October 03, 2010 05:54 PM UTC

From the Ashes

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• by: JO

Step one: Read Friedman’s column: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10…

Thrust: The existing parties have lost their ability to solve, or even to discuss, problems that have reached crisis proportions. The parties are so beholden to special interests that many possible approaches are ruled out at the outset. Result: they have lost confidence of the people, but in the meantime, the problems grow worse. Friedman writes about movements on both coasts to form a new party capable to addressing problems and proposing solutions, even if those solutions require sacrifice and change.

The key word phrase here, of course, is “beholden to special interests.” We don’t have plough that field yet again in the case of our local Senate contest. It’s been documented by the FEC; the role of the Koch brothers in the Tea Party is by now well known. The question isn’t whether, but which special interests have bought which candidate. And only the most naive would believe for a second that those donations aren’t given in the expectation that certain solutions will not be adopted, ideally not even discussed so that everyone can be spared the embarrassment of casing a vote (see tax cuts, renewal of).

When the ship is sinking, it doesn’t make a lot of difference whether we’re clinging to the rails on port or starboard.