@@alwaysfreedom9354 and ill bet you have auto and property and health insurance. So you can replace your house, get healthcare and cant lose your home if you are in an auto accident.
As a single mom of two teenagers this is all very depressing. I knew things were headed south when Reagan was elected and I never understood why on earth social security and unemployment were taxed when those funds are already taxes we’ve paid! I’ve waited tables many years now to support my family and getting taxed on tips too. Watching Washington allow the elite class and politicians to enrich themselves even further with no end in sight does not give me much hope for the future of the US. I really wish I could have gotten out of this country when my kids were little
Its up to your children, Teach them true history and politics and what is going on,. They have the power to keep our country democratic and make the government better. Education is key and at their age it is vital. The information is out there and those kids of yours have the world at their fingertips. Dont lament, teach. If the repubs idiots can get people in office like Marg green and Desantos etc then your kids have a good chance to be anyone they want to and change the country. Knowledge is key though
@@jannhebrank And it’s a damned shame that we have to teach history ourselves to overcome the MAGA-molded history now being taught in much of the country. Kirk and Buckley were crackpots, who are now seeming to be only slightly to the right in comparison to the “mainstream right” fascists of the 2120s
" For if leisure and security were enjoyed by all alike, the great mass of human beings who are normally stupefied by poverty would become literate and would learn to think for themselves; when they had done this they would sooner or later realize that the privileged minority had no function, and they would sweep it away. In the long run, a hierarchical society was only possible on a basis of poverty and ignorance…" - George Orwell "1984"
This is so true. And half the time when I try to explain to people they are being duped by RepubliCONs I get the "you just hate the rich" or "you're just jealous" replies from people who are bedazzled by rich clowns telling them they will be the next millionaire
I wonder at the unconscious tragedy of your life. You do realise that Orwell is criticising the State? His fear was we were sleep walking into Collectivism which always devolves into Totalitarianism . This is topical, did you know that one of Orwell’s best friends, the man who buried him , Malcom Muggeridge , was a close friend of Buckleys?
Orwel was a man who saw the future and his future is our present. Orwell's world mixed in "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley is a nightmare happening NOW. I once heard a Right Wing think tank speaker say, "We don't want people to vote". I cannot remember when and who decided this but to the rich it makes sense to me. Diaper Don was voted in bc he was a TV reality actor. Those who would vote a man with the biggest ego EVER and entrust this NARCiSSiST with the nuclear football is complicit in our current troubles and possible demise as a world power. So many uneducated people flocked to him and he simply would never invite to breakfast. Make no mistake that the GOP has become an enemy of the People. Theycare only about themselves and have convinced millions that they know what's good for them including attacks on the freedom of the press and speech. The poem that speaks of this says (paraphrased big time) When they came for the Protestants, well I wasn't a Protestant so I said nothing. When they came for the Communists, well, I wasn't a Communist, so I said nothing. When they came for me there was no one left to speak or help Me". . That's how I see it. I believe a German survivor of Hitler wrote this. America is under attack from within.
Orwell should be mandantory for every student ro read. It was during the 1960's. Now DeSantis and his goons would threaten any libarian with arrest if they had in a school library. It has begun.....
I graduated from High School in 1969. We were so full of idealism, a real hope that we could change our country to be a real representative democracy with opportunity for all, that we the people had rights, that racism could be eradicated, that diplomacy, not war, would be how conflicts were resolved, that women be given power and a voice, that a just society was possible. Jimmy Carter was a response to these ideals. But the Power Worshippers pulled him down, installed Reagan, and created the perfect scenario for neo fascism to replace idealism and social justice. The Religoous Right in concert with the Corporate elites subverted the move towards a just society, infiltrated church pulpits across the nation, pushing fear, White Supremacy, violence, war, and our dream dimmed. The grim reality of how far we have backslidden is disheartening. Citizens United , a rigged tax system, gerrymandering, voter suppression, intimidation, and here we are right back where we started, only these monsters are better organized, having successfully brainwashed half of the nation, control much of the media, and have a base that us loyal even to their own detriment. The beast with the fatal head wound brought back to life. Where we go ftom here is anybody's guess. It does not look hopeful.
@@michaelhalbherr3683 that's the first time anyone on the right has ever mentioned a "religious left". aren't you people the ones always pushing that the left his without morals and doesn't care about God?? you can't both sides this. right-wing nuts are the only people causing issues in this country. y'all are 20% of the population on a good day I suggest you start acting like it. you don't have to take my advice. but the consequences for when you don't are going to be grim. very grim indeed. and it won't be "the left" you'll be worried about. once you tools are no longer useful, you'll be thrown away like trash.
BUT , we have better communication and shared ideals and can teach the younger generation the truth. Kids are our future and the internet is a wonderful weapon. The hypocrite repubs are burning books now but we need the kids to realize their world access could be taken away and they need to learn how to stop that. There does seem gloom at times but we are some way up that hill and maybe have taken a hit regarding womens rights but more than half the country is unhappy about it and the winds of change can blow the other way. Just need to keep teaching that there is hope for the kids to make the country really democratic and take back the power from the wealthy elite. It can be done
@@michaelhalbherr3683 no actually there aren't any left-leaning people that feel that way. because left-leaning people aren't stupid. they know that abortion is part of healthcare and not the business of others. they know that none of that crap that you were worried about is being taught in schools. that's why they're left-leaning. they base their views on reality.
@@michaelhalbherr3683 you made a whole lot of assumptions here. just because we, as in the left have a different set of values than you doesn't mean it's group think. it's especially funny to you have a right-wingers use the phrase group think as if that means something. 😆 not everyone on the left agrees about everything. but we all agree on a basic set of facts. something that the right will never understand. you are perfectly willing to believe anything that right-wing media tells you. then you tell everybody else that they believe everything left-wing media tells them. which is funny because corporate media, MSM, is just right-wing media. all media is right Wing media. it's all corporate-sponsored and cares about nothing more money. it preys on the stupid, non critical thinking suckers that have a burning desire to being told how to feel. all propped up by a bowtie wearing shlep telling his low IQ voters "I'm just asking questions". then all of you right-wingers assume that we're all watching what you think is left-wing media and believing everything they say. the fact is most of us don't watch mainstream media and when we do it's simply for information on what they're trying to push on us. but we certainly don't believe the talking heads. we don't support the outrage machine trying to get us all upset about something that just doesn't exist. y'all had the same outrage when cars first came out. then you were outraged again when they got rid of leaded gas, now you're thinking they're going to get rid of gas stoves and you're all up in arms about it. it's hysterical. but keep on criticizing other people cuz you've got it all figured out.
Thom, your "history lessons" should be considered a valuable "natural resource". Please don't ever stop! The American People have been "HAD". Sadly, all too few are aware of it. Your programming has opened many eyes, and we all should feel grateful for your efforts. I know I do.
Whether we call this system democratic or not, the more unequal the distribution of wealth, the more that hierarchy is the power structure. And what we have now is the greatest wealth inequality in all of human history. And it's accelerating wildly.
That’s not true but anyway the rich don’t print money. The government prints money at a faster rate than the economy is growing ( because they need to bribe their constituents) and this disproportionately favours those who have assets. Hence the wealth gap ; created by government not the wealthy.
@@alwaysfreedom9354 At least he "HAD THE BRAIN, TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON"........Can't say the same for "CURRENT G.O.P POLITICIANS OR tRUMPS INTELLECTUALLY CHALLENGED FANS"......
So true ! I ll never understand why Reagan was so popular with the working class just like I ll never understand why anyone wants DT ,a criminal,as our president
I so appreciate you pointing out the adverse effect of Regan's presidency. Just looked back in time when deficits began piling up. I believe you'll find a direct correlation between Regan and his policy of giving to the rich at the expense of revenue. ... And to think his supporters believe him worthy of Mount Rushmore.
The prosperity of the Reagan years was caused by Carter appointed Volker. He raised interest rates which caused oil prices to go from over $54 a barrel to a little over eight in a dozen years. These actions started helping the economy a couple of years after Reagan took office.
#45 WAS/IS Reagan on steroids. Literally the leader of a CULT and responsible for nearly 25% of the National debt. Trump accomplished this in one 4year term. QUITE A SUCCESS???
