G.W.B

[Rockfan]

Is the president, which we all hate so much just a figure head being used by other people because he has famous last name, if so who are these people or have i just assumed wrong.

[JohnTheMarxist]

Most US politicians are mere figure heads used by big corporations. There are exceptions but these exceptionsbarely ever make it into the congress...Bernie Sanders an independant and avowed socialist from Vermont is an exception to the rule and he is expected to win a race for the US senate next year.He is a reform style Democratic Socialist/Social Democrat...definately to the left of the "left" parties in Europe...he doesn't support all of the free trade crap. There are a few others as well. They will never be able to take control of the country under capitalist democracy though. The best they can hope to achieve are moderate reforms.

[JohnTheMarxist]

There are a few other political parties worth supporting in the US, and all of them are not socialist. Marx believed that we communists should support other working class parties and work along side them even if they are not socialist. Some example of parties we should work with in the US are th Green Party...a party of environmentally conscious social democrats. Another is the Progressive party in Vermont, which was founded by Bernie Sanders supporters. The Labor Party in New York is another good party. As is the Peace and Freedom Party in California. Even some members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus- a caucus of the most liberal Democrats in congress are good to support on the short term for things like single payer healthcare. Working class reform will raise the consciousness of the working class and should be helped along by communists even though we know these small reforms are not socialist.

[Rockfan]

K cool, yeah well I live in new Zealand and we don't really know whos in congress but that was cool, thanks.

[RedJacobin]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14 2005, 04:19 AM
Most US politicians are mere figure heads used by big corporations.
I've always wondered how this worked specifically.

Is it done primarily through campaign contributions and lobbying? Are those the only ways the monopoly capitalists exercise their political power? What other concrete ways are there?

In a word, how does the US ruling class rule?

[patrickbeverley]

Oil companies certainly benefit from almost everything Bush does, whether because of his political leaning or because of their control over him. And Dick Cheney's Halliburton is also doing exceedingly well out of the Bush presidency.

Incidentally, Cheney is about the best argument I can think of for not assassinating Bush ... imagine if he took over.

[Left-wingist]

<Imagines Bush dieing and Cheney becoming president>

WASHINGTON DC- Bush killed by angry protesters. Cheney dies 5 minutes later due to a heart attack. Wide spread panic ensues.