The Left Right Paradigm is Over: Its You vs. Corporations

[RKP5637]

By Barry Ritholtz - September 27th, 2010
The Big Picture
http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2010/09/you-vs-corporations/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheBigPicture+%28The+Big+Picture%29

"Every generation or so, a major secular shift takes place that shakes up the existing paradigm. It happens in industry, finance, literature, sports, manufacturing, technology, entertainment, travel, communication, etc.

I would like to discuss the paradigm shift that is occurring in politics.

For a long time, American politics has been defined by a Left/Right dynamic. It was Liberals versus Conservatives on a variety of issues. Pro-Life versus Pro-Choice, Tax Cuts vs. More Spending, Pro-War vs Peaceniks, Environmental Protections vs. Economic Growth, Pro-Union vs. Union-Free, Gay Marriage vs. Family Values, School Choice vs. Public Schools, Regulation vs. Free Markets.

The new dynamic, however, has moved past the old Left Right paradigm. We now live in an era defined by increasing Corporate influence and authority over the individual. These two “interest groups” – I can barely suppress snorting derisively over that phrase – have been on a headlong collision course for decades, which came to a head with the financial collapse and bailouts. Where there is massive concentrations of wealth and influence, there will be abuse of power. The Individual has been supplanted in the political process nearly entirely by corporate money, legislative influence, campaign contributions, even free speech rights.

<snip>

If you see the world in terms of Left & Right, you really aren’t seeing the world at all . . ."

More: http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2010/09/you-vs-corporations/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheBigPicture+%28The+Big+Picture%29

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[OHdem10]

2. If the Republicans win, the Corporate Takeover will be complete.

Business will completely rule this country.

We have had this situation before and it was not good then.
At least then the Businesses and Corporations had some
loyalty to this country.

Now Corporations have allegiance to no one country. Roam
the world seeking the cheapest labor and exploiting as they
will.

In the Republican Party the Free Marketer rule. The Invisible
hand of the Market can solve all problems. They believe it
and some form of this "religion" is parroted on Fox every day.

We know the "Free Market" has never produced competition in
Health Care. The Prices go up every year year after year.
We have had this health care system for Decades and it has
never worked for the Average American. It serves to make
the Health Care Industry rich.

Conservative Free Market Fundamentalism is structured so that
the Elites, Investors(Big) win and therefore become richer
and richer while the poor get poorer and the Middle Class
lose ground.

If for no other reason, we must do what we can to keep our
"Spineless Noodles" in office and thwart a Republican Free
Market Takeover. I believe our Legislators need a Come To Jesus
Moment. They must be made to understand--
They must stop enabling the GOP. Get a Spinal IMPLANT
and start standing their ground.
As a Party they had best get it together and speak with
one voice. This voice had better sound like Democrats
and not some warmed over Republicanism.
Americans want people who stand up and fight for what
they believe.

Get themselves on TV and explain to the people what
they have done and how it helps in the overall scheme of
things.


How many of you know that Obama has an advisory committee
on Jobs??? How many of you know that this committee has
come up with some excellent ideas for bringing Mfg back to
this country. This is what they should be talking about.

NO MORE of Axelrod on the Sunday show saying "The President
has a plan". What is the d--- plan. Give a few specifics.

Duers, we may have to hold our noses , take dramamine, do
what ever.

I do not think the ADM and Congress understood from the beginning
Liberals and Progressives have been pushed to the back of the
bus the last time. Perhaps they did not understand the accumulated
anger from the last 3 elections. There was a simmering boil
and when the Present ADM started down the Rdepublican Lite
Path--the anger has run over. This ADM is getting the brunt
of years of pentup frustration. This ADM will make the biggest
mistake of its tenure to assume we have no place to go.

It would not take much for people like me to stay home. Let
the Democrats lose --let the GOP run the country into the
ground so the American People can see once and for all --FREE
MARKET FUNDAMENTALISM will destroy America as we know. Perhaps
a lot more people have to hurt before they wake up and realize
the Republican Policies are not good for the country.

The Centrist DLC have lost their way. They have Appeased Republicans
so long now, they cannot recognize the Center. They have gone
right so far, they are assisting in the demise. Instead of being
centrists and having a line they will not cross, they get down
on their knees and ask the Republicans what will you accept. Theu
still get slapped down by Republicans.

I have filed and have my bases covered so I can vote. Now I need
a reason.

The biggest reason is to stop Eoncomic Free Market Fundamentalism.

[RKP5637]

4. Very well said!!! n/t

[Doctor_J]

3. Teabaggers think the corporations are on their side

They want corporatized libraries, schools, internet, parks, roads, postal service, etc. Because US Health care works so well, I guess. King Glenn told them that ending Net Neutrality will make them "more free", and they are so stupid they believe it.

[pansypoo53219]

5. max headroom

is now.

[lovemydog]

6. Interesting thoughts and comments

Thanks.

[Kind of Blue]

7. Recommend!

Too late for me to rec but really glad to have read this. Thank you.

[mwb970]

8. It's been us vs. the corporations for years now.

It is hard for me to see this as a new battle. I remember constantly arguing with a right-wing wacko where I worked during the Clinton years. He always said that the problem was the government, and I always said he was crazy, the problem was increasing corporate dominance of everything in our society. He would have none of it. Now I hear this meme everywhere. Why are people just realizing this now? Better late than never, I guess.

[LostHighway]

9. I don't really agree, I think it's both a Left/Right issue and an Individual vs. corporate issue

Because what the author is assuming is that there's only one way to take on corporations, and that's a left wing way. The right wing populism that's directed against the government now could potentially take on corporations, but their values and beliefs would be as right wing as ever. I wouldn't want to live in a society where the Tea Party was in control but where they also restrained corporations a little bit.

[Skittles]

10. LOLOL

repukes/teabaggers WORSHIP corporations

[Doctor_J]

11. You're lost alright

The teabaggers want the corporations to run every minute of their lives - what they watch, eat, hear, read, drive, and wear. "Tea Party populism" is an oxymoron, just like an individual teabagger is a moron.

[Sherman A1]

12. It always has been

the left/right thing is mostly to create divisiveness amoungst the worker bees to help keep them in line.

[pscot]

13. They've learned how to control about 25 %

of the population, and influence the rest to some degree. Their think tanks generate the ideology and their media catapult the propaganda.