The People vs Wealth
I don’t know much about New York City, but I do know that the upcoming NYC election will be about democracy vs wealth, the people vs wealth; about whether wealthy interests or the people govern. How do I know this? Because, ever since our Declaration of Independence and Constitution threw off the tyrannies of monarchies and religion and before, throwing off the tyranny of the power of wealth was next on the arc of human progress. The struggle to do so will be front and center because Mamdani is a direct threat to that power.
Will the people of NYC be the first to declare independence from the tyranny of wealth; that the power of governance resides with the people, that wealth shall have no say in that governance?
Before the Progressive Era, well beyond putridity, in The United States of America, wealth’s succession to successor to the crown and the cloth went unchallenged. Followed, the New Deal, the Civil Rights movement, the Civil Rights Act, and the Voting Rights Act. All seen as threats to the influence of wealth.
Action was required. Wealth’s response was to pejoratively label these threats as socialism, communism, or un-American. And, to get organized. The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) (1938) and the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) (1938) were in direct response to the threat posed to wealth’s power by the New Deal. These were followed in 1958 (with racist overtones) by the John Birch Society (JBS) — the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s brought about Brown vs Board which was seen by the wealthy as yet another threat to the natural order.
Wealth’s most effective counter offensive came in the form of a memo written in 1971 to the Chamber of Commerce by (soon to be Justice) Lewis Powell. One, little doubt, prompted by the passage of the Civil Rights Act (1964) and Voting Rights Act (1965), and consumer activists like Ralph Nader. The memo was, “a blueprint for conservative business interest to retake America.” Read — the power of wealth is at risk.
The Powell Memo spawned both the Heritage Foundation (1973) and the American Legislative Council (ALEC) (1973), two of the most powerful political institutes in American history. Both funded by, and operating in the interest of, the wealthy.
In the interest of the wealthy, the Heritage Foundation has effectively provided: policy advice and personnel to all republican administrations since 1973, opposition to democratic administrations and policies, opposition to progressive policies, support for far-right judicial nominees, support for originalism, …, and authored Project 2025.
In the interest of the wealthy, ALEC has drafted and implemented right-wing legislation for state and federal legislatures in opposition to voters’ rights, women’s rights, busing, LGBQT rights, universal healthcare, … ; in support of apartheid, gerrymandering, gun rights, voter restrictions, anti-immigration, privatization, … .
The Heritage Foundation and ALEC abetted by the Federalist Society (1982), acting in the interest of wealth, have grievously injured democracy and the nation by packing state legislatures, the House and Senate, and the Supreme Court with right-wing ideologues who support the interests of wealth. They, along with the likes of Bill Ackman et al, are relentless; they will not be backing off in the NYC election.
The myriad attackers of Mamdani are enhancing his popularity, in my opinion.
And who are the other choices: Adams and Cuomo. No thanks.
As someone who lives in Denver, I find the hysteria amusing.
Dave:
There must be something good about him then, if politicians are attacking him!
Adherents to the Powell’s view are required to ignore that investment in workers (and thereby customers) has generated an obvious return to both workers and businesses and to ignore that tax reductions have not generated the advertised growth. Sadly, investment in propaganda has increased the power of those at the very top.
@Arne,
Truth.
The wealthy should take a lesson from the Russian revolution, not to mention the American revolution: make life impossible of improvement for ordinary people and they’ll take what they need from wherever it’s located.
As we head into feudalism because of privatization, financialization, and Citizen’s United.
@Jack,
Which lesson should we learn from the Russian Revolution: the impossibility of improvement for ordinary people under the Tsar or the impossibility of improvement for ordinary people under the Bolsheviks?
As for the American revolution, it enabled improvement for White men, but not so much for women, slaves and indigenous peoples.
@Joel. I didn’t say the Russian revolution worked although I suspect the Russians think it did in comparison to their medieval way of life under the Tsar. As to the American revolution, it at least started a process that improved life for ordinary people. It will be interesting to see if Trump reverses that process. Clearly both revolutions occurred in reaction to the deprivations visited upon people by imperious powers. That’s not to say that everyone in either population benefitted equally. Most of life is imperfect.