Joe Biden addressed the nation on Thursday afternoon in a bid to speed passage of his economic agenda amid Democratic infighting and the usual Republican supply-side propaganda.
He rattled off familiar statistics on income inequality and tax avoidance by the rich. “For a long time, this economy’s worked great for those at the very top,” he said, parroting a generic Elizabeth Warren stump speech.
It struck me that nobody cares. Some of it is apathy engendered by decades of broken promises. The spiel is always the same. “For too long,” declared the politician, on the way to regaling the masses with a story they know all too well, precisely because it’s a story about them.
Donald Trump wasn’t successful because he offered plausible solutions to intractable economic problems. He simply tapped into the vast store of accumulated rage capital engendered by those problems. He capitalized politically on disaffection among white males left behind by globalization and stripped of their dignity by the decline of labor (as an economic actor) and the disappearance of good-paying, blue collar jobs. Trump offered no plans to speak of, but he served up plenty of scapegoats. And when you’re dying of despair, a scapegoat and a would-be savior peddling quick fixes is infinitely more appealing than a detailed plan.
If Americans cared about, or had the capacity to appreciate, the numbers Biden regurgitated on Thursday, Bernie Sanders would have been president a long time ago.
There are three main problems, as I see it.
First, some of the figures are too vast to readily comprehend. Biden mentioned the gap between CEO and worker pay and how much it’s ballooned over the decades. Everyone’s familiar with the dynamic. In 2019, CEOs earned, on average, around 300 times as much as a typical worker (figure below).
Ironically, the statistics would probably be more effective at mobilizing voters if they were less egregious. Average workers may be able to conceptualize of $20 million as a lump sum (e.g., daydream about what they’d do if they won the lottery), but it’s virtually impossible for regular people to conceptualize of what life would be like on a daily basis if their annual pay was $20 million instead of $57,000.
The concept of your boss’s boss’s boss making 25 times what you make is something you can wrap your mind around. When the multiple is 300, it ceases to have much meaning.
Similarly, Biden noted that the world’s richest people saw their fortunes grow by a cumulative $1.2 trillion over the course of the pandemic. I don’t see much utility in trying to duplicate his math to the penny or otherwise redraw the familiar chart (below).
That figure is more concise than an updated version, as it captures the gain from December 31, 2019, through the end of 2020. In other words, it’s a snapshot that isolates the wealth gains for the world’s richest people during the year the pandemic began.
Again, the numbers are too vast for regular people to come to terms with. In fact, those fortunes are too large for any people to comprehend, including the people who control them.
Jeff Bezos can’t contemplate what it means to personally control $200 billion any better than you or I can. It’s not a number that makes any sense in the context of one person. Leonardo’s Salvator Mundi was the most expensive piece of art ever sold. Bezos is worth more than 450 times the auction price. At one point this year, Elon Musk managed to make six Stan Druckenmillers (plural) in the space of six weeks — on paper anyway.
These numbers long ago ceased to mean anything. The public doesn’t care about this anymore because it’s become too stupid for anyone, including the tycoons themselves, to understand.
Decades ago, a factory worker may have chafed at the revelation that so-and-so made $25 million last year. What is a Walmart cashier in 2021 supposed to think about Musk making $25 billion (on paper) in 45 days?
One more time: You can’t have an opinion on it because it’s not something that makes any sense.
The second problem when it comes to mobilizing the public around an effort to restructure capitalism is that too many people refuse to let go of the fantasy that they somehow benefit from, or might eventually benefit from, the system. This is the “temporarily unlucky millionaire” phenomenon, and it’s endemic in America.
Capitalism is a religion, and just like other religions, no amount of evidence is sufficient to sway adherents. Many of the people you see jeering at Trump rallies when the former president mentions the word “socialism” are poor, basically poor or, at best, middle class. They’re victims of capitalism, not beneficiaries. The proof is right there in the Pontiac Grand Am they drove to the rally. Or in their checking account, where $247 is waiting to be spread thin across the rest of this month’s overdue bills. That cognitive dissonance is a fixture of American society.
