Exclusive: While the mainstream U.S. media has focused on personal scandals, the presidential race has revealed a deep and sometimes ugly resentment among many Americans who blame the haughty elites for declining living standards, says Andrew Spannaus.
By Andrew Spannaus
This year’s presidential election has been surprising on many fronts, with the success of a number of outsider candidates and the fact that the most unorthodox of them all, Donald Trump, is within striking distance of victory in the last days of the campaign.
As shocking as Trump’s candidacy has been to the national media and political establishment, it has provoked even more astonishment outside of the United States, where people often have a superficial view of the U.S. political and economic situation. This is driven by a reliance on only a few major news outlets that tend to give an elitist view of what happens in the country, ignoring the type of undercurrents that have driven the outsider campaigns this year.
Donald Trump speaking with supporters at a campaign rally at Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix, Arizona. June 18, 2016. (Photo by Gage Skidmore)
In Europe, a common question asked of Americans this year has been: “Has everyone gone crazy?”
There is shock that much of the country would be willing to vote for someone as unprepared and offensive as Donald Trump. It is heightened by the fact that the current President is the first African-American to hold the office, confusing people who thought that Barack Obama’s election had put racial considerations on the backburner, but now see the Republican candidate drawing on racist stereotypes to increase enthusiasm among his base.
This has led to the common view that white, male America is “fighting back,” and not willing to accept a woman president, after having to suffer the indignity of the first black president for the past eight years.
While sexism and racism can’t be ignored, the problem is that just as much of the U.S. media has done for so long, Europeans concentrate mostly on the person of Trump himself, with his countless faults, while almost entirely ignoring the discontent among the population that has made this kind of revolt possible.
There is in fact very little recognition of the difficulties of the U.S. middle class over the past 35 years, caused principally by the pro-finance, anti-industrial policies that have contributed to the loss of millions of well-paying jobs across the country. The media touts the low unemployment numbers and the return to economic growth, and thus Europeans don’t understand how the American population could be so upset, and what the source of the anger could be.
Yet it doesn’t take much to go beneath the surface and explain the economic anxiety that has driven the realignment of U.S. politics this year. Indeed the stagnation of wages and lack of financial security that much of the American middle- and lower-class suffers from is quite similar to that in Europe; and in Europe the drop in living standards is leading to a continent-wide revolt against the institutions of the European Union. [See Consortiumnews.com’s “Europe’s Battle: Nationalists vs. Elites.”]
A Left-Right Resistance
In Europe as in the U.S., there are right-wing and left-wing manifestations of the protest, combining anger against the bank bailouts, opposition to economic austerity, and fear of immigrants seen as threatening traditions and security.
Flag of the European Union.
In addition, international “free trade” agreements are the target of significant public and political opposition around the Continent, even more so than in the U.S., where much of the establishment remains committed to the current neoliberal economic policies.
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the self-described “democratic socialist,” and real-estate mogul Donald Trump both target NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, denouncing the pacts as negative for American workers and favorable mostly to multinational corporations. In Europe the target is the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the agreement still being negotiated with the U.S. that is seen as negative for smaller companies and traditional markets, and favorable mostly to multinational corporations.
The similarities between the protest movements are so strong that failure to recognize them means that someone obviously deserves a prize for misinformation.
When it comes to foreign policy, the issues become even more urgent for Europe. While Donald Trump promises to crush ISIS and increase spending on the U.S. military, his position regarding the key strategic question for Europe – relations with Russia – is the opposite of what most people expect.
Hillary Clinton’s hawkish stance towards Russia and her stated disgust for Vladimir Putin appear to be perfectly in tune with the reversion towards an adversarial relationship that is currently taking shape after the apparent failure of attempts at greater cooperation through diplomacy made by President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry.