@@roughhabit6496 It was the labor unions that created the middle class. I think you are the one confused. If you like weekends, overtime pay, minimum wage, (Which Republicans, owned by the rich refuse to raise to a livable level), limited workdays, disability insurance, unemployment insurance, (Contrary to capitalist propaganda, have strict requirements.), affordable healthcare, these are why we have a middle class and it's due to unions.
Thom Hartmann is a gem in the crown of democracy. I know this knowledge gets out there...just wish more were listening and taking it to heart. History is a great teacher and Thom really turns the light towards what we are forgetting and therefore not heeding.
I used to listen to his radio show on KGO in San Francisco every morning. The oldest station in the Bay Area has recently been kaboshed by the conservative media moguls who are taking over local newspapers and radio stations.
I don't see any way you are not right. The end of extreme inequality is revolution. It is terrible, when the peons actually, finally get it, they are starving, for why? and one or two-hundred people are drowning in milk and honey, for why?
@@alwaysfreedom9354 You mean maybe 60 million of those 120 million will actually fight. They'll be facing the majority and we own heat too. Beside us, the US military will be on our side so they can bring it on all they want. The ConfederNazis will get destroyed again.
Thank you Tom Hartman! This is stuff that the media will never cover. I have totally tuned them out with the exception of Rachel Maddow of MSNBC who is the only one who dares delve into these truths.
I agree that Reagan marked the beginning of the end of our democracy, but would add that Gingrich marked the beginning of the end of civility in politics. A modern day example of the goal of so-called "conservative" economics is India, where systematic racism resulted in a "caste system" and where a tiny fraction holds all the wealth and the remainder is a servant class. That's the goal. Make the US just like India.
Nothing could be further from the truth. India unfortunately adopted socialist policies without any foundational wealth created by Capitalism, and this was the reason for Indias calamitous poverty.
@@roughhabit6496 socialist policies in India?! Really? Explain to me how their social safety net works. It'll be interesting to hear you attempt to explain that.
@@roughhabit6496 India had its Wealth stolen during the years of the Raj.. England pillaged the Nation of India and killed MANY MILLIONS 😭😡🙅🏼 READ ABOUT IT 🤦🏼🤷🏼
According to Nietzsche, who was a brilliant philologist & gained penetrating insights of the origins of languages & words, claimed that the origin of the terms good & evil didn`t come from anything to do with morality, as we understand it today. He said that, whatever benefitted the rulers was called `good` & whatever benefitted the peasants was called `evil.`
In other words, Astra Taylor, who founded the Debt Collective, had it right. In an interview several years ago in The Sun magazine, she said, "I do not see the problem of our time as one of populism an overly passionate majority. I see the problem as an affluent minority who are tired of democracy and the equality it demands." The Tea Party, then Trump's MAGA's, and now White Christian Nationalists - these right wing minorities depend on the generosity of right wing libertarians and corporatists to mount their demonstrations and placards.
The motto of the early 1900's :"LET THE POOR ,EAT THE POOR". THIS IS THE STATEMENT BY A REPUBLICAN LEADER. THEY SHOULD ALWAYS BE DENIED ABSOLUTE POWER, ABSOLUTE POWER IS ONLY LOYAL TO ITSELF.
I was 20 years old when Reagan took office in1981 I could see and knew what was going on but everybody I talked would my listen and dismissed my concerns about reaganomics it has now been 42 years of war on working class and it will not stop unless the majority of Americans stop voting for the Republicans it is the same as voting for the billionaires who want to end democracy all together making a permanent underclass of slaves of all races
I called Reagan the antichrist reaganomics is made up it creates billionaires and millionaires who want to become millionaires the stock market is the biggest pongo scheme in human history where they take from the working class and give to the wealthy class our government also hands over much of our tax wealth to the already rich and they cheat on their taxes and get away without any consequences
Oh, I do understand the damage done by the Reagan administration. But it's the uber wealthy (think big donors) that pulled the strings behind the curtain. Reagan was a puppet.
My only regret is that I just heard you for the first time. I remember reading a copy of a 1798 history of the United States, in which President Washington made it clear that power must be dispersed to the People, and that elected official must be replaced frequently for fresh blood and young ideas to help growth. Ironically, I lost that book in a foreclosure, direct result of two major tax changes, on interest deduction, and what qualified as head of household for further deduction. The issue is, though, that history has been phased out of education, and new efforts at describing the racial exploitation and economic changes in the country have been suppressed, precisely to maintain ignorance. Furthermore, the ignorant lower class have been duped with promises, into supporting the plutocrat ectremists. Your message needs to be spread urgently.
Yes sir, of all the very good vids explaining the evils of capitalism and the millionaire and billionair classes, this one explains the end game of it all. Take advantage of the 2A while you can.
As another 'war baby' - born after 1941, Like you, I have also held similar views as to how all this has 'played' out. I graduated college in 1965, and I understand the last 60 years the way you do. I too am depressed, as "Bird Lover 777" states. Many of us 'knew' at the time that Reagan was a disaster. He was the front man, for all the shenanigans that have occurred.
Thank you, Mr. Hartmann. The recent snapshot into the underlying problem that took place in Tennessee, bothered me because I felt something was missing. Were these acts of violence and oppression random? Done by mis-guided individuals acting without thoughts of consequence. It seems not, the Agenda is clear to see for those willing to look. Should this escalate to outright civil war, again, then it would be wise to heed the words of Sun Tzu, "Know yourself and Know the Enemy" Why am I interested in US politics? It seems in Jamaica, where I live, we are a microcosm. of the US
But democracy grew out of common interest through human common sense and economical thinking of a reasonable thinking people. Democracy is a spiritual and human project with open end - even in heaven. 🍷😁
The logic of capitalism (admittedly, only 200 years old, or so) leads invariably to slavery. If everything is for sale, why not people? Capitalism was simply a extension of feudalism, which was an outgrowth of slavery.
Thom Hartmann needs to get the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work on American history in light of the current battle for truth with the Republicans (and their Russian friends).
Just, wow. This puts the missing piece for me of all the fusty backsliding since the 60's in place. To see a concerted work of reviving a sort of feudalism condemning most to such a closed subservient life; that's true horror. Still, thanks for the light on the ugly fact.
A lot of what looked like liberalism in the late 60s and 70s was anti war sentiment for a war whose premises was very flawed and pseudo leftist attitudes which were actually pop culture "cool'.
Wow Thom, what good timing! I just recommended to Bernie that he needs to win over some of the MAGA with slogan: MAWRA - Make American Workers Rich Again.
That's why the Republicans put Trump in there because he's dumb and he'd follow anything they want him to do and you're getting away with they're taking their tax in us and taxing us and taxing us till we wrong and none of them pay taxes I think it's pretty obvious what's going on we're being dictated to
@@alwaysfreedom9354 Dude, inflation or cost of living historically increases every year. Unfortunately, no one can expect 2000 or earlier years gas prices. I agree with you to a degree, gas prices don't have to be so high. Again, this nation is filled with greed.
@@alwaysfreedom9354 Oh, I forgot, this gender classification is on another level. Terms of endearment appears to have gone away. Are you just an entity or whatever with no specific identity?🤔
Steppenwolf - "Monster"; America, where are you now? Don't you care about your Sons and Daughters America, we need you now We can't fight alone against the Monster!
I regret to admit voting for Reagan, only to realize he was all about protecting rich peoples’ wealth from both taxes and and labor unions. Reagan raised taxes on low income earners, like waiters, and reduced taxes for the super rich, while firing air traffic controllers for going on strike. Since then I have only vote for Democrats, mainly because they work for the majority of Americans. I can remember when most families could afford to live off a single paycheck.
you missed Nixon ending the gold standard to enforce inflation upon us in the seventies. And Carter's doctoral thesis on "zero based budgeting" in business hurt workers as well. This all started as you said with the Civil Rights act and the Voting Rights act. At that point they decided that since they could not make wage slaves out of blacks that they would abandon the poor whites and make wage slaves out of them as well. I have never found a college macro economics instructor who could explain why two percent inflation is "DESIRABLE" and why it is good. They just say it and if you want to pass the course it is accepted. It simply devalues the dollar such that your purchasing power erodes unless you are in the owner/investor class. This is not just republicans. Carter, Clinton, and Obama all subscribed as well. Biden too. PS Reagan DOUBLED the soc sec tax to create a fund where baby boomers would cover their own benefit on top of the old system. As boomers die off, the trust fund was DESIGNED to run out of money. It was only a fix for the population bubble they represented. Unfortunately we are living longer and so it needs about a ten year fix but the design in the eighties was actually pretty good estimate. Yet Repugs create all these lies about it so no one remembers thus the public accepts killing it as they have wanted to do since it's inception.