The third problem is that Americans who do recognize how acute the situation is and who do understand that capitalism without guardrails is contributing to the fraying of the country’s social fabric, don’t expect things to change anytime soon. And why should they? This has been going on for so long that it nearly covers an entire generation. Congress hardly functions. Some random Joe (literally) from West Virginia wields an effective veto over Democrats’ entire agenda. Republicans are a personality cult loyal to an exiled dictator who spends his days plotting a return to power, faxing statements to a media that doesn’t want them and peddling conspiracy theories.
Breaking out of this will require real, charismatic leadership from someone whose voice and ideas resonate loudly enough to drown out the shrill propaganda currently brainwashing tens of millions of voters and snap the rest of the country’s apathetic populace out of what, by now, is just a suicidal, hands-in-pockets sleepwalk through some rainy, left-for-dead town in the Rust Belt.
At some point, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez should drop the last pretensions to decorum and seize the moment before it’s gone. Making a hobby of antagonizing one’s antagonists with flippant publicity stunts is fine and all. But America is dying. And revolutions aren’t won at the Met Gala.
I would be shocked if the “white males left behind by globalization and stripped of their dignity by the decline of labor” would allow an AOC win in any kind of national race. Not to mention the sizable share of women who might feel threatened by such a candidacy.
This fine H post is a doubling-back and repeat weaving of several important themes and the re-hashing of it time and time again is undoubtedly merited. We cannot have too much of this discussion, as it transcends so much else.
The 2nd problem H cited is best summarized (IMO) by BJARNE KNAUSGARD in an earlier Notes from Disgraceland when he posits:
The myth that there’s a first prize for everyone is still the basic axiom of American cultural ideology.
The deep-rooted belief of the underprivileged that they are not victims, just temporarily embarrassed millionaires, is still the fundamental determinant of the American social identity.
The holy grail of this ideological affliction is the belief in the sovereignty of luck: 1) There is a first prize for everyone and 2) Who wins is right and who loses should not complain. If a person commits a crime and gets away with it, instead of condemnation, society responds with: “Good for him”.
This transposes ex-ante any transgression as another failed attempt to realize what is rightfully yours, and thus blurs the boundary between right and wrong. There is no room for ethical judgment – hurting people or doing social damage, is not assessed in a broader context of ethics and general system of values, but is, at most, taken as an error in calculation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The 3rd problem (the need for a charismatic empowered leader to overcome this tout de suite) will not be held back by the “deplorables” , but will be instead fail to launch by what H describes as ” the country’s apathetic populace out of what, by now, is just a suicidal, hands-in-pockets sleepwalk “.
I could be wrong, but I think his rally cry was not to try to overturn the entrenched GOP who have painted everyone into this corner, but to everyone else comprising the electorate at large. “Looking around ” here to those of us on this site included… Of course, the rally cry also was meant to entice AOC (or any other wannabe’s) to carpe diem/giddy the hell up lest it all be too late.
To add to your 3rd point – the Americans that actually understand the situation, are well educated and privately employed, thus likely to be beneficiaries of the Capitalist religion
I am among the disaffected voters who have no faith in bad faith actors that run all levels of government. The issues are too many to count to explain why it is that people can run for office with such high hopes and end up failing once they actually get elected. Decades have been spent ensuring that practically no one who ends up getting elected will hold on to their hopes of actually making real change. Lobbyists drive elections and as soon as you get into office you are made very aware that if you want to stay there, you have to appease at least some of them. With every campaign requiring millions in funding, the grassroots ideology is no long ever enough to sustain a career. As a member of government you are not subject to the rules and even the health care systems that your electorate complain about. You get the best health care in the world, for free, and can invest in companies for whom policy you write and vote on is impacted by. I can’t even trade more than 25,000 dollars a quarter without approval from an ethics office but a Senator can liquidate his entire portfolio just before it is announced that the country is going on lockdown. And finally it becomes too difficult to swim against the stream in a government designed for those who are more agreeable. Eventually everyone gets tired of the complaining and just wants things to happen, even if those things are not even good for them at all. Momentum of any kind becomes preferable to stagnation.
