People Party Vs. Money Party

[jelloshotsrule]

Who's Who Among the Democrats? (http://www.alternet.org/story/45066)

A list of the Democrats who are going to lead the fight for health care, fair trade and labor issues in the New Congress and the Democrats who will fight them.

The fact that our nation's politics is divided not between Democrats and Republicans but between the People Party and the Money Party is obvious to anyone who looks at the political system honestly (which is to say, not most journalists or Washington political hacks). Calls for "bipartisanship" and faux "centrism" that has nothing to do with the actual center of American public opinion are most often moves to prevent the political debate from analyzing the People vs. Money divide that actually fuels our politics. We already have plenty of "bipartisanship" -- Republicans and a faction of Democrats who regularly join hands to screw over the vast majority of Americans.

Many people ask me who? Who are the leading members of both sides of the actual divide? The answer is that there is no official list because no one is forced to formally declare their allegiance to the People Party or the Money Party. But it is fairly obvious which lawmakers in the new majority have specifically defined themselves on economic justice issues.

Though this is by no means a comprehensive list, here are the ones to watch in the coming Congress:

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i thought this was a good take on where the democrats fall in terms of real backbone to stand up to corporate interests, etc. there are some obvious ones, and some lesser known.. pretty interesting.

[obeygiant]

The Money Party will win hands down.

[skunk]

The Money Party will win hands down.Is that good? If so, why?

[obeygiant]

Is that good? If so, why?

never said good or bad, just that the money party will win. like it always does. It doesnt need to be explained. you disagree?

[Queso]

He's got a point. If there's one certainty in life, every politician can be bought if the amount is large enough.

[skunk]

He's got a point. If there's one certainty in life, every politician can be bought if the amount is large enough.I'm amazed to find myself not quite as irretrievably cynical as you, for once. :)

[jelloshotsrule]

i actually don't think that *every* politician can be bought. however, i do believe that a large enough % of them can be that the ones that can't will be outweighed/outmuscled/outspent in the long haul.

[Dont Hurt Me]

The Money Party will win hands down.And allways will until we get rid of lobbiest and the $$$ the bankrolls the campaigns. Congress is nothing but prostitutes to big business.

[obeygiant]

I'm amazed to find myself not quite as irretrievably cynical as you, for once. :)

I dont find it cynical, its just the way it is.

[skunk]

I dont find it cynical, its just the way it is.Ultimately that reflects your view of human nature.

[srf4real]

Political lobbying must be outlawed, as well as campaign contributions over $500, before (if ever- before it's too late) the people will govern the U.S.A.
Otherwise the government will have us fighting WW III over some financial interest on the other side of the world...

Thing is, politicians think the world is better off in thier hands and the people can't be trusted!:eek:

[leekohler]

I'm amazed to find myself not quite as irretrievably cynical as you, for once. :)

You also don't live in the US. ;)

[skunk]

Political lobbying must be outlawed, as well as campaign contributions over $500, before (if ever- before it's too late) the people will govern the U.S.A.
Otherwise the government will have us fighting WW III over some financial interest on the other side of the world...

Thing is, politicians think the world is better off in thier hands and the people can't be trusted!:eek:I'm also quite surprised to find myself agreeing with you. :p

[Thomas Veil]

Interesting about Evan Bayh being on the "Money" side, especially since he intends to run for president. Guess that's another one I'll cross out.

Sherrod Brown, Kaptur, Kucinich and others, I'm not surprised about. Ohio is a real working class state, and even though Ohio has voted way too Republican in recent years, when they do vote Democrat, they pick some good ones.

[Desertrat]

Political lobbying must be outlawed? No more lobbying by the Sierra Club, or Gay Pride?

There is a website with a breakdown of donations to all political parties. It's been a while since I last looked; maybe during the 2004 campaign; I disremember.

Anyhow, there were more individuals giving $100,000 or more to the Democrats than to the Republicans. There were more sub-$200 donations to the Republicans than to the Democrats.

Seems to me that the makeup of the donors is as meaningful as the total amounts accumulated...

'Rat

[pseudobrit]

Political lobbying must be outlawed? No more lobbying by the Sierra Club, or Gay Pride?

There is a website with a breakdown of donations to all political parties. It's been a while since I last looked; maybe during the 2004 campaign; I disremember.

Anyhow, there were more individuals giving $100,000 or more to the Democrats than to the Republicans. There were more sub-$200 donations to the Republicans than to the Democrats.

Seems to me that the makeup of the donors is as meaningful as the total amounts accumulated...

'Rat

Depends on the state, region and particular candidates. Contribution heterogeneousness is nothing new.

[princealfie]

Both Republicans and Democrats can be bought and not caught easily. Which is why I prefer to stick to grassroots economics.

[solvs]

Doesn't surprise me. There are some awful Dems out there, some not so bad Reps even. Look at Lincoln Chaffee (course, he's out now, so what do I know). Dems get accused of being too liberal, but most of them are anything but. Unfortunately, they're "moderate" in all the wrong ways. Often bandwagoning to suit their own needs, just as corrupt and self serving as the rest, trying to justify their crimes. Meanwhile, real problems go on without being fixed, getting worse, not even being dealt with in some cases.

[Queso]

Doesn't surprise me. There are some awful Dems out there, some not so bad Reps even. Look at Lincoln Chaffee (course, he's out now, so what do I know). Dems get accused of being too liberal, but most of them are anything but. Unfortunately, they're "moderate" in all the wrong ways. Often bandwagoning to suit their own needs, just as corrupt and self serving as the rest, trying to justify their crimes. Meanwhile, real problems go on without being fixed, getting worse, not even being dealt with in some cases.
There's only one way to fix the mess. Keep voting out every incumbent unless he/she is there for the people, and the moment a People Party member goes to the other side, out they go again. Send a consistent message that the electorate simply won't stand for it.

The Money Party has the Mass Media, but the People Party has the Internet. The message can get out.

[solvs]

Keep voting out every incumbent unless he/she is there for the people

What if the challenger is worse? I find myself often voting for who is the lesser of the evils, not people I actually like. They all disappoint, the whole system is screwed.

Soon, we will collapse under our own weight. Enjoy the ride down. We may even survive.