![U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry listens to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a meeting room at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, at the outset of a bilateral meeting on July 14, 2016. [State Department Photo]](https://consortiumnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/28029406880_95fca7320d_k.jpg)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry listens to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a meeting room at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, at the outset of a bilateral meeting on July 14, 2016. [State Department Photo]
Trump, on the other hand, is more in line with the preferred foreign policy of most major European nations, in particular as regards Russia. After years of sanctions and increased military activities closer to Russia’s borders, the leaders of Germany, France and Italy all hope for a reduction of tensions, allowing them to resume economic relations and avoid being caught in the middle of a new East-West conflict.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has been particularly vocal in opposing the anti-Russia sanctions, including – curiously – immediately after his return from a state dinner at the White House. In fact, it’s not the first time he has been critical of current policy towards Russia right after a meeting in Washington, and as anyone in Italy knows, it’s highly unlikely he would make such statements without tacit approval, or at least acceptance, from the U.S. government, in this case most likely President Obama.
If Hillary Clinton wins the election, it will be interesting to see if nations such as Italy will continue to be afforded such leeway.
Over the course of the campaign, the recognition of the deeper issues at play in the U.S. election has grown, although such discussion still tends to be overshadowed by superficial coverage of the personal battle between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, and the various scandals of the moment.
Europeans would do better to pay close attention to the fundamental questions that have been raised during the campaign, that will have a major impact on the entire Western world in the coming years: the fate of the middle class and the decline of the productive economy, and the decision as to whether to seek cooperation, or conflict, with Russia.
Andrew Spannaus is a freelance journalist and strategic analyst based in Milan, Italy. He is the founder of Transatlantico.info, that provides news, analysis and consulting to Italian institutions and businesses. His book on the U.S. elections Perchè vince Trump (Why Trump is Winning) was published in June 2016.
Robert Parry – I posted a long post which said “Your comment is awaiting moderation”, but now it has disappeared. Where did it go? It had a link to The Automatic Earth, another to Trump’s website, and another to TIME. What was wrong with that?
The November 8 is exercise in futility and will decide nothing. Century ago “holly” man Gregory Rasputin was assassinated in the capital of Russian Empire Petrograd in the peak of worldwide slaughter a.r.a. Great War. The result? In the few months new government had called for the peace without annexations and contributions, land for farmers and jobs for workers. Sounds very familiar, doesn’t it? Some people called it “Red Scare”. I call it Hope.
American presidential elections have always been about voting for the lesser of two evils…or not voting at all. Futility indeed.
Short video: Department of Justice and the FBI have been working hard trying to keep the lid on the Clinton scandals. Apparently the FBI agents were told to stand down, and the Justice Department denied access to emails, subpoenas, grand jury opportunities and witness interviews. So says Tom Fitton, President of Judicial Watch. From other reading, it appears Loretta Lynch is stalling for time. She should be hauled out of her position. Of course, she should have been fired when she did not walk away from Bill Clinton on the Arizona tarmac. Obama administration/Department of Justice involved in a huge cover-up.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/11/01/kept-me-out-jail-top-doj-official-involved-in-clinton-probe-represented-her-campaign-chairman.html
And then we have the Interim Chair of the DNC, Donna Brazile (filling in for Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who got the boot) , fired from CNN for passing debate questions through to the Clinton campaign prior to the debates. As well, John Podesta, Chair of the Hillary Clinton campaign, saying in a Wikileaks email: “We are going to have to dump all those emails.” 650,000 emails on Anthony Weiner’s laptop. Then the deliberate violence at Trump rallies (as evidenced by the Project Veritas videos) perpetrated by those employed by the DNC and Clinton campaign. And the media going after Trump non-stop, while barely speaking about Clinton’s scandals.
