Neoliberalism Its History, Its Discrepancy and Why It's Bad News for Americans! [Part 1]

Neoliberalism Has Been A Disaster For The American People, And The Effort Has Been A Bi-Partisan Endeavor.

With the meteoric rise of Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders, the term Socialism is much in the news these days. With that said, another ISM is flying under the radar screen, Neoliberalism. Although somewhat hazy and hard to diagnose neoliberal dogma creeps in and infiltrates just about every aspect of our daily lives. Moreover, Neoliberalism is the ruling political ideology that both political parties have embraced for decades. 

Neoliberalism has mangled its way into our education system, our media, our think tanks, our corporations, and finical markets. Neoliberalism is dominating our state institutions, even our international institutions. 

Institutions like the WTO, the World Bank, and the IMF.

Neoliberalism is political. Neoliberalism is economics. It is a system of social relations and a set of values. 

What Are Neoliberal Values? 

• Strong Property Rights.
• The Free Markets Should Shape Society.
• The value of the free market exchange portrays itself as an ethic that no one or government should hinder in any way.
• The neoliberal doctrine says the contractual relations in the marketplace will encourage higher social well being. 

Therefore, Neoliberalist claim neoliberalism works to bring all parts of society into the market. It seeks to make everything and everyone a commodity. Neoliberalism affects both personal values and personal relationships, and most Americans do not even realize it. 

We are not only taught to brand ourselves as early as possible in order to make ourselves more attractive and marketable to prospective colleges and employers. We, ve managed to reduce our relationships to market transactions as well. For clarity, " I do something for you, you do something for me.  Johnny buys Sheila dinner Sheila gives Johnny sex. That type of thing. 

While individualism and personal responsibility are the mantra's that constantly get shoved down our throats, common corporate interest dominates this world. We speak of equality of opportunity; however, Neoliberalism depends on and creates staggering inequality. [See America The Land Of Inequality]

At its core, this inequality serves to concentrate vast amounts of wealth and power in the hands of the few. It does this through privatization, deregulation, austerity, like cuts to public spending and tax cuts for the rich.

Neoliberalism Mask Neo Mercantilism As Free Trade!

Neo Mercantilism Explained

It is the view of the House of Public Discourse that neoliberalism has brainwashed untold millions across the globe that whatever is suitable for the markets is good for society.

The History of Neoliberalism 

Adam Smith

Neoliberalism has its roots in classical liberalism and the political-economic theories laid out by Adam Smith in his groundbreaking text " Wealth of Nations." Smith argues that humans are naturally selfish and self-serving. Moreover, that organizing society around such characteristics will benefit all involved. Competition is the mechanism that keeps self-interest in check. A point often overlooked is what we have is a system where self-interest, therefore, becomes the motivator of economic activity. 

Competition is the regulator, and together with self-interest, they form this "invisible hand," which magically creates the perfect environment for efficient resource allocation. It sounds like Reagan's failed " trickle-down economics" to this writer. Neoliberalism takes this idea, puts it on steroids, and then distorts it and perverts it. What is left is this corrupt and wrapped system based not on individual self-interest but corporate interest.

The results and effectiveness of these factors have been nothing short of the complete devastation of the once vibrate American middle-class. Our research here in the House of Public Discourse uncovered the organization and implementation was a reaction to the embedded liberalism imposed after the Depression and World War II. 

Embedded liberalism was the system of embedding market forces into a  structure where the state could regulate them. This regulation by the state meant a considerable expansion of the Welfare State. Social Safety nets like public services, state-led planning, and nationalization of major industries of the economy like iron, steel, even automobiles. 

This system remained until the 1970s when stagflation took hold.

The Stagflation of the 1970s

In layman terms, stagflation means high inflation, high unemployment, and stagnant economic growth. The effects of this stagflation reverberated throughout the world. There are conflicting views as to what caused stagflation. However, one thing is for sure it did not help that in 1973 the OPEC countries placed an oil embargo on anyone thought to have been supporting Isreal in the Yom Kippur War. 

Countries included were Canada, Japan, the UK, the Netherlands, and the U.S...  However, after the United States threatened to blow Saudia Araba off the face of the earth, the OPEC countries agreed to recycle their excess petrol dollars. Through New York Invest Banks. 

