I'm under no illusions as to who really controls what's going on. But I agree with John Perkins that the Corporatocracy is not all-powerful and that they are vulnerable. One of the things that aids them in promulgating the illusion that they are all-powerful and that nothing the voters can do about it is to keep repeating that it makes no difference who they vote for. The Corporatocracy much prefers the Republicans to the Democrats, and that can be easily demonstrated by examining which candidates get how much financing from whom.

Granted, even a Democratic Congress combined with a Democratic President won't change things overnight. But it would sure slow things down from the way they've been going lately. People like Jim McDermott, Patty Murray, and Maria Cantwell (and they are not alone, not but any means) need to be kept in office so they keep chipping away at the pedestal of indifference that the Corporatocracy rests on. And more like them need to be elected.

It's been said of the Bush administration that "Never in the history of this country has there been an administration that depended so heavily on the intellectual sluggishness of the electorate." And that statement also applies to the Corporatocracy. And to keep assuring people that there is nothing they can do about it is a sure way of getting the voters to think "Why bother?"

Don Firth

P. S. By the way, I think that "intellectual sluggishness" might just be demonstrated right here on Mudcat, since apparently not all that many people care to invest an hour—or even 22 minutes—to listen to what John Perkins has to say. At least judging by the lack of response to this thread, and the importance of the problem and clarity with which Perkins explains it, and what can be done about it. I refreshed it when it dropped off the bottom of the page in hopes of stirring up a little action.