Debunking Myth #2: “Government obstructs the free market” Bunk! The choice is not government or free market, because government creates the market. ROBERT REICH JUN 7 Friends, Welcome back to our DEBUNK series. Last week, we saw how economics is inextricably connected to politics and morality — and the underlying questions are what we mean by a good society and how we achieve one. Today we’re debunking the myth that follows directly from the first one: that our system poses a choice between the free market or government, and that government intrudes on or obstructs the free market. Bunk! Please click on our short video above for today’s overview. The real choice is not between a free market and government. A so-called “free market” can’t exist without a government to organize and enforce it.  There’s no “free market” in nature — only a contest for survival. The most important choices concern how the government organizes and enforces the market — what the rules of the market are to be. Legislators, judges, and people working in the executive branch continuously decide on these rules. Rules have changed over time. In the 1800s and through much of the 1900s, human beings could be bought and sold as slaves. Debtors could be imprisoned. Monopolists were given free rein. Union organizers risked being shot. What are the key rules? Property rules determine what can be owned (or for how long) — human beings? Property that Native Americans once considered their hunting grounds? Songs? Recipes? Google’s algorithms? Antitrust rules determine what degree of monopoly is permissible. Can one person or corporation own a railroad, internet platform, airline, grocery chain, or natural resource that almost everyone depends on? Contract rules determine what can be exchanged and under what circumstances. Can I sell my child? My kidneys? My blood? Can I sell or buy sex? Is my employer allowed to limit my options for future employment or force me not to disclose something? Rules governing debt and bankruptcy determine what happens when borrowers can’t pay up. Can my creditors put me in prison or bondage? Can they charge me 300 percent interest on my debt? Can they take a percentage of my future earnings? There are also rules for labor unions, international trade, banking, corporate takeovers, corporate buybacks, and taxes. Rules like these have to be made in order for a market to exist. But who has the most influence over these rules? Over the past several decades, large corporations, Wall Street, and wealthy individuals have gained increasing influence over the rules. Their wealth has translated into political power. How? Follow the money. Corporate PAC spending has reached hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Business lobbyists now spend 68 times as much on lobbying as labor unions spend. Big corporations march into courtrooms with platoons of lawyers.  Between the 1930s and 1970s, America’s middle and lower-middle class offset the power of big corporations and the wealthy through labor unions, small businesses, small investors, and local political parties. Since then, though, all such centers of countervailing power have withered. Labor union membership has fallen from a third of private sector workers in the 1950s to just 6 percent in 2023. Small businesses have been replaced by giant big-box and online retailers. Small investors have been replaced by giant institutional investors: money market funds, index funds, university endowments, and pension funds. Political parties that were once anchored at the state and local levels have become giant Washington-based fundraising machines. Much of the power they once influenced to get out the vote and persuade voters to back specific candidates has shifted to giant social media platforms. That’s why the rules of the American economy are now largely determined by big corporations and individuals with great wealth. What’s been the result? Ever-larger upward distributions inside the market — from the poor, working, and middle classes to the top. We don’t notice them because they’re hidden from view behind a so-called “free market” that’s assumed to be neutral. But remember, the “free market” is not neutral. How it’s organized is a direct reflection of who wields power. Next week, we debunk the third myth. Thanks again for joining me today. I hope you’ll share our “debunk” series. And, if you’re able, help support our efforts by purchasing a paid subscription for yourself and a gift subscription for someone else.

New York Democratic establishment vs. Justice Democrats

 

The Democratic establishment in New York is very nervous.

As soon as the newest Justice Democrat, Rana Abdelhamid, announced she was running for Congress in New York, the New York Democratic Party started scrambling. The New York Democratic Party Chair issued an unhinged statement about Rana’s run that sounded like a Republican smear campaign. THEN, the Party sent out a fundraising email freaking out about the primary.

