The Ultimate Wedge Issue Test

One of my recent articles prompted a brief but revealing exchange.

This person accurately pointed out that my proposed electoral strategy required an enormous amount of work.

Why should this come as a surprise? The ruling elite has over five decades contributed millions of dollars, tens of thousands of hours, gone to great lengths to take our democracy apart, skew the laws to maximize their profits, marginalize and silence opposition, reduce the voice of everyday citizens to a pathetic whimper, perhaps worst of all, promoted war and ecological destruction, bringing us face-to-face to possible human extinction. And we should expect to undo all of this with an article here and there, a few comments, and some Twitter and Facebook posts?

I don’t mean to criticize or mock anyone. But I get this all of the time and every time I’m truly astounded that well-meaning, concerned progressives think there’s some quick and easy defense to the wrecking ball taken to the building blocks of our “democracy” and the value system that underpins it, and to repair the colossal damage already done by the oligarchs to our current quality of life and potential for a decent and harmonious future.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen and everything in between, there’s a lot of work to be done. And with some reservations, I’m inspired by the enormous amount of energy and time devoted by the few sane activists among us.

Unfortunately, almost all of that energy and time is completely wasted. It isn’t going anywhere and never will without some serious rethinking and creative strategizing.

Change is impossible without “the people” and the vast majority of people are pretty much left scratching their heads at BLM, woke, cancel culture, Antifa, QAnon, Proud Boys, build back better, and especially the incapacitating, binary weaponizing of everything into left vs. right, Republican vs. Democrat, and all related iterations: liberal vs. conservative, Trump vs. Biden/Sanders/Clinton.

Here’s the main problem as I see it. People vote against their own interests because they’re overwhelmed, confused, misdirected, brainwashed. They step into the voting booth thinking they’re voting for one thing and end up getting the opposite. The science of messing with people’s minds has surpassed quantum physics in sophistication. Soon we’ll all be implanted with neural interfaces and directly turned into clueless, obedient drones. But that’s for another article.

What I try to do is introduce issue-by-issue some genuine clarity. Remove any possible ambiguity or misinterpretation. If you want this, then do that. To the point of this article, if you want to know if the candidate you’re voting for is truly on your side, then perform a simple, straightforward, sensible test. You can and will know. The result will be a clear and unambiguous ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

That in a nutshell is the whole idea behind the electoral strategy I’ve been talking about for ten years. Another topic for yet another piece, as if I hadn’t already written three books and hundreds of such articles already. But for now let me quickly reiterate, the candidate contract electoral strategy represents issue-by-issue clarity and real choice. A candidate is either for the proposed change, or against it. He or she signs on the dotted line making their commitment crystal clear. If they sign, we know where they stand. If they don’t sign we know where they stand. In either case, we as voters know exactly what to do.

Why don’t current activist demands for real change ever make a difference?

Two reasons . . .

FIRST:  They are directed at the wrong people. They are directed at those in power who are not listening, will not act, will never listen, will never act favorably. We only need to look at the record to know this is true. Very legitimate, extremely popular reforms simply NEVER GET DONE. Do I need to mention a few? 

 • Decent good-paying jobs

 • Fair, equitable, livable wages

 • Health care reform (Medicare4all)

 • Serious attention to climate change

 • Election reform (getting $$s out of politics)

 • Law enforcement and comprehensive prison reform

 • Ending the wars (reversing military expansion)

 • Comprehensive immigration reform

Mind you, there are huge consensuses on these and similar issues. How do we know what these areas of agreements are? There’s no mystery. Poll after poll, year after year, point to pretty much the same things. Without exception, concerns about the economy are at the top of the list. People now more than ever are struggling. The American Dream is fading and prospects for the future are becoming increasingly bleak. 

SECOND:  Many activists are personally committed to a cause, feel enormous passion for that cause, can’t imagine a world without it, can’t imagine any decent, aware human being being opposed to that cause. 

Unfortunately, they’re often wrong and despite their best efforts, nothing changes, nor will it ever change. Either the object of their devotion is unpopular and/or it simply doesn’t even get noticed. There’s not sufficient public awareness, perhaps little enthusiasm, for whatever they’re promoting. Such niche issues are important and can be addressed when we have a Congress and White House listening to and on the side of the people. But until we put in power who actually represent the interests of the vast majority of citizens — NOT those of the ruling elite, Wall Street, the MIC, big banks and big corporations — NOTHING WILL GET DONE for the people. PERIOD!

These two undercurrents are intertwined and synergistic . . . in the worst possible way. Making impassioned pleas to our elected officials when they’re not listening is a non-starter and enormous waste of energy and resources. Focusing on issues which have little popular support ends up discrediting activists and knee-capping more promising activism, all too often turning the majority of citizens off. This not only drives away support, but infects the citizenry with cynicism about anything positive ever getting done. Predictably, resignation and apathy sets in. Just look around. Look at the comments we see on articles like this. Hopelessness is growing. Surrender is the new pandemic.

