America is an Oligarchy. This election should address that. It's that simple.

[Armstead]

Last edited Thu Aug 13, 2015, 10:50 AM - Edit history (4)

That is why I support Bernie Sanders. He has been warning about that, and fighting to change it for decades as it was being put into place. Win or lose, Sanders is the only candidate who is bringing this into the mainstream of the political process. That should be a key issue.

Hillary Clinton has been a part of the Democratic Centrists who enabled and joined the New Oligarchy for decades. They distract us with bright shiny objects to distract our attention as the mergers, deregulation, privitization proceeded to swallow up our economy and put it in the hands of new Corporate Robber Barons.

The personalities are important, of course. But - whatever candidate one chooses to support - that message should not be diverted yet again by political bright shiny objects.

That undermining of democracy and a truly competitive broadly-based economy is the overarching context of the stakes in this election. We are in a New Gilded Age, and we will soon will be regressing into worse if we do not shift course. And that affects everyone and every issue, in one way or another.

The dominance of this New Gilded Age And Oligarchy is not seperate from race, crime, the environment or any issue. It affects them all, and will continue to shape our ability to address and solve them.

[HFRN]

1. the oligarchs seem to own every candidate except Sanders

(well, they don't own Trump, as he is actually one of them)

[Armstead]

3. Well, Trump is raising the issue in his own weird way

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. Jimmy Carter brought this topic to center stage with his statement

It should be discussed by both republicans and democrats at their debates.

[azmom]

4. Bernie is the only way forward.

[99th_Monkey]

5. K&R - Bernie is the ONLY one who's calling-out the Oligarchy

he's naming it, and saying it has to end if we're to have anything like
a Democracy again.

Others may hint at it, or mince words about it (at best) but Bernie's
the one spelling out exactly what he's going to do about it; and this
politician actually DOES what he SAYS he's going to do.

GO BERNIE GO!!!!!!!!!!! Today New Hampshire, tomorrow the nation.

[Armstead]

6. The "mincing words" has always been a problem

A few powerful Corporations and individuals are making obscene amounts of money by twisting the system, and using their money and power to increase the power and money they have. And they're doing it by screwing the rest of us.

As a nation we have to stop that process and use both regulation and popular pressure to -- at the very least -- restore some sense of basic morality and ethics to the economy instead of continuing this massive hijacking.

People know that in their gut. But it is never articulated in the political dialogue. That is what Sanders is injecting into the mainstream. He ought to be encouraged for that.

[Enthusiast]

8. +100%!

[Enthusiast]

7. Kicked and recommended to the Max!

[L0oniX]

9. Bill Moyers has been hammering on this for quite a while.

[Armstead]

12. Yup...Many have. But Bernie is taking it into the political arena

Moyers, along with many other journalists, politicians and other engaged citizens have been trying to awaken America for years about this core problem. I admire them all, and wish more people had listened to them over the years. Or more accurately, wish more people actually had a chance to hear them through the filters of mainstream media and politics.

Bernie is delivering it right into the center of presidential politics, where it at least has to be presented and get exposure to some extent. That's what IMO is so important about his campaign. The more support he gets, the less chance the MSM and political gatekeepers will have to stifle or distort it.

[Romulox]

10. The Oligarchs and their champion have attempted to portray any discussion of inequality as racist (!)...

It's perhaps the most Rovian trick I've ever seen in my life. Well done, Clinton camp.

[NorthCarolina]

11. Bernie is the only candidate acknowledging that America is an Oligarchy...

the others are under the thumb of the oligarchy...make your choice America.


For me the answer is simple...Go Bernie!

[cyberswede]

13. ...but I read on DU that average Americans don't know what that means.

[Recursion]

14. What will this election do about that?

I still haven't heard one thing people think Sanders would be able to accomplish that the other candidates wouldn't.

[Armstead]

17. About the same things O'Malley could

[Recursion]

24. Disagree. I think O'Malley can keep the party together

And Clinton and Sanders can't.

[Ron Green]

23. 1. Tell the truth.

The people must do the rest.

But if the President tells the truth, that's the beginning.

[Persondem]

15. Oligarchy kind of works but I prefer plutocracy.

Oligarchy just implies a group controls the country. Plutocracy puts money into the equation.


Plutocracy: government by the wealthy.

•a country or society governed by the wealthy.
plural noun: plutocracies

•an elite or ruling class of people whose power derives from their wealth.

Would seem to fit the Kochs et al. rather well.

[Armstead]

16. Pkutocracy sounds more nebulous, though might be more accurate

[Persondem]

19. Oligarch sounds scarier too, (wait for it ...)

Plutocracy sounds like Mickey's dog is in charge. (Which just might be an improvement.)

[Armstead]

21. oooonnnnnnaaaaahhhh

[sabrina 1]

18. Thanks to Bernie it IS a major issued finally in a presidential campaign. Saw a clip of him

saying that tonight on the Corporate media. Was surprised they chose his statement about Corps/Billionaires owning Politicians, but it was very good to hear him once again, make this issue prominent in this campaign.

[WillyT]

20. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[Skwmom]

22. They are trying to silence that message. n/t