Good to read so many sensible people on here. Went to Rumble the other day & the idiocy horrified me. People so disoriented, yet so sure they were not.
Corporations are dictatorships functionally. Pretty much all businesses are. Considering most wealthy people tend to come from business, it's not surprising they feel that things work better that way.
@@lyndamedley4789 This is why we in the population say that there’s two systems you got a system, financially judiciously, and in every aspect of government that is designed to support the wealthy and we have a system for us that’s designed to keep us in control and keeping them where they are They are few we are many but this is the nature of history doubtful that it will turn around after all, we got a gaggle of twits running everything
Thom! This is my favorite video of yours! In just a mere 12 minutes you have presented how we have gotten to where we are today and the struggle continues and will go on. I am saving and sharing this for my children and grandchildren. No one has explained the history of this struggle as well as you have here. Incredible! Thank you!
@@alwaysfreedom9354 , sorry , but , your wrong ,Democratic socialism is a left-wing political philosophy that supports political democracy and some form of a socially owned economy, with a particular emphasis on economic democracy, workplace democracy, and workers' self-management, are you opposed to owning every corporation in this country and getting your needs and your family's needs met first and then sell off the rest and sustain the corporations without the rich being involved , you like paying for the rich , do you like paying their taxes , well i don't , i am sick and tired of 1.6 million rich leeches controlling and owning every corporation in this country and controlling the lives the economy and strangling the less fortunate, so you will have to excuse me if i don't swallow your right wing rich man crap , i know people in those countries and their system is a hell of a lot better than ours hands down , health care is better schools are better working conditions are better, the USA practices, Medieval feudalism, and the USA is a LIE , its been lying to the world every time they say not one is above the law when we all know the rich are above the law and the laws were crafted to keep us the serfs in line not the rich
@@alwaysfreedom9354 well at least they have mercy , in the USA the republicans let the people die on the street alone , and seniors they want dead all the time because it hurts the bottom line of the rich
@@alwaysfreedom9354 Oh and by the way , Older voters vote republican , you mean ignorant voters , uneducated votes , voters lacking in critical thinking skills and those voters with low IQ vote republican, and to round off the Entourage, the rich, do it because they own the republicans, No one with intelligence votes republican
Once again at work another conversation came up as to why wages for laborers (both who have been there a few years or many years) are not much ahead of starting wages; but the answer is clear: keep em' poor, keep em' struggling.
Eliminate the Reagan era tax add-ons. Greatly increased taxes on the wealthy. Every elected official should actually have to pay into social security. And if the religious right wants to be involved in politics than we can tax the churches. Eliminate big money from political campaigns altogether.
This is the same story all over the world. The 'haves' don't like the 'not haves' getting too comfortable. Same all over the world, whether its between castes, religions, regional differences, races, skin colour, political beliefs, etc.
The refutation to the conservative attitude is to point directly to Scandinavian countries, Holland, Germany. They stand in sharp contrast. Even very conservative countries in S America and Ireland legalized abortion. Mexico de criminalized it last year if I remember.
Same thing happened in Rome. Rome was a limited democracy but the military (Julius Caesar and Pompey) teamed with the richest citizen in Rome (Crassus) to form a triumvirate to overthrow democracy. The result was a fascist empire which lasted in one forrm or other until the fall of Constantinople in 1453 during which it was replaced by the Ottoman empire which lasted until 1923. An object lesson for America which has no external enemies capable of overthrowing its government and will likely have no internal enemies if a fascist, surveilence state is inaugurated with all the resouces of modern technology and weaponry to support it. It could indeed be a very long dark night if democracy in America is overthrown.
I knew that Reagan was bad news, but I could not have explained it clearly. But we already knew (and quickly felt the effects of his policy) that trickle down economy was BS. Thank you.
This was great info. I wonder if we would be like some European countries,Scandinavia ect. Today like healthcare for all wages, if it would have kept going
I say those rich fund both parties, through their control of institutions never really allow more parties, and voting harder will never fix it. This is what class warfare looks like.
For many years now I've noticed that all my R friends have been repeating the standard retort, "Thisisn'tademocracy, it'sarepubliyadayadayada." Most couldn't tell the difference. But there have been a few who do know enough to reference the Roman republic. EXCEPT they don't show interest in the actual republic. They are only interested in Caesar. How he *had* to take charge. How he did take over. How Rome blossomed under emperors. Yada frightening Yada! They want the republic to fail! They long for a strong man. They always have.
@@michaelhalbherr3683 Conservatives hate big government UNTIL they want corporate subsidies, bail outs; and they love FEMA only when their communities have disasters. Without big government they would not have these things. Conservatives only hate big government when it serves poor and middle class people! Therefore, in my opinion (and Thom’s) government is synonymous with democracy. If big government was a problem to Reagan so was democracy!
@@michaelhalbherr3683 It isn't so much what Reagan "said" but more about what he "did". The right has twisted democratic values to serve their purposes. Rules regarding equality be damned. You do sound to me an avowed right wing conservative. Intelligent but with a narrow and cunning edge. Another fox for the henhouse. Worthy of debate but somewhat meanly based. No disrespect and IMO. Who are you reading and listening to. I would be interested to know where you get your information to back up your POV. I have been in debates with folks who sound like you do. It usually slides towards incivility on their part pretty fast instead of an honest wish for understanding. In other words it isn't civil but goes nuclear. That to me has been a hallmark of most conservative voices I have tried to understand.
Just a few notes; "this democratic experiment" was inspired by the savage Iroquois who built their confederacy on inclusive principles, which upon witnessing them in action, shamed the soon to be American elites. In other words, this system wasn't created because these people believed whole heartedly in democracy, but because they were trying to show up the savages they were trying to conquer. Second, in this modern era Democracy as a concept is very fluid, examining the institutional structures of Rome and the expectations given to the populous, especially during the Republic years, I get the sneaking suspicion that the Republic(an) government envisioned by the founders was less about Democracy and more about pretending democracy was the goal. But that's just me. Lastly, European history, apart from world history since the world has not imposed ways of living onto Europe; is filled with empty handed gestures towards more inclusive participation in the political economic systems of whatever era you could reference, especially in the past 1,000 years. In all cases though, the inclusivity was without institutional support. I always recall this point when thinking about where the federal government is heading as the wealthy corporate-stake controllers plunge deeper into controlling it.
When you see all men created equal you must know that excluded not only any non-Englishmen but even the non-wealthy among them in reality it just meant that Rich merchants and land owners in America were equal to any nobility from England.
Remember, in the beginning, well less than half of the people were able to vote and even senators weren't chosen by popular vote, so no, it was never a democracy. Also, the parties put up whoever they wanted to run for office with no help from the general population.
@@diffened Yes and most don't know the two real reasons for the war of independence, it wasn't about about the British putting a tax on tea it was about the British taking their tax off tea which would have destroyed colonist business with the Dutch tea exporters and it was about the British limiting the colonist to east of the Allegany mountains as the British didn't want their native allies upset as they fought the French and the French's native allies.
@@billybobhobnob101 I do realize that, unfortunately most white people use that so they can fane solidarity with non-white people only to return to their imperial duties soon after those people leave their presence. In other words, as a black man I was made aware of that in school, and used the information to develop a well rounded view for creating a better society, while white people seem to only acknowledge it when trying to side step uncomfortable topics.
Thom, you are point-on in your thinking of the facts of events. Please keeps doing what you are doing to get the word out against the Fascism ans other Darkness that is manifest. Thank You Thom.
Hartmann laid this out perfectly. I know. I was born in 1954. I lived through all he was talking about. One thing he didn't hit on though was this & you can check what I'm saying. It's about a turn coat. His name was Ronald Reagan. If you didn't know it Reagan grew up in a very left based family. That's right. He came from a family of Democrats. He, (in my eyes anyway) stayed a Democrat all the way up till the time he retired from acting. When flipped to Republican & claimed the Democratic Party had let him down. I believe it was a lie. Reasoning. First thing was approved by General Electric Corporation & got a very lucrative paying job. Part of the conditions, (I believe) was to flip to the dark side. He became a Republican. Thus began Ronald Reagan's grooming for the Presidency. The Republican Party got exactly what they wanted. An actor to appeal to the public. Thus started the attack on the middle class. All the talk of this hero was just an actor doing his job. Acting.