The system is rigged … AGAINST US, WE THE PEOPLE. 

It’s certainly foolhardy to think that the people who benefit from the rigging are going to unrig it. They will continue to do what they’ve been doing. Serving themselves. Ignoring us. They will thrive. We will suffer.

Maybe naively I believe we can refocus, unite, change things. Maybe foolishly I believe we can rock the boat enough to get the scoundrels on board into the drink, without sinking the ship.

But I don’t think so.

We can fight this but we have to work together.

So what do we do?

First, we apply the Ultimate Wedge Issue Test. What is that? There are certain issues which are crucial to the survival of our nation as a democracy which “promotes the general welfare.” The test determines who is in favor of a nation that works for everyone, not just a privileged elite, and who is too selfish, myopic or misinformed to want what is the foundation of our society … equality, justice, peace, harmony, opportunity.

This is the wedge. Either you’re for working together as a society . . . or you’re for continuing on the road to oligarchy, tyranny, fascism. This applies both to citizen voters and candidates for office.

I sincerely believe that the majority of citizens want a country that works for everybody.

Issue-by-issue we find out what we as citizens think is important, then issue-by-issue we see which candidates are willing to commit to getting the job done.

We only vote for those candidates who are on the side of the vast majority of Americans.

No excuses. No compromise. No exceptions.

While applying the “wedge test”, we always keep in mind, this has nothing to do with party or label or ideology. It’s strictly about where candidates come down on those items which the vast majority of citizens have targeted as essential — in most cases things we’ve needed all along — things across the board that haven’t been getting done.

As I said, we all already know what these issues are. And we know those now in office have not nor will they ever support us in promoting and instituting the necessary reforms, such that WE THE PEOPLE get what’s long overdue . . . a fair stake in the vast wealth, blessings, and opportunities of the allegedly richest country in history.

WE ONLY VOTE FOR CANDIDATES WHO GUARANTEE RESULTS.

Not just talk about it. Not just say pretty words and make empty campaign promises. Not just continue to spew out sound bites and pleasant-sounding word salad so we will again trust them, fall for their shallow rhetoric, and vote these hypocrites back into office.

Enough is enough!

ONLY VOTE FOR CANDIDATES WHO GUARANTEE THEY WILL LISTEN TO AND SERVE THE NEEDS OF EVERYDAY CITIZENS.

It’s that simple. I didn’t say easy. No way will this be easy. But it’s certainly simple.

It starts with us no longer being gullible fools. Those in power will continue to lie to us, continue rigging the system in their favor and that of their patrons, the privileged elite, if we let them.

But we can stop this right now. By getting serious about installing a government of the people, by the people, for the people. By electing “people’s candidates” who have proven themselves worthy of our vote.

No negotiation. No compromise. No fear.

It’s our future. It’s up to us.

[ This originated at the author's personal website . . . https://jdrachel.com ]

The Ultimate Wedge Issue Test | John Rachel

Ten Commandments For The New American Century

 

First Commandment: THOU SHALT TAKE MONEY OUT OF POLITICS

No money in politics. Zero! First, people should stand up and declare
unequivocally they will not vote for anyone who takes ANY money from
corporations, lobbyists and PACs. Then, down the road, by having
elections 100% financed out of public funds, we can build a democracy
where our legislators might actually have some time to legislate. It is
common knowledge, most federal office holders spend enormous amounts of
time raising funds and worrying about winning the next election, instead
of doing the job we voted them in office to do. Let's end this right
now!

Second Commandment: THOU SHALT HONOR CHOICE AT THE POLLS 

It's time to institute instant run-off voting. This will allow minor party
candidates to run at all levels of government without the understandable
fear that a voter is throwing away her or his vote. Our current system
has, as Ralph Nader has been saying all along, turned into a choice
between Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum. Without real choice, meaning a
range that covers the entire spectrum of political opinion, democracy
becomes a sham, and purely an exercise in futility.

Third Commandment:  THOU SHALT RESPECT THE COMMONS 

Right off, we need to re-establish a commons. So much of what constitutes the
foundation for a functioning society has been privatized __ prisons,
education, utilities, mail, roads, bridges. And it hasn’t worked out
well, has it? The nation’s infrastructure is a shambles. There are some
basic things we should all be able to have free and open access to,
facilities and services which should not be at the mercy of the
so-called free market: education, clean air and water, energy, health
care, retirement security, the INTERNET, police, fire and ambulance
services, nutrition and mental health counseling. This is not
socialism.   It’s having a country that works.

