The GOP Assault on Social Security!

Republicans want to cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other social safety net programs. 

What's Going On Here?

We are in one of the most exciting times in the history of our nation regarding Social Security and other social programs. We are back to a very blunt difference between the two parties. These differences are more divided than we have seen in generations. 

Trump who vowed on the campaign trail not to cut these programs has joined forces with the GOP  traditionalist by proposing significant cuts to social security, Medicaid and Medicare. All of these programs contribute to retirement security or disability security of people who receive social security. 

For example, Medicaid pays 65% of all nursing home cost.[See Source]  Social safety net programs are vital for our nation's seniors many who are poor. Besides, these cuts we have Trump falling in line with the standard GOP assault on retirement security and the security of disabled people. The exact opposite position he took while running for office.

6 Times Donald Trump Promised Not to Cut Medicare

OnThe Flip Side

Now we have something going on we haven't seen in a generation. Which are appropriate hearings in the House, in this case, a Social Security Subcommittee on expanding Social Security? There are a couple of proposals to do that, and the recent hearings were on representative John Larson's (D-CT) proposal to extend social security benefits. Now it's not the most left of the recommendations out there, but it has enormous support, and it does increase benefits.[See Source]

Its got more than 200 co-sponsors meaning it's well on the way to passage before it even gets put up for a vote. The recent hearings to this writer say as much as anything else the crossing of a symbolic barrier. Because as far as the House of Public Discourse knows it hasn't been since Social Security expanded in several ways in the 1950s that we've had the House of Representatives holding serious hearings about expanding Social Security.[See Source]

Dwight D. Eisenhower

In the 1950s, Social Security was very much part of the political landscape. At the time, President Eisenhower a Republican boasting in 1956 in the Republican Party platform that Social Security benefits should expand or increase to ten million people. [See Source]  So what you had was a consensus in support of expanding the program. What our research has discovered is a majority consensus again in favor of expanding Social Security. 

What About Medicare and Medicaid?

In the case of Medicare for all its support for it has almost become an affirmation of moral values for a society. Also, the aid of a specific policy because of it words like access are words that some of us have come to view with particular concern and healthy skepticism. 

Access to something you can't afford for example isn't accessing at all. " We the People" can debate the specifics of the " Medicare for All" bill put together by representatives; however, in the House of Public Discourse, we think it's excellent and compelling.

But the underlying values behind it are that its costs should not be a factor in getting the medical care you need that medical care is a right. In the same fashion, people are now saying it is a shame when someone dies because they feel they can't afford a  co-payment for prescribed medicines they need to control a severe illness. 

Trump wants to cut administrative budgets.

In doing so, whenever someone who is on Disability case is challenged or upon appeal, there will not be enough personnel to prosecute the claims. People could have their benefits cut off, and it is another way and draconian one 1984 way of demonizing the people who these benefits are supposed to be here when we need them. 

Just another way for Republicans including Trump to depreciate people who do need this help and make them seem like the other. Isn't it comical that the Republicans have always complained about intrusive government want to impose such a kind of police state activity on our own lives?

Bernie Sanders DESTROYS Trump's 2020 Budget

Written By: Johnny Hill

Republicans Have Nothing To Offer Except Hate and Fear

Republicans Have Nothing To Offer Except Hate and Fear.

Recently while spanning my newsfeed, something jumped out at me about the Republican Party. Republicans have nothing to offer except hate and fear. As a matter of fact, it's been this way since the 1980s. 

The only two ideas I have ever seen come from the GOP are tax cuts and deregulation. It's true. We are officially in an election season now and in this writers view the Republicans have nothing to offer the American people. It's been 40 years, and all they have ever done is cut taxes for the rich and allow Corporations to run roughshod over our environment with deregulation. None of the above has ever helped the average working class person here in the United States. 

That's an issue. Reagan came along and slew the Labor Unions, and to this day they have not recovered. In doing so, America's once vibrant middle class was destroyed. That's not the only thing Reagan did. Aside from having no ideas other than cutting taxes and deregulation Republicans stay in power through two mechanisms hate and fear. When I think back to Reagan, I remember him telling us we need to be angry. That we needed to hate black people because of their taking all of our tax dollars by being on welfare. He invented the " Welfare Queen." 

Republicans and their media echo chamber Fox's News have painted a picture of well to do black folks just sitting around collecting unemployment checks and food stamps. It was a lie, a myth, but it worked. Just like Trump today Reagan worked his base into a frenzy until they were foaming at the mouth. The Republican base was in fear of their livelihoods. By doing so, he[Reagan] got people to vote Republican even though they had nothing to offer. 