The Banks then use this money for loans to foreign governments, and to organize bribes and coos against democratically elected governments in foreign countries. This activity happened in Nicaragua, Iran, Chile, and more recently Iraq, and Libya. [See WarPropaganda an American Tradition!]

The first thing to understand, this money helped install the first case for Neoliberalism.  

During the 1970s, America participated in an extensive covert activity in Chile. The purpose of this activity was to prevent and then subsequently sabotage Salvador Allende presidency. America was fearing a Marxist government arising and wanted to protect the United States interest and investments. 

The CIA planned out multiple plots to take down Allende. Including, bribing of high ranking officials, spreading propaganda, and ultimately assisting in the military coup that overthrew Allende. This coup brought Augusto Pinochet to power. 

Pinochet dismantled Congress. Banned all mostly left political parties, installed a military dictatorship and then used the Chicago Boys to install a neoliberal regime.

Milton Friedman's Boys

To understand the significance of this, we must rely on history to guide us. Back in 1956, the United States, as part of their plan to counter the spread of Communism to Latin America, invited 25 Chilean students to come to the University of Chicago to learn about monetarism. 

Monetarism Is One of the Basic Tenants of Neoliberalism. 

These students studied under Milton Friedman. Friedman, along with Friedrich Hayek and Ludwig von Mises spearheaded the neoliberal school of thought. They also formed the Mont Perlin Society. The primary purpose and goal were to spread the neoliberal ideology. These students became known as the Chicago Boys. After completing their studies, they returned home to work for various South American governments including and no surprise the now military dictatorship of Chile under Pinochet. 

What transpired was the complete engineering of neo-liberalization of the economy. This engineering resulted in the privatization of dozens of state enterprises. Deregulating financial and economic activity and removing barriers to imports. This activity proved to be beneficial for U.S. investments.

Regan and Thatcher

This experiment in Chile provided the first test case of Neoliberalism in practice. This meddling in the affairs of another country served as a blueprint for Regan and Thatcher in the 1980s. 

 Infiltrating our Institutions

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the Mont Pelerin Society garnered funding from various wealthy individuals and corporations. Neoliberal ideology slowly began to infiltrate our various institutions. Our schools, our universities, our courts, our media, and all our think tanks and institutions like the Cato Institute. 

The Cato Insititute and others were created explicitly for conducting research and performing arguments that favored the neoliberal policy. These institutions remained under the radar for the most part until the 1970s. It was in the 1970s when corporations banded together to fight off consumer protection legislation,  workers rights laws, and regulatory constraints. 

Also, these adherents of Neoliberalism and corporations sought to reform tax law and antitrust legislation. These neoliberal factions buddied up to the Republican Party formed political action committees and eventually bought their way into political favor. What we now know is in the present system of things, these same adherents and corporations have bought their way into both political parties establishments favor.

The Neoliberalist did a great job appealing to people's frustrations, fears, and insecurities. They achieved this by centering their message on freedom and liberty.  The neoliberal message is that society built on free-market principles, and ownership of private property deserves to be called free.

Free Planning, Regulation, and control are seen as a tax on this freedom and therefore deserve to be abolished. When Reagan and Thatcher took control, this is what precisely happened. With both these neoliberals now in charge of their perspective countries.  Thatcher in the United Kingdom and Reagan in the United States in the early 80s. What our research here in the House of Public Discourse found and history never lies a complete dismantling of the social safety nets put into place during the years of embedded liberalism.

We the People, saw mass deregulation in finance and industry take place and substantial tax cuts for the wealthy. There was an all-out assault on workers rights.[See Source]

Regan's showdown with Air-Traffic Controllers Is The House of Public Discourse Evidence In Support.

Under Regan, trade unions broke up, causing massive unemployment.[See Source] Privatization was the order of the day in the Regan Administration. We are talking about transportation, healthcare, education, water, even prisons — the prison industrial complex in the United States has become a billion-dollar industry. [See Source] 

Capitalism + Privatization + Prison Industrial Complex= Largest Prison Population In The World [See Source]

George Monbiot writes:

"Freedoms from trade unions and collective bargaining mean the freedom to suppress wages, freedom from regulation, to poison rivers, endanger workers, charge iniquitous rates of interest, and design exotic financial instruments. Freedom from tax means freedom from the distribution of wealth that lifts people out of poverty." 