It's amazing that they want you to buy their products, which makes them rich, but they don't want you around. If we don't buy their products, they would be as poor as the rest of us.
New to N American politics but I definitely saw the wealthy in England harking back to the late 1700's and 1800's as the "golden age" when the tobacco, cotton and wool barons built the "great country houses" and ruled (ie plundered) 1/5 of the world. Thatcher was the agent, working with Regan, that they saw as the political means to return to this golden age. We need to get serious about a "war on wealth" to reverse this. Others such as Denmark have successfully continued the democratic and social development of the 1960's and are now among the most successful countries in the world with the highest standards of living. The great con of the Thatcher Ragan years and Neo-liberals was "trickle down economics". The idea that allowing concentrations of wealth would allow those with wealth to generate more wealth which would flow down and make us all better off. The OPPOSITE is now very demonstrably true and was clearly visible to anyone who looked at history at the time. There is a very good reason why the elites work hard to prevent the teaching of modern social and political history but want you to study only rulers from the colonial era.
I have listened to Thom for many years and I don't think I have ever disagreed with him on anything he may be the only one I can say that about keep it up Thom
Well what’s many people don’t understand about the founding fathers was they were also some of the richest people in the colonies. Just like rich people today, the founding fathers didn’t want what they called “democratic mob rule“ in other words, Where are the poor majority of a country says there’s more of us than there are a few rich people therefore we’re the majority we are on the government and of course raise taxes on you to pay for things like highways and improving the nation and it’s people. The founding fathers were mostly rich slave owners didn’t want anybody touching their money. That’s why you have something like the electoral college to protect slaveowners with money. But as our nation grow and prosper we started allowing people to have rights after the Civil War slaves were free and given rights in the 1920s women were given the vote and in the 30s workers were given the right to organize and form unions. But whenever you hear a conservative his response is always the same “Let’s return the country back to the way the founding fathers meant meaning that the rich ran the country with dictatorial power and the right not to give a damn about the rest of us peasants.
Democracy is way more than 200 years old. If I recall my history lessons, democracy started in Greece a long time ago. The way the President of the USA is declared is NOT democracy. To be democratic, the candidate with the most popular votes should be declared the winner.
Great post, agreed. But we do need our countrymen to have basic critical thinking skills and the ability to recognize logical fallacies in the speeches they are listening to before they go to the polls so they stop getting swindled by these sociopathic politicians.
The elite of any nation/tribe has always felt itself special and in that specialness, entitled to all the benefits it could obtain. Most kingdoms found power centered around a coalition of monarchy, wealthy landowners, and a professional priesthood. They worked to support one another and even the upstart business class was usually held in contempt. In 5,000 years, their attitude has not changed. Along with the possibility of leisure abetting the possible 'enabling' of a middle class, there were the dangers, as wealthy conservatives might see them, as modern means of communication and a public education system that promoted critical thinking skills. Since they could not come out against technology or education, the only thing left was to find a way to suppress voter rights.
It's pretty discouraging and entirely exasperating that cogent voices like yours, Thom, still need to "reveal" what should be OBVIOUS by now to all Americans: Capitalism is ABOUT the concentration of wealth and power, and as such, is inherently antithetical to Democracy. My generation (I'm 70) and all subsequent generations were/are taught to conflate those two things, one an economic system, the other a system of government. I'll posit that the wealthy elite are less interested in the stability of society, and more interested in the stability of their wealth and power. The governing of Hamilton's Beast by the wealthy few is stable only in the way in which plantations are stable, with a small number of Masters controlling a large number of slaves. 🙏
The very rich don't want the general population to have the power to hold them accountable for the damage they do.
Ever since "Uncle Ronnie"! The GREAT PIG CON!
🎯🎯🎯 SPEAK 🗣️🗣️🗣️
@@johnmaki3046 🎯🎯🎯truth 🎯🎯🎯
JEFFREY EPSTEIN AND HIS CLIENTELE.
@@alwaysfreedom9354 and ill bet you have auto and property and health insurance. So you can replace your house, get healthcare and cant lose your home if you are in an auto accident.
As a single mom of two teenagers this is all very depressing. I knew things were headed south when Reagan was elected and I never understood why on earth social security and unemployment were taxed when those funds are already taxes we’ve paid! I’ve waited tables many years now to support my family and getting taxed on tips too. Watching Washington allow the elite class and politicians to enrich themselves even further with no end in sight does not give me much hope for the future of the US. I really wish I could have gotten out of this country when my kids were little
Its up to your children, Teach them true history and politics and what is going on,. They have the power to keep our country democratic and make the government better. Education is key and at their age it is vital. The information is out there and those kids of yours have the world at their fingertips. Dont lament, teach. If the repubs idiots can get people in office like Marg green and Desantos etc then your kids have a good chance to be anyone they want to and change the country. Knowledge is key though
@@jannhebrank And it’s a damned shame that we have to teach history ourselves to overcome the MAGA-molded history now being taught in much of the country.
Kirk and Buckley were crackpots, who are now seeming to be only slightly to the right in comparison to the “mainstream right” fascists of the 2120s
Right there with you, dear.
@@lindasimons691 Thank you 🌸
@@michaelhalbherr3683 pre-tax meaning?
"A rich man is either a thief or son of thieves". Dante
An orange man is son of another orange man......( with a lies spitting mouth )....
Every single rich man I have personally come across was a theif. YEP....!
or a lucky gambler
Here's the American History: Gustavus Myers: "History of the Great American Fortunes."
Oh, Dante got that right sooooo long ago.....sigh....and still so true....🙃
" For if leisure and security were enjoyed by all alike, the great mass of human beings who are normally stupefied by poverty would become literate and would learn to think for themselves; when they had done this they would sooner or later realize that the privileged minority had no function, and they would sweep it away. In the long run, a hierarchical society was only possible on a basis of poverty and ignorance…" - George Orwell "1984"
This is so true. And half the time when I try to explain to people they are being duped by RepubliCONs I get the "you just hate the rich" or "you're just jealous" replies from people who are bedazzled by rich clowns telling them they will be the next millionaire
I wonder at the unconscious tragedy of your life. You do realise that Orwell is criticising the State? His fear was we were sleep walking into Collectivism which always devolves into Totalitarianism .
This is topical, did you know that one of Orwell’s best friends, the man who buried him , Malcom Muggeridge , was a close friend of Buckleys?
If ever there was a prophet, George Orwell could qualify!
Orwel was a man who saw the future and his future is our present. Orwell's world mixed in "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley is a nightmare happening NOW. I once heard a Right Wing think tank speaker say, "We don't want people to vote". I cannot remember when and who decided this but to the rich it makes sense to me. Diaper Don was voted in bc he was a TV reality actor. Those who would vote a man with the biggest ego EVER and entrust this NARCiSSiST with the nuclear football is complicit in our current troubles and possible demise as a world power. So many uneducated people flocked to him and he simply would never invite to breakfast. Make no mistake that the GOP has become an enemy of the People. Theycare only about themselves and have convinced millions that they know what's good for them including attacks on the freedom of the press and speech. The poem that speaks of this says (paraphrased big time) When they came for the Protestants, well I wasn't a Protestant so I said nothing. When they came for the Communists, well, I wasn't a Communist, so I said nothing. When they came for me there was no one left to speak or help Me". . That's how I see it. I believe a German survivor of Hitler wrote this. America is under attack from within.
Orwell should be mandantory for every student ro read. It was during the 1960's. Now DeSantis and his goons would threaten any libarian with arrest if they had in a school library. It has begun.....
Thom says exactly how I viewed the Reagan years and the corruption of our democracy. Spot on!
And, Trump fits that mold - sad.
We had a women's movement, it was kicking off, before the pill.
I said that back before Reagan was even elected that he'd destroy this country.
Reagan years were better than malaise of Carter.
@@michaelcap9550 No they weren't and that's total bs.
