I listened to Thom Hartman’s radio show today, and was surprised to hear him say that the Sanders campaign was already successful because it had pushed Hillary Clinton to the left on Wall St and the big banks. I was surprised because I know Thom Hartman is smarter than that. Yes, if you listen to some recent Clinton speeches she is trying to distance herself from corporate power, but if you think the gang on Wall St. is worried I have some penny stocks I’d like to sell you!
A great op-ed at truth-out by David Niose www.truth-out.org/… outlines how the corporate takeover of our democracy only permits debate within certain narrow confines of acceptability :
“The smart way to keep people passive and obedient , says noted author and activist ,Noam Chomsky, “ is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum.” As far as the corporate establishment is concerned, its good friend, Hillary Clinton should define the liberal end of the “spectrum of acceptable opinion,” thus keeping the entire spectrum corporate friendly. If she wins, conservative commentators will react with alarm and relentlessly lash out at her as a dangerous liberal, but corporate overlords will rest easy knowing that everything is fine.
Wait, what about Thom Hartman’s assertion that Clinton is being moved to the left by the Sanders insurgency?
...the fat cats fully understand,…….don’t expect folks on Wall St. to be offended that Hillary is distancing herself from them……..indeed everyone knows the game and few are worried that Clinton, whose son-in-law is a former Goldman Sachs executive who now runs a hedge fund is any kind of threat to the power structure. This explains why a leading bank executive called Clintons recent tough talk on Wall St. “theatrics” made necessary by the Sanders campaign, adding that he expects Clinton to be known as Mrs. Wall St. after she is elected
Well, so much for moving to the left. The corporatists , however are worried about the Sanders campaign because they know that his position on the left is not temporary! It is no wonder that Lloyd Blankfein recently described the Sanders campaign as potentially dangerous to the American economy! You see, Sanders isn’t playing nice! He is not debating within the “acceptable public opinion spectrum.” Hillary Clinton, however, fulfills the left wing role of the spectrum just fine. They will let her defend the cultural issues like abortion, gay rights etc...that stuff doesn't threaten the power structure or oligarchy. As Mr. Niose superbly sums up:
Such is the role that corporate America wants Hillary Clinton to play today. Defined a liberal , she is in fact, a consummate establishment Democrat : hawkish corporate apologist who happens to be pro-choice. Yes she is to the left of the GOP candidates—she doesn't deny climate change, wants to preserve Obama-Care, and won’t entertain outlandish ideas like privatizing social security---but she is still well within the bounds of acceptability to the U.S. corporate oligarchy that does not want fundamental and systemic change. Rest assured, under her watch, the system will remain rigged
I suppose if it comes down to Hillary vs Donald a vote for Hillary would still protect social security and a womens right to choose etc. you know nibbling around the edges and that is acceptable for the oligarchy. How much longer that is going to be acceptable for the rest of us remains to be seen..