Open Thread - 08-15-25 - Class Warfare as Policy
Federal politics in America has always been about class warfare. The Founding Fathers were, for the most part, rich land owners. In most states only white male land owners over 21 could vote. This persisted through the early 1800s, but by the 1820s was no longer common. North Carolina was the last state to remove the property requirement in 1856.
Senators were elected by the legislatures of their respective states until 1913 when the Seventeenth Amendment was ratified. This was another way that the wealthy retained power. After the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment Senators were elected by the constituents of the states. This was a good step towards equity, but there were other ways to twist the system in favor of the monied class.
It was set up as a good old boy's club and pretty much remains that way to the present with the addition of some good old girls as well. Sure, some less than wealthy candidates occasionally get elected, but by and large, they don't remain that way for long. We've all seen how some elected officials come into office with a modicum of wealth and within a few years have accumulated a rather large nest egg, much more than what their annual salary justifies. The longer they serve the larger the larder.
To keep the members of congress in line with the system, it has been set up purposely to make them filthy rich while serving, to make sure they kowtow to the class warfare system. That's the purpose of the lobbyist which is nothing less than legalized bribery. It's an open secret that our elected officials at the federal level also engage in insider trading, with some doing better than the biggest traders in the industry. Holding out on major bills is another time tested way to get bribed for a yes vote. These are just a few of the ways that big money has used to infiltrate our government at the federal level. Surely the state and local levels have their corrupt ways as well, since greed has no boundaries.
The Citizens United ruling in 2010 put the icing on the corruption cake. The electoral system is awash in money. The Founding Fathers would be envious.
It's all about money, greed and power. It's been this way from the inception of the Republic.
The two party system is set up to pit the hoi polloi against one another while the upper classes' money is protected. Red meat social issues are meant to fool the electorate into voting against their own best interests under a facade of democracy, and, man o man, is that self evident in today's manipulative environment . It's not about us, it's about them, and money.
The struggle is not horizontal, it is vertical.
Comments
Good morning Free Rangers...
there's nothing new under the sun. There's no great revelation in this post, but it doesn't hurt to be reminded now and again of the real raison d'être of our so called democracy. It's not about We the People, it's about money, power and greed, and keeping it in the hands of a select few.
There was an essay about this very subject called
America's new segragation
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/14/opinion/trump-democrats-resistance-re...
Some might have a hard time reading though as it's written by someone who likes America. Brooks is also one of those at the pinnacle of cultural elitism. Kind of hard to see things you are in the midst of.
It's not only a question of money, but also the opportunity to make money, that's why so many support lots of illegal immigration, to keep wages low and destroy those places those without traditionally used as a springboard to the middle class.
Cogent response...
although I wish you'd refrain from little pointed digs like this:
I would posit that wanting to change American politics for the better is a proof for "liking" America. But, you're entitled to your opinion.
David Brooks, as you elude to, is a gate keeper and mouth piece for class warfare and pitting Americans against one another, as is the New York Times. Divide and conquer is the sharpest tool in the elitists' tool box.
I don't disagree that the destruction of the middle class is what we're witnessing, and a great wealth redistribution from the middle class to the monied class.
Same as it always was. It's a cycle as old as the advent of civilization.
We are a country...
...for oligarchs and designed by oligarchs. The US gift is its beauty and natural resources. The political system is hopeless to my mind...just a distraction to make people feel they have a voice.
But the banks are made of marble,
With a guard at every door
And the vaults are stuffed with silver,
That the miner sweated for.
The Alaska summit may prove to be interesting. We'll see. Could be a nothing burger. I'm expecting a new trade deal of some sort, but no real resolution of the Ukraine proxy war. Even if something was worked out, Ukraine and the EU would say NO!. I fully expect the conflict to be solved on the battlefield.
After a week of rain, I've been catching up on mowing and maintenance. Always something.
Have a good weekend and thanks for the OT!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
What we engage in...
politically is not a true democracy, it's representative democracy. Which means that once our representative is elected to office they are then free to vote and legislate in accordance with their whims, constituents be damned. That is the door way to corruption and graft and why our system is based on bribery.
I think you are right about the Alaskan Summit, it's probably more about thwarting the rise of the BRICS alliance and not about ending the Ukraine War, although I'm open to being pleasantly surprised. If Ukraine and the EU say no to peace then the US should walk away and let them slug it out.
The rain has slowed down here, but not the grass, sigh.
Man's inhumanity to man
continues apace.
Now we can use bulldozers to clean out the unwanted, just like our "special friends" in the Zionist entity do, every day. Doesn't that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?
Faugh.
https://archive.ph/Xqi7i
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
The rapid march...
into a dark future is picking up pace. Boots in the streets of America, military rapid response teams being set up, a panopitcon of digital surveillance, if these things were included in a campaign plank how many people would vote for it? I'd initially say very damn few, but I would probably be shocked at how wrong I may be.
That image could easily be a microcosm of what's happening to the whole country.
Lee Camps latest episode
of Unredacted addressed the surveillance state we are living in today.
MAGA
Morons
Are
Governing
America
Good video...
and funny, thanks for posting it.
What the flock, man!
I see an opportunity for some enterprising person or persons. Something along the order of a type of film that goes over license plates to thwart the flocking Flock. There's always a way.