Fourth Commandment: THOU SHALT PUT MONEY CREATION AND 
THE CONTROL OF THE NATION’S CURRENCY BACK INTO THE 
PUBLIC DOMAIN 

The control and issuance of currency must be returned to the federal
government. The Federal Reserve is no more "federal" than Federal
Express, and as a result America is now hostage to private banks and we
rapidly becoming their serf-slaves. Either nationalize or abolish the
Federal Reserve and return creation of our fiat currency to the people
of America, regulated by a legitimate, functioning system of
representative government.

Fifth Commandment: THOU SHALT LIVE BY RULE OF LAW 

We have a two-tiered legal system, a gentle one for the privileged, a brutal
one for the rest of us. The oligarchs do what they want unfettered by pesky
laws. Sometimes the same laws are used to restrain and incarcerate the
rest of us. Same thing on an international level. Two tiers. The U.S.
bullies the world, ignoring treaty obligations and international law,
treating other countries as vassal states. But it uses the same legal
instruments as a bludgeon, holding every other nation's feet to the fire
with sanctions, UN resolutions, trade agreements __ whatever__ when it
serves our interests, or more accurately, the interests of the
corporations who are really setting the agenda. This gross hypocrisy is
creating enemies everywhere. We are long overdue to again respect the
law, apply it equally and fairly across the board, both at home and
around the world.

Sixth Commandment: THOU SHALT REIN IN CAPITALISM 

A nice breeze on a clear spring day __ good! . . . A level 5 hurricane that
destroys vast swaths of dwellings and kills countless people __ bad! . . .
Surfer and swimmer-friendly waves lapping up on a sandy beach __
good! . . . A tsunami crushing whole towns with a 100 foot wall of
terrifying force __ bad! . . . Sunlight from hydrogen fusion nurturing
our planet with gentle rays of light and warmth __ good! . . . An
inferno of hydrogen fusion raining down on cities across the world as
mammoth nuclear bombs, destroying the entire human race __ bad! We
mostly tend to agree that capitalism provides a powerful engine to drive
development and progress. But too much of it and societies are crushed,
democracies destroyed, vast numbers of people are relegated to serf
status. Other countries have strict regulation and state control to check
the ravaging effects of unfettered capitalism. Now it’s America’s turn.
Either we rein it in or we can kiss good-bye our once-great country
as it descends into the dustbin of history.

Seventh Commandment: THOU SHALT MAKE CORPORATIONS SERVANTS OF THE GREATER GOOD 

It will be tough but the whole bogus concept of corporate personhood must be
expunged. Totally voided. It was put in place by devious methods and now
must be rooted out. In general, it's way past time to drastically
restrict the charters of corporations, such that the interests of people
are balanced with the pursuit of profit. This is the way it used to be
in the early days of our nation. Back then, corporations were set up for
specific and usually public-spirited projects, assigned a very narrowly
defined charter and a fixed duration. When whatever was supposed to get
done got done, the corporation was dissolved. Maybe we don't have to
return to such a limited implementation in our modern world, but we do
have to require that corporations serve the common good. It is
entirely legal to dictate that corporations act responsibly and take
into account the needs of the community they serve, especially the
communities where they reside. We have to elect individuals who are not
in the pockets of the corporations and have them re-write the laws for
doing the business of America. If the multinational bohemoths don't like
it, let them set up in China, Vietnam or Bangladesh. That's where they
already have their factories anyway. Ultimately this will not harm the
economy, it will create a society which is healthy and prosperous for everyone.

Eight Commandment: THOU SHALT PROMOTE PEACE AND BE LOVED AGAIN 

America must be taken off of a war footing. The high-alert status both at
home and around the world is nothing more than highly destructive
fear-mongering. It is used to promote a belligerent self-sabotaging
approach to international relations. It's the product of a grossly
delusional neocon imperialistic agenda which Americans don't support __
"exceptionalist" chest-beating which fills the coffers of the defense
contractors but bankrupts the rest of us both financially and
spiritually. We’ve meddled and bombed enough. It has accomplished
nothing and created more problems and more enemies than we had before we
decided that military force was the only way to deal with disagreements
and crises in the world. It has also subjected the American people to
unprecedented and unconstitutional levels of surveillance and a gross
abrogation of our rights as citizens. Time to try peace and cooperation
instead of threats and bullying.

