How Both the Republicans and the Democrats Have Joined Forces to Screw You

[Sunstone]

It would be an over-simplification to say that American elites of both major parties do not give a rat's butt about the average American's life or well-being, but not much of an over-simplification.

Basically, your leaders are beholden to super-rich billionaires and large corporations, both of which are drunk on asinine political and economic ideologies that absolve them of taking any meaningful social responsibility. So long as Wall Street is doing well, almost no one among the elites cares what happens to you.

The post-World War II social contract that brought about the largest and most prosperous middle class in world history began dying with Jimmy Carter, was kicked to shreds by Ronald Reagan, and buried by the presidents of both parties that came after Reagan.

America's elites feel they owe you nothing, and that your only value and worth in this world is to consume their products and services in order to make them even wealthier than they are. You're not a citizen to them, you're a consumer. They're not in this world with you, they're in this world against you.

So long as you are fighting among yourselves, and not uniting to fight them, you're getting what you deserve.

Just my two cents. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Just my two cents. Your mileage may vary.

It is my opinion they all love Trump, and he is such an elite doll that he's the ugly ducking who made Biden look like a golden goose.

 

[PureX]

Basically, your leaders are beholden to super-rich billionaires and large corporations, both of which are drunk on asinine political and economic ideologies that absolve them of taking any meaningful social responsibility. So long as Wall Street is doing well, almost no one among the elites cares what happens to you.

And unfortunately, most of the rest of us don't care what happens to anyone else, either. So it's a perfect storm of self-centered indifference.

The post-World War II social contract that brought about the largest and most prosperous middle class in world history began dying with Jimmy Carter, was kicked to shreds by Ronald Reagan, and buried by the presidents of both parties that came after Reagan.

The boomer generation didn't have to rely on each other to fight the 'robber barons' that caused the great depression, and then the fascists that started WW2. They had freedom and prosperity handed to them, and then squandered it on foolish egotism and greed. And the worse things got, the more ignorant and divided we all became. We gave that criminal elite an open door to do anything they want. And of course what they want is to own and control everything and everyone. And now they pretty much do. And now, instead of trying to stop them, we want to BE them!

 

[Sunstone]

Me, I vote progressive these days because they're the only faction of the Democratic Party willing to take on the elites and demand a restoration of social and economic sanity in this country. But if I was inclined to more conservative politics, I would vote for the populist platform Trump ran on in 2016 (and then abandoned when he caved to the establishment) minus the racism, xenophobia, nationalism, and misogyny. There's a lot to be said for right-wing populism, and it's far more compatible with left-wing progressive politics than most people realize.

 

[Trailblazer]

And unfortunately, most of the rest of us don't care what happens to anyone else, either. So it's a perfect storm of self-centered indifference.

That's right. So what blame super-rich billionaires and large corporations?
Are some people just jealous because they aren't rich?

 

[PureX]

That's right. So what blame super-rich billionaires and large corporations?
Are some people just jealous because they aren't rich?

I think everyone realizes that money has now become God: the giver and taker of life, of health, of happiness, of justice, of opportunity, and of all value. And they see everyone else as grasping desperately for as much of it as they can get. So they feel they must do the same.

This is the world we create when we choose competition instead of cooperation, and selfishness instead of benevolence. And the criminals love it. They thrive in it. While the rest of just fall ever deeper into an abyss of self-induced slavery.

 

[Sunstone]

That's right. So what blame super-rich billionaires and large corporations?
Are some people just jealous because they aren't rich?

Who told you that it's all about jealousy? Where did you get that idea? From one or more of the shills for the super-rich, I'll bet. You sure didn't come up with in on your own.

 

[Trailblazer]

I think everyone realizes that money has now become God: the giver and taker of life, of health, of happiness, of justice, of opportunity, and of all value.

Not everyone. I have lots of money and even more in assets but that does nothing for me at all except to make me feel secure.
It does not make me happy because if it did I would be really happy all the time.

 

[Trailblazer]

Who told you that it's all about jealousy? Where did you get that idea? From one or more of the shills for the super-rich, I'll bet. You sure didn't come up with in on your own.

I never said it was all about jealousy, and that was phrased as a question: "I was just wondering, are some people just jealous because they aren't rich?"

 

[Brickjectivity]

Watching the video...... .... .... loading data ..... compiling....loading program "Respond to video.exe"

Wow that studio has an echo. Hairstyles are changing. He's right that restrictions should come with stimulus, and because they haven't there are too many people permanently out of work. "...Americans did their duty. They stayed home, and the government left them to rot...." Yes, he has a point there. Complete, holistic failure of government across all levels -- yes.

100,000 small businesses closed. Ouch. Yes that will take decades of recovery.

Ok, but can stimulus be sustained? Isn't it the same as inflation? I don't understand enough to know whether more stimulus could have been possible. Maybe the problem is that we can't afford more stimulus?

 

[Sunstone]

I never said it was all about jealousy, and that was phrased as a question: "I was just wondering, are some people just jealous because they aren't rich?"