I graduated from High School in 1969. We were so full of idealism, a real hope that we could change our country to be a real representative democracy with opportunity for all, that we the people had rights, that racism could be eradicated, that diplomacy, not war, would be how conflicts were resolved, that women be given power and a voice, that a just society was possible. Jimmy Carter was a response to these ideals. But the Power Worshippers pulled him down, installed Reagan, and created the perfect scenario for neo fascism to replace idealism and social justice. The Religoous Right in concert with the Corporate elites subverted the move towards a just society, infiltrated church pulpits across the nation, pushing fear, White Supremacy, violence, war, and our dream dimmed. The grim reality of how far we have backslidden is disheartening. Citizens United , a rigged tax system, gerrymandering, voter suppression, intimidation, and here we are right back where we started, only these monsters are better organized, having successfully brainwashed half of the nation, control much of the media, and have a base that us loyal even to their own detriment. The beast with the fatal head wound brought back to life. Where we go ftom here is anybody's guess. It does not look hopeful.
@@michaelhalbherr3683 that's the first time anyone on the right has ever mentioned a "religious left". aren't you people the ones always pushing that the left his without morals and doesn't care about God??
you can't both sides this. right-wing nuts are the only people causing issues in this country. y'all are 20% of the population on a good day I suggest you start acting like it. you don't have to take my advice. but the consequences for when you don't are going to be grim. very grim indeed. and it won't be "the left" you'll be worried about. once you tools are no longer useful, you'll be thrown away like trash.
Glad birth rates are falling. Our only power is to not produce more wage slaves
BUT , we have better communication and shared ideals and can teach the younger generation the truth. Kids are our future and the internet is a wonderful weapon. The hypocrite repubs are burning books now but we need the kids to realize their world access could be taken away and they need to learn how to stop that. There does seem gloom at times but we are some way up that hill and maybe have taken a hit regarding womens rights but more than half the country is unhappy about it and the winds of change can blow the other way. Just need to keep teaching that there is hope for the kids to make the country really democratic and take back the power from the wealthy elite. It can be done
@@michaelhalbherr3683 no actually there aren't any left-leaning people that feel that way. because left-leaning people aren't stupid. they know that abortion is part of healthcare and not the business of others.
they know that none of that crap that you were worried about is being taught in schools. that's why they're left-leaning. they base their views on reality.
@@michaelhalbherr3683 you made a whole lot of assumptions here. just because we, as in the left have a different set of values than you doesn't mean it's group think. it's especially funny to you have a right-wingers use the phrase group think as if that means something. 😆
not everyone on the left agrees about everything. but we all agree on a basic set of facts. something that the right will never understand.
you are perfectly willing to believe anything that right-wing media tells you. then you tell everybody else that they believe everything left-wing media tells them. which is funny because corporate media, MSM, is just right-wing media. all media is right Wing media. it's all corporate-sponsored and cares about nothing more money. it preys on the stupid, non critical thinking suckers that have a burning desire to being told how to feel. all propped up by a bowtie wearing shlep telling his low IQ voters "I'm just asking questions".
then all of you right-wingers assume that we're all watching what you think is left-wing media and believing everything they say. the fact is most of us don't watch mainstream media and when we do it's simply for information on what they're trying to push on us. but we certainly don't believe the talking heads. we don't support the outrage machine trying to get us all upset about something that just doesn't exist.
y'all had the same outrage when cars first came out. then you were outraged again when they got rid of leaded gas, now you're thinking they're going to get rid of gas stoves and you're all up in arms about it. it's hysterical. but keep on criticizing other people cuz you've got it all figured out.
Thom, your "history lessons" should be considered a valuable "natural resource". Please don't ever stop! The American People have been "HAD". Sadly, all too few are aware of it. Your programming has opened many eyes, and we all should feel grateful for your efforts. I know I do.
Agree 100% @treefrog.
Well, ignorance of the masses is one of the best friends of wealthy conservatives.
Except he’s completely wrong. He makes up the most ridiculous stuff...
@@Aikidoman06 Prove it. You can’t .
People need to understand colonialism with slavery and war as an experiment in democracy. This will help them.
Whether we call this system democratic or not, the more unequal the distribution of wealth, the more that hierarchy is the power structure. And what we have now is the greatest wealth inequality in all of human history. And it's accelerating wildly.
That’s not true but anyway the rich don’t print money. The government prints money at a faster rate than the economy is growing ( because they need to bribe their constituents) and this disproportionately favours those who have assets. Hence the wealth gap ; created by government not the wealthy.
Could it be that their wealth depends upon the unfair exploitation of others?!
😳 GASP!! No!! 😏 Say it ain't so!!! 😂😂😂
@@alwaysfreedom9354 Please demonstrably prove your claim, or STFU.
"We have the best government money can buy." Mark Twain
Sad that Mark Twain got it right way back then and it's still true...Boo....
@@alwaysfreedom9354 At least he "HAD THE BRAIN, TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON"........Can't say the same for "CURRENT G.O.P POLITICIANS OR tRUMPS INTELLECTUALLY CHALLENGED FANS"......
@@alwaysfreedom9354 You are in the vast minority. Thankfully we have his knowledge, as he was a long sight more insightful than you.
So true ! I ll never understand why Reagan was so popular with the working class just like I ll never understand why anyone wants DT ,a criminal,as our president
@@alwaysfreedom9354 what freedom? Are you a millionaire?
Everything you said was exactly what is happening in this country and around the world today.
Around the World...YES 🙌
Compost the Rich 🤑
I so appreciate you pointing out the adverse effect of Regan's presidency.
Just looked back in time when deficits began piling up. I believe you'll find a direct correlation between Regan and his policy of giving to the rich at the expense of revenue.
... And to think his supporters believe him worthy of Mount Rushmore.
Californians at the time, and I was one, tried to sound the alarm on Ronnie Raygun. Awful to see him get in.
The prosperity of the Reagan years was caused by Carter appointed Volker. He raised interest rates which caused oil prices to go from over $54 a barrel to a little over eight in a dozen years. These actions started helping the economy a couple of years after Reagan took office.
#45 WAS/IS Reagan on steroids. Literally the leader of a CULT and responsible for nearly 25% of the National debt. Trump accomplished this in one 4year term. QUITE A SUCCESS???
It makes me puke to think of it.
Raygun was a figurhead even then the wealthy were always still pulling the strings.
Thom, you are so spot on!!!! Keep it up.
He’s confused, he thinks democracy created the middle class when of course it was Capitalism that did that.
@@roughhabit6496 capitalism will destroy the middle class 😳
@@roughhabit6496 It was the labor unions that created the middle class. I think you are the one confused. If you like weekends, overtime pay, minimum wage, (Which Republicans, owned by the rich refuse to raise to a livable level), limited workdays, disability insurance, unemployment insurance, (Contrary to capitalist propaganda, have strict requirements.), affordable healthcare, these are why we have a middle class and it's due to unions.
Thom Hartmann is a gem in the crown of democracy. I know this knowledge gets out there...just wish more were listening and taking it to heart. History is a great teacher and Thom really turns the light towards what we are forgetting and therefore not heeding.
I used to listen to his radio show on KGO in San Francisco every morning. The oldest station in the Bay Area has recently been kaboshed by the conservative media moguls who are taking over local newspapers and radio stations.
I known this for years other Republicans actually took over this Reagan was elected okay this is terrible and we're allowing it to happen
Democracy has no crown. Those damned crowns are too heavy and morbidly gaudy.
@@patriciaariley5810 It is a figure of speech. Like the "light on the hill".
This rant is one of the best ever. Thom describes the cause of just about all our problems today in 12 minutes and 20 seconds
In the 1960s, the coice was: civil rights or civil unrest. America has now made a choice against civil rights; now comes the unrest.
I don't see any way you are not right. The end of extreme inequality is revolution. It is terrible, when the peons actually, finally get it, they are starving, for why? and one or two-hundred people are drowning in milk and honey, for why?
@@daphnewilson7966 all for power and greed😡
@@alwaysfreedom9354 You mean maybe 60 million of those 120 million will actually fight. They'll be facing the majority and we own heat too. Beside us, the US military will be on our side so they can bring it on all they want. The ConfederNazis will get destroyed again.
@@alwaysfreedom9354 MANY OF US DEMOCRATS ALSO BELIEVE IN OUR SEOND AMENDMENT.......BRING IT ON!!!
Thank you Tom Hartman! This is stuff that the media will never cover. I have totally tuned them out with the exception of Rachel Maddow of MSNBC who is the only one who dares delve into these truths.
