It's no wonder congress has been polling so low. Since the internet was invented, Americans are starting to find out just how congress really works…did congress actually have to pass a (watered-down) law forbidding them to conduct insider trading on the stock market? Members of congress (as well at state legislatures, governors, etc.) are already above the law on almost everything else as it is now. They certainly don't lead by example, so why are they called our "leaders"…

May 4, 2012 ·

Politics

·

The reality is that many of our elected officials no longer believe they are answerable to the people; that the Constitution is merely an outdated piece of paper; and that we the people are largely simpletons whom they mock with their political spin and tales – their smug demeanor evident all the way to the bank. And sadder still is that we mostly prove them correct as we habitually fall along our divisive party lines. Mitch Gurney

May 1, 2012 ·

Politics

·

We hear a lot today about "structural unemployment" in America, the notion being that unemployment in America today is related to workers not having the right set of skills for the available jobs in the economy. There is some truth to this, but the reason for this has nothing to do with any inherent realities of a modern economy, it has to do with how American capitalists have intentionally engineered the global labor markets...

April 11, 2012 ·

Politics

·

Foxconn's Tycoon Chairman Gou acknowledges that even “salaries in Brazil are higher” than in China, and pledges to keep increasing wages. While on the campaign trail, when politicians promise to “bring America back” and “bring jobs back to America” they are making old world promises that no longer apply in a globalized one world economy. And they know it. Globalization has been and continues to be a corporate and bipartisan project.

Apple and Foxconn recently announced an agreement to improve wages and working conditions at factories accused of being sweatshops. But will Foxconn, under scrutiny for labor violations for several years, deliver on their promises? Foxconn has 1 million workers and China’s toy manufacturers have 4 million workers that primarily manufacture American brands earning about $1.20 per hour. Reflecting back on history, the battle to standardize global working conditions and wages will prove a long one for sure. Meanwhile factory workers in the U.S earn from $8.15 to $17.86 an hour. Basic math alone should dispel the myth that American companies don’t outsource for cheaper labor…

A glaring contradiction exists in which some conservatives take issue with welfare for the needy but not for the wealthy or corporations…they hate these programs because they believe they create freeloaders and that people should fend for themselves, except for the wealthy and corporations of course… Consequently their mantra is welfare creates freeloaders and demand the programs be cut…but seldom do they demand cuts to subsidies that benefit the wealthy and corporations nor even acknowledge the existence of the corporate welfare system.

Gingrich is a member of the Capital Hill Gang that’s ruled over Washington for years. As a Former Speaker of the House he was first elected in 1979 serving until he resigned 1999. His history is laden with scandal. He served in the House during the crucial years that American multinational companies lobbied Congress to change policies that enabled them to outsource their manufacturing to China and elsewhere in pursuit of cheaper labor and production cost…so why is he leading in recent polls against his rivals? Are these people actually listening and more importantly understanding what he supports?

I am a guest writer at another blog Keep America at Work and the other day the blogger of that site posted a commentary the Impossible Dream that inspired me to write the following that I’d like to share with our readers here at the Political Bandit...

Obama delivered a powerful speech this past week in Osawatomie, Kansas…his speech was powerful, insightful and perfectly polished for the times. Much of what he said he has said before. What he told us is what many of us already know but expect Washington to fix…But are words enough? Words can serve to inspire and build hope. But words without action are meaningless…Has Obama lived up to his words or caved to powerful interest?

If we want real change we need campaign reform and an end to lobbying of congress. But it will be impossible to get such measures through a congress whose vested interest is in direct conflict with them. We must first vote nearly every one of them out of office. Will a vast majority of Americans - the proud and the brave - muster the collective strength to make such change even possible? Will this same public who falls so easily prey to the consumerism of Black Friday, camping overnight in Wal-Mart parking lots, pepper spraying and rioting over cheap waffle irons (once made in the U.S but now in China) muster the same bravado to organize and reclaim our government?