On Oct 1st, the first day of sign up for Obamacare, millions of Americans signed up or at least attempted to sign up. I've heard reports of 2 million in New York state, 4 million in California, and the lowest estimate of 8 million nationwide.
Clearly, Americans are voting with their feet for Obamacare. After clearing every hurdle possible in a democratic society, a group of right-wing Republicans have pulled out all the stops to derail Obamacare -- shutting down the American government.
Yet, some of the traditional fronts for right-wing politics and policy are opposed to the shutdown. The Chamber of Commerce opposed the shutdown. Other business groups oppose the shutdown. Conservative, but not right-wing Republicans in the Congress opposed the shutdown. The Wall Street Journal opposed the shutdown.
Why then have Republicans in Congress insisted on a shutdown?
The political dynamics in America have changed. This is not tea party pressure. It is not ideology. The pathetic tea partiers could not organize a two car parade.
This shutdown was called by America's plutocrats who, because of Citizens United, can absolutely control Republican primaries. With the absolute freedom to use all of their vast fortunes they want, their radio and tv ads and mailers, with one of the dozens of tea parties as a front group, the plutocrats pick and choose the people they own to be Republican nominees. That is why so many Republicans fear a primary challenge.
Who are these plutocrats? We will probably never know all of them, but some have identified themselves: the Koch boys, Grover Norquist and Club for Growth, Sheldon Adelson.
This is proof positive that growing income and wealth inequality is a deadly enemy of democracy.
Now we know our most fundamental struggle -- to salvage and strengthen and spread democracy in both the public and private sector. There is no more important struggle anywhere.
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