The Democratic Party in New York and Washington D.C. are worried about losing power. They’re worried they’ll be challenged to pass progressive priorities by an even larger group of Justice Democrats in Congress. And they should be worried.

We’re ready to elect even more working-class progressives to Congress. Chip in right now to help us elect Rana and a wave of Justice Democrats to upend the status quo in this country.

Andrew Cuomo’s New York Democratic Party is so worried about defending 28-year, corporate-backed incumbent Carolyn Maloney. The political establishment has seen the leftward shift in parts of NYC with the elections of Justice Democrats Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman.

The establishment is so worried about losing more of their allies that they’re resorting to Republican tactics of trying to smear socialism and Defund the Police. Meanwhile, NY’s 12th District has been represented by someone taking millions of $$ from Wall Street, health insurance companies, real estate developers, and other corporate PACs. It’s been represented by someone NOT leading on the progressive change we need. NY-12 is ready for a progressive leader.

We have a lot of work to do to defeat entrenched corporate incumbents and all of their corporate PAC money. We rely entirely on grassroots support to elect progressives like AOC and Rana. Can you make a contribution today to help us elect Rana and defeat another corporate incumbent?

In solidarity,

Justice Democrats

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JusticeDemocrats.com
10629 Hardin Valley Rd, #226, Knoxville, TN 37932

The DCCC isn’t slowing down

 

If we raised just 1.8% of what the DCCC did last month, we’d be in a strong position to start launching some progressive working-class primary candidates to take on corporate Democrats.

We’ve said this from the beginning at Justice Democrats: We must put people over profits. That’s what the Democratic Party should be about. It should be about:

• Taxing the ultra-wealthy, not collecting big money contributions from Wall Street.
• Medicare for All, not protecting the for-profit health care system.
• A Green New Deal, not donations from corporate fossil fuel PACs.

Sadly, the DCCC continues to recruit and protect Democrats who collect big checks from corporate PACs and oppose progressive policies. We’re fighting to transform the party with candidates who lead on progressive policies and don’t take a cent of corporate PAC money. Can you donate $3 to fuel our work to run winning progressive primaries?

Too many districts across the country are represented by corporate Democrats who continue to take money from corporate PACs and oppose policies that would help their constituents. These incumbents are far too comfortable with the status quo. Our primary challengers will highlight corporate Democrats’ ties to corporate profits and make them answer for holding up progress.

The way we’ll get change in Congress is by growing the Squad and transforming the Democratic Party. Are you in? Contribute $10, $17.89 (our average donation this month), or anything at all today to support our work to recruit and run progressive candidates.

In solidarity,

Justice Democrats

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
JusticeDemocrats.com
10629 Hardin Valley Rd, #226, Knoxville, TN 37932

Richard Neal spent $4,313,912.29

 

Defeating Richard Neal was always going to be a major feat.

He is the number one recipient of corporate PAC money in all of Congress and as the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, he wields an enormous amount of power in the halls of Congress. In short, he’s one of the most powerful elected officials in America.

Richard Neal spent over $4,000,000 this cycle to ward off Alex Morse. Here’s a screenshot of Neal’s latest FEC report:

This is why our fundraising is so important. We have to be able to support our insurgent candidates who go up against entrenched incumbents who have millions to spend on clinging onto their power.

We’re more hopeful than ever about the state of our movement. We’ve had three incredible victories this year and two more Justice Democrats have real shots at winning in November.

After a tough loss like Alex’s, it’s really important that our fundraising numbers are strong so we can support our candidates and show the establishment that our movement is growing.

Thank you for your support. Our work is only possible because of your dedication.

In solidarity,

Justice Democrats

Do not worry if you cannot afford to make a contribution — we understand that this is a difficult time. If you’re struggling, you can find a food bank here. We appreciate everything you do to keep our movement strong. Please stay informed and follow the most up-to-date recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and your state public health department.

 

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
JusticeDemocrats.com
P.O. Box 910 Knoxville, TN 37901
Email us: us@justicedemocrats.com