I agree that Reagan marked the beginning of the end of our democracy, but would add that Gingrich marked the beginning of the end of civility in politics. A modern day example of the goal of so-called "conservative" economics is India, where systematic racism resulted in a "caste system" and where a tiny fraction holds all the wealth and the remainder is a servant class. That's the goal. Make the US just like India.
Not just servitude, but ghastly poverty.
Nothing could be further from the truth. India unfortunately adopted socialist policies without any foundational wealth created by Capitalism, and this was the reason for Indias calamitous poverty.
@@roughhabit6496 socialist policies in India?! Really? Explain to me how their social safety net works. It'll be interesting to hear you attempt to explain that.
that an idiot such as the knute could attain power shows how doomed we are.
@@roughhabit6496 India had its Wealth stolen during the years of the Raj..
England pillaged the Nation of India and killed MANY MILLIONS 😭😡🙅🏼
READ ABOUT IT 🤦🏼🤷🏼
According to Nietzsche, who was a brilliant philologist & gained penetrating insights of the origins of languages & words, claimed that the origin of the terms good & evil didn`t come from anything to do with morality, as we understand it today. He said that, whatever benefitted the rulers was called `good` & whatever benefitted the peasants was called `evil.`
In other words, Astra Taylor, who founded the Debt Collective, had it right.
In an interview several years ago in The Sun magazine, she said, "I do not see the problem of our time as one of populism an overly passionate majority. I see the problem as an affluent minority who are tired of democracy and the equality it demands."
The Tea Party, then Trump's MAGA's, and now White Christian Nationalists - these right wing minorities depend on the generosity of right wing libertarians and corporatists to mount their demonstrations and placards.
Well said!!!
Thom, you always have a talent to uncover important issues and clearly communicate them to the public. Thank you for your efforts and hard work!
The motto of the early 1900's :"LET THE POOR ,EAT THE POOR". THIS IS THE STATEMENT BY A REPUBLICAN LEADER. THEY SHOULD ALWAYS BE DENIED ABSOLUTE POWER, ABSOLUTE POWER IS ONLY LOYAL TO ITSELF.
I remember Regan (still waiting for the trickle down wealth) your right about everything. I wish more people understood.
I’m pretty sure we got trickled on as promised
I'm telling you, my mouse is weighed down from carrying all that gold. Or is it his?
As far as trickle down wealth somebody pluged the leak
Your summaries are always so concise. Nicely said.
People (today) DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE REAGAN EVIL! I was HERE for this ride!
I was 20 years old when Reagan took office in1981 I could see and knew what was going on but everybody I talked would my listen and dismissed my concerns about reaganomics it has now been 42 years of war on working class and it will not stop unless the majority of Americans stop voting for the Republicans it is the same as voting for the billionaires who want to end democracy all together making a permanent underclass of slaves of all races
I called Reagan the antichrist reaganomics is made up it creates billionaires and millionaires who want to become millionaires the stock market is the biggest pongo scheme in human history where they take from the working class and give to the wealthy class our government also hands over much of our tax wealth to the already rich and they cheat on their taxes and get away without any consequences
Oh, I do understand the damage done by the Reagan administration. But it's the uber wealthy (think big donors) that pulled the strings behind the curtain. Reagan was a puppet.
My only regret is that I just heard you for the first time. I remember reading a copy of a 1798 history of the United States, in which President Washington made it clear that power must be dispersed to the People, and that elected official must be replaced frequently for fresh blood and young ideas to help growth. Ironically, I lost that book in a foreclosure, direct result of two major tax changes, on interest deduction, and what qualified as head of household for further deduction. The issue is, though, that history has been phased out of education, and new efforts at describing the racial exploitation and economic changes in the country have been suppressed, precisely to maintain ignorance. Furthermore, the ignorant lower class have been duped with promises, into supporting the plutocrat ectremists.
Your message needs to be spread urgently.
100% !
Nothing but the absolute TRUTH, open you eyes and your minds.
Truth is not absolute
So many don't take class war seriously..
sad
No because they keep pointing the finger at race and people keep falling for it.
Class war? The majority of poor people are ignorant uneducatable people who support Trump.
@@williamclarke4510 class isn't education or amount of pay, it's whether you're a worker or an owner.
Some of us figured oyt that fiat Currencies are going down! Hows your stack?
I think the scales have fallen away from my eyes with this video. Thank you ,Thom.
Yes sir, of all the very good vids explaining the evils of capitalism and the millionaire and billionair classes, this one explains the end game of it all. Take advantage of the 2A while you can.
Because the pill started feminism and early America was a democracy? This stuff is absurd.
As another 'war baby' - born after 1941, Like you, I have also held similar views as to how all this has 'played' out. I graduated college in 1965, and I understand the last 60 years the way you do. I too am depressed, as "Bird Lover 777" states. Many of us 'knew' at the time that Reagan was a disaster. He was the front man, for all the shenanigans that have occurred.
It is easier for the Oligarchy to control one person than it is to control a Democracy.
Thank you, Mr. Hartmann. The recent snapshot into the underlying problem that took place in Tennessee, bothered me because I felt something was missing. Were these acts of violence and oppression random? Done by mis-guided individuals acting without thoughts of consequence. It seems not, the Agenda is clear to see for those willing to look. Should this escalate to outright civil war, again, then it would be wise to heed the words of Sun Tzu, "Know yourself and Know the Enemy" Why am I interested in US politics? It seems in Jamaica, where I live, we are a microcosm. of the US
We have never had economic democracy, without which we cannot claim to be truly democratic.
But democracy grew out of common interest through human common sense and economical thinking of a reasonable thinking people. Democracy is a spiritual and human project with open end - even in heaven. 🍷😁
The logic of capitalism (admittedly, only 200 years old, or so) leads invariably to slavery. If everything is for sale, why not people? Capitalism was simply a extension of feudalism, which was an outgrowth of slavery.
A well educated knowledgeable and informed society is essential for democracy,..
Thom Hartmann needs to get the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work on American history in light of the current battle for truth with the Republicans (and their Russian friends).
Just, wow. This puts the missing piece for me of all the fusty backsliding since the 60's in place. To see a concerted work of reviving a sort of feudalism condemning most to such a closed subservient life; that's true horror. Still, thanks for the light on the ugly fact.
A lot of what looked like liberalism in the late 60s and 70s was anti war sentiment for a war whose premises was very flawed and pseudo leftist attitudes which were actually pop culture "cool'.
They want to own both the payroll and the markets, just like on the old haciendas.
Wow Thom, what good timing! I just recommended to Bernie that he needs to win over some of the MAGA with slogan: MAWRA - Make American Workers Rich Again.
That's why the Republicans put Trump in there because he's dumb and he'd follow anything they want him to do and you're getting away with they're taking their tax in us and taxing us and taxing us till we wrong and none of them pay taxes I think it's pretty obvious what's going on we're being dictated to
MARPEW; Making American Rich People Even Wealthier
Nah, "Make America Affordable Again."
@@alwaysfreedom9354 Dude, inflation or cost of living historically increases every year. Unfortunately, no one can expect 2000 or earlier years gas prices. I agree with you to a degree, gas prices don't have to be so high. Again, this nation is filled with greed.
@@alwaysfreedom9354 Oh, I forgot, this gender classification is on another level. Terms of endearment appears to have gone away. Are you just an entity or whatever with no specific identity?🤔
You are a breath of fresh air . Thank you
Where have you been , America need you
Steppenwolf - "Monster";
America, where are you now?
Don't you care about your
Sons and Daughters
America, we need you now
We can't fight alone against the Monster!
“The rule of the people will always be incompatible with the rule of the rich.”
-Astra Taylor
Basically, we are in a deep sleep.
This is why I’ve been saying for years we needs socialism
Thank you sir. Your channel is educational and well-put-together. There are a few like you who are trying to be heard and steer us to brighter times.