George W Bush

George W Bush though, he spoke a great game about Muslims, did not demonize them in his speeches and in his talks. What did he do? He got the Republican base to hate Muslims through his war on terror. Now, I hear Republicans make the argument that he did not say " go hate Muslims." That he was very clear to separate the people who did nine 11 and the bad guys over in Afghanistan and Iraq from the everyday Muslim.

I remember well this to be true; however, his efforts failed. The Republicans and their deep-pocketed donors wanted those oilfields and fear, and hate was the order of the day. Bush knew it! We have the Christian Right leaders telling us Islam is a religion of hate.  Fox News has been spinning this lie for decades. What they're doing with representative Omar is sickening, and they're doing it because she is a Muslim. So, in spite of offering nothing but endless war and tax cuts he wins reelection. 

Now, What is Donald Trump Doing Today?

He's cutting taxes. He is deregulating, and he's getting his base to hate a new group of people. The others. Immigrants! They're the bad guys. First, it was the black people then it was the Muslims. Now, it's the Hispanics. You can bet your bottom dollar come general election time it will be Socialist and  Progressives. 

Who's the next target. Who's the next group that we need to hate and fear so much that we're willing to vote for a political party that has had no new ideas since who knows when. Since 1980 we have been told by different Republican leaders which group we need to hate and why we need to vote for Republicans to keep us safe from these groups. 

Written By: Johnny Hil

Single Payer 101, Not Tomorrow or Next Year, Right Now!

What Does Single-Payer Healthcare Cost?

The United States spends more money per capita on healthcare than any other developed nation. However, study after study has shown that Healthcare in America lags behind most of these same developed nations. So, what makes America different?

At the top of the list, America is the only nation in the world who does not guarantee healthcare to all its citizens. Unlike, Canada, Great Britain, France, and others. In the United States, healthcare is a for profit business opportunity.

While Obamacare was a step forward it's not perfect and far from it. Because of many factors under Obamacare insurance is still expensive and becoming more unaffordable every day to the point it should be renamed the "Unaffordable Healthcare Act."

Single Payer Explained.

Bernie Sanders made this a focal point of his 2016 campaign and became a major point of contention within the Democratic Party. Just like anything in this world "Single Payer" may have some problems but the benefits and opportunities of Single Payer have way more pluses than minuses.

Single Payer By Definition

Single-payer healthcare is a system in which the state, rather than private insurers, pays for healthcare costs. ... The term "single-payer" thus describes the funding mechanism, referring to health care financed by a single public body from a single fund, not the type of delivery or for whom physicians work. [Wiki]

With single payer, there is some contrast to the dreaded " Socialized Medicine" term. Unlike socialized medicine where the government owns the hospitals, medical practices, and runs the delivery systems a single payer system would be a wonderful compromise. Under the single payer system, you would have public funds used to provide private delivery of care. This is a concept of single payer that is often misunderstood and why it's often times associated with socialized medicine.

The term Medicare and Medicaid for all is a more accurate description of a "Single Payer System." It would function as an expansion to both those already in place healthcare systems. Millions of people over 65 and millions more of our nation's poor and disabled depend on these systems right now. It's our view here in the House of Public Discourse that a single payer system would not be hard to implement in the practical but in the political, that's another ordeal altogether.

The single payer system would function as a national healthcare system. Every 300 million and growing Americans would have an insurance card. Even more, you would be able to go to any doctor or hospital you choose and would have a full range of benefits from the day you're born until the day you die. With no more co-pays to boot.

In fact, it's accurate to say we have single payer and socialized medicine to some degree already in America in the form of Medicare and Medicaid and socialized medicine in the form of the Veterans Administration. That's why implementing single-payer for all would not be hard to install but for the political football that surrounds this issue.

Single Payer 101, Not Tomorrow or Next Year, Right Now!

Single Payer has proven to be an efficient healthcare system along with its big brother Socialized Medicine. Canadians love their socialized medicine system. [See Source]

The most important thing in our [House of Public Discourse] view is if someone is ill and they want to see a doctor the first thing that registers in their minds is " Do I have enough money to pay for it?" With a single payer system, this dilemma would not be a factor in the equation.

No co-pays, deductibles, and medical bankruptcy which is not only common in America the situation is getting worse and if the Republicans get their wish it will be common as Apple pie and Baseball. In Europe, there is no such thing as medical bankruptcy. For anybody, in America, to have to file bankruptcy because of their medical bills is not only embarrassing it's immoral. The leading cause of personal bankruptcy in America is getting sick.

Christina LaMontagne

Bankruptcies resulting from unpaid medical bills will affect nearly 2 million people this year—making health care the No. 1 cause of such filings, and outpace bankruptcies due to credit-card bills or unpaid mortgages, according to new data. And even having health insurance doesn't buffer consumers against financial hardship.
The findings are from NerdWallet Health, a division of the price-comparison website. It analyzed data from the U.S. Census, Centers for Disease Control, the federal court system and the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that promotes access, quality and efficiency in the health-care system.
"A lot of Americans are struggling with medical bills," said NerdWallet Health Vice President Christina LaMontagne.