Anybody going to vote for more corruption? If there is any justice left at all, Hillary Clinton needs to be behind bars, along with her husband.
backwardsevolution, I appreciate your strategy on this election. The Greens need to be put on the political map NOW, and a mere 5% of the vote will accomplish this, which this will even be difficult. A vote for Stein will likely take votes AWAY from Clinton, as Stein is “more like Bernie” than even Bernie was. This is all very much into the Left Wing, and won’t take votes from Trump; Johnson and the Libertarians will do that to Trump. I frankly find both Trump and Clinton unacceptable, and I’m seeking to DESTROY both the D and R PARTIES, and see them swept off the World stage, to join their brethren Federalist and Whig Parties in the trashbin. They are both such outrageously treasonous and corrupt Parties that they no longer deserve to exist. They will never get my vote again, neither of them; I don’t care if Jesus Christ Himself came down to stand for election in one of these two parties…”He shouldn’t have picked D or R” is all I can say. It is over for them, far as I’m concerned. In fact, I FULLY expect the “democratic wing of the Democratic Party” to walk out of the Party and join the Greens , WHILE STILL IN OFFICE (after swearing off the Corporate tit for donations/bribes). We’ll put the blast on them, however many millions of citizens will send the Green Party a ten-buck check every month, to fund a multitude of ops. This HAS TO BE in the hands of ordinary, work-a-day citizens. I don’t trust billionaire “heroes on White Horses” to save the day for us. Hell, BILLIONAIRES shouldn’t even EXIST (millionaires are ok though; they may buy sports teams, but BILLIONAIRES buy Nations and Governments).
Brad – I agree with much of what you have to say, especially the part about the D and R parties being swept into the trashbin. But Trump is not really part of the Republican Party, is he? In fact, didn’t he used to be a Democrat? He appears to be hated in the Republican Party. That’s one of his best qualities. He doesn’t appear to want to be bought either. That’s another huge plus. He’s also built a large business and has a stake in seeing it continue to be successful, and you need a successful, prosperous country to do that.
Libertarians will take votes from Trump? Libertarians believe in free trade, open borders, free immigration, things that Hillary believes in. If Democrats want these things, but can’t stomach Hillary’s corruption, they’ll vote Libertarian.
Trump was closer in thinking to Bernie than Hillary was. They are both against free trade treaties, endless wars, offshoring of jobs. If Democrats want these things, but can’t stomach Trump, they’ll vote Green.
I agree with you, this is ugly. That’s why I like Trump’s analogy of “draining the swamp”. I don’t know if he’ll do it or not, but if he tries to and is disallowed, he will squeal. That’s what I like about him, he doesn’t keep things quiet. A Trump government would be a lot more transparent.
That’s one approach. Play your hand as you see fit. We both agree the rotten Establishment must be brought down. Libertarians typically come from Republican ranks. Both Johnson and Weld are former Republican Governors. The Libertarians are generally all about Business, the private sector, and privatizing and de-regulating the Public Sector, and “running things like a business”. I know. I used to “drink the Libertarian Koolaid” (Reason Mag, Liberty Mag, F.E.E., F.F.F., Rothbard/Rockwell Report, Cato Mag, Laissez-faire book catalog, Von Mises, Albert J. Nock, voted Ron Paul when he ran as a Libertarian…hurl). Then I met my wife, 40 yrs old, divorced from a terribly abusive monster, a dependent toddler to take care of, living with her Aunt & Uncle while going back to school because Clinton ended “welfare as we know it”( the toddler grew up with emotional problems because she didn’t get a stay-at-home mom to be around her..thanks Mr. Clinton. Apparently the General Welfare Clause also ended…Y.O.Y.O now, serfs. P.S. I never adopted the toddler. That would have been the “kiss of poverty” upon her head, as she qualified for Medicaid healthcare, which saved her from “breaking bad”, and saved her life). The scales fell from my eyes, as HERE was a living example of what Promoting the General Welfare (a modern secular expression of Jesus’s 2nd Commandment to love one another) was supposed to be all about, what “GOVERNMENT of,by,for the people” was CREATED to do in the first place, REPLACING the older Feudal Lords system of the several Estates, which failed miserably in their “Noblesse Oblige”, and THAT is what ultimately Libertarianism leads back into; a new feudalism where powerful private interests take back over management of a nation and “run it like a business”( complete with autocratic, narcissistic, pussy-grabbing, CEOs, CFOs, etc…turning the nation into one gigantic Plantation/Company Town business). Rs and Ds have been willing accessories to this Crime against Humanity, and I choose, NOW, to be part of the movement to take back our Nation and Its’ government from these bastards, and see them hurled into the trashbin. A nation IS NOT A BUSINESS, it is a Covenant of moral guidelines, that We The People of that nation, have sworn to live by.
