As I've pointed out previously, American political discourse is heavy upon ethos, the appeal to character, and pathos, the appeal to emotions. Logos, the appeal to reasoning, is my favorite, yet does not encourage interest among Americans when discussing politics. What's important to Americans is how they feel and what the personalities are.

So let me try the last diary's thesis with a little more oomph. The neoliberals, as I've said several times before, have dominated American politics for the last forty years. Donald Trump, though not strictly speaking a neoliberal, did not interrupt their rule in the least. As a result, America is screwed.

But the really big screwing started last year, in April, with the CARES Act. That's what granted America's richest individuals access to direct Federal Reserve loans. Now, what I was saying in that diary was that in government circles there is typically a (neoliberal) distinction made between monetary policy, which is Fed "loans," and fiscal policy, which is taxing and spending. However, this distinction is basically false, as "monetary" policy toward the rich (as put forth in the CARES Act) is basically a way of spending upon them -- in short, giving them money.

Okay, now fast-forward to the present day. Congressional policy over the past forty years, aided and abetted by various Presidents, has created an enormous gap between the rich and the poor. Now we've got it disguised as "monetary" policy, as well as it being up front and center as "fiscal" policy. The distinction is key because the further enrichment of the rich can continue to occur without public oversight and without anyone really thinking twice about what Congress is doing. Each invasion of that sort, where helping the rich becomes "monetary policy" whereas helping the rest of us becomes "fiscal policy," is a further cementing of the love affair between Congress and the rich.

As a result of all this policy, there's the "violent Capital riot" and such. Here's Richard Wolff on that last topic:

Okay? Okay.