Tell that to Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. And if there isn't real change in 2016, there will be revolution.For the moment, the political reality is that the Democratic Party does not have the stomach to seriously engage the issue of inequality, and remains far too conflicted to take on the concentration of power and income at the top. Those benefiting most from the system as it is will continue to determine the operative definition of optimal inequality.
Well, given that we're going to have a Clinton nomination in 2016, I hardly see change on the horizon. Warren has already publicly stated that she's not interested. I don't think revolution is a real possibility, but civil unrest? Perhaps. I'm a bit shocked that we haven't seen more organized protests against moneyed interests.
given that we're going to have a Clinton nomination in 2016, I hardly see change on the horizon
I'll keep dreaming about a Warren-Reich ticket. Ok, so serious question. Sure, I take your point that Clinton is a favourite (although I think she would be a disaster for the inequality problem). But let's say I get my dream and she loses to a progressive independent/democrat, whether that be Sanders, Warren, Reich, or someone else. Is there any serious contender from the Republican side? I personally can't see any of them coming up and winning a national election. Do you? And if so, who?
Hopefully, at the very least Reich, Warren et al can at least advance the conversation about inequality to a meaningful place, and not just something policy pundits discuss on Sunday news shows. Reich has been aggressively talking about inequality for a number of years now, and he's certainly the left's best authority on the subject. I also share your fears that Clinton is about as status quo as they come. It will be business as usual with her. As for the GOP, it seems like they've already anointed Jeb Bush, but there's a lot of time between now and then. I think it would be very interesting and awesome to see a Warren v. Rand Paul race. I can't say I agree with very many of Paul's policy stances (save for a few, such as his aversion to domestic spying and drone use), but to have a race between two outside-the-box thinking would be really good for the country (and probably for the world, by extension). I can't say I didn't slightly enjoy watching Chris Christie's monumental collapse.
Well they would tend to be organised over Facebook and the like, and we've seen that the American state has its finger in every pie in that regard.
I'd argue that the larger cause of no protests is that every mainstream news outlet that covered the Occupy protests did nothing but shit all over them in every possible way. They tore apart what the protests stood for, who the people participating in them was, and single handily destroyed the entire movement.