I regret to admit voting for Reagan, only to realize he was all about protecting rich peoples’ wealth from both taxes and and labor unions. Reagan raised taxes on low income earners, like waiters, and reduced taxes for the super rich, while firing air traffic controllers for going on strike. Since then I have only vote for Democrats, mainly because they work for the majority of Americans. I can remember when most families could afford to live off a single paycheck.
you missed Nixon ending the gold standard to enforce inflation upon us in the seventies. And Carter's doctoral thesis on "zero based budgeting" in business hurt workers as well. This all started as you said with the Civil Rights act and the Voting Rights act. At that point they decided that since they could not make wage slaves out of blacks that they would abandon the poor whites and make wage slaves out of them as well. I have never found a college macro economics instructor who could explain why two percent inflation is "DESIRABLE" and why it is good. They just say it and if you want to pass the course it is accepted. It simply devalues the dollar such that your purchasing power erodes unless you are in the owner/investor class. This is not just republicans. Carter, Clinton, and Obama all subscribed as well. Biden too. PS Reagan DOUBLED the soc sec tax to create a fund where baby boomers would cover their own benefit on top of the old system. As boomers die off, the trust fund was DESIGNED to run out of money. It was only a fix for the population bubble they represented. Unfortunately we are living longer and so it needs about a ten year fix but the design in the eighties was actually pretty good estimate. Yet Repugs create all these lies about it so no one remembers thus the public accepts killing it as they have wanted to do since it's inception.
Well said!!!
Good to read so many sensible people on here. Went to Rumble the other day & the idiocy horrified me. People so disoriented, yet so sure they were not.
@@alwaysfreedom9354 Why such a shocker? I know it's freer than here, psst, but ... hmm, but what? I dunno why.
@@alwaysfreedom9354 I'm as angled of a phile as any 'mericun.
Corporations are dictatorships functionally. Pretty much all businesses are. Considering most wealthy people tend to come from business, it's not surprising they feel that things work better that way.
Remember Alan Greenspan said we have to much democracy a long time ago
Lewis Powell in a 1971 memo referred to such as America's "excess of democracy."
No such thing as excess democracy. You are either a free people or you are not!!
@@lyndamedley4789 This is why we in the population say that there’s two systems you got a system, financially judiciously, and in every aspect of government that is designed to support the wealthy and we have a system for us that’s designed to keep us in control and keeping them where they are They are few we are many but this is the nature of history doubtful that it will turn around after all, we got a gaggle of twits running everything
Why do billionaires NEVER seem satiated?
The more they take, the more they need.
Generic, uncontrollable greed. Original.
Reagan was our second Neo Fascist in the Oval Office. Nixon was the first.
.. it explains beautifully what has happened and is
happening, .. and what will happen.
Thom!
This is my favorite video of yours! In just a mere 12 minutes you have presented how we have gotten to where we are today and the struggle continues and will go on.
I am saving and sharing this for my children and grandchildren.
No one has explained the history of this struggle as well as you have here.
Incredible!
Thank you!
Man dropping truth bombs.
a truth teller, a young prophet 🍷😁
This is one the truest and most important things I've ever heard. Outstanding, brilliant!
This is what you get for not putting your thumb on the rich, in fact no one should be rich, but everyone should have what they need to be comfortable
@@alwaysfreedom9354 that's not Marxism not at all , it's Scandinavian democratic socialism /capitalism just like Denmark
@@alwaysfreedom9354 , sorry , but , your wrong ,Democratic socialism is a left-wing political philosophy that supports political democracy and some form of a socially owned economy, with a particular emphasis on economic democracy, workplace democracy, and workers' self-management, are you opposed to owning every corporation in this country and getting your needs and your family's needs met first and then sell off the rest and sustain the corporations without the rich being involved , you like paying for the rich , do you like paying their taxes , well i don't , i am sick and tired of 1.6 million rich leeches controlling and owning every corporation in this country and controlling the lives the economy and strangling the less fortunate, so you will have to excuse me if i don't swallow your right wing rich man crap , i know people in those countries and their system is a hell of a lot better than ours hands down , health care is better schools are better working conditions are better, the USA practices, Medieval feudalism, and the USA is a LIE , its been lying to the world every time they say not one is above the law when we all know the rich are above the law and the laws were crafted to keep us the serfs in line not the rich
@@alwaysfreedom9354 well at least they have mercy , in the USA the republicans let the people die on the street alone , and seniors they want dead all the time because it hurts the bottom line of the rich
@@alwaysfreedom9354 Oh and by the way , Older voters vote republican , you mean ignorant voters , uneducated votes , voters lacking in critical thinking skills and those voters with low IQ vote republican, and to round off the Entourage, the rich, do it because they own the republicans, No one with intelligence votes republican
Another example is Russia, a handful of "oligarchs " owning the country, Putin is their master....the rest of the community are poor.
Once again at work another conversation came up as to why wages for laborers (both who have been there a few years or many years) are not much ahead of starting wages; but the answer is clear: keep em' poor, keep em' struggling.
JOB = Just on broke !
Greed... it always goes back to greed.
all that corruption so many human beings had their rights stripped away omg that's so terrible.
Eliminate the Reagan era tax add-ons. Greatly increased taxes on the wealthy. Every elected official should actually have to pay into social security. And if the religious right wants to be involved in politics than we can tax the churches. Eliminate big money from political campaigns altogether.
Damn Reagan. Didn't think I could despise him more than I already did.
If the Middle class and the poor left the country Im sure that would cause some instability, and the rich would have nothing.
They would eat each other
There would be no slaves left if the working class left. There is no new lands to go to like America so standvup and vote blue and pray.
Pretty sure the rest of the world is in similar turmoil. No place to hide. We ran out of places to ruin.
This is the same story all over the world. The 'haves' don't like the 'not haves' getting too comfortable. Same all over the world, whether its between castes, religions, regional differences, races, skin colour, political beliefs, etc.
They even envy the godgiven divinity of their neighbores.
The refutation to the conservative attitude is to point directly to Scandinavian countries, Holland, Germany. They stand in sharp contrast. Even very conservative countries in S America and Ireland legalized abortion. Mexico de criminalized it last year if I remember.
I can say it much more concisely - it's all about control.
Well said.
Same thing happened in Rome. Rome was a limited democracy but the military (Julius Caesar and Pompey) teamed with the richest citizen in Rome (Crassus) to form a triumvirate to overthrow democracy. The result was a fascist empire which lasted in one forrm or other until the fall of Constantinople in 1453 during which it was replaced by the Ottoman empire which lasted until 1923. An object lesson for America which has no external enemies capable of overthrowing its government and will likely have no internal enemies if a fascist, surveilence state is inaugurated with all the resouces of modern technology and weaponry to support it. It could indeed be a very long dark night if democracy in America is overthrown.
I knew that Reagan was bad news, but I could not have explained it clearly. But we already knew (and quickly felt the effects of his policy) that trickle down economy was BS. Thank you.
This is what happens when you vote a movie star into office, same as when you vote a reality star into office.
I agree
@@herbertrodriquez6456 , Lol...
@@alwaysfreedom9354 For who?
This was great info. I wonder if we would be like some European countries,Scandinavia ect. Today like healthcare for all wages, if it would have kept going
That's actually what a REAL DEMOCRACY is in Europe. In the USA "Democracy" exists only in the national PR ....
Yeah Sweden is actually the most conservative country on the planet. No where else is as fiscally responsible.
I say those rich fund both parties, through their control of institutions never really allow more parties, and voting harder will never fix it. This is what class warfare looks like.
The basic problem is how do you beat monsters without becoming a monster
The basic problem is how do you beat monsters without becoming a monster
One side is very well organized and one side is not even very aware of being on a "side."
@@williamarnold9744 THIS. This is the power of American establishment propaganda. We're in "The Matrix."
For many years now I've noticed that all my R friends have been repeating the standard retort, "Thisisn'tademocracy, it'sarepubliyadayadayada." Most couldn't tell the difference. But there have been a few who do know enough to reference the Roman republic. EXCEPT they don't show interest in the actual republic. They are only interested in Caesar. How he *had* to take charge. How he did take over. How Rome blossomed under emperors. Yada frightening Yada!
They want the republic to fail! They long for a strong man. They always have.
Hartman quoted Reagan correctly: The US Government is synonymous with democracy!
@@michaelhalbherr3683 Well, I agree with Hartmann.
@@michaelhalbherr3683 Conservatives hate big government UNTIL they want corporate subsidies, bail outs; and they love FEMA only when their communities have disasters. Without big government they would not have these things. Conservatives only hate big government when it serves poor and middle class people! Therefore, in my opinion (and Thom’s) government is synonymous with democracy. If big government was a problem to Reagan so was democracy!
