Thom Hartmann: Is America moving back to the left?

[thomhartmann]

First, the good news. Just below the surface, there's an enormous political shift underway in America that's going to sweep the far right reactionaries out of power - and put moderates and progressives back in control. The bad news is...all hell will likely break loose before this happens. Think about it - major political shifts in America have occured in reaction to major economic crises. The Stock Market Crash of 1929 and Great Depression put an end to ten years of free-market, corporate Republican rule in the 1920's - and gave way to the New Deal Revolution and a huge political shift to the left. Similarly - several decades later - the economic crisis caused by problems in the Middle East and the oil embargo in the late 1970's gave way to the Reagan Revolution - and massive political shift to the right.

Here we are today - again in the midst of another economic crisis and subsequent political shift. The financial meltdown of 2007 and 2008 swung the pendulum back to the Left - with Barack Obama winning the presidency - and Democrats gaining big majorities in the House and Senate. It was 1932 all over again. Yes - the 2010 midterm happened - and Congress snapped back to the Right. But that was an anomaly. It was fueled by racism - it was made possible by the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision - and as we see today looking at polls and the failure of the Mitt Romney campaign - we probably won't continue to swing hard right in 2012. Instead, over the next few years - the United States will move to the Left in response to three decades of failed Reaganomics and so-called "free trade" policies that crashed our economy - and because the Right continues to endorse these same policies today. And lawmakers in Washington are aware of what's happening.

As TPM reports - mainstream, moderate Republicans are preparing a resurgance - ready to take back their party from the far Right tea partiers who have taken it over. As Chuck Schumer was quoted as saying: “There has always been a group of Republicans that want to compromise. But they have been outshouted, outflanked by tea party...If [Democrats] keep the Senate and the president wins, and even better if we take the House...the mainstream Republicans are going to be strengthened. They’ve told me that." Republicans - at least the ones who aren't crazy - realize today that embracing the far Right reactionary wing of their Party is a losing strategy moving forward. And Democrats realize that embracing their progressive roots is a winning strategy moving forward.

Just look at the Democratic National Convention - it sounded like it was straight from the New Deal era - when Democrats were proud to be progressives - railing against corporate power - promoting a "we" society with strong social safety nets - and telling the rich that Reaganomics is dead and it's time to pay their fair share in taxes again. This political shift is clearly happening...although, like in 1932, unfortunately, it won't be without peril. Yes, we're moving to the Left - but those who've made a lot of money and gained a lot of power since the last shift - since the Reagan Revolution - are going to do all they can to stop the pendulum this time. I'm talking about the corporate elite - the millionaire and billionaire class.

Political shifts to the far right are always peaceful since they don't ruffle the feathers of the rich and powerful. But political shifts to the left are another story - they can produce violent reactions from the hard right. During the last shift left-ward shift - the corporate elite like the DuPonts and Remingtons planned a coup de tat - enlisting the help of General Smedley Butler to march a well-armed and well-financed army of 500,000 men on to Washington, DC to physically remove FDR from the White House. It's known today as the Business Plot - and luckily General Butler blew the whistle on it before it could be carried out.

But the point is - the corporate elite and their lapdog far-right politicians will not reliquish their power without a fight - or without taking the rest of us down with them. This could mean an armed coup like they attempted in 1933. Or it could mean committing our nation to endless wars across the planet in a desperate bid to galvanize support here at home. Or it could just mean sabotaging Congress - blocking all legislation like they've been doing for three years - and trying to make our economy crash. They already appear to be doing this. But whatever pitfalls are on the horizon - the Left is better prepared to come out of the chaos and take back power with its message of a "we" society - and with it's message for the 99%. Clearly - the political shift underway in America will not be easy. But rest assured - it will happen.

The Big Picture with Thom Hartmann on RT TV & FSTV "live" 9pm and 11pm check www.thomhartmann.com/tv for local listings

[GreenTea]

1. Don't think it ever left....

Apathy took over along with the never ending money & power of the republican propaganda machine.

[01potato]

2. he'll go where he needs to go .

[roguevalley]

3. there's a pendulum swing every 30 years there's good books out there on it