William Greider on the Democrats' Money Dilemma

William Greider has covered politics from the national capital for The Washington Post, Rolling Stone Magazine, and currently The Nation. Greider's most recent book, Come Home America, examines the implications of our country's predicament. He talks about the Democrats roll in deregulating the financial markets and their current dilemma between representing their funders and their constituents.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Washington Post
• William Greider
• Rolling Stone Magazine
• The Nation
• Barack Obama
• Robert Rubin
• Citigroup
• Clinton
• Jimmy Carter
• Deregulation

[nalc892]

Mr. Greider is absolutely right on the money. If the Dems don't get it together on this the worst economic time since the Depression with the citizens worried to death about lost jobs, bigger and more arrogant financial elites, growing pessimism about the future which breeds more economic hardship, they will lose big. Then we'll have the specter of Sarah Palin, bat nut job that she is, winning in 2012. Then things will really go awry economically.

[Wilone328]

Barak Obamas Health Care Attempt... Do you back this gov's law?? Goto my you tube profile page to Learn exactly why Americas points of view counts !

[terpis]

Big, hopeful, 'bright shining' moment that went nowhere. Fast. Would be interesting to hear some of yr friends stories.

The Nation's Eric Alterman takes the Nader for Prez phenom apart pretty persuasively from a liberal-lefty POV, if you haven't already seen/read him on that.

My level of personal pessimism dropped a full extra notch when first I saw the title of Nader's recent novel: Only the Super Rich Can Save Us.

Thought, 'Christ. Is that what it's come to?'

[TBlake34]

Yeah, I might be a little harsh on old Ralph, he has done important things for the country.

I just had a lot of friends who worked in the 2000 Presidential campaign and they came away very disillusioned and critical of Nader.

I didn't express my objection well--it's not a "personality cult," like political parties in India, but it is a party based almost entirely on one man running for president. Once he stopped it pretty much dissolved.

But it's such an uphill battle with our system.

[terpis]

to yr point #1: Nader is the wonk's wonk. It takes real effort to avoid the scads of specific policy proposals his writings & speeches have always been packed with. In 2000, Nader/Laduke organized it's agenda around the 'Ten Key Values' of the Green Party.

He may be an egomaniac (who runs for President that isn't?), but it's the exact opposite of a charismatic, cult of personality deal.

Dead right on #2, and it's a terrible shame to see racist nativists coopting the populist message today.

[TBlake34]

As far as third parties go, you're absolutely right about the structured voting system that makes it impossible.

I would just add that it would be more plausible if 1) the candidate wasn't a meglomaniac creating a party around his person and 2) if more effort went in to developing a third party on Congressional, state, and municipal levels.

Just having a grumpy old guy declare a presidential candidacy every 4 years is the WORST way to go about it. You're right though, the desire is there.

[TBlake34]

I don't think anyone would argue with that, but we expect that sort of behavior from the goofy market-fantasy republicans.

Greider's point is that the guys who sell themselves as fighting for the little man aren't actively regulating, aren't even neutral, but are also paving the way for unrestrained insanity in the financial world.

The question is whether the rank and file democrats will continue to be used in the same way the republicans manipulate their religious base.

[terpis]

Look again at the graph @ 1:30 and 1:35. Greider's point, shared by everyone I know of on the 'LEFT', is that the Dems are the country's worst party except for all the other ones.

Nader 2000 showed millions of progressives ready to abandon the Dems for a 3rd party. But that takes IRV, & it takes dumping the electoral college.

Yr one of those dolts that thinks the Bush yrs can be stuffed down a rt wing memory hole, pretending the trouble starts w/ Obama.

The stupidity of that POV is vast.

[mgreider89]

i want to know if this guy is related to me

[rickpasorti]

I've been listening to William Greider for years.

The following relates to his message here.

The financial industry brought our economy to its knees and it is now being said the CEO's knew full well what they were doing! Yep, a ponzi scheme!

But how did they get away with it? The nation is wondering how to hold the "Banksters" accountable? The same CEO's that are keep their jobs - no investigation - leaving taxpayers to play the fool.

SEE VIDEO: "Bankster's" Economic Crisis 1_3 Moyers Journal