 The real question is how much longer can " We the People" live with this current bloated costly and inefficient system with years of documented data that show there are much better systems that would benefit every single American citizen, How Long?

How Do We Transition from Current System to A Single Payer System?

The first thing we must do is address the current problem we have with a for-profit corporation and Republican legislatures trying to privatize Medicare. There have already been some holes dug to do so.  There should be no space or room for any for-profit corporation to be allowed near our Medicare and Medicaid systems and any attempt to privatize it should be met with the strongest civil disobedience we can muster.

There have been bills proposed by Sen. John Conyers (D-MI) and Bernie Sanders both have gone nowhere thus far. There is no doubt that the challenges we face getting a single-payer system are not that it would be hard to implement but for the money and influence peddling that now exists in our governance.

The role of money in politics must be addressed before even thinking about this transition. There are untold millions paid out to politicians by the healthcare lobby, "Big Pharma," and other special interest groups like the Chamber of Commerce.  

Bottom-line before any transition can be accomplished we must get big money out of politics. It's our view in the House of Public Discourse that new regulatory provisions should be enacted to corral the out of control lobbying that goes on inside the beltway.

No matter what your view on Bernie Sanders maybe nowadays we all must admit his 2016 presidential campaign awaken many Americans to this major malfunction in our society and he deserves credit for doing so.

A "Single-Payer System" no matter the negative chatter from the right and left establishments makes good common sense. And, we pull no punches Hillary Clinton was dead wrong in her opposition to single payer and now that Trump and the Republican's attempt to replace Obamacare has failed and there is a strong voice calling for a single payer system she once again has evolved or flip-flopped on this issue. We make this point because it was not just the Republicans that have created obstacles for the single payer system.

There have been some transition plans bandied about one being to simply reduce the age requirement for Medicare. Others have suggested that single payer is implemented into Obamacare as the public option which quite frankly should have never been negotiated out of the "Affordable Healthcare Act" in the first place. Obama and the Democrats had control of both houses of Congress and it was the biggest blunder in the whole process.

Our research in the House of Public Discourse has found that no plan for the transition presented thus far touches on the economic benefits of the single payer system. Right now, the "Public Option" may be the best way to transition opposed to just throwing the switch. However, the enormity of the cost saving that would be realized by transitioning to a single payer system cannot be understated on American's three-trillion dollar healthcare bill. The healthcare bill is one of if not the biggest drain on or economy and what is sad it does not have to be that way.

In Closing, American's need to organize, protest, litigate, and push your local and state politicians for a National Healthcare Plan. That would integrate Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans Care all into one pipeline. Also, and if not before Progressives living in Progressives states need to get the lead out and pester your local and state representatives that we need a Single Payer Healthcare approach, not tomorrow or next year, but, Right Now!

From 2014 Senator Bernie Sanders

Written By: Johnny Hill

America Needs A Third Party And We Need It Now!

Six out of ten Americans say a third party is needed and the current Democratic Party race between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders proves it beyond a reasonable doubt.

The House of Public Discourse over the last several weeks has been reviewing data concerning the ever growing desire for the establishment of a third political party in America. 

"A majority of Americans, 60%, say a third major political party is needed because the Republican and Democratic parties "do such a poor job" of representing the American people. This matches the high set in 2013. Since 2007, a majority of Americans have generally called for a third party, with the exception of the last two presidential election years." [See Source]

The approval ratings of Congress is at all-time lows. The American people are fed up with the dysfunction of how our government works, The image of both political parties is in the trash bin. To coin a phrase from Bernie Sanders "enough is enough." Now, in 2016 with one Democratic Party primary debacle after another and the outward show of favoritism by the Democratic National Committee [DNC] the Democratic Party establishment and their corporate owned media outlets, and the shutting out of Independent voters by way of closed primaries Progressives and Independents are screaming for a third-party.

Only 26% of Americans polled feel that both political parties are doing an adequate job of representing the American people. 60% of American polled say the two political parties are doing such a poor job that a third party is not only needed it’s needed right now!

At no time in America's political history has there been such an outcry for a third political party to be established. In the past, there has not been a huge variance between Democrats and Republican voters on whether a third party was needed. For decades, Independents have been the loudest voice screaming for a third party. However, with 2016 Democratic Party presidential race taking on the appearance of political rigging and voter suppression within the Democratic Party mostly Bernie Sanders supporters, there has been a huge spike in the call for a new Progressive Party. 

Enough With The “Spoiler Argument" The Two-Party System Is Already Rotten To The Core.