The real issue is that America has 5% of the world’s population, but has been consuming 25% of the world’s resources. This is why America’s foreign policy is so belligerent towards any nation that tries to act independent of its economic hegemony. Meanwhile, at the same time that real economic growth has largely ended for the U.S., the elites are stealing an ever larger percentage of the pie–meaning there is less for everyone else.
Trump has tapped into the anger over this set of circumstances, but I highly doubt he will be willing and/or able to deliver. Things are only going to get worse no matter who wins, and my prediction is that by 2020, the 2016 election will appear to have been “sane.”
Yes, this is a rational comment. Trump is a bad joke and has said anything to get elected – and none of it is trustworthy. People who haven’t looked at his past, as revealed by investigative reporters, are ill-informed. And it has nothing to do with his personal penchant for assaulting women.
In four or eight, or however many years, we will have big jokes likeTrump on both sides of a kangaroo-style election – and one of them will be put into office.
Wm. Boyce – yes, and another big joke is trying to get into the White House – Hillary Clinton. Of course, we know all about her past and it’s not pretty, scandal after scandal. The Clinton’s left the White House broke, and all of a sudden they’re worth quite a bit of money. What did they sell to get that money? Influence, future favors? Think about it.
Karl – there hasn’t been real economic growth for decades now. All there’s been is debt, buying now instead of in the future. If Trump can hit companies who take jobs overseas with tariffs, they probably would bring the jobs home. The American public have got to put their foot down over the large amounts of immigrants (legal and illegal) coming in, though. This is keeping wages down and causing too much unemployment. I wonder how the medical monopoly would react if their market were flooded with cheap generic products from the Third World. I have a hunch they wouldn’t be too happy about it. And yet they insist that the U.S. needs more and more immigrants at a time when U.S. citizens are having a hard time finding employment.
” If Trump can hit companies who take jobs overseas with tariffs, they probably would bring the jobs home.”
The amazing thing is that people have any belief that someone like Trump, who’s done nothing but screw people over for decades, gives a rat’s ass about the people of this country. It’s gotta be the biggest con job since P.T. Barnum.
Agreed. Trump is a fake populist. That is typical of proto-fascist movements. His “Great Wall” along the Mexican border will have doors installed every ten feet (and a toll booth). Trump’s business cronies rely on illegal, captured labor, to keep the unions down. Sanders was the man (he’s “captured” now; a POW. I seriously believe this). Dr. Stein is the woman for the job of re-taking America back from the Oligarchs and their dreams (nightmares) of Empire. If she can manage a 5% count in the votes, that’ll put the Greens on the political Map…but whatever the outcome of Nov. 8th, the people will have to back the Greens in the millions with at least ten bucks a month (no BIG donors; that’s HOW the people lose their party to oligarchs) for the duration of the “Siege of D.C./K-street/Wall Street”. It’ll be a project of years.
Clintons’ con job is biggest ever. Bigger than Trump’s. After Syria and Libya, decades of social progress are now truly “fucked” (Victoria Nuland).
Brad – the time to move to Stein is not this election. If Clinton gets in, the country is done – gone. A vote for Stein is a vote for Clinton. If Trump gets in, the U.S. has a chance (if he is telling the truth). It will become apparent very quickly if he is or not. If Trump IS sincere and tries to push through legislation that will benefit the country, remove some of the corruption, but is stopped from doing so, he will squeal like a stuck pig. He will tell the American people – he will squeal.