At this point I resigned this country to its slow death spiral and no matter how many good people try to stop it, they will be trampled by the corporate media machine who absolutely ensures a Bernie Sanders will never have a shot at being elected.
cdameworth – The US, historically, is conservative in its politics. Today’s “populist republicans” express radical intentions and betray the party’s historic ideals. Time will tell, but I do not believe these radicals shall retain any form of leadership in 2024. The American people speak through a political process expressed in two and four-year iterations, so it’s a slow process. The people WILL have their say.
Republicans have overplayed their hand. I reckon they know this, but they don’t have a choice. They’re trying to do the best with what they have. But they’re bluffing and they don’t have the cards to enjoy dominating wins in ’22 or ’24.
Who needs dominating wins in 22 and 24? Gerrymandering and voting restrictions could be enough for small wins (especially at the popular vote level in 24). It really is a zero sum game…in any part of Congress goes red in 22, absolutely nothing will get done. And then in 24, the structural advantages could be insurmountable regardless how the cards are played.
I get you, CMR. I should have worded my comment differently. Instead of saying “dominating wins” I should have indicated the republicans were less likely to win a majority, especially in the Senate.
The effects of gerrymandering can very well influence outcomes for 2022 in Red state congressional districts. However, the For the People Act, which will (I hope, somehow) be passed this autumn can provide at least a modest offsetting effect to gerrymandering, even in 2022. The Dems also have the option to exercise legal tools to address voter suppression and unfairness. That’s precisely how Stacey Abrams’ organization in Atlanta opened up Georgia for the critical 2020 vote.
Finally, it’s fair to say the House may turn in 2022, but it’s not guaranteed. And it’s a good bet the Democratic majority in the Senate will grow by two or three seats. Fingers crossed. But in 2024, assuming D***** T**** runs, 2024 could yield expanded majorities in the House and Senate. And we’ll have to see whether Joe Biden can keep any form of effective mojo.
I would like to see federally funded elections for the House, Senate, and Presidency. IF that possibility could be realized, it might address some of the campaign issues you noted.
Bernie is a stand-up man. He has earned my admiration in how he has managed his relationship with President Biden. They are old friends, and seem to have faith in each other as people, despite their political differences. Bernie knows the President has progressive values too, but expresses himself differently. But Bernie knows he can do a lot of good by working with Joe to get important work done on values they share.
Bernie is deeply engaged and is making a difference without having to win the Presidency. He is not just a voice. He is a difference-maker. In a sense, he is an example of the ideal in the Senate. He is fundamentally unselfish. His primary interest is the good of the country.
The crushing weight of political nonsense and technological evolution is increasingly hard to bare.
The recent (on-going?) nightmare of trumpism to me is just as ugly as any alternative offered by AOCism, with its desire to abolish capitalism with a distorted realization of socialism.
Meanwhile AI and robotics pound away at society, often with its own take on politics and social engineering — a melting pot of nonstop parasitic upgrades that rip apart the fabric of humanity.
We have met the enemy and it is us. Apparently, many of us are willing to swallow bleach, in order to be healthy — because we believe absolutely anything, while others live on islands of fragmented selective data — increasingly disconnected and isolated.
I missed the Biden speech and most everything he’s ever said or written and I made every effort to turn off trump and anything connected to his madman circus — and I see nothing to indicate that anyone in the world is headed in a good direction. Perhaps that mindset incubates revolution or civil war but we are living in a divisive, ugly time that feels dark, and getting darker.
1, The Revolution will not be televised (or on social media).
2. All the points listed above and affirmed, are well known and re-hashed / phrased in multiple information outlets.
People go to where there is shelter, water, food and security. In other words, they go where there is money, energy, comfort and hope.