Freedom does not exist but for the people who can afford it. [Johnny Hill-House of Public Discourse] 

The facts do not lie Neoliberalism has led to this truism personified, " The Rich Are Getting Richer, and The Poor Are Getting Poorer." What is even more striking and a major focal point of Sen.Bernie Sanders(I-VT) an Independent running for president in the Democratic Pary is the gap between the riches and the poorest continues to widen.[Read: Why Ending The Ills of Plutocracy Matter?]

In Russia, the privatization of state assets like steel mills and oil fields led to the concentration of wealth and the seven oligarchs.[See Source] Privatization of land in China led to an elite capitalist class formation. This formation came at the expense of nearly 180 million peasants. These peasants were forced from their homes. Carlos Slim became the richest man alive through monopolization of Mexico's telecommunications company Telmex. This monopolization was made possible when Mexico privatized the industry. 

Neoliberalism during the 1990s solidified its position as the Democrats in the United States and the Labor Party in the United Kingdom. Both Bill Clinton and Tony Blair adopted neoliberal policies. Bill Clinton, like more recently Barak Obama betrayed his traditional constituency. Clinton bought into the neoliberal agenda and became the champion of welfare reform. [See Source] You would think Republicans would love Bill Clinton. Moreover, this with multiple other factors is one reason the House of Public Discourse did not support or trust his then-first lady Hillary Clinton for her attempt at the White House in 2016. 

It was Bill Clinton along with support from other Democrats like then-Senator Joe Biden(D-DE) and later Vice-President of the United States in the Obama Administration. That implemented the disastrous three strikes crime bill. It is the viewpoint of the House of Public Discourse, one of the biggest blunders ever committed by an American president was the repeal of the Glass-Stegall Act by the Clinton Administration that played a part in 2008 financial crisis. What we are getting at here is all of these facts history tells the truth every single time served to deepen social and economic inequality. America's social policy effectively was put in the care of Wall Street bondholders. Once again, Republicans should love neoliberals like Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden.

Another critical point, the justification for these neoliberal policies like deregulation of Finance is to create wealth at the top, which will trickle down to the bottom by some invisible hand.  If Adam Smith ever got anything right, it was the Invisible Hand. The hand remains invisible to this very day.[Johnny Hill-House of Public Discourse]

Trickel-Down Economics does not work; we have a vast history of empirical data to back this proclamation up history never lies wealth is not even being created. The main achievement of Neoliberalism is to redistribute rather than to generate wealth.[See Source]

The neoliberal lie is this redistribution will trickle-down to We the People, when in fact, this redistribution goes upward. There is a term associated with this upward flow of wealth called the "Accumulation by Disposition."  Accumulation by Disposition has happened through commodification and privatization of land and the violent removal of peasants in China, debt peonage, and the credit system. Instead of increasing wages and expanding workers rights unions, neoliberalism has created a system which Regan exploited to the fullest this writer knows because he saw it with his own eyes and had the debt to back it up, a system that says " Buy Now, Pay Later." 

 Personal debt soared under Republican GOD Ronald Regan.

It Is The View of the House of Public Discourse That Reaganomics Proved One Thing: Debt Is The Slavery of The Free.[Johnny Hill-House of Public Discourse]

 Personal debt has been a critical problem for American's. Debt essentially enslaves people and holds them captive to the neoliberalist future commodity " We the People's"  future labor. 

International Finance systems only protect the interest of the imperial creditor nations. We had a demonstration of this in 1982 with the Latin America debt crisis. Fed Chairman Paul Volcker radically increased interest rates overnight.[See Source] Mexico defaulted on its loans to the United States setting of a rippling effect across Latin America. Regan, with the help of the IMF, agreed to roll over the debt but only if Mexico agreed to structural adjustments. 

Structural Adjustment calls for the same shitty policies mentioned above that do not work — Austerity, Privatization, Deregulation, instead of domestic inequality, we have international inequality. 

