Note: My left click is broken and I can't afford a new computer. Thus I am unable to link or provide the graphics that make diaries so compelling. Recognizing that weakness, I feel strongly enough about the subject to push forward anyway.
There has been a tireless effort by Kossacks to document the drum beat of policies trending toward heavily favoring the rich. Understandably, we focus upon predicting the specific ways the poor or middle class will suffer.
The focus of this diary is more big picture. By definition, it is somewhat vague and imprecise. Too often I find myself focused upon the trees and not fully absorbing the forest of the philosophical trends pushing it.
Considered broadly, the picture is daunting and depressing. If unaddressed, it is also inevitable. Therefore, the doom we might feel is worth facing
"All men are created equal"
The Declaration of Independence
From the beginning the country failed to come close to this stated principle. The fact that slavery was accepted, America's original sin, is the most unforgiveable example - but not the only one.
It is inequality that has been the most enduring principle of this country.
And yet, it is hard to argue that, very generally speaking, the direction of the country's evolution was one of torturously slow progress toward equality.
Emancipation
Direct election of Senators
Women's voting rights
The New Deal
The Civil Rights Act
Lowering the voting age to match the age at which one can be called upon to die
Some social causes continue in that direction today. The beautiful and refreshingly quick pace to grant my many LGBT friends equality under the law is unquantifiable and we must push to see its full implementation.
And yet, over the last 30 years there is a well recognized imperialistic push backward in most other areas, especially economic equality. If the growing corporate/plutocratic push is not quelled, the country may be incapable of reversal. The future may be one that may function, in reality, as a corporate-elite fascist state.
Too many fail to see this happening. Too much faith in "the vote" as precluding the majority's loss of control is held. This faith is misplaced:
Citizen's United
First Amendment Rights of Corporations (perhaps broader civil rights
The "60 Vote" Senate
Refusal to sit the Directors of agencies that inconvenience the wealthy
Privatization
Free Trade
A separate tax code for investment income
Austerity as "solution"
Fixing Unemployment at rates compelling desperation
Dwindling Union Rights
"Walmartization" of corporate America and monopolization
Lifelong indebtedness
And on and on and on. The above list is simply made up of the current issues driving inequality. There is no indication that IF these goals are achieved that there will ever be "enough" policy favoring the rich, elite, corporate investment class. We have every indication that they will merely set the predicate for more forceful, permanent means of control.
The effort is bipartisan. But there can be no argument that it is the conservatives that push harder, more ruthlessly, with greater conviction and less apologetically for this future.
Indeed, the big picture leads me to conclude that conservatives recognize the incompatibility of corporate-wealth dominance and government by majority rule. Conservative leaders are establishing power outside of the framework of government, solidifying a future where concern for a majority vote is gratuitous. The "impeachment" attempts (it's coming) of the last two democratic administrations demonstrate a disdain for the choice of the American majority.
Obviously, one could go on and on. I am not going to. I am far more interested in stimulating a dialogue in comments or, failing that, encouragement of others to expand upon the big picture of democratic nullification, its insidious breadth and the bleak future.
I have a 5 year old daughter. We are not wealthy. I cannot see a future where she has the limited opportunities I had (and I am a white male from an upper middle class family - others have had far less opportunity than me). It is more likely that she will live with decreasing opportunity, shuffled early into a meager and capped future. I generally am unconcerned about my fate. Her fate, and the fate of all in her generation, means everything to me. It is why I write, why I fight. Spreading the message and fighting back may prove futile, it may be too late. But, we need to fight anyway. We owe it to them, we owe it to all that fought for the progress we have made.
We may not win, but we will deserve to win
John Adams characterizing the War for Independence - an appropriate, clarion call to stand up and not give up.
Edit to Note: There has been an excellent point made in the comments that economic inequality is inherent in the system, very true and I regret that much of my terminology seems like it could come out of the mouth of Marx.
I prefer the term equal economic opportunity, but it is actually bigger than that. For those who are working, those trying to work and those that physically cannot work, there needs to be a minimum baseline in living standards. This doesn't seem to much to ask in a country wealthy enough to provide the top percentages a standard of living that would shame the Tudors.
It is unforgiveable that the top percentage of people in this country have seen their standard of living rise because of this push to decrease the relative wages and benefits for the working class. This gap in economic opportunity is the desired result of these means of nullification and that is what we must fight against. Thanks for the interest in this matter and the compliments, rec listed is nice - seeing people note the inexcusable pattern is inspiring.