Pelosi: "We're capitalists, and that's just the way it is."

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

Um, she's right. The Democratic Party is not Marxist-Leninist. She's also completely right about Adam Smith who did not propose some social Darwinist Ayn Rand/Paul Ryan style system and openly called for things like universal health care and labor unions.

But she doesn't even make a gesture towards democratic socialism. And the fact she uses Adam Smith, who was a laissez-faire economist that are every Republican's wet dream, to justify her defense of neoliberalism is a slap in the face to any leftist in the Democratic Party.

She needs to retire, or else I want a primary challenge.

LOL. You realize her seat is effectively feudal, right?

Freudian slip, much? lol

Huh? I meant exactly what I typed. Pelosi was a loyal vassal of her predecessor and thus inherited her  seat. There will be no "primary challenge" anymore than Queen Elizabeth II faced one.

[This account no longer in use.]

I mean, it's not like Pelosi is wrong or anything.

[(Still) muted by Kalwejt until March 31]

I mean, it's not like Pelosi is wrong or anything.

[rob in cal]

  Another thing about Pelosi is her district is on average a booming one, with lots of well paid upper income social liberals, so its not as if she comes from one of the poorer, disadvantaged parts of the country.

[Coolface Sock #42069]

Good for Pelosi.

I seriously doubt many conservative Republicans would have stood up to a far-right constituent asking a question about why the GOP won't move further right, which is a shame being a Republican myself.

[RINO Tom]

  Another thing about Pelosi is her district is on average a booming one, with lots of well paid upper income social liberals, so its not as if she comes from one of the poorer, disadvantaged parts of the country.

Polls show rich liberals still want, ya know, LIBERAL economic policies.  Let's dispel with this myth that rich Dems have the politics of Rockefeller Republicans, because they just don't.  Even if they're more focused on social issues.

[Zioneer]

And can we also acknowledge how stupid the question was? America is failing not because of its income inequality but because it has raised an entire generation of young adults who have no idea how anything works, and are running into the open embrace of tyranny as a result. If you cannot rely on God and you cannot rely on yourself, the only thing left to turn to is government. Socialism requires that government becomes your god.

Tell that to liberation theology types.

And for the opposite, tell prosperity gospel types.

[ApatheticAustrian]

who is fighting against capitalism in all seriousness these days?

seems outdated.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

who is fighting against capitalism in all seriousness these days?

seems outdated.

The Democrats are dealing with an influx of young voters who don't realize that this question has been resolved, and are determined to refight it.

[Virginiá]

who is fighting against capitalism in all seriousness these days?

seems outdated.

Young people who have never known anything but what appears to be a severely ineffective system where industries are allowed to consolidate and amass power unfettered. Where businesses are increasingly free to bribe politicians for all sorts of benefits. Where the pharmaceutical industry has become so powerful that they casually engage in extreme price gouging to the detriment of society. Where the fossil fuel industry continues to wreck the earth for short term profits. Where the banking sector crashes the economy, gets bailed out and gets off with a mere slap on the wrist. Where wages and benefits have stagnated while COL rises, and the wealthy increasingly take bigger pieces of the pie. All while many pro-market politicians deny citizens any programs or benefits to alleviate some of this burden, under the excuse that the market will take care of it (lol). And on, and on and on....

And sure as hell doesn't help that the loudest proponents of the free market come from a political party whose economic philosophy of deregulation and giant tax breaks for the wealthy/corporations is at times almost indistinguishable from special interest corruption.

Proponents of capitalism have really failed to make the case to young people of why their system is the best. It doesn't mean capitalism shouldn't be practiced - it just means, imo, that the GOP's idea of it should be killed with fire. Unfortunately, because of the unwillingness to reign in the huge excesses of this failed system, they are helping to create a large amount of people who are far more open to a completely different ideas.

I think well-regulated markets with generous social programs is the way to go, but I don't blame others for completely losing faith in capitalism.

[wolfsblood07]

And can we also acknowledge how stupid the question was? America is failing not because of its income inequality but because it has raised an entire generation of young adults who have no idea how anything works, and are running into the open embrace of tyranny as a result. If you cannot rely on God and you cannot rely on yourself, the only thing left to turn to is government. Socialism requires that government becomes your god.

Excellent post sir.  And it's funny that some think Pelosi is not far enough to the left.

[ApatheticAustrian]

Excellent post sir.  And it's funny that some think Pelosi is not far enough to the left.

as someone noted recently, pelosie came into power through getting elected by republican cross-over-voters cause she was a middle-of-the-road-politican and her democratic opponent, a gay socialist, would have been much worse.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Neoliberalism has worked well for her; she's worth $58 million.

[Santander]

Neoliberalism has worked well for her; she's worth $58 million.

>$100M (!) as of 2014. An inspiration to Italian American real estate moguls and venture capitalists across the entire country. She's worth almost as much as this guy:

Paladino is my neighbor. (of sorts)

[Green Line]

Nancy is right.  Get over it.  We're not going back

[Ebowed]

I think Jerry Springer was mayor somewhere as well.  I guess we like actors, TV show hosts, wrestlers, and singers running for office.

Jerry Springer was a politician first, and then became a TV show host.

[Green Line]

Nancy is right.  Get over it.  We're not going back

Going back to what?

Why is it always "forwards" and "backwards" with these people?

Going back to regressive, oppressive economic systems.  We're moving forward.

[Green Line]

Nancy is right.  Get over it.  We're not going back

Going back to what?

Why is it always "forwards" and "backwards" with these people?

Going back to regressive, oppressive economic systems.  We're moving forward.

Why is one ahead of us and the other behind, is what I'm getting it. The metaphor doesn't make sense.

It's the natural progression of things.  What is the problem??

[Devout Centrist]

Nancy is right.  Get over it.  We're not going back

Going back to what?

Why is it always "forwards" and "backwards" with these people?

Going back to regressive, oppressive economic systems.  We're moving forward.

We never were socialist though...or feudalist for that matter.

I mean, we're embracing neo-mercantilism, but one could argue it's a (sh**ty) form of capitalism.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Yes, you fall into the same trap as the Marxists (hilariously enough) with this natural march of progression stuff.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

It's lonely in the "supporting some Marxist praxis and appreciating aspects of Marxist aesthetics but rejecting the historiographical basis of Marxism" club.

[ProgressiveCanadian]

Nancy is right.  Get over it.  We're not going back

Going back to what?

Why is it always "forwards" and "backwards" with these people?

Going back to regressive, oppressive economic systems.  We're moving forward.

Millennials are the first generation that will be less of than their previous generation. I'm sure they are already feeling the economic burden of Crony Capitalism.

[bore]

Nancy is right.  Get over it.  We're not going back

Going back to what?

Why is it always "forwards" and "backwards" with these people?

Going back to regressive, oppressive economic systems.  We're moving forward.

Why is one ahead of us and the other behind, is what I'm getting it. The metaphor doesn't make sense.

We must move forward, not backward; upward, not forward; and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom!

[justfollowingtheelections]

I'm not sure if this has been posted, but Nomiki Konst did a great interview with the young man that asked the question: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBAHo3Fu3tI