That’s what the current elite do not like about him. He doesn’t keep things nice and quiet, he screams things out. He lets the cat out of the bag. How are the elites going to commit fraud and corruption when someone is going to tell on them? It gets impossible pretty fast.
Just take a look at who is against Trump. Virtually all of the elite. What does that tell you?
And “Trump’s business cronies rely on illegal, captured labor, to keep the unions down.” Didn’t the Clintons sell out the country when NAFTA was passed? How about when the multinational corporations were allowed to take jobs to China for the cheap labor and no environmental protection, and then turn around and bring the products back into the country, while offshoring their profits in the Cayman Islands in order to avoid U.S. taxes? Politicians were lobbied hard on these things, and politicians caved. Trump had very little to do with it.
Illegal immigration, H-1B, H-2B – all of it keeps wages down. Using China as America’s factory has caused millions of jobs lost. Of course Trump is not going to build a wall; there is too much commerce back and forth across the border. Had the American agri companies not gone into Mexico and pushed all of the farmers off their land, half of these people wouldn’t even bother to cross the border. They’re coming for jobs.
Stein’s turn is not now. Give Trump a chance. IF he turns out to be just another fake politician, it will be evident quickly. Then the U.S. can turn once again, and this time hard.
California man finds dozens of ballots stacked outside home:
“Jerry Mosna was gardening outside his San Pedro, Calif., home Saturday when he noticed something odd: Two stacks of 2016 ballots on his mailbox.
The 83 ballots, each unused, were addressed to different people, all supposedly living in his elderly neighbor’s two-bedroom apartment.
“I think this is spooky,” Mosna said. “All the different names, none we recognize, all at one address.”
http://www.wnd.com/2016/11/california-man-finds-dozens-of-ballots-stacked-outside-home/#8WAxX6CTgyoFiMSg.99
In Europe, a common question asked of Americans this year has been: “Has everyone gone crazy?”
Not really. It is just that our national incompetence and dysfunction are becoming more apparent – except to the majority of Americans and their leaders.
Excellent article?Obama let the Italian PM sound off?Maybe he was shocked at how bellicose Obomba and his nut jobs are.
Race relations are worse now than under the shrub.
We just want our country back from the neolibcon zionist traitors,that’s all,and Trump is the man to do it.
And the bastards fear him,and are trying everything in their power to muddy this election further,even more so than the fix that’s already current.
The writer has no idea of American’s anger.
Excellent article. Follow the money and the key policies. Clinton has been bought by multi-nationals, big banks, the defense industry and foreign governments; Trump not – even Republican elites and corporate funders turned against him. Clinton supports multi-national corporation-controlled “free trade” agreements; Trump, Sanders & Stein are opposed. Clinton advocates droning Snowden, creating a no-fly zone over Syria, supplying more arms to Al Qaeda in Syria, threating Russia, and surrounding China with a missile defense shield; Stein and Trump support negotiating with Putin. Clinton policies have directly led to the needless killing of hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children in Libya, Iraq, Yemen and Syria; Trump was adamantly opposed to these policies, even criticizing Republicans over the attack on Iraq. Clinton influence peddling extends to cheating and slandering Sanders in the Primaries, provoking violence at Trump rallies, and control of the Justice and State Departments and the “free” press which now intimidates its own reporters to political correctness. Her election would at best lead to a fascist “democracy”, outsourcing more jobs, letting large banks regulate themselves, bailing too-large-to-fail banks with taxpayer dollars, and lowering living standards; at worst – to WWIII. Trump is not part of the singular Republican and Democratic elite. Voting for Trump is the only realistic way to start correcting the damage caused by free trade agreements and lower the chance that a war-monger and obvious war criminal is elected the next President of the United States.
