Robert Reich answers a series of questions that have been asked many more times than have been answered. Truthfully that is, without “conservative” “trickle down” / “supply side” propaganda that has been purposefully divisive, typically couched in white grievance with specific targets: PoC, and the most vulnerable immigrants. Targets that have been oppressed, voices silenced, and present the easy, safe, least likely to do unto the GOP as the GOP has done unto them
— posted by Robert Reich | July 1st, 2018
Robert Reich explains how we can stop the rise of more Trumps in the future.
Watch More: 4 Grounds for Impeachment ►► https://youtu.be/gRIlAuIskLU
Full transcript: (for transcript choose the … more option for the drop down menu)
0:00
Why did so many working class voters choose a selfish, thin-skinned, petulant, lying,
0:06
narcissistic, boastful, megalomaniac for president?
0:10
It’s important to know, because we need to stop more Trumps in the future.
0:22
The answer lies in the interplay between deep-seated racism and stagnant and declining wages.
0:28
Both must be addressed.
0:30
Some white, working class men and women were – and still are – receptive to Trump’s bigotry.
0:38
But what made them receptive?
0:40
Racism and xenophobia aren’t exactly new to American life.
0:44
Fears of blacks and immigrants have been with us since the founding of the Republic.
0:50
What changed was the economy.
0:53
Since the 1980s, the wages and economic prospects of the typical American worker have stagnated.
0:58
More than 80% now live paycheck to paycheck, and those paychecks have grown less secure.
1:04
Meanwhile, all the economy’s gains have gone to the richest ten percent, mostly the
1:10
Wealthy individuals and big corporations have, in turn, invested some of those gains into
1:18
As a result, big money now calls the shots in Washington – getting subsidies, tax breaks,
1:23
tax loopholes, even Trump promised to close the “carried interest” loophole
1:32
yet it remains, and bailouts.
1:35
The near meltdown of Wall Street in 2008 caused a recession that cost millions their jobs,
1:42
But the Street got bailed out, and not a single Wall Street executive went to jail.
1:47
In the two years leading up to the 2016 election, I revisited many of the places I had visited
1:54
when I was labor secretary in the 1990s.
1:57
People told me the system was “rigged” against them.
2:01
A surprising number said they planned to vote either for Bernie Sanders or Donald Trump
2:06
– the two anti-establishment candidates who promised to “shake up” Washington.
2:12
But Trump’s racism and xenophobia focused the cumulative economic rage on scapegoats
2:19
that had nothing to do with its causes.
2:21
It was hardly the first time in history a demagogue has used this playbook.
2:26
If America doesn’t respond to the calamity that’s befallen the working class
2:31
we will have Trumps as far as the eye can see.
2:36
A few Democrats are getting the message – pushing ambitious ideas like government-guaranteed
2:41
full employment, single-payer health care, industry-wide collective bargaining, and a
2:47
universal basic income.
2:49
We also need ways to finance these things, such as a carbon tax, a tax on Wall Street
2:54
trades, and a progressive tax on wealth.
2:57
To accomplish all this we have to get big money out of politics.
3:02
Even if “Citizens United” isn’t overruled, big money’s influence can be limited with
3:06
generous public financing of elections, full disclosure of the source of all campaign contributions,
3:13
and a clampdown on the revolving door between business and government.
3:17
Trump isn’t the cause of what’s happened to America.
3:20
He’s the consequence – the product of years of stagnant wages and big money’s
3:26
corruption of our democracy combined with a long legacy of racism and bigotry.
3:33
If we really want to stop Trump and prevent future Trumps, we will need to address these
3:39
causes of Trump’s rise.
(end of transcript)
* * *
Here are some potentially engaging bullet points from Robert Reich’s presentation that could be made into messages that expose the truth:
• Since the 1980s, the wages and economic prospects of the typical American worker have stagnated.
• 2008 caused a recession that cost millions their jobs,
• all the economy’s gains have gone to the richest ten percent, mostly the
top 1 percent.
• big money now calls the shots in Washington – getting subsidies, tax breaks,
• More than 80% now live paycheck to paycheck, and those paychecks have grown less secure.
• Wall Street meltdown in 2008 caused a recession that cost millions their jobs,
homes, and savings.
• Wall Street got bailed out, and not a single Wall Street executive went to jail.
* * *
Some common sense solutions to combat systematic favoritism of those most wealthy, and to help under-paid workers that produced that wealth to receive their fair share:
• A few Democrats are getting the message – pushing ambitious ideas like government-guaranteed full employment
• single-payer health care
• industry-wide collective bargaining
• universal basic income
• a carbon tax,
• a tax on Wall Street
• get big money out of politics.
• Even if “Citizens United” isn’t overruled, big money’s influence can be limited with generous public financing of elections,
• full disclosure of the source of all campaign contributions,
• clampdown on the revolving door between business and government.
* * *
The next video linked above with Robert Reich on impeachment is also well worth a viewing — imo (and has a full transcript @ link):
— Published on Apr 5, 2017
What are the 4 and possibly 5 grounds for Trump's impeachment? Why hasn't it happening already? Watch our new video to find out (and please share).
(and please share)
transcript:
0:12
By my count, there are now four grounds to impeach Donald Trump.
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The fifth appears to be on its way.
0:18
First, in taking the oath of office, a president promises to “faithfully execute the laws
0:25
& the constitution.”
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That’s Article II Section 2.
0:28
But Trump is unfaithfully executing his duties as president by accusing his predecessor,
0:34
president Obama, of undertaking an illegal and impeachable act, with absolutely no evidence
0:40
to support the accusation.
0:49
of value from foreign governments.
0:51
But Trump is making big money off his Trump International Hotel by steering foreign diplomatic
0:57
delegations to it, and will make a bundle off China’s recent decision to grant his
1:02
trademark applications for the Trump brand -- decisions Chinese authorities arrived at
1:08
directly because of decisions Trump has made as president.
1:12
Third: The 1st Amendment to the Constitution bars any law “respecting an establishment
1:18
of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
1:23
But Trump’s ban on travel into the United States from 6 Muslim countries -- which he
1:28
initiated, advocated for, and oversees -- violates that provision.
1:34
Fourth: The 1st Amendment also bars “abridging the freedom of the press.”
1:40
But Trump’s labeling the press “the enemy of the people,” and choosing who he invites
1:45
to news conferences based on whether they’ve given him favorable coverage, violates this
1:51
A fifth possible ground if the evidence is there: Article II Section 3 of the Constitution
1:58
defines “treason against the United States” as “adhering to their enemies, giving them
2:06
Evidence is mounting that Trump and his aides colluded with Russian operatives to win the
2:11
2016 presidential election.
2:14
Presidents can be impeached for what the Constitution calls “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
2:19
The question is no longer whether there are grounds to impeach Trump.
2:24
The practical question is whether there’s the political will.
2:28
As long as Republicans remain in the majority in the House, where a bill of impeachment
2:32
originates, it’s unlikely.
2:35
Another reason why it’s critically important to flip the House in 2018.
(end of transcript)
Then there is
‘obstruction of justice’ by both the Trump regime, and the GOP in both upper and lower chambers of congress involved in the cover-up
* * *
— thank you Robert Reich. Yes I will share. Hopefully this message will also be seen by some of the millions of blue collar workers that value; jobs, a
fair, living wage sized share of the
proceeds from their labor, the environment, Civil rights, consumer protections, healthcare, women’s rights, and equal justice for all people, more than they value the propaganda and divisive vitriol coming from the current corrupt administration,
its head puppet, and the GOP
shielding it from the Rule of Law