The question at hand for advocates of a third party in America is how do you build on this political momentum?

One thing you do not do is to continue to vote for a lesser evil and reaffirming the status quo. That is exactly what happens when we continue to vote for either party’s establishment candidates. Both the Blue and Red party's have brought us to this point. They have colluded along the way, they have created a corrupt perverse system that works for the benefit of the wealthy and is a true Plutocracy. [See Article]

Our government, as it stands today, works for the wealthy and not in the best interest of all Americans. This malady has happened with the collusion and the corporation of both the Democratic and Republican Parties. It[corruption] will continue if we don't right now " while the iron is hot," by people power take charge and send a clear message that " We the People" are not taking it anymore and we are going to change the system of political corruption once and for all. We are not talking about just changing the players that operate with this perverse system they play we are talking about changing the game period. It's time to change the rules. This is what Bernie Sanders message has been from day one we as a collective people have the ultimate power to effect this most needed change. We all must put our heads together organize and get behind a new Progressive Party that operates with new rules geared for the interest of all Americans and we need to start at the local and state levels right away and start preparing for the mid-terms in 2016.

There Has Been A Line In The Sand Drawn For Many Progressive Democrats Who Feel Betrayed By The Democratic Party Establishment.

Where do you as an individual draw the line? Think about it! As a matter of principle, will you draw a line? There have been violations of the "War Powers Clause,"and the "War Powers Resolution." [See Source] When will the lesser of two evils not cut it for you personally? For many of us, this writer included this is what we got when we fell for the Obama 2008 " Hope and Change" declaration and many of us were not focused on the fact that Obama just like Hillary Clinton has turned out to be nothing more than a " Third Way Democrat." [See Article]

Yes, Obamacare has been a big improvement and most Progressives fought tooth and nail in support of President Obama in his fight against the Republican obstruction to its [Affordable Care Act] passage. However, and this writer remembers like if it was yesterday when I heard that Obama had caved on the single-payer opinion and the private for profit Health Insurance Industry skipped on down the streets happy as a Jaybird on Jaybird street knowing now that every American has to buy their perverse products. What irritated this writer most is he [Obama] did not have to cave in and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IW) said it best.

Top Democrat: 'We Had The Votes' For Single-Payer

As Bernie Sanders has made clear in his bid for the Democratic nomination America remains the only industrialize country in the world who relies on for-profit health insurance companies and Obamacare does nothing to change that and was brought to us by the Democratic Party. 

Will you draw the line with impunity on the war criminals from the Bush Administration that in 2008 he spoke of with such disdain and rightfully so but no sooner that he[Obama] got into office he says " let's not bother with bringing them to justice let's move forward." Will you draw a line now that in 2009 Democratic Party " Hope and Change" president Barack Obama signed into law the power for any president to point out any American citizen deemed them to be a belligerent, or terrorist and have life, liberty, and freedom to move about without no legal counsel, no charges, no trial, and you could be incarcerated for life under this 2009 legislation. The first time in the history of America any such legislation ever became law.[See Source]

Finally, will you draw a line in the sand against the obvious rigging of our political process by both the Democratic and Republican Parties?

This argument based on fear by Hillary Clinton supporters and the corporate media pundits that our " Political Revolution," and Bernie Sanders is doing harm to the Democratic Party and our insistence that we will no longer settle for what we perceive to be a lesser of two evils and that for us " Any Blue Want Do" attitude in fact is not harmful it is the example of grassroots Democracy at its best. 

America Needs A Third Party And We Need It Now!

The Tea Party Has Sucked The "Soul Out Of The GOP"

The Tea Party Has Sucked The Soul Out Of The GOP!

The Tea Party has a major hold on the Republican Party. Let’s take a moment to close our eyes and think of a cigar smoke-filled room in a local Georgetown bar. The time is early November in the year 2008. Inside this room are some of the most influential members of the Republican Party with many of their deep-pocketed supporters. Then comes the historic proclamation for the first time in the history of these United States: a person of color by the name of Barack Obama is declared the winner of the presidential election. What happens next has been widely reported and from the perfect vision of hindsight, the only word that was spoken was short and sweet and to the point, “Obstructionism”.

Regardless of its harmful effects, the Republicans, led by the radicalized Tea Party faction began what was a full-scale attempt to block every legislative initiative put forth by this President. Even if it were policies, that were at some time prior supported by the Republican Party. In short, if Obama was for it,  they were against it. Within this struggle, the main pushback from the GOP was over the Affordable Care Act, which at some point was coined Obamacare. To many,this was an offensive racial slur itself.

With the election of Barack Obama, we saw the emergence of a so-called grassroots movement known as the Tea Party. This group attack President Obama claiming he was not born in the USA. He was a Muslim. Obama was Hitler reincarnated. These Tea Party radicals claimed Obama was the " Anti-Christ."