Western countries have gotten rich at the expense of developing countries. Neoliberalism 101! [See Source] What behooves the House of Public Discourse is these neoliberalists then calls this exchange " Free Trade." No, this is not free-trade this is neo-mercantilism! The reason so is only one country is benefiting. Neoliberalism has meant the financialization of everything. Period! Deregulation, the opening up of borders to air flows of capital increased investments in stocks, property, and other assets.  

This activity created a shift in which the financial sector became more potent than the product and services. Big Corporations once focused solely on the production began to become more financial in their composition. Manufacturing Companies could now report losses in production offset by gains from finical investments. Investment and Speculation of epic proportions took place.[See Source]

New Markets sprang up based on futures trading, derivatives, and securitization. These markets led to riskier and riskier business practices. All American's know about the "Too Big To Fail," banking system. These factoids, and once again, history has 20/20 hindsight resulted in the 2008 financial crisis. 

If we have learned anything from the 2008 crisis, it is that those in power would rather watch the system collapse than give up any of these powers or wealth. 

The people responsible for the crisis in 2008 the financial institutions not only walk away unscathed and legally untouched they have gone on to double their bonuses.[See Source] These same financial institutions reaped enormous benefits from the breakdown of smaller businesses and individuals — neoliberalism 101. Not too much has changed since 2008. This non-action falls directly on the shoulders of the Obama/Biden regime who swore on the campaign trail they would do something and did nothing but bail them out. 

American Politicians Love Socialism When It Is To Their Benefit!

It is the view of the House of Public Discourse that it is just a matter of time before another collapse happens. When Bush II invaded Iraq, he claimed to be bringing freedom and democracy to the people. However, what BushII envisioned was a neoliberal state. 

The neoliberal States imagines freedom but freedom for whom? Private Corporations, Financial Institutions, and the wealthy. Neoliberalism does not mean freedom for the people who are its commodity. Moreover,  Neoliberalist decisions have had a devasting effect on the average everyday working individual.

The United States and the United Kingdom led a brutal assault against the  Iraqi people. This assault based on a manufactured neoliberal lie of " Weapons of Mass Destruction," as justification for this carnage. People were stripped from their homes, livelihoods, political affiliations,  all to ensure the open flow of Iraqi oil to British and American markets.  

It is the view of the House of Public Discourse that we see this same neoliberal play being executed in Venezuela. 

Our research here in the House of Public Discourse has identified a recurring theme with Neoliberalism. Time and time again it is the neoliberal doctrine that espouses limited to no government, however, in practice, we found exceptions and, in fact, encouraged state interventions as long as it serves the interest of capitalism. What we have found in our research is that the role of the neoliberal state is to ensure a pleasant business climate by any means necessary. If democracy needs suppressing to make the free-markets easier that is okay with the neoliberal. The main focus of Neoliberalism is to protect the corporate interest if this means force and violence that is okay with the neoliberalist.

Neoliberalism = By Any Coercive Means Needed!

What is paramount to the neoliberalist is to defend the property owner class and beat down all opposition. It is the view of the House of Public Discourse that Neoliberalism is one of the worse things ever in the experiment we call America.[Read: The American Experiment Is Under Crisis!

More and more people are starting to catch on to Neoliberalism. It is the view of the House of Public Discourse we must fight against Neoliberalism and the Droops who propagate it. 

No one politician or person can do it alone. Thanks to Bernie Sanders and " Our Revolution," we see a concerted effort by growing millions of American's who say " Enough is Enough." People are waking up. Important to realize is this fight is a dangerous one. Influential, wealthy people and corporations will not just give up this influence. We must reside ourselves not to remain silent any longer. Hence, this two-part essay by the House of Public Discourse.

Part one of this essay goal was to give some background and history of Neoliberalism. Part 2 will cover the many contradictions of Neoliberalism. 

Written By: Johnny Hill 

Face to Face With Facebook Hate!

Hate Speech Runs Roughshod All Over Facebook.

