employees against the public safety!" {5 U.S.C. (Supp. III 1956) 118p.} President Reagan followed the law as required by his Oath of Office. Had he not, it could have been grounds for Impeachment. He did the right thing. August 3, 1981: The President. "This morning at 7 a.m. the union representing those who man America's air traffic control facilities called a strike. This was the culmination of 7 months of negotiations between the Federal Aviation Administration and the union. At one point in these negotiations agreement was reached and signed by both sides, granting a $40 million increase in salaries and benefits. This is twice what other government employees can expect. It was granted in recognition of the difficulties inherent in the work these people perform. Now, however, the union demands are 17 times what had been agreed to — $681 million. This would impose a tax burden on their fellow citizens which is unacceptable." http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan's_ultimatum_to_striking_air_traffic_controllers /I would not be surprised that we will see other massive layoffs based on no revenue to pay salaries. Unlikely we will see an ultimatum that was like Reagans to the Air-Traffic Controllers, unless it involves state public safety jobs.

Douglas Benson February 28, 2011 6:40 am (Pacific time)

Lanny you are a shill . How do I know? Trade unions just like the public unions do not pay into pensions unless you start a 401k .We have a base pay 48 hr - health ins. pension ,training,working dues etc. leaving us with 30+hr and a take home pay of about 3200 a mnth. Can you show me any union that doesnt work it that way ? We cannot be divided . This isnt about just unions the people are fed up and as we see its us[the working class] against them [big bus]look for strong third party that doesnt play the pay to play game.Or mabey we will just start revolution with say a general strike . Peace? F that this is war.

Hank Ruark February 27, 2011 7:31 pm (Pacific time)

LJ-2: Your link for the article in WSJ comes up demanding subscription or password for those of us not affluent enough to be subscribers. Will appeciate open-link that works since get damned tired of following up partial information only to find barrier the link-setter should know enough to mention... IF the article means so much, why not summarize in short form for all of us, or provide personal address for reprint which, once the article is in the public domain by being published, you have every right so to do...as I know from work with copyright in D.C. years ago for that very purpose.

Hank Ruark February 27, 2011 7:26 pm (Pacific time)

L.J.: You wrote:"...I guess those public servants in Wisconsin may want to show why they have special rights superior to their Federal counter-parts."

Not pertinent, sir ! A contract, union or otherwise, is a binding agreement under nearly all common law, and can --and should !-- be enforced by proper means.

Law elsewhere will inevitably come into examination when the inevitable lawsuits reach the inevitable appeal-to-higher court(s) stage, including the fact that five states forbid collective bargaining now.

Look for further liberalization of the laws involved, under renewed and growing union-renewal impacts, as the nation begins to comprehend what is really at stake here -- basic, traditional American worker freedom of association for absolutely legal and longtime traditional personal protection never, ever available to the lone worker.

The '78 law you mention was intended for special circumstance surrounding some sections of federal employment, and must be so interpreted; it has no direct bearing on the Wisconsin worker situation and should not be used as a distortion to make that agreement seem at all out of the ordinary or in any way questionable.

We appreciate your participation here and my statement is meant to clarify the somewhat complex situation rather than to imply purposeful distortion.

Lanny Jenkins February 27, 2011 5:55 pm (Pacific time)

Dan and Douglas did you know about the following law that covers Federal union employees? As per the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act, passed by a democratic congress and signed into law by a democratic president (Carter), 2 million federal workers cannot bargain for wages or benefits. The union can only negotiate personnel matters. Dues are not mandatory either. Civil service laws cover the employees, as they also do in Wisconsin and other states. I guess those public servants in Wisconsin may want to show why they have special rights superior to their Federal counter-parts. Not to mention that from 2009 through 2010 a democratic congress did not change the above law. As I watched some of the Sunday political shows earlier, this above 1978 law appeared to take them all by surprise regarding the union rules governing Federal employees. It should prove interesting how pro state public union politicians and union heads will juxtapose that support with federal employees. An article by Kimberly Strassel spells it all out. Sure shocked me, and I've been a union employee for over 35 years. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703530504576164822561737348.html?mod=WSJ_article_RecentColumns_PotomacWatch

But are you a willing union employee?

Hank Ruark February 27, 2011 2:28 pm (Pacific time)

Dan:
SO now you recognize fact of our true American exceptionalism...good, we now gaining on solid-base of understanding which will help you to appreciate what will now absolutely follow the Walker exposure of already-known widespread neoconservative attack.

Yours valuable for fine review of some history but missing a few key events...the impacts of which will soon develop in this growing new movement triggered by idiocy of the Wisconsin situation.

I appreciate and applaud your long continuing observations and find your information of great value in keeping on keepin' on to reach deeper under-standings myself.

We shall see what we shall see...

Mills February 27, 2011 1:45 pm (Pacific time)

The working people of America are the one's funding public unions, and the time has come to reformat those jobs to be exactly like the federal union jobs. President Obama will have direct control over us and our benefits. Hey he said when campaigning he would walk the line with us anytime someone tried to stop our union rights! That sound okay Douglas?

Lanny Jenkins February 27, 2011 1:26 pm (Pacific time)

Douglas don't count those chickens just yet, there is a divide taking place. Also Federal workers are not supporters of public unions like those in the different states as you will see unfold in the fullness of time....From a private New Jersey Union: "The Building and Construction Trades Council's decision not to encourage members to attend (protest against Wisconsin Governor Walker) is not entirely surprising. Trade union workers lack the job security of public workers, and generally pay more for their pension and health insurance, officials say. They also resent subsidizing public workers' benefits that they generally don't enjoy themselves. Senate President Stephen Sweeney, an ironworker, has often expressed antagonism toward public employee unions, and is sponsoring his own version of the bill demanding health and pension givebacks that has rankled public employee unions. In fact, one sign at the rally linked Christie and Sweeney together as co-collaborators." Time for more accurate information concerning the "growing" costs of public unions.

See, it works: Worker pitted against worker. Who do you think is smiling over this?

Douglas Benson February 27, 2011 12:21 pm (Pacific time)

Pay close attention Dan we are about to fight back .I have never seen the turnout we saw yesterday with a day and a half to organize and in portland they changed the time from 11 to 4 overnight but there were still lots of people . America is about to erupt stay tuned .Even the police are refusing to do the bidding of the Gov. in Wiss. Peace

Doug, I sincerely hope you're right!

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