Fast forward, the time is early November 2012. The Affordable Care Act is the law of the land.  And, after much compromise and litigation to the highest court of the land, and, more importantly put to the people of this nation, Barack Obama was re-elected President of these United States. With the Republican party now being called the “party of ‘no,'” drastic action was in order. This point has not been widely reported, but many have suggested that these same aforementioned Republican adherents gathered once again. The order of the day from this gathering became very clear get rid of Obamacare or shut the government down.

Stupid Is As Stupid Votes Buy Here $43.99 Free Shipping

“Tea Party Republicans and their rich supporters have sucked the last bit of soul from the Grand Old Party of Abraham Lincoln, turning them first delusional, then rabid, with the aid of conservative mouthpieces like Fox News and "multi-millionaire fabulous’" Rush Limbaugh."[Bill Moyers]

Moyers added:

“At least let's name this for what it is sabotage of the democratic process. Secession by another means, and let's be clear about where such reckless ambition leads. As surely as night must follow day, the alternative to democracy is worse. When the president refused to buckle to their extortion, they threw their tantrum. Like the die-hards of the racist South a century and a half ago, who would destroy the Union before giving up their slaves, so would these people burn the place down, sink the ship of state, and sow economic chaos to get their way.”

We heard all kinds of terms during the shutdown sabotage, hostage, terrorism, ransom, “gun held to our heads,” and yes, finally, sedition. However, there is one term that comes to this writers mind radicalization. First, what is radicalization? Radicalization simply means to make radical. The measures the extreme right took to defund Obamacare to the point of a government shutdown is the very essence of radicalization. To call what happened "Sedition" may fall a bit short, in that the keyword for there to be sedition is " A force." With that said, however, there has been a force not of violent radicalization least not yet but one of ideologically based violence. Ideologically Based Violence is the planned use, or threatened use of force or violence by a group or individual to promote the group or individual’s political, religious, or social beliefs. With many News outlets spewing misinformation and the onslaught of social media one of the chief concerns is that this type of ideology can bring one to violence and give birth to homegrown terrorist organizations that many have labeled the current Tea Party.

In keeping with Mr. Moyers’ sentiments. The Tea Party has “sucked the soul from the GOP,” everything I have written here and then some should give us pause to ask just what does that mean over and beyond shutting down the government. Many are concerned that this radicalization that we see that has mostly for now been more of the ideological nature. Evolve to a more violent radicalization that would empower homegrown terrorist groups. Who would, in fact, use violence and threat of violence, which does involve force that would then constitute sedition. Let’s all give the energy of thought that cooler heads will prevail and that we don’t see this type of behavior from our citizens.

Progressive Radio Host David Pakman Filed The Following Report One Year Ago.

Discourse Unplugged with Johnny Hill

STOP THE MADNESS!!!!!

From House Member DeAnn Padelo

Don't Vote Don't Bitch, Why Americans Fail To Vote!

Two-Thirds Say Special Interests Control Elections.

 Why do so many registered voters in America fail to vote? In California, a survey was conducted by the California Voter Foundation.[CVF] In a statewide study attitudes on infrequent voters and citizens eligible but unregistered was undertaken. This study was one of the first to shed light on the voter apathy in America.

Voting Takes To Long And I Hate Standing In Long Lines.

Is it not ironic how people will camp overnight to buy a pair of Jordon's or a new IPhone but to exercise one right to vote is too cumbersome.  These same people will not wait 30 minutes to express their vote for prospective government leaders. Does it take to long to vote? What is too long? Based on the House of Public Discourse research into this question revealed this is more an excuse than a reality. [See Article ] 

Just Don't Have The Time.  

The CVF study found that 28% of  "once an awhile." voters and 23% of qualified unregistered voters  claimed they were just too busy to engage in the voting process. CVF President Kim Alexander elaborates,

Kim Alexander

“This tells us that many Californians may benefit from more information about the time-saving advantages of early voting and voting by absentee ballot,” Alexander said. Voter registration forms are available in post offices, libraries and DMV offices."[See Source]

Alexander went on to say that the finding of the CVF study could assist campaigns trying to reach sometimes and no-time voters alike. There is a national opinion that our political process has been overwhelmed by special interest. This perception right or wrong has led to a major barrier regarding voter turn-outs.

Moreover, many participants in this study expressed the view that politicians are corrupt and don't care or speak to their needs. What was a bit jolting for this writer is that these same groups of non-voters to the tune of 93% acknowledged that voting was important.

“Civic duty and self-expression provide strong incentives to get potential voters to the polls, despite pervasive cynicism about the influence of special interests,” said Alexander.