Robert – couldn’t agree more. And if elected, Hillary said she would put her husband, Mr. NAFTA, in charge of her economic policy. Aaaaaaah! As you said, that would spell free reign for the banks/multinationals. Trump is the last hope the U.S. has.
I think Trump is going to win, anyway, especially now that Hillary’s fraud and lies are catching up to her. Who would have thought that Anthony Weiner could be the spoiler – one criminal downs another criminal. It would be poetic justice if that turns out to be the case.
Smart, clear, and concise, this is one of the best commentaries on Trump’s candidacy I’ve read in months. Not that there’s much competition. I’ve gotten a real kick out of the articles by elite media writers who braved the wilds of Trump country in an attempt to explain to their elite liberal readership who his supporters are. Some have made good observations, but they all end up in the same place of smug superiority. One’s perspective shifts dramatically after living out of the country for an extended period.
It’s not just Europeans who need to pay closer attention.
Looking at this election from the UK.
The Russia bashing by Clinton had been terrible – how can you build a relationship when you demonise a whole nation and accuse your opponents of being spies and enemy agents
For that alone she disqualifies herself from the presidency.
The Democrats imposed her on the party and it’s clear she is not a likeable or believable politician.
Trump – I won’t go over his shortcoming others have done that.
What he has done is flip the agendas and change the Republican platform to one which is more like a traditional democrat – speaking to the middle class
Hillary highlights that there is no difference between the democrats and current republicans like bush.
Trump is the independent candidate.
I favour him because I don’t want war with Russia.
The blue collar working class is madder than hell because practically all of the FDR New Deal policies have been reversed. It’s clear, in hindsight, that the Clintons were groomed for purging “all things FDR” from the D Party. Mr. Clinton, a governor of a state whose previous governor was a Rockefeller; personal acquaintance to Dr. Carroll Quigley, who was “court stenographer” for the Bankster-Elite and their plans for World Empire (“Globalization”); a Rhodes scholar (of Cecil Rhodes fame & fawning fan of Empire); co-ordinating with the Euro-Elite to rope in their working class too (the whole point of CFR, Tavistock, Bilderbergers, Davos, Mt. Pelerin, Et Al). the only thing left is to Privatize (steal) Soc Sec, and Medicare, and the immiseration of the Trans-Atlantic working class will be complete… welcome serfs to the New Roman Empire, the great dream of the Trans-Atlantic Ruling Class Elites, now replete with “Star Wars” technology (the more things change, the more they stay the same).
Thanks Brad Owen, I think you’re right. I’m reading this synopsis of Professor Quigley’s work now…
https://www.amazon.com/Tragedy-Hope-101-Illusion-Democracy/dp/0985728310/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478202402&sr=8-1&keywords=Joseph+plummer#customerReviews
Appears to be an excellent book. I’m going to have to get one. It will fill in all the “gut instinct” detective work the average citizen has to perform. I’m hoping there will eventually be a rallying around the Green Banner to revive New Dealism and fulfill what was only started under the New Deal. If this is violently blocked by the Power Elite, then I’m afraid there will be blood in the streets. FDR was a bona fide member of the Power Elite, but he understood a new deal had to be offered to the working class to preserve civilization. Maybe his affliction with polio made him compassionately aware of the suffering of “The Forgotten Man”, the working class, upon whose toil everything depends. Let’s hope today’s Power Elite aren’t stupid.
Thanks Brad look at this link too. About FDR, I think the “New Deal” side of FDR was his genuine respect (Love?) for Eleanor, and her influence on him, And his Vice President Henry Wallace, (probably a Green Renascence Man).