Ninth Commandment: THOU SHALT RESPECT MOTHER EARTH 

Enough silly arguing and tiptoeing around climate change. It’s happening,
it could destroy the human race. It will without a doubt reduce
civilization to a shell of its former glory and sophistication. Let’s
get to work. Global warming and resource depletion represent the
greatest threats to mankind in recorded history. Responsible use of
resources and creation of sustainable sources of energy are not only
necessary, but could be the greatest unifying force ever! Brainstorming
and planning will create a monumental paradigm shift and the subsequent
implementation of our collective ingenuity will create jobs and bring
together behind a common purpose, a world which is torn by divisiveness,
fear, suspicion, anger. Though time is quickly running out, the
challenge of a planet in crisis doesn't have to end in total disaster.
On the contrary, this could be a historic opportunity for a massive
global initiative __ one of renewal and fellowship.

Tenth Commandment: THOU SHALT LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD 

The rich and powerful have had a good run. The party is over. The wealthy 
should start paying back the country which gave birth to their monumental
success. Inherited wealth does not give back to the community, the
social and political environment that supported the accumulation of all
that money. Tax it at 95% above $5 million. The heirs of the Koch
brothers will just have to squeak by on their $5.2 billion. Capital
gains? Capital gains is income. Tax it at the same rate as
personal income. Speaking of which __ time to return to the progressive
tax rates of the 60s and 70s. You know them. The ones which resulted in a
thriving economy! Massive tax reform across the board is in order,
closing of all loopholes, penalizing off-shoring of profits, and the
complete elimination of corporate welfare. Do I hear screaming of
'SOCIALISM!' out there? Get a life! Yes, this is redistribution of wealth. 
It's been going on for thousands of years. It's what makes a functioning 
society possible.

I confess, I’m not up to speed on my Bible studies. But I remember hearing at
some point, there were originally twenty commandments. I guess our good guy,
Moses, lost a tablet or two on his way down from the mountain.

I take this as meaning there’s room on my list for even more. So let’s come up
with some ideas for Commandments 11 - 20. All reasonable and constructive 
ideas are welcome.

I’ll bet there’s a little Moses in everyone just hankering to bust out.

Come on. Go for it!

Let's make America great again.


[ This originated at the author's personal web site . . . http://jdrachel.com ]

Spitball Politics

 

With my new book An Unlikely Truth coming out, I've had a few interesting days recently.

Among several interviews I did last week, I ended up on a right wing radio
talk show. We only had a few minutes but the host immediately challenged
me with . . . "Well, since money is free speech, how can you get the
money out of politics? And why would you want to?"

For one of the few times in my life, I was speechless.

Of course, you and I know the answer to that question. But it's a VERY LONG ANSWER!

It's an answer that goes to the very core of the values each of us hold about
our country, about our system of government, about what democracy means
and how it should function in a free society.

Then something occurred to me.

This guy threw me a spitball.

He fired a pitch covered in slime, lubricated with the mucous of his warped,
partisan, and corporate view of America, meant to slip and slide off any
attempt by me to give it a good smack at least into the outfield, if
not the stands.

Therefore . . . there was no point in even trying to answer it.

If you think that spitballs are not in the spirit of good sportsmanship, not
aligned with the greater good of baseball and fair play, you don't
attempt to discuss it with a pitcher who has just won his last 15 games
throwing the spitball.

You talk to people with some perspective, people who can look at our national
sport, see it as only being fair, competitive, entertaining, and a contribution to 
our culture, when we all recognize that the integrity of the sport is more 
important than winning a particular game.

As a result, it was long ago decided by fair-minded, concerned members of 
the baseball community:

Spitballs are the unsavory choice of slime balls.

And the guys who insisted on throwing them were given an ultimatum:

Stop throwing spitballs or you can't play the game.

It's the same with politics. We can't expect Congress or any of our national
leaders to do the right thing about Citizens United or the corruption
of our system with truckloads of corporate money, when these are the
very people who are benefiting from this heinous mutilation of American
democracy.

If the current crop of lackluster elected officials don't want to play the game
with honesty, distinction, respect for the American people, and
reverence for representative democracy, they shouldn't be allowed to
play the game.

Spitball politics in the form of legalized bribery by lobbyists, play-for-pay
politicians, and corruption of our political system by deep-pocketed
oligarchs, is destroying America, or at bare minimum turning it into
something we barely recognize.

No more spitball politics, I say.

If our current crop of weak-kneed elected officials don't have the courage and
integrity to adopt sportsmanlike rules by legislatively ending Citizens
United immediately, they don't belong in the game.

If a politician can't embrace and play by sportsmanlike rules, one strike and he's out!

______________________________________________________________

I am doing what I can to address the destruction of our democratic system.

Without taking back our government, nothing will change.

In my new book, An Unlikely Truth, I offer an electoral strategy which I believe 
can effectively remove the crooks and liars from office, and begin to restore 
representative democracy to America.

An Unlikely Truth (Literary Vagabond Books) will be released worldwide on March 24th.



[ This originated at the author's personal blog site . . . http://jdrachel.com ]