The report also indicated that a friend and more so family dictate and influenced  how many infrequent voters decide their choice.[See Article] Not the daily newspaper, cable news, or political ads.  The family indoctrination more than any other factor was a major reason in determining how a person votes to the tune of 68%. The CVF study also brought to light that door to door political campaigning had little to no effect on these non-voters. 51% of non-voters stated that they grew up in families where politics was seldom discussed. 

Non-Voters are young, single, less educated and likely to be of a minority.[See Source]

• 40% of non-voters are under the age of 30.
• Infrequent voters are much more likely to be married than nonvoters, with 50 percent of infrequent voters married compared to only 34 percent of nonvoters.
• 76% of nonvoters have less than a college degree, compared to 61 percent of infrequent voters and 50 percent of frequent voters.
• Among nonvoters, 54 percent are white or Caucasian compared to 60 percent of infrequent voters and 70 percent of frequent voters.

In closing, fresh off a historic low voter participation election in 2014. Where some agencies report 75% of registered Democratic voters failed to cast a ballot one who did vote could make a point, don't vote, don't bitch. When the Republican legislation starts to unravel Obamacare, and millions lose their health coverage don't bitch. When Republicans and the aforementioned special interest groups reduce welfare, and other social safety net programs don't bitch. When the vulture capitalist does away with regulatory safeguards to our environment don't bitch. When Republicans cut the taxes of the wealthy off the backs of the middle-class, don't bitch. When right-wing radical extremist Christian zealots dumb down our education by denying scientific facts don't bitch. When Republicans cut your medicare, and social security benefits don't bitch. When the right-wing military industrial complex pushes for wars around the globe and your son and daughters and grandchildren are killed and wounded by the thousands don't bitch. Lastly, when the Republican Party's economic policies drives this country back into the ditch bank, it was in the last time they held power if you did not vote which is  your only real  means of meaningful direct protest to these issues don't bitch. [Source: Johnny Hill, Author of House of Public Discourse]

Can Capitalism and Democracy Coexist?

Journalist Chris Hedges interviews political philosopher Sheldon Wolin, who says democracy requires continuous opposition and vigilance by the citizenry.

Will The Real Rand Paul Please Stand Up!




Rand Paul

" Libertarian" Rand Paul supports a federal bill that would arrest marijuana users. Typically this type of statement from a right-wing Republican would not be newsworthy. However, in the case of known flip-flopper ' any which way the wind blows' politician Rand Paul this is a complete about-face from previous statements made by the senator from Kentucky.



Seems this self-proclaimed Libertarian Republican politician who has positioned himself  as the champion of the anti-government crowd has no problem with big government [Federal Government] from intruding the rights of states to regulate marijuana use.  Matter of fact, he's all for it. Very quietly, as in the " hush of the night," senator Paul supported the Republican-controlled House of Representative's measure called ' Enforce The Law Act." This bill would allow Congress to sue the president for not faithfully enforcing laws. In this case Federal law. The type of rules these so-called Libertarians loathe.

“We write laws and he is just deciding willy-nilly if he likes it he enforces it, if he doesn’t, he won’t enforce it, and we really think he needs to be chastened, rebuked, and told that he needs to obey the constitution,” Paul said. 

This position  is a complete departure from previous comments from Rand Paul where he indicated support for the states to set their terms regarding marijuana use. On March 24, 2013, he[Paul] told Fox News,

“The main thing I’ve said is not to legalize them [marijuana and synthetic recreational drugs] but not to incarcerate people for extended periods of time.” [See Source]



Rep.Bob Goodlatte (R-Va)

Our staff here at the House of Public Discourse are well aware of Rand Paul's knack for playing of words. His base made up mostly of uneducated poor white people, and anti-government and white-supremacist groups don't catch these contradictory statements, or they don't care.

Paul, cannot claim ignorance for this flip-flop. One of the senators that introduced the bill Bob Goodlatte (R-Va) submitted a committee report citing President Barack Obama failure to enforce federal marijuana laws as an example of his federal overreach. 



Back in 2013, the Justice Dept.,[ See Source] proclaimed it would not contest states marijuana laws. According to multiple sources many in Congress, support the president's action or inaction regarding this subject matter.



 Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon)

“It doesn't seem right to me to continue to waste our limited resources punishing people for doing something when it's legal under state law, the majority of Americans want it to be legal, and much more dangerous drugs like heroin are making a comeback,”

This bill passed the House with 228 Republican votes. 181 Democrats voted against the bill. At first, it was doubtful that Rand Paul would have a chance to vote on this with a Democratic majority in the legislature. However, with the results from the 2014 election giving the majority to the Republicans and impeachment of Barack Obama swirling around this bill could and very likely will be revisited. If the bill does come before the senate,  it will be one of those moments that beg the question, " Will The Real Rand Paul Please Stand Up!"

