We have to rethink and redirect our efforts to elect officials who truly work for the regular, working folks, i.e., most of the people, of this country. Time and time again we see contemporary politicians making decisions supposedly supporting these "regular folks" when in fact these politicians' decisions end up empowering the very people who are hammering the workers. Yesterday's, long discourse by Senator Sanders amply documents this distressing direction. And I might add the appearance of Bill Clinton (the great enabler of the WTO and the destruction of American's middle class) alonside the President underlines what I am saying.
The current, excellent, model President along with many, but not all, of his clever elites that are running this country are making decisions and compromises that support those who would profit at the expense of regular folks. He is no different from George Bush or Bill Clinton, both of whom rewarded either domestic(Haliburton, BP, Chevron, etc.) or foreign (Chinese autocrats via the WTO) elites . These political elites who reside in both main political parties are beholden to those with fat wallets. They will never cross these fatcats in a major way. Oh yes, they'll nibble away at a few minor perogatives. But then after their terms in office they'll find a nice job/chair for themselves, or their children, or their wives in the sheltering arms of grateful contributors.
We need to end these cycles that appear to go on ad nauseum. We need to recruit those with fire in the belly for bringing economic peace and justice to the working stiffs - those swinging the hammers, those teaching the 3rd grade, those soldering the pipes, those twisting the wires, or those defending the indigent.
We do not need some excellent, clever administrator who one moment calculates the various financial effects of a pathetic health care bill and then resigns to work as a VP for Citibank. We must stop being impressed by empty rhetoric. We must demand a history of results before we give the nod for high office. And we must hold these office holders to a strict requirement of responsible, non-aggrandizing staff.
There are many dedicated folks out there who have the best interest of working people in mind. We must abandon the glitz and chose those who roll up their sleeves because they've actually been hard at work for and with the working people; and we must reject those who roll up their sleeves as theatrics.