Political Parties Failure Results in Radical Populists

Prior to the Wall Street Crash of 1929 most of Post WWI America was enjoying the fruits of industrial boom. New cars, washing machines, unheard of labor saving appliances, and a loosening of the strict social mores that had prevailed since the Civil War. That was happening in most of the United States, but was definitely not happening in rural Louisiana where sharecroppers and farmers struggled to survive. Companies like Standard Oil dominated the politics of Louisiana. Labels like Democrat and Republican meant nothing to companies like Standard and the huge sugar companies that dominated Louisiana. If you were on the "in" with these companies, you were a member of the "haves." Most in Louisiana,unfortunately, were in the "have not" category. Hence the meteorial rise of radical populist Huey P. Long who was elected to be Louisiana's governor in 1928 against the wishes of the corporate moguls who dominated the state. Long would become a U.S. Senator and have an almost dictatorial political dominance over the state until his assassination in 1935.

When political parties stop listening to the people, conditions are ripe for the rise of populists of all ilk. That is what's happening in the United States today. The Democratic Party and the Republican Party have quit listening to the people who "brought them to the dance." People see George Bush's failure to protect our borders, our jobs, and our way of life as a betrayal. Hillary,Obama,Rudy,and Mitt repeat themes that are so tired they have moss on them. People in 2008 want a major change of government. They will probably get it, but how radical will it be?

Two years ago, I visited the Versailles Palace in France. I was disgusted by the opulence. It didn't take me long to figure out why the peasants arose and dragged royalty by their heels to the guillotine... As ordinary people are deprived of a quality Christmas by $5.00(last week in California)a gallon gas. America's political guillotine is being pulled out of the barn. Let's hope it doesn't become too bloody...