David Sirota: Stop Pretending Economic Anxiety Isn't Real

"It's not like Germany woke up in 1932 and was like 'Hey let's be Nazis!' It's a gradual process of disillusionment. Of insults. It's the governmental boot kicking people in the face over and over and over again."

–David Sirota on the erosion of democracy

[GLORYNEVADASMITH]

FDR - “… The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic State itself. That, in its essence, is fascism — ownership of government by an individual, by a group or by any other controlling private power.
The second truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if its business system does not provide employment and produce and distribute goods in such a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living. Both lessons hit home. Among us today a concentration of private power without equal in history is growing. .... "
Simple Truths - message to congress 1938 .
" These economic royalists complain that we seek to overthrow the institutions of America. What they really complain of is that we seek to take away their power. Our allegiance to American institutions requires the overthrow of this kind of power. In vain they seek to hide behind the flag and the Constitution. In their blindness they forget what the flag and the Constitution stand for. Now, as always, they stand for democracy, not tyranny; for freedom, not subjection; and against a dictatorship by mob rule and the over-privileged " .
* Speech at the 1936 Democratic National Convention

[adek]

I can't understand how people can see it any other way.

[zeewhat]

One of your Best Interviews Ever! I have been saying the same things that David Sirota articulated since 2009.

[torihawthorne]

This is what most Americans feel I believe..

[mikehw]

Corporations want fascism because its a more profitable model.We live in a corporate duopoly.

[DougGrinbergs]

Exercise for the reader: which politicians are *NOT* allowing big corporations to pick your pocket? (:-(

[billedley]

Bingo...David...About the establishment Democratic Party...

[wlxlhmk]

Katie and Matt, can you please research & advocate for full intellectual property (IP) abolition? This is the most important activist aim for working class people! A just economy (& most leftist projects) has very little chance without first abolishing IP. IP is the most severe & oppressive tool of the rich & powerful.

Please see the work of Stephan Kinsella, Michele Boldrin, & David K. Levine. These are the best experts on intellectual property in the world. Everyone who cares about seriously improving things for humanity needs to know what IP abolition is about.

[N.Greeney]

And what country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it’s natural manure. Thomas Jefferson

[awake]

I would love to see Tucker Carlson sub for Matt so we can see his "I'm listening intently" face next to Katie's. I get so distracted I don't even hear what the guest is talking about.

[lightreign]

He used the “ then one day for no reason at all everyone voted for Hitler” meme and didn’t mention any of the social backlash against degenerate rot.

[tomjoad]

The U.S. is not the third reich. It's the fourth.

[LowescC]

no offense Dave, but Chris Hedges has been saying this for well over 10 years...( and doing a better job )

[leealexander]

You need as much David Sirota as you can get and Jon Stewart if he is willing. While Chomsky is still with us he is an obvious choice for more appearances.

[FinneySP]

Even David’s argument is frustrating. ‘Let me list out how Obama led the way to trump and then say the democrats are the source of the answer’ gtfo

[wgreiter]

It doesn't take a Rhodes scholar to say "we can do both"... said a Rhodes scholar way back in '92... i.e. either 1) ingratiate your donors; 2)deliver on promises to voters

[oldmikie]

Thanks for the short clip, I do not have an attention span for longer stuff. I agree with Sirota, follow the money. Look at the details of where the money went. I support the IRS auditing rich people, if that means they audit everybody so be it. I dislike using taxpayer resources to help some 1%er master of the universe get a tax break.

[PeaceIsBetter]

Incoherent party. I wonder if this strategy will work in 2024?

[istillsuckatguitar]

"Nothing will fundamentally change."

[joeows]

Matt looks like Joey Ramone! I'm down for some punk slam poetry!