Seriously, what is Biden and the democratic party doing to stop them? They won't use anti-trust, they won't enforce labor laws(or even stop them from using literally slave labor from the third world) or step up to the plate. They're owned by these greedy corporations hook line and sinker!
Good point. I would add a few things:
The Republicans are no better. I know, a tired line of argument, but still worth keeping in mind.
Democrats like Elizabeth Warren are arguing strenuously for anti-trust action. The problem is that on that issue they do not control the Democratic party, much less Congress or the executive branch. Republican support for anti-trust vanished a long time ago, well after Theodore Roosevelt's days as a Republican, but well before today.
While the current administration may be reluctant to strike at the root of the problem, they are far more willing to address the negative effects on the middle class and others. Here, the problem is the sabotage by Senators Manchin and Sinema. These two Senators, in league with the Republican party, have blocked the Build Back Better initiative which has all sorts of provisions to help cope with the effects of inflation. If memory serves me correct, that includes tax hikes on the wealthy that otherwise benefit from inflation in the manner that Hightower describes. Such hikes would minimize government borrowing, which can fuel inflation, and place helpful programs on a pay as you go basis. In this case, "you" meaning the government.
Strategically, Democrats like Warren within the Democratic party need to be elected and/or re-elected. "Moderate" Democrats need to be challenged in the primaries, and firmer numerical control of the Senate is needed so that Manchin and Sinema's alliance with Republicans is not decisive. You are right in that a big problem with that is that corporate influence is too great. As I have written before, that is due to their deep pockets and the campaign contributions that flow from those deep pockets. That influence might have been held somewhat in check through the McCain-Feingold legislation regarding corporate financing of election campaigns. Legislation that was supported more by Democrats than Republicans (with McCain a notable exception). Legislation which was struck down by Republican appointees to the Supreme Court, with Democrat appointed justices in dissent.
Giving the Democrats more backbone should be done in the primaries. Withholding support from the Democrats in the general election only favors the Republicans and will continue to worsen the problem.
I know that is very frustrating, but it is also the reality of the current situation.
Don't mourn, organize.
-Joe Hill
