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June 19, 2013
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 Robin Hood in ReversePosted on Jul 12, 2011By far the strangest thing about the American debate concerning national economic policy, currently concentrated on whether a law lifting the present limit on the deficit will or will not be passed, is that it has been conducted without discussion of the largest item in the budget. This is the aggregate cost of running military interventions of one or another kind in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia and sundry other unhappy and unlucky sites in the non-Western world, and that includes the global program of illegal individual assassinations by drones or dedicated military or civilian killer teams—all in democracy’s name. Cut that, even merely its blatant excesses, and the budget problem would disappear. Instead the congressional debate is ideological: superficially about national economic policy, but actually all but totally committed to the issue of what level of taxation the smallest and most wealthy segment in the American population—its corporate leaders, heads of banks and private financial institutions, its hereditary rich and beneficiaries of market windfall gains—should be required to pay. The second most passionate subject of debate is how much the government will reduce the country’s existing Social Security pension programs, for those individual Americans who throughout their lives have contributed to what they considered irrevocable contracts with their government, and the modest popular medical care programs that now exist for the middle classes, the old and the indigent. These are Medicare and Medicaid, plus the new health care program passed (barely) by the Barack Obama administration. These have all become “Entitlements”—a hateful word in the modern American political vocabulary. The internal American debate may be said to center around how much to rob the poor, and how much to enrich the rich. Obviously ours are generations that bear no resemblance to those Americans who grew up with the Bible, a consolation to the poor, the only book in the house, and a preacher to shout hellfire to sinners on Sundays. Advertisement The 18th and 19th centuries were revolutionary centuries, the overthrow of dynasties, aristocracies and the other relics of feudalism. Those centuries included the bourgeois revolutions of 1848, Italian independence and unification, German unification under Bismarck, Hapsburg and Ottoman decline and Balkan unrest, Civil War in the United States—a war over slavery but also between industrial and agricultural economies. The national and popular revindication of the people destroyed the old order. Russia’s serfs were emancipated in 1861, even before American slavery was ended. The point of this gloss on history is that all of modern, post-Enlightenment history has primarily been driven by demands for political and economic justice. The difference between pre-Enlightenment and post-Enlightenment struggle has been that the human search for justice and equality was, in the religious civilization of the past, focused on virtue and its reward in heaven. After religion was undermined by the Enlightenment, human plans, doctrines, ideologies and struggles for justice were necessarily confined to temporal lifetime. If there were no God, as the philosophers of the Enlightenment insisted, then human and social justice had to be sought in this world, and the rulers, aristocrats, the rich and privileged, who stood between ordinary people and justice, had to be destroyed. The aristocrats, held responsible for the dynastic and imperialist wars of the period, and finally for the Great War itself in 1914-1918, had to be swept away. That was what the French and other European revolutions were about. It is what socialism and then communism were about, initially in their idealistic and utopian versions, and then in their bloodthirsty and nihilistic versions in Leninist Russia, in “National Socialist” Germany, then in Spain and even in impoverished and exploited China. People resorted to violence under leaders thrown up from the working and middle classes. They were all, of course, idealistic and ideological when they began. This is what brings me back to Washington in July 2011. Congressional Republicans and the Obama Democrats are locked in the most extreme conflict over social justice and the equality of citizens that the nation probably has experienced since the Civil War. They are at the same time mindlessly committed to what amounts to a kind of racial and religious war of America with Muslim civilization. They seem ignorant, or indifferent, to what such irresponsibility has led to in the past. Visit William Pfaff’s website for more on his latest book, “The Irony of Manifest Destiny: The Tragedy of America’s Foreign Policy” (Walker & Co., $25), at www.williampfaff.com. © 2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.  TAGS:
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Guantanamo Prisoner’s Case Demonstrates Unfairness of Military Commissions
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By Debbie P, July 25, 2011 at 5:21 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
To gerard. Read “The Shock Doctrine”, by Naomi Klein. goes along with your comment! As a matter of fact, everybody read it, it’s great and explains exactly what is going on and HAS gone on in other countries prior to now.
Report thisBy gerard, July 13, 2011 at 5:43 pm Link to this comment
Instead of “Robin Hood in Reverse” please go to TED.com and look at some of the innovative things that people are doing around the world which are giving instead of grabbing. We need to remember the reality of human creativity and compassion. This site will remind you.