There is no 1 answer to the known situation. Most of the “problems” are generational dynamics. Then add some FcBk spice in the soup of scientific herd manipulation. (Thank you Edward Bernays – Freud’s nephew)
Where is the money, energy and Hope? It has been slowly ground down in the US with a purposefully under educated population of those who just want a full life. Money is one fifth of the formula, but has been elevated to the dominate role since Reagan. I wonder if a basic tenet from Bernays’ method is the use of the brains’ discount mechanism?
“Trickle -down”? (pee on you)
“Bernie Madoff” (made off)
“Ray Gun” (We’re gonna just kill you)
“asset” ( Why are people proud of being a depreciable tool?)
The REAL problem is there are too many people on this spinning blob of mud.
Tom, if you haven’t seen “Century of Self” doc by Adam Curtis, check it out on youtube. Starts with Edward Bernays.
H, there’s a lot to unpack about the US financial system in your comments here and in other recent posts. I’ve had to let it rest for awhile to consider how to react.
As I understand posts shared by Bjarne Knausgard, there’s more happening in the US than issues with capitalism, though that plays a part in our collective political and economic confusion. As you point out, H, “Capitalism is a religion, and just like other religions, no amount of evidence is sufficient to sway adherents.” But I would add further that we are prejudiced, suspicious, and easily confused, not far evolved from the beasts of field.
Personally, I don’t imagine it is in any way possible that the US will resolve the inequities in wealth distribution you’ve pointed out above until our politics swings to a more balanced state And when that will occur we do not know. But I think it important to note my opinion that another variable in the US social (and economic) equation that drives the inequity is the white superiority enabling the structures supporting the inequities.
If you have not seen it yet, Steve Schmidt, the former republican strategist, shared his perspective in an interview with Michelle Martin of NPR and Christiane Amanpour (of Amanpour & Company) several days ago, describing the current state of the most immediate political threat confronting democracy in the United States. I’ll summarize it briefly and provide a link below. But I think Steve Schmidt nails it and his commentary speaks for itself. He’s not unlike Paul Revere, galloping through Boston after seeing the lights in the tower at the top of the hill on the north end of Boston.
” … what we’re seeing is a home-brew of American radicalism, extremism – a type of nihilism. For sure, Ron DeSantis (of Harvard U.) understands completely the efficacy of these life-saving vaccines… His gamble is that it is expeditious for him to climb the ladder of power…and position himself as an heir to Trump … to cater to an extreme and intense base that he views will be determinative of the next republican primary process… Trump may be a candidate in 2024, but he won’t be around forever. When you look at the other candidates (DeSantis, Abbott, Noem), you see a battle among the princess and princesses for control of the MAGA empire. And the things they’re doing to get to the top betray a callousness towards life and public responsibility…
“…it’s important that we stop pretending … that … Kevin McCarthy, Ron DeSantis, Greg Abbott, (and Noem) don’t understand the efficacy of vaccines…don’t understand basic American history… don’t understand the lawful authority of government at the Federal level, state level, county level to enforce quarantines, if necessary … to support public health and the public good. This is as old as the country itself … the exercise of this lawful authority.
“So let’s stop pretending … it’s okay to inject horse de-wormer as a treatment for Covid … They all know this is insanity … They know there was no election fraud. They know Joe Biden won the election…Yet they lie about these things every time they speak – and we’re all supposed to pretend that they’re making these statements as part of a conviction or some level of good faith…
“So let’s stop pretending. What we have in this country is an extremist movement that’s autocratic, that has rejected central pillars of American democracy. It’s ascendant. It’s on the march. It’s both more extreme, more powerful, and more prepared for victory in September of 2021 than it was in January of 2021 when the insurrection took place…”
I strongly suggest you listen to the full commentary from Schmidt. He has some strong and very good advice for the Democratic Party in its approach to the genuine evil that resides in the republican party. Here is the link if you want to see the interview:
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/amanpour-and-company/video/steve-schmidt-how-democrats-should-seize-moment-iardwh/
It also can be found on YouTube. A bit more to come from me in response to this post, H.