He calls out the establishments in both the Republican and Democratic Parties, pointing out how they've failed the average American and have us on the road to ruin. He takes particular aim at the economic oligarchy on both left and right that damaged our economy to the detriment of average working Americans. Some highlights:
What kind of country do you want to live in? Well a fair country, a decent country, a cohesive country, a country where leaders don't accelerate the forces of change purely for their own profit and amusement. A country you might recognize when you're old.... A country where you can make a solid living outside of the big city.... Above all a country where normal people with an average education who grew up no place special can get married and have happy kids and repeat unto the generations.
But our leaders have let us down:
If you care about Americans you should oppose their exploitation whether it's happening in the inner city or on Wall Street... They don't care about us. When you care about people you do your best to treat them fairly. Our leaders don't even try.
Market capitalism is not a religion. Market capitalism is a tool like a staple gun or a toaster. You'd have to be a fool to worship it. Our system was created by human beings for the benefit of human beings.... We do not exist to serve markets; just the opposite. Any economic system that weakens and destroys families is not worth having. A system like that is the enemy of a healthy society.
On predatory financial activity:
They (our leaders) should also speak out about the ugliest parts of our financial system: Not all commerce is good.
He covers a range of businesses including private equity:
Take over an existing company, keep it for a short period of time, cut costs by firing employees, run up the debt, extract the wealth and move on - sometimes leaving retirees without their earned pensions. This is the private equity model; our ruling class sees nothing wrong with it - it's how they run the country.
Finally, he has a warning for the oligarchs and the rest of us:
Libertarians are certain to call any deviation from market fundamentalism a form of socialism.
That's a lie. But socialism is exactly what we're going to get and very soon unless a group of
responsible people in our political system reforms the American economy in a way that protects normal people.
Fairness is perhaps the central challenge facing American society. Abraham Lincoln spoke about "equality of opportunity" and it's a goal we can all support. It's woven throughout The Alliance Party Platform.
But maybe it's time to make it the central focus and rallying point for the Alliance Party.
What do you think?
- Mike Power
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