Report thisBy MeHere, July 13, 2011 at 5:21 pm Link to this comment
The national debate is centered on what these politicians can come up with in
order to stay in power. It’s about them, not about the nation. And Americans
are allowing this to happen based on hopes which vary depending on the
various myths that have captured their individual imaginations.
I’ve often thought about the word “entitlements” which W. Pfaff mentions in the
article. It is indeed a nasty word that is used to describe legitimate social
programs that are necessary for those who are not affluent. The word conveys
the notion that these “entitlements” are phenomenal amounts of money and
privileges—something like the equivalent of the entitlements the wealthy have
been getting as a result of their deep-rooted influence on government.
The “entitlements” average people get are nothing but well-deserved rights
Report thisthey have earned by making others rich. The wealthy do not amass fortunes by
sitting in a conference room and coming up with brilliant ideas. They can only
do it by bribing politicians, and by the work and sacrifice of the millions who
work for them and depend on the products and services that are produced.
By M L, July 13, 2011 at 11:46 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Most of our tax dollars go for unnecessary wars (military industrial complex) and health care. Stop these wars and implement either a public option or single payer system
Report thisIn order to jump start the economy - PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK
Is it asking too much for congress to come up with a viable and common sense PLAN??
By frecklefever, July 13, 2011 at 9:33 am Link to this comment
AMERICAS GOVERNMENT IS OBLIVIOUS TO HOW PASSE IT IS…LIKE THE
Report thisSUPPLY SARGEANT DURING THE BOMBING OF PEARL HARBOR WANTING
THE DEFENDERS TO SIGN RECEITS BEFORE HE WOULD GIVE THEM
ARMS..THIS GOVERNMENT IS GOING THRU THE MOTIONS WHILE OUTSIDE
A FORCE IS AT HAND THAT MAKES THEM IRRELEVANT…
By Hulk2008, July 13, 2011 at 8:17 am Link to this comment
As long as the generals and the military industrial complex and the Pentagon continue to make profits and provide a “sandbox” for military experimentation, the wars will continue in one form or another.
Generals hate to accept defeat at any cost - and they can define defeat in any terms necessary to keep forces engaged. Manufacturers profit exponentially from war materiel - even more than producing other goods.
Hence troops remain in foreign lands ad infinitum - ala Europe, Korea, Japan, Okinawa etc.
Report thisBy Lafayette, July 13, 2011 at 6:43 am Link to this comment
THE PLIGHT OF POVERTY
The above does indeed capture America’s present dilemma. We are nation of individuals, striving for a modicum of well-being for ourselves and our families, and we have realized belatedly that the game is rigged.
It has been rigged for nigh on to thirty years, when Reckless Ronnie Reagan, throwing a chip to those who backed his candidacy financially, took it upon himself to lower marginal income tax rates. At the upper levels, they dropped from 70 to around 30%, and have since rebounded a bit. (The effective rate, according to the IRS, after deductions, is between 20 and 23%.)
Now imagine that you are introduced to game of chance in Las Vegas and you are told your likelihood of take-home winnings are about 80%. Wouldn’t you want to take over-sized risks to win? In fact, how can you lose?
Taxation today flies against all notions of both economic equitability and moral decency that are held, let us hope, by a great number of Americans.
Those candidates who hit the right “hot button” of Income Fairness will (hopefully) garner the favor of their constituencies, whether local, state or national.
NOT TAXATION ALONE
Of course, taxation is just one face of this hydra-headed monster that has been constructed over the past decades. America must become not only economically but politically a more equitable nation. Consider just the Senate, of which about 40% are millionaires – many encrusted there for a lifetime of “service to the country”. (“To their country?”, I ask, or “To their political tribe?”)
Real democracy in America has been manipulated and bridled. We have created in both local, state and national elections the process of gerrymandering that delivers and magically re-delivers continually representatives specified by the two parties. Which makes for political incrustation, at both state and national levels, of hard-core party members. The consequence of which is to ossify the most vibrant democracies - particularly in a two-party system as is ours.
Gerrymandering allows for election-funds paid advertising to be effectively targeted to select demographic groups rather than be dispersed and wasted. It works … and it would not be employed if did not provide the desired results.
Grassroots America is a confused populace that is easily twisted, bent and shaped by Election Professionals (such as Karl Rove). It is far too amenable to whatever Media Message is hammered on Public TV. A way must be found to neuter this all too effective manipulation.