My take is that President Truman was picked to change the New Deal Tide.
https://www.amazon.com/New-World-Order-Strategy-Imperialism/dp/1634240901/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1478267293&sr=1-1&keywords=sean+stone
The Power Elite may well be that Stupid… Remember LeMay. My hope is that the lower echelon of the Military won’t participate?
to Bob Van Noy at Nov. 4th, 9:54 am;
Another amazing, must-have, book. The mention of Cecil Rhodes’ RoundTable Group ties it all together. I picked up info on Cecil Rhodes, RoundTable Group, and the pre-fascistic Synarchist Movement for Empire (SME: FDR’s intell agents dug up info on them in 1940, they were started 50 years before then, in 1890’s, created by Napoleon III’s generals and extremely regressive elements in the Catholic Church) , from LaRouche’s Executive Intelligence Review (EIR) website. It tracks with all that is being suggested in these books. I know LaRouche is supposed to be “damaged goods”(uh oh), but like Webster G. Tarpley says; “gold is where you find it”, so hold your nose and pick it up wherever it lays. I always wondered why LaRouche always went on about the British Empire. These two books show it’s still here and the American Tories never went away; they just set up shop (for the Empire of City-of-London) in Wall Street. I wonder if City-of-London still has strong ties with Hong Kong (the Wall Street of the East). It’s amazing all this stuff is coming out now, from non-tainted sources. You’re probably right about Eleanor’s softening influence on FDR. Henry Wallace, Harry Hopkins and Harold Ickes were three of the GIANTS of the New Deal. Harry Truman was a Wall Streeter (a typical traditional Democrat; FDR was the “Bernie Sanders” of his day, but he succeeded where Bernie fell; a captured “POW” far as I’m concerned). Truman was the very beginning of the end for New Dealism. The Ivy-Leagued, “White Shoe” Anglophile” crowd began their “Putsch” to take back FDR’s America for the Empire, as soon as FDR died. It took them over 50 years to accomplish their Mission, culminating in the Clinton Machine purging “all things FDR” in the 90’s. The reborn Empire came online Sept. 11th, 2001 (Mission Accomplished). They are not unopposed however, especially here within the U.S.A. which is WHERE they will have to be defeated. I’m betting on the long-term Green Project coming thru, in the end.
Excellent. Thanks Brad…
The Key is Banking Brad, even Quigley didn’t understand Banking.
“The presidential race has revealed a deep and sometimes ugly resentment among many Americans who blame the haughty elites for declining living standards, says Andrew Spannaus.”
The “many Americans” are 100% intellectually correct to harbor “ugly” resentment. The ruling class has destroyed the industrial base of the country, showered rewards on the parasitic financial elite, attacked labor unions at every turn, and mired close to 40% of the U.S. population in poverty or borderline poverty. It’s left a struggling middle class that’s been demolished by opiate addiction, dental health care crises and massive daily economic insecurity.
A person would have to be a masochist to not harbor any resentment toward the owning class for selling 90% of the population down the river.
Now the real question is how to turn that resentment into constructive politico-economic activism.
Spot on and then there is the statement ” that despite deplomacy on the part of Obama and Kerry those pesky Russians just don´t want peace”. What diplomacy pray tell’ Moving NATO right to Russia´s Borders? V Nuland saying F++k the EU they have already decided who was going to be the nexty president of the The Ukraine and that the Ukraine would join NATO right on Russia´s borders? When in the last 50 years has the US practiced diplomacy. I am 76 and i can´t recall such an occasion. What I recall, is the US triumphilism over the fall of the USSR. I recall the overthrow of governments, bombing of, invasions of, and occupations of dozens of countries. thats what sticks in my mind. The aggression towards China and Russia stick out as the utmost stupidity on the part of the Beltway Warriors. Playing around wiuth the extinction of the human race. Thats what i recall and am still seing with my own lyin eyes.
Here, and elsewhere around the world, readers are not fooled by the media: When Telegraaph. nl reported on the verdict of MH-17, none of the readers who responded to the article bought into the propaganda, despite the fact that the atrocity cost the lives of Dutch citizens; French readers of Le Monde also defy the propaganda spread after terrorist attacks, the destruction of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, etc. Thank you readers; in mainstream media, your comments are always the best part of the article.