Politicians, Servants of the Wealthy

By Mumia Abu-Jamal, Prison Radio

19 September 15

t is impossible to look at the current crop of political presidential aspirants and not be struck by their level of subservience to the wants and needs of the owner class. Like puppies panting in the presence of their masters, the politicians, emboldened by the unconscionable Citizens United decision, beg at the feet of the billionaires for scraps to better serve their betters. Now, a single billionaire can field a half dozen polls, and by so doing, can determine not just who runs, but who wins, and what laws will be passed. Why not? They own them don't they?

But still, that is not enough. For witness the emergence of New York real estate executive Donald Trump. Trump brags, at every opportunity, of his enormous wealth. By so doing, he intimidates his potential rivals, who are used to bending their knees to such men. But he also represents the distrust of his class. Rather than hiding politicians, he runs himself to lock in his class dominance.

But this is not solely a Republican affair, for Democrats who run on emotional appeals to labor unions and working people, once in power keep to the interests of Wall Street, the source of the lions share of their donations. Their strategy of talking labor while pleasing capital was seen in the destructive North American free Trade Agreement pact, which decimated manufacturing jobs in the US by the millions. Bill Clinton hustled NAFTA, like a street dealer selling crack, selling dreams that turned to dust.

Now the Clintons return posing as the saviors of the working class, while their NAFTA ripped away tens of thousands of jobs, undermined unions, and transferred vast wealth to Wall Street.

When Texas business man and 1992/1996 presidential candidate Ross Perot said NAFTA would produce a giant sucking sound of lost jobs, the media pundits laughed at him, making him sound like a fool. History proves his words were true.

Politicians servants of capital, promisers of progress, but bringers of disaster.