Is Capitalism A Threat To Democracy?

It is stunning following the Wall Street crash, how there has been no expression from any key player from Wall Street of regret or apology for having brought down the entire economy. Nor is there any sense of shame or embarrassment in their continuance to extract exuberant bonuses for producing nothing for the whole of society. There are even traditional conservatives who hold this view. This writer comes from a traditional conservative background. I grew up in a small community in North Carolina called Rosewood. My family raised me to believe in local control, community responsibility, and community values.

However, over a period, I came to realize there are two different definitions of conservatism in the Untied States. One is about the aforementioned traditional values that my family raised me up to believe. I can honestly say for the most part they brought me up focusing on the positive aspects as opposed to the hate element we see in conservatism of today.

What Are True Conservatives Like Today?

The traditional meaning of conservative is a monarchist. One which advocates monarchical rule.[Source: Dictionary.com] The word originated when the term democracy took root in America. The Conservatives were the ones defending the monarchy and central control.  Tension has developed among Conservatives who believe in  global elitist government and those who believe in local and state control. In many ways based on this "writers" understanding of conservatism, there is reason for concern when you see a concerted effort to centralize control.

The world today is all about globalization. The global economy. Huge corporations are parading as a person. The whole dynamic that we have been introduced to as globalization is a process driven by these companies for their corporate interest. They want to eliminate national boundaries, and reduce the capacity of governments to create regulation that maintain a sense of community interest and national interest in the economy. Companies have consolidated their power to rule the world without any democratic accountability. What is interesting is the counter to this corporate globalization. The behavior of these corporate entities has awakened the American people and restored the desire to return to a time when community values and keeping the local, state, and national economies close to home. There is now a globalization of people power. In my view, within this framework we must learn as a society how to work together collectively regardless of  one's political ideology.

You Cannot Have A Capitalistic Democracy! 

Milton Friedman

In many ways, capitalism and democracy are a contradiction of terms. Think about the Milton Friedman's and Ron Paul's and the whole Libertarian babble about free markets and freedom. At best, their sense of freedom is restrictive. It's not the freedom of the working person to control their lives as they see fit.[See Source]  The Libertarians don't like democracy. The freedom they speak of is the freedom to submit oneself to control by a higher authority.[Free Markets] [See Article] The reason the Libertarians don't like democracy is because they are Capitalist. Libertarianism in the United States is, in fact, an extreme example of what true Libertarianism is not. They are in favor of private  tyranny. The worst kind of tyranny!Tyranny by unaccountable concentrations of wealth. When they [Liberitarians] say we don't want government interference in the markets, they mean it. The type of intervention they want to block is the kind that would permit constraints on the utterly irresponsible behaviors of the super-rich.

Corporations are a prime example of private tyranny.

It's worth bearing in mind how radical in opposition this is to classical liberalism.         

Modern-day Libertarians love to invoke Adam Smith.  But, if you read Adam Smith he said the opposite. Libertarians claim Adam Smith was opposed to any form of government control. This presumption is not valid. Adam Smith was in favor of government regulation as he put it "when it favored the working man." He [Adam Smith] was against interference when it benefited the masters. That is classical liberalism. Libertarianism as called in the United States is a concocted methodology which is a complete contradiction to classical liberalism principles. It is astonishing the amount of people especially young people who are attracted by this complete fabrication by design. They say Adam Smith; they invoke him all the time. He was an icon of his time. Many factions considered Adam Smith a radical in his day. Why? Adam Smith was very much an anti-capitalist. Smith condemned the vile maxim of the masters of mankind. All for ourselves and everyone else could just " fend for themselves." Sound familiar! It was Adam Smith who championed the phase and doctrine called the invisible hand.

What is Meant By The Term " Invisible Hand."

Adam Smith rarely even used the term invisible hand. The term is mentioned once in his signature literary work " The Wealth of Nations." The context is an argument against Neoliberalism. Smith argued that if a company in England invested abroad and imported from abroad it might  be profitable for the business but would be harmful to the people of England. Sound familiar! However, they will have enough of a commitment to their country. [home-bias] That if by a. " invisible hand," they will keep to the less-profitable actions, and England will survive what we now call neoliberal globalization. To summarize, England was at the time an agriculture producing nation. Suppose some landlord accumulates an enormous amount of land. This reality creates a situation where everyone else has to work for the owner. Smith held the position that this would not turnout to badly because the landlord will be motivated by his natural sympathy for other people that he will make sure the essentials of life will be equally distributed. This practice in turn will create an equal distribution of wealth as by some invisible hand.