I hobnob with a lot of people of all and sundry political views and ideologies, excepting only that I don't personally know too many full blown authoritarians of either side, but I almost never hear anyone express jealousy or envy of the rich as a motive for their politics. I am sure some people are that -- given human nature, there must be some -- but I doubt they are vast in number.

 

[Altfish]

Well if you have an election system funded by PACs what do you expect?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

It is my opinion they all love Trump, and he is such an elite doll that he's the ugly ducking who made Biden look like a golden goose.

If they love Trump so much, why is their corporate media (owned by those same multi-billionaires) savaging him so badly?

 

[PureX]

Not everyone. I have lots of money and even more in assets but that does nothing for me at all except to make me feel secure.

It does not make me happy because if it did I would be really happy all the time.

Your money buys you a longer life, better health, security, justice, endless possibilities and opportunities, prestige, respect, and just having money gets you more money without you even having to work for it. So if you are still unhappy, you must be TRYING to be! Because in this culture money is literally access to everything a person needs to live a happy, fulfilled life.

It isn't that everyone wants to be rich. Most of us do not. It's that everyone wants to live, and to be healthy, and to be free, and to be able to attain justice, and to have the possibilities and opportunities available to them that will allow them to find happiness, and peace, and to raise their kids to have the same. It's not jealousy. And it's not unreasonable.

 

[PureX]

If they love Trump so much, why is their corporate media (owned by those same multi-billionaires) savaging him so badly?

He lost. He's a "loser" now in a culture that worships the "big winners" and despises the losers in life (as Trump, himself, does). They don't care about Trump or anyone else. They only care that we keep worshiping the "big winners", and despising and blaming the "losers". Because that's what they need to keep us turned against each other.

 

[Trailblazer]

I hobnob with a lot of people of all and sundry political views and ideologies, excepting only that I don't personally know too many full blown authoritarians of either side, but I almost never hear anyone express jealousy or envy of the rich as a motive for their politics. I am sure some people are that -- given human nature, there must be some -- but I doubt they are vast in number.

For most of my life I rarely talked about or listened to politics, but because of what has been going on on this country lately I have become interested in politics.

I do not think that jealousy and envy are motives for politics. The reason I thought some people might be jealous of the super rich is because I analyze things from a psychological point of view, given that is my academic background.

 

[bobhikes]

It would be an over-simplification to say that American elites of both major parties do not give a rat's butt about the average American's life or well-being, but not much of an over-simplification.

Basically, your leaders are beholden to super-rich billionaires and large corporations, both of which are drunk on asinine political and economic ideologies that absolve them of taking any meaningful social responsibility. So long as Wall Street is doing well, almost no one among the elites cares what happens to you.

The post-World War II social contract that brought about the largest and most prosperous middle class in world history began dying with Jimmy Carter, was kicked to shreds by Ronald Reagan, and buried by the presidents of both parties that came after Reagan.

America's elites feel they owe you nothing, and that your only value and worth in this world is to consume their products and services in order to make them even wealthier than they are. You're not a citizen to them, you're a consumer. They're not in this world with you, they're in this world against you.

So long as you are fighting among yourselves, and not uniting to fight them, you're getting what you deserve.

Just my two cents. Your mileage may vary.

I agree that neither party cares but the problem isn't them its us. We still support them as if they are Gods. They can do no wrong. There are more atheists in the US than independent voter's We have more large Religions in the US then parties. How long is the populous going to believe and support the 2 party system. We are the problem our desire to win suppresses our desire for right.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Are people allowed to be super rich without looking down on? I'm sure they pay taxes too?

 

[Trailblazer]

Your money buys you a longer life, better health, security, justice, endless possibilities and opportunities, prestige, respect, and just having money gets you more money without you even having to work for it. So if you are still unhappy, you must be TRYING to be!

If you think that money buys happiness maybe you do not know a lot about psychology, but I am sure you know that many rich people have committed suicide. Do you know much about grief? All the money in the world cannot bring back the dead.

By all rights, with my money I could buy my way out of the living situation I am stuck in, but it is not that simple because free will has many constraints. But even of I could change some things, I cannot change others, so I have to live with them and try to rise above them.

Because in this culture money is literally access to everything a person needs to live a happy, fulfilled life.

That depends upon what you consider a happy fulfilled life.

It isn't that everyone wants to be rich. Most of us do not. It's that everyone want to live, and be healthy, and to be free, and to be able to attain justice, and to have the possibilities and opportunities available to them that will allow them to find happiness, and peace, and to raise their kids to have the same. It's not jealousy. And it's not unreasonable.

No, I do not think most people are jealous, and that is because most people are fairly content with what they have, or they look forward to the future and what they will have later. Most people are content with things I do not care about at all.

 

[PureX]

I do not think most people are jealous, and that is because most people are fairly content with what they have, or they look forward to the future and what they will have later. Most people are content with things I do not care about at all.

They would be content, I agree. But our culture does not allow one to keep what they have without a constant struggle. Because we have allowed our culture to raise up and enable those who want it all. Those who want their own share, and your share, and my share, and everyone else's share. And who won't rest until they get it all. And still they will not have enough. They will want more. And as long as we keep enabling these pathological parasites, they will continue to take whatever we have, and whatever we get.