On this stream: we're joined by Thomas Frank, author of "What's the Matter With Kansas," "Listen, Liberal" and "The People, No." We talk about his body of work and the tumultuous political order heading into 2024.Due Dissidence is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
I've read all of Thomas Frank's books and I'm a fan. I'm 15 years older than he is and my views on the Democratic party seem to be similar to yours. I'm giving money to Cornel West monthly. My following comments are in my notes, so I don't have to rewrite them. I paste my thoughts here: hopefully this will all come through it shows up when I paste it but then only a portion of my comment is visible to me.
Thoughts why the Democrats must go.
There is no hope from either political party. Today we have the Uniparty, meaning two parties, the Democrats and Republicans, working for the 1/10 of 1%. From this perspective, the overwhelming problem is the Band-Aid party, the Democrats. And they are the logical party to enter history's dustbin to be replaced by something better. You are not going to change the Republicans but you might be able to replace the Democrats with something superior, and with the Democratic Party gone, there is a slight chance of the emergence of a decent political party in the United States. As long as the Democrats exist as the Band-Aid fooler party there is no hope!
However, even this is wishful thinking. The reality is we are not a democracy and the system is rigged ... We need a revolution (hopefully non-violent) and an amended Constitution. The 1/10 of 1%, will not give up their wealth and power easily. And politicians will continue to sell out to them because that's the nature of our non-democratic system. Meanwhile, those who run this show and those who serve them, will use the judicial system, the laws, and the police, the bureaucracy, and every dirty trick you can imagine to stay in power.
On top of this... We have been captured by the FIRE sectors, and we are too far gone. Money rules, our highest principle is mendacity, and the 1/10th of the one percent will never allow the American people economic freedom. Our system is broken. Americans cannot spend because they are overwhelmed by debt. The wealthy have manipulated our system so that we must pay rents on everything. Debt payments being rent. If you want to fix the country, you need to cancel all mortgage, credit card, and student debt, and limit wealth disparity. Nationalize the banks so they are not a profit center, get rid of big insurance and make health care and education free. The rent seeking rulers of the uniparty will never allow this, and the very rich will do as they did in feudalism... everything to keep the people down, using every lie and trick in the book, including violence. So, goodbye America. But, if we do not blow up the world, there is hope for humanity elsewhere. The future is the BRICS nations and a different economic system, where mankind tries again. The United States destroyed itself and its people when it moved from industrial capitalism to financial capitalism. We have the scenery, and yes, we have the natural resources, but the rot that has captured the nation since 1980 is, in my view, insurmountable.
I've read all of Thomas Frank's books and I'm a fan. I'm 15 years older than he is and my views on the Democratic party seem to be similar to yours. I'm giving money to Cornel West monthly. My following comments are in my notes, so I don't have to rewrite them. I paste my thoughts here: hopefully this will all come through it shows up when I paste it but then only a portion of my comment is visible to me.
Thoughts why the Democrats must go.
There is no hope from either political party. Today we have the Uniparty, meaning two parties, the Democrats and Republicans, working for the 1/10 of 1%. From this perspective, the overwhelming problem is the Band-Aid party, the Democrats. And they are the logical party to enter history's dustbin to be replaced by something better. You are not going to change the Republicans but you might be able to replace the Democrats with something superior, and with the Democratic Party gone, there is a slight chance of the emergence of a decent political party in the United States. As long as the Democrats exist as the Band-Aid fooler party there is no hope!
However, even this is wishful thinking. The reality is we are not a democracy and the system is rigged ... We need a revolution (hopefully non-violent) and an amended Constitution. The 1/10 of 1%, will not give up their wealth and power easily. And politicians will continue to sell out to them because that's the nature of our non-democratic system. Meanwhile, those who run this show and those who serve them, will use the judicial system, the laws, and the police, the bureaucracy, and every dirty trick you can imagine to stay in power.
On top of this... We have been captured by the FIRE sectors, and we are too far gone. Money rules, our highest principle is mendacity, and the 1/10th of the one percent will never allow the American people economic freedom. Our system is broken. Americans cannot spend because they are overwhelmed by debt. The wealthy have manipulated our system so that we must pay rents on everything. Debt payments being rent. If you want to fix the country, you need to cancel all mortgage, credit card, and student debt, and limit wealth disparity. Nationalize the banks so they are not a profit center, get rid of big insurance and make health care and education free. The rent seeking rulers of the uniparty will never allow this, and the very rich will do as they did in feudalism... everything to keep the people down, using every lie and trick in the book, including violence. So, goodbye America. But, if we do not blow up the world, there is hope for humanity elsewhere. The future is the BRICS nations and a different economic system, where mankind tries again. The United States destroyed itself and its people when it moved from industrial capitalism to financial capitalism. We have the scenery, and yes, we have the natural resources, but the rot that has captured the nation since 1980 is, in my view, insurmountable.