In Wealth of Nations, in the first couple of pages Smith talks about the butcher and his interest. The baker and his interest and this conflicting interest created what came to be known as a division of labor. However, how many have read a couple hundred pages into the work where Smith bitterly attacks the division of labor. Smith pointed out if you pursue the division of labor people will be directed to actions that they will repeat the same mechanical operation over and over. What this reality does is deskill a person. Smith advocated this would turn people into stupid and ignorant as a human can get. Therefore, in any civilized society the government will have to intervene to protect the will of  " We The People." This view is very different than the one held by Libertarians today. A Capitalistic Democracy would self-destruct and for the most part did during the Bush II administration and after decades of Reagan's trickle-down economic theory which mirrored the invisible hand concept. And, with the current time disparity in the distribution of wealth this hand has surely been invisible.

Reagan's Trickle Down Was A Prime Example of the Invisible Hand Debacle!

Why Is It Important To Vote? Your Country Needs You Too, That's Why!

In the mid-term elections traditionally, the president's party doesn't do well. Low voter turn-out has been the reality of modern-day politics for the Democratic Party in off-year elections. The Republicans are still reaping the benefits from the last mid-term elections held in 2010. Not only, did the Republican's gain in the House and Senate. They also gained control in the state and local governments in the South especially. What resulted? Gridlock!

Now that the Republican's have power look what they have done. They have ruined state economies with their policies prime example Gov. Sam Brownback from Kansas.[ See Article]

Republicans have been able to control agriculture and education policy.
They have completely gerrymandered political safe zones creating a major uphill fight for the Democrats, in the House especially. The reality of this is the Democrats taking back the House in the for-seeable-future is at best vague. The Republicans have been able to " tip the playing field."

This Is Why Its Important To Vote!

In addition, the Republican Party backed by deep-pocketed factions like the Koch Brothers and others have waged a flat-out-assault on Voting Rights. Since the 2010 mid-terms, 18 Republican-controlled states acted to restrict voting.[See Source] So, in 18 states it is now harder to vote because of the Republican Party. For example, in the state of North Carolina you can no longer enjoy same day voter registration. In Wisconsin, lawmakers there passed new laws making it much harder to vote. Just recently, those laws were overturned by the Supreme Court. 

Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI)

Wisconsin Is One Walker Of A Mess!

Something has happened on the Voting Rights front that never has happened in the past. The Government Accountability Office [GAO] which is a non-partisan arm of Congress. Reported, once these republican states starting changing these voting rules  five U.S. Senators wrote the GAO requesting a study of state legislative actions that may affect voter registration or voting. In states where these type voter suppression laws have passed there was a clear indication that it lowered the voter turnout. The GAO looked at six states. Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Kansas, Maine, and Tennesse. They looked at these states from 2008 to 2012. Between the two presidential elections, the overall turn-out declined in 2012 from 2008. In Kansas and Tennesse the turn-out dropped more than the other mentioned states. During the study period, it was both Kansas and Tennesse who enacted very strict voting laws. The study found  voting suppression measures effected young voters and African-American voters between the ages of 18 and 23 the most.

This Is Why Its Important To Vote!  

How do young voters tend to vote? Democratic. How do African-American voters tend to vote? Democratic. The finding of this study was more verification than surprising. What is ridiculous is that the purpose of these laws were to stamp out a non-existent voter fraud problem. These new over the top voter ID laws are being reversed in some states. However, even so, they will be allowed to stand in this coming election in particular states that puts the Democrats at a disadvantage. It is the position of the House of Public Discourse if you are an eligible voter and a duly registered voter you should not be weeded out of the process by some new over and beyond voter ID requirements. These actions are not fair, legal, or American. In America, we encourage people to vote, not to disenfranchise themselves from the process. It is clear the Republican Party does not want a fair system of voting. They want a system that tips the scale in their favor in spite of the Constitution. Honestly, we must call this for what it is, 'cheating, because using political power to change the rules and disrespect our Constitution is not in the best interest of this nation.

Democrats Need To Grow A Backbone!  

As a progressive liberal, this writer is perplexed on how Democrats have just sit back and let the Republicans "getaway" with this behavior. By not getting out to vote we play right into a political design that has worked for the Republicans time and time again. What we have seen over the last six years is a consequence of disenfranchisement from the process. Gridlock, Obstruction, Dysfunction have been the order of business in Washington D.C. Yes, Democrats have put up some resistance, but; for the most part, we have watched them do it. So, as we near the 2014 mid-terms no matter what, we will still feel repercussions from our lack of involvement in 2010. It is enough to make one swear. Democrats must get engaged and stop taking things for granted. Democrats must take a let's do something as opposed to nothing approach, and take back our country from radical right-wing factions who are running rough-shod in the present. Why is it important to vote? Your country needs you too that's why! Take part in the process. Get out to vote.