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Twenty-three years ago a movement emerged that held the promise of changing the political system. In 1992 H. Ross Perot, an eccentric Texas billionaire, launched an independent bid for the presidency. Quickly gaining ballot access, Perot, up to June, led in the preference polls. Then he quit, briefly rejoined the fray and ended up with nearly 20 percent of the popular vote.
Later Perot formed the Reform Party and lost badly with only 8.5 percent in 1996 and his “gift” to the American people promptly expired.
Yet many of the problems that inspired the original revolt remain. Perot warned against NAFTA and proved correct. The country de-industrialized, wages fell and big financial groups displaced productive enterprises.
The hidden hand was replaced by the faceless money men who produced little.
Also the political parties regained their customary dominance. In 2008, they bailed out the central bankers and continued to squeeze the last measure of income from the middle class.
False crusades were revved up, some even harkened back to the founders and endorsed policies not one whit different from the status quo. Democrats thought about tomorrow and offered “hope,” still the same group – the one percent – held the power and prestige. Instead of a plan to restore the economy, Democrats and Republicans talked investments and lived off consumerism. Political theatre replaced serious debate.
For 2016, the likely nominees are Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton, who agree on far more than their campaigns would suggest. Oligarchs now control the United States and the information system.
CNN would rather cover the rescue of a cat trapped in a tree than any serious news.
Indeed, when Perot was making headway in 1992, the media first embraced and then crushed his candidacy. Suddenly he was denounced as “silly” and vain, some of which was true. The campaign was all about the emerging baby boom with Bill Clinton in the vanguard.
As far as our shallow media was concerned, it came down to a generational changing of the guard.
Of course Clinton, who proved as unprincipled as he was clever, pushed NAFTA and was the best friend the central bankers ever had.
His successor, George W. Bush, followed the same script, throwing in doses of bromides such as “Compassionate Conservatism.”
A great nation had campaigns that seemed like senior class elections.
This is what inspired Perot in the first place. Democrats and Republicans have a monopoly, and when you do you are not very likely to be innovative. The race is on to enrich those who have little incentive to invest.
Americans are then given toys to play with, side issues that contain little sustained impact.
If you say minor things you are given major praise. Banality is hailed as responsible or even centrist. So don’t stop thinking about tomorrow, ya’ll. Perhaps Perot was not so crazy after all.