For those who believe in people powered democracy – what this site is ostensibly devoted to – there is a clear difference between the 3 "major" Democratic campaigns for President. In order for the people’s voices to be heard, we MUST FIRST end the outsized power of those who can influence politicians by giving them huge sums of money the rest of us cannot.
The power of ultra-wealthy individuals and corporations completely distorts our economy and our society. The most innovative ideas come from small entrepreneurs and start up companies. Most of them fail in their efforts. Some "deserve" to because their idea or product does not have the requisite appeal or utility. But many are simply shut out of the market because entrenched interests get the laws written and interpreted in such a way as to perpetuate their (often undeserved) position in the marketplace. Media companies have extra power because not only can they donate money, but they can skew their "news" coverage to shut out competitors and ideas that threaten their power.
It is in this context that I, and I believe anyone who truly believes in people powered democracy should, view this year’s campaigns:
Hillary takes more money from entrenched interests such as health insurance companies (one of the worst distorters of the political dialogue – think "Harry and Louise") than ANY candidate running for President (Republican or Democrat). She is also the largest recipient of telecom industry money in the U.S. Senate. (No wonder she was nowhere to be seen during Dodd’s filibuster.) But she tells us (at YearlyKos) that it’s okay because "Washington lobbyists represent ordinary Americans" and she says "I hope no one thinks I would be influenced by my campaign donations." If you believe that, I have a bridge in Minnesota I’d like to sell you....
Obama is better in that he is not taking lobbyist money this campaign. But he actually argues that the powerful corporations that have distorted our political and economic market for so long, such as the big health insurance and drug conglomerates, "deserve a seat at the table" even though their ONLY interest is in derailing necessary reform. Even if you believe this in principle, it seems to me they have had the whole table for so long that they now have to sit out a few rounds until the rules are changed so that they don’t have undue influence before we let them anywhere near the table again.
Edwards is the only candidate who understands that we will never have people power until we first level the playing field. What I find so appealing about his campaign is that he now understands and eloquently explains that his original theme of economic fairness cannot happen unless we first have the kind of people powered democracy that Howard Dean made the theme of his 2004 campaign. Edwards also understands that this will not come about without a fight. Not because we want a fight, but because, as Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote, "freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor." Anyone who thinks the big oil, drug, health insurance, etc. companies are not oppressing us is hopelessly naïve.
The difference between these candidates can be seen in their statements about universal health coverage: In an unguarded moment, Hillary declared she’d like to see it "by the end of my second term." Obama actually boasts that he wants it "by the end of my first term" (even though Paul Krugman and others have noted that his plan doesn’t actually deliver it). Edwards promises to force Congress to defend its generous health care plan for itself by threatening to take it away if they don’t deliver full coverage to the rest of the country by July 2009. Imagine that: actually demanding that the powerful in society extend their privileges to the rest of us peons.
This is why Edwards’s message is resonating despite the media’s interest in NOT relaying his words to the general public. If Edwards does win the nomination, it really will be an example of people power trumping the power of corporate interests and will be a mandate on which he can govern – and in which we can help by working with him to turn up the heat on those who continue to defend entrenched interests and the old ways of doing business. Imagine having a true ally in the White House!
This is why I support John Edwards’s campaign for President and hope others will join me.