I’m amazed by the number of hate groups there are on Facebook that disguises themselves as religious organizations, ministers, and self-proclaimed prophets. They’re little more than deceivers and thieves, preaching hatred and division for profit. And then there are those groups claiming to be “patriots,” out to save their country, but in fact, they’re little more than supremacists and purveyors of bigotry and racism, sowing the seeds of domestic terrorism.

On the plus side, this allows us to analyze the mindset being propagated by these deceivers. Facebook is one of the most effective tools for espionage ever devised. It will enable them, and all the other agencies out there, to track and monitor the mental state of certain groups and individuals, and to see who’s connected to whom. We too can learn much from observing their stance and hateful rhetoric.

I’ve visited a fair number of these sites over the years to get a sense of the minds behind these spinners of fear and hate propaganda and to delve into the minds and read the many comments of those who subscribe to these lunatics. Occasionally I’ll post a comment and enter into a discussion with someone. That can be very insightful into the way that some of these people think, or instead, don’t think, but rely on right-wing propagandists to tell them what to believe. Some responses I receive are incredibly harmful, and some extremely positive. No middle ground, but still, in the process, many have requested permission to repost my comments and articles on their timelines. I gladly agree.

I will admit that I have several pieces I’ve written that I frequently post on these sites and elsewhere, but only when I feel they’re on topic and to the point, regarding the article at hand. More often than not, I’ll be deleted and blocked by so-called patriots and religious groups, but in doing so; I know someone has read my post. I’ve entered into their mind, and I trust the words I’ve posted will haunt them. Yes, I have intentions but no expectations. I find it more than exciting that I can be both cursed and praised for the same words. 

I realize that in most cases I’m merely “casting pearls before swine,” but there’s always a chance I may reach some of those who are seemingly unreachable. That the words may in some way act as a catalyst, and perhaps some of these people will reach deep within themselves and touch their souls, that the words I’ve posted might assist them in their awakening. I hope that they might rid themselves of the destructive mindset of these cults that have control over them. I wish them freedom.

Written By House of Public Discourse Member Gary Markle 

The Christian Dilemma

The greatest threat to America, and indeed to the rest of the world, at this point in history, comes from the staunch advocates of right-wing ideology, and I must submit this warning to you: There is a grave problem with the far-right movement, in that; they seem to possess a distorted sense of entitlement. They’ve set themselves apart, and seem to think that their faith gives them the right to view the world from a platitude of conceit, through condescending eyes, and with a false sense of superiority. They believe themselves to be superior beings, with manifest destiny and some strange notion that God is on their side. A people with a desire to conquer, under the false guise of Christianity, seeking to dominate in the name of Christ, their view of humanity being reduced to nothing more than a matter of “us” and “them.”

What they fail to realize is; if the Christ you believe in leads you to view other humans as lesser beings, then you are a follower of the anti-Christ. The ugly truth is; God doesn’t have a religion, and God doesn’t discriminate. Any religion that professes to be the only true religion, or that they‘re unique in the eyes of God preaches false doctrine. If the Spirit of God is right with you, it will only be known by acts of “unconditional” love and charity. No religion can claim exclusive rights to God. He belongs to all that He has created, and to foster a belief in “us,” and “them” is to divide humanity, not unite it.

And so it will be, in The End, that those who have set themselves apart from their fellow man will find that they have set themselves apart from God. The worth of a soul will only be measured by how much it has loved, nothing more, nothing less. Woe to those who have taken the widow’s mite and built castles and empires in His name. They have incurred high accountability; their suffering will be eternal.

Even Jesus will not claim to be Christian, but will only proclaim the glory of the Father. And when He returns, they will shout: "Here we are Lord!" And He will respond: "I never knew you." They have forsaken the Word and have become prisoners of the Numbers.
Those who have put themselves first will be last.

Written By: House of Public Discourse Member Gary Markle

From The Desk of Johnny Hill-House of Public Discourse[Forum]

The House of Public Discourse is fully engaged in the fight for truth in America. Conservative politicians and allied interest groups relentlessly bombard the American public with lies and misinformation. Conservative interests control at least one primary cable news channel, as well as numerous radio stations, newspapers, and websites. Also, thousands of internet "robots" and bogus accounts are used to spread false information on facebook, twitter, and other social media. And much of the Republican success in recent U.S. elections have been due to harmful television "attack ads" filled with fabrications and distortions.