MY POINT: We, the People
Our representatives in LaLaLand have been elected by the one True Power in this nation … we, the people. It is by exploiting our civil rights to proper political representation that we will obtain progress towards a more equitable society for us all. (Not equal, but equitable.)
Renewal and reformation of the Political Class of America can only begin at the grassroots level, the source of all political power in this nation. Therein lies the challenge and it is enormous – given the two constraints mentioned above. It is imperative that we get a handle on gerrymandering as well as the tsunami of election donations that inundates America during elections.
The last PotUS election is estimated to have cost in total half a billion dollars. Have we not a better usage for such funds particularly in this time of supposed “austerity”?
Report thisBy Gabriel, July 12, 2011 at 11:32 pm Link to this comment
In case you didn’t know:
During the great depression similar happened and people needed to find out what the Lawful Remedies were. So they figured out what the banksters did and came up with solutions. They still hold true today. Here are some of them:
Some historical facts: http://www.youtube.com/user/ACriticalState
To find remedy look up Winston Shrout: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=winston+shrout+solutions+in+commerce&aq=3&oq=winston+shrout
Robert Menard: who you are according to banketers, lessons for freedom, pay your debts, etc.; http://www.youtube.com/user/mrmitee
Dealing with courts: http://www.youtube.com/user/Tactikalguy1#g/u
Dealing with cops and British money agents etc: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheAntiTerrorist
There’s a wealth of info here that just may save your home, hassles from debt collectors, hassles from cops, agents and gov. shills. It is suggested you save these references and make backups, then study them at your leisure. See also related content.
Start off small to establish yourself and work your way up. If you get good enough you will be able to discharge millions in debt and know your full rights.
You will also need to look in Government Archives and libraries for original documents of how the system was put together, changed and manipulated.
Best wishes
Report thisBy gerard, July 12, 2011 at 9:01 pm Link to this comment
By all means, go to Counterpunch.org and read Roy Edelson’s “America’s Ovecrowded Cellar.”
Report thisBy aacme88, July 12, 2011 at 7:13 pm Link to this comment
Mr. Pfaff. What you don’t seem to understand is that this is about a new “Enlightenment”, but not of the people.
Report thisThis is about religion, and specifically that Jesus has changed his mind. He has been “enlightened”. He now likes rich people better than those parasitic poor people. You clearly need to forget all that history and philosophy and follow Jesus’ footsteps to the New Promised Land, where we will all be rich, at least all the ones who are left, the chosen ones. You will know that you are chosen by the material blessings showered on you. As it says right down below this box I am writing in, in a sign from God:
SUBMIT.
By gerard, July 12, 2011 at 6:05 pm Link to this comment
Without the “terrorist” wars to scare and misguide the people, it is doubtful whether the conflict over social justice and equality of ordinary citizens here at home would even exist, because peace would stop the flow of huge sums of money into the coffers of the Pentagon and its suppliers, making it available for filling citizens’ desperate needs for health care, education, care of infrastructure, and social security.
Report thisBy Billy Pilgrim, July 12, 2011 at 5:28 pm Link to this comment
I have never been more disillusioned with my country
Report thisthan I am today. The total lack of coherent, adult
discussion regarding the debt and budget is a
testament to the sordid, cynical nature of our
political discourse. The selfishness, the rank
hypocrisy, is mind numbing. If I hear one more right
wing dirt bag exclaim that our country has a
spending, and not a revenue problem, I think I will
throw a shoe through my television. President Obama,
of course, has to play the role of great conciliator
to the rabid dogs on the other side of the aisle.
How he can keep his cool is simply astounding. I can
only imagine what either Andrew Jackson, Teddy
Roosevelt, Harry Truman or Lyndon Johnson would have
told Mitch McConnell after the Senator from Kentucky
announced that a solution to the budget/debt impasse
would not be reached as long as Obama was still
President.
By PatrickHenry, July 12, 2011 at 5:21 pm Link to this comment
After August 3rd, seniors may not get their SS checks.
I wonder how many defense contractors will not get paid?
After passing a record defense budget with DHS and TSA hemmoraging deficit money, one wonders where the congress and white house is on all this besides having their head up each others ass.
Report thisBy Inherit The Wind, July 12, 2011 at 4:43 pm Link to this comment
Didn’t I post this? That Orren Hatch was Hood Robin saying the POOR needed to sacrifice more, not the rich?
Anyway, good article, Bill.
Report this