@@michaelhalbherr3683 It isn't so much what Reagan "said" but more about what he "did". The right has twisted democratic values to serve their purposes. Rules regarding equality be damned. You do sound to me an avowed right wing conservative. Intelligent but with a narrow and cunning edge. Another fox for the henhouse. Worthy of debate but somewhat meanly based. No disrespect and IMO. Who are you reading and listening to. I would be interested to know where you get your information to back up your POV. I have been in debates with folks who sound like you do. It usually slides towards incivility on their part pretty fast instead of an honest wish for understanding. In other words it isn't civil but goes nuclear. That to me has been a hallmark of most conservative voices I have tried to understand.
@@michaelhalbherr3683 , talk is cheap. It's what happens after that matters.
@@alwaysfreedom9354 Yes, a Democratic republic.
Take the loopholes out so the rich have to pay taxes and penalize any companies that are evading tax
What? Where do rich see stability? They're insane.
Just a few notes; "this democratic experiment" was inspired by the savage Iroquois who built their confederacy on inclusive principles, which upon witnessing them in action, shamed the soon to be American elites. In other words, this system wasn't created because these people believed whole heartedly in democracy, but because they were trying to show up the savages they were trying to conquer. Second, in this modern era Democracy as a concept is very fluid, examining the institutional structures of Rome and the expectations given to the populous, especially during the Republic years, I get the sneaking suspicion that the Republic(an) government envisioned by the founders was less about Democracy and more about pretending democracy was the goal. But that's just me. Lastly, European history, apart from world history since the world has not imposed ways of living onto Europe; is filled with empty handed gestures towards more inclusive participation in the political economic systems of whatever era you could reference, especially in the past 1,000 years. In all cases though, the inclusivity was without institutional support. I always recall this point when thinking about where the federal government is heading as the wealthy corporate-stake controllers plunge deeper into controlling it.
When you see all men created equal you must know that excluded not only any non-Englishmen but even the non-wealthy among them in reality it just meant that Rich merchants and land owners in America were equal to any nobility from England.
Remember, in the beginning, well less than half of the people were able to vote and even senators weren't chosen by popular vote, so no, it was never a democracy. Also, the parties put up whoever they wanted to run for office with no help from the general population.
@@diffened Yes and most don't know the two real reasons for the war of independence, it wasn't about about the British putting a tax on tea it was about the British taking their tax off tea which would have destroyed colonist business with the Dutch tea exporters and it was about the British limiting the colonist to east of the Allegany mountains as the British didn't want their native allies upset as they fought the French and the French's native allies.
@@billybobhobnob101 I do realize that, unfortunately most white people use that so they can fane solidarity with non-white people only to return to their imperial duties soon after those people leave their presence. In other words, as a black man I was made aware of that in school, and used the information to develop a well rounded view for creating a better society, while white people seem to only acknowledge it when trying to side step uncomfortable topics.
This answer from Thom Hartmann is the best explanation I've heard yet.
Nothing will change until Citizens United is overturned.
The greed of the right is absolutely insane! Only a few can have money and trickle starvation to the rest of us! Great work Thom!!
Thom, you are point-on in your thinking of the facts of events. Please keeps doing what you are doing to get the word out against the Fascism ans other Darkness that is manifest. Thank You Thom.
Hartmann laid this out perfectly. I know. I was born in 1954. I lived through all he was talking about. One thing he didn't hit on though was this & you can check what I'm saying. It's about a turn coat. His name was Ronald Reagan. If you didn't know it Reagan grew up in a very left based family. That's right. He came from a family of Democrats. He, (in my eyes anyway) stayed a Democrat all the way up till the time he retired from acting. When flipped to Republican & claimed the Democratic Party had let him down. I believe it was a lie. Reasoning. First thing was approved by General Electric Corporation & got a very lucrative paying job. Part of the conditions, (I believe) was to flip to the dark side. He became a Republican. Thus began Ronald Reagan's grooming for the Presidency. The Republican Party got exactly what they wanted. An actor to appeal to the public. Thus started the attack on the middle class. All the talk of this hero was just an actor doing his job. Acting.
The return to feudalism?
Let’s be clear. By “stability” what they really mean is that citizens should be Compliant. Thom dropping gems as usual.
It's amazing that they want you to buy their products, which makes them rich, but they don't want you around. If we don't buy their products, they would be as poor as the rest of us.
Thus it is said that capitalism is self-cannibalising & tends to fascism.
Dude I think I’m in love with your mind..love the structure of the show...the history, analysis, and commentary is superb❤
New to N American politics but I definitely saw the wealthy in England harking back to the late 1700's and 1800's as the "golden age" when the tobacco, cotton and wool barons built the "great country houses" and ruled (ie plundered) 1/5 of the world. Thatcher was the agent, working with Regan, that they saw as the political means to return to this golden age. We need to get serious about a "war on wealth" to reverse this. Others such as Denmark have successfully continued the democratic and social development of the 1960's and are now among the most successful countries in the world with the highest standards of living. The great con of the Thatcher Ragan years and Neo-liberals was "trickle down economics". The idea that allowing concentrations of wealth would allow those with wealth to generate more wealth which would flow down and make us all better off. The OPPOSITE is now very demonstrably true and was clearly visible to anyone who looked at history at the time. There is a very good reason why the elites work hard to prevent the teaching of modern social and political history but want you to study only rulers from the colonial era.
I have listened to Thom for many years and I don't think I have ever disagreed with him on anything he may be the only one I can say that about keep it up Thom
I wish we had a class called Tom H. 101 would be much better the PragerU. He gives you 50yrs of history in 12 minutes.
Thanks for educating us all !
Well what’s many people don’t understand about the founding fathers was they were also some of the richest people in the colonies. Just like rich people today, the founding fathers didn’t want what they called “democratic mob rule“ in other words, Where are the poor majority of a country says there’s more of us than there are a few rich people therefore we’re the majority we are on the government and of course raise taxes on you to pay for things like highways and improving the nation and it’s people. The founding fathers were mostly rich slave owners didn’t want anybody touching their money. That’s why you have something like the electoral college to protect slaveowners with money. But as our nation grow and prosper we started allowing people to have rights after the Civil War slaves were free and given rights in the 1920s women were given the vote and in the 30s workers were given the right to organize and form unions. But whenever you hear a conservative his response is always the same “Let’s return the country back to the way the founding fathers meant meaning that the rich ran the country with dictatorial power and the right not to give a damn about the rest of us peasants.
Democracy is way more than 200 years old. If I recall my history lessons, democracy started in Greece a long time ago.
The way the President of the USA is declared is NOT democracy. To be democratic, the candidate with the most popular votes should be declared the winner.
Great post, agreed. But we do need our countrymen to have basic critical thinking skills and the ability to recognize logical fallacies in the speeches they are listening to before they go to the polls so they stop getting swindled by these sociopathic politicians.
Yes! 👏👏👏👏
This is my introduction to your broadcast. I’m very impressed.
Half way through Howard Zinn's people history of America. It has always been.
His chapter on the Philippine-American War is a polemic of the first rate. Treat that one with kid gloves.
The elite of any nation/tribe has always felt itself special and in that specialness, entitled to all the benefits it could obtain. Most kingdoms found power centered around a coalition of monarchy, wealthy landowners, and a professional priesthood. They worked to support one another and even the upstart business class was usually held in contempt. In 5,000 years, their attitude has not changed. Along with the possibility of leisure abetting the possible 'enabling' of a middle class, there were the dangers, as wealthy conservatives might see them, as modern means of communication and a public education system that promoted critical thinking skills. Since they could not come out against technology or education, the only thing left was to find a way to suppress voter rights.
All you have to do is look at the saying on UK counter intelligence to understand this: 'Status quo'.
"I will fight to give money back to working and middle class Americans."--Kamala Harris
It's pretty discouraging and entirely exasperating that cogent voices like yours, Thom, still need to "reveal" what should be OBVIOUS by now to all Americans: Capitalism is ABOUT the concentration of wealth and power, and as such, is inherently antithetical to Democracy. My generation (I'm 70) and all subsequent generations were/are taught to conflate those two things, one an economic system, the other a system of government. I'll posit that the wealthy elite are less interested in the stability of society, and more interested in the stability of their wealth and power. The governing of Hamilton's Beast by the wealthy few is stable only in the way in which plantations are stable, with a small number of Masters controlling a large number of slaves. 🙏
Well said!!!
Thank you for my remembering and being spot on my recall of it.
Russell Kirk ALSO wrote Classic Gothic Horror Stories interestingly enough.
Citizens under 40 need to take up the Banner of Democracy. It will affect their lives the most. Vote for a just world.