Robert Reich: The Revolt Against the Ruling Class

[eridani]

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/03/revolt-against-ruling-class

What’s new is the degree of anger now focused on those who have had power over our economic and political system since the start of the 1980s.

Included are presidents and congressional leaders from both parties, along with their retinues of policy advisors, political strategists, and spin-doctors.

Most have remained in Washington even when not in power, as lobbyists, campaign consultants, go-to lawyers, financial bundlers, and power brokers.

The other half of the ruling class comprises the corporate executives, Wall Street chiefs, and multi-millionaires who have assisted and enabled these political leaders – and for whom the politicians have provided political favors in return.

<snip>

The resulting fury at ruling class has taken two quite different forms.

On the right are the wreckers. The Tea Party, which emerged soon after the Wall Street bailout, has been intent on stopping government in its tracks and overthrowing a ruling class it sees as rotten to the core.

Its Republican protégés in Congress and state legislatures have attacked the Republican establishment. And they’ve wielded the wrecking balls of government shutdowns, threats to default on public debt, gerrymandering, voter suppression through strict ID laws, and outright appeals to racism.

<snip>

On the left are the rebuilders. The Occupy movement, which also emerged from the Wall Street bailout, was intent on displacing the ruling class and rebuilding our political-economic system from the ground up.

Occupy didn’t last but it put inequality on map. And the sentiments that fueled Occupy are still boiling.

[dreamnightwind]

1. We need Reich in a position of power again

I think he has made a sincere transition in his world view, and would be an asset to any Democratic administration.

[SmittynMo]

5. I'm pretty sure he will have a full time job if Bernie is elected.

VP maybe?

[dreamnightwind]

7. Yes, or Treasury Sec., or Council of Economic Advisors (hopefully more than that)

I wonder if Hilllary would have any use for him if she gets the nomination. That's something she could speak to that would help some of us Bernie supporters to feel better about what a Hillary presidency would look like. I think I heard she got Stiglitz onboard? If true that surprises me, in a good way.

[hifiguy]

9. Reich, Stiglitz, Krugman, and there doubtless a few I am not thinking of.

I wonder if Thomas Piketty would be interested in an informal consultative position?

[cantbeserious]

2. DLC Third Way Adherents - Ignore This At Your Own Peril

eom

[GoneFishin]

3. 15 Teaparty morons got 24/7 MSM coverage while 10,000 OWS protesters were treated to a

MSM coverage blackout and a federally coordinated nationwide blitzkrieg.

[dougolat]

4. The message is still echoing ...Loudly

"Can't put the genie back in the bottle!"

[Gothmog]

6. The Kochs are worried about this

[MisterP]

8. they ADMITTED Reaganomics wasn't designed to improve the economy, but to pad already-

wealthy donors' pockets and maybe restore to them the rightful control over the economy and country that the people stole from them (HL Hunt wrote a novel where everyone gets as many votes as they have money)

in December 1981

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1981/12/the-education-of-david-stockman/305760/