Right-wing voters are mainly motivated by hate, especially by their hatred for the truth.

Unfortunately, the mainstream American media, evidently afraid of alienating part of their viewership, makes no effort to correct even the most blatant Republican lies. Thus it is left to progressives to take up the fight for truth and justice.

My life has been a story of unfulfilled promise poor choices in my youth, and not taking what the good Lord gave me to use for the betterment of my society and community. The House of Public Discourse is my way of changing all that. It really is for me one of the most important things I have ever done for myself first, and then others. 

I want the House of Public Discourse to be that place that is a champion for truth and justice. I want the House of Public Discourse to be a place where people seeking to find the truth have a home. 

This organization could be more substantial if I hadn't got sick and had some other setbacks, but I just wanted to let your our members know how much I love you all. I know the House of Public Discourse can make a difference, and I genuinely feel that the truth no matter how obstructed from view it may be-- always come to light.

There Can Be A Brighter Tomorrow For Us All Reminds Me of a song!!

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

The Electoral College Needs To Go and Here's Why

People are calling for an end to the Electoral College.

Has the Electoral College become an Antiquated System? According to Sen.Elizabeth Warren(D-MA) and 2020 Democratic Party presidential candidate, it has. In a recent CNN, Town-Hall Warren brought up the idea of abolishing the Electoral College. Warren stated that this plan has merit and that "We the People" should pursue it. 

The electoral college's practicality in America died a long time ago. In the last four out five presidential elections, Democratic candidates have won the popular vote. However, they only won the presidency twice out of those four elections. Does this seem like a healthy thriving democracy to you? The House of Public Discourse doesn't think so. 

What This Is About Is Making Sure Every Vote In This Country Matters

Republicans and the Religious Right doesn't want every vote to matter. They've desired to suppress the vote for decades.

Paul Weyrich, "father" of the right-wing movement and co-founder of the Heritage Foundation, Moral Majority, and various other groups tells his flock that he doesn't want people to vote.[See Source]

In the present, the electoral college does not ensure that every vote matters not by a longshot. Your vote depending on where you live matters. If you live in a high population swing state your vote matters, however, if you live in a low population state forget it. If you live in Idaho you might as well stay home and not vote. The House of Public Discourse hates to say such a thing we encourage people to vote, but that's what the electoral college has done. Disenfranchised voters. 

Why would politicians fight for your three electoral votes when he/she could be fighting for 27 electoral votes in a swing state like Florida? Or, you switch to a one person one vote system and overnight your vote in Idaho carries as much weight as a voter in Florida. 

One Person One Vote

The popular vote would level the playing field for American voters. Instead of voters of a small state having to compete with voters from a large state for electoral votes a one person one vote system would ensure that your vote would carry the same weight no matter where you live. Abolishing the electoral college would make everybody's vote matter. 

It would motivate candidates to campaign in states where they now do not. Typically, you don't see Democratic presidential candidates campaigning down in Alabama or Southern states in general. However, those states have as much as 40%, Democratic voters. Under a one vote one person system that 40 % becomes enormous in determining the outcome of an election. 

On the other side, the same thing applies to Republicans. For example, Republican presidential candidates will campaign in upstate New York, but they're not going to campaign down in the New York City. Under a popular vote system, you can bet your bottom dollar they will. 

What's ironic is the biggest complaint you here coming from the Republicans who oppose one person one vote is that candidates will not campaign in the small states. Nothing could be further from the truth. The swing states, the big states, the highly populated states will not be as important as they are in the present. It is everybody's vote that matters. Both Democrats and Republican candidates will be going places that traditionally they have not. 


The one person one vote system would force aspiring politicians to fight for your vote not just for the electoral votes in your state. Things get real when you have to reach individual voters as opposed to a majority of voters in a particular area. Switching to a popular vote would be a benefit for this country. 

It would bring more accountability, honesty, and integrity. Most important, it would ensure that every single American citizen's vote matters. In this writers view, I can't see how anyone with a fair and balanced mind could oppose the one person one vote system. 

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