Question: Is the American political system broken?
Dennis Kucinich: The American political system works; but the question is, “Who is it working for?” It’s working for the auto companies. It’s working for the mining companies. It’s working for the banks, and it’s working for the utilities, and it’s working for the insurance companies. And it’s certainly working for the pharmaceutical companies. So the system works. The question is, “Who does it work for?” Now I can tell you who it doesn’t work for. It doesn’t work for middle America. It doesn’t work for working families. It doesn’t work for single mothers. It doesn’t work for small business owners. There’s a lot of people it doesn’t work for. And what I’m determined to do as President of the United States is to make sure that we have a government that works for everyone. Now one of the reasons why government doesn’t work for people is there isn’t much of a difference between the two political parties. You know the Democrats and the Republicans at the top really are pretty much the same.
Recorded on: 10/19/07
Discuss
max lingamfelter on January 15, 2008, 8:00 PM
Question: Is it feasible to take back the government from big business?
max lingamfelter on January 16, 2008, 1:00 AM
Question: Is it feasible to take back the government from big business?
Alex Tanner on January 18, 2008, 9:27 AM
When I just saw this question this is exactly what I thought. Then I clicked on Kuchinh's response and saw that he felt the way I did. I believe that the government system is doing what it has been redesigned to do. That is to give more wealth and power to the rich and keep it away from the poor. This is why young people don't vote.
Alex Tanner on January 18, 2008, 2:27 PM
When I just saw this question this is exactly what I thought. Then I clicked on Kuchinh’s response and saw that he felt the way I did. I believe that the government system is doing what it has been redesigned to do. That is to give more wealth and power to the rich and keep it away from the poor. This is why young people don’t vote.
Gnos Grajab on January 21, 2008, 1:13 PM
Thank you. There is a lot of pointing fingers at the government and blaming it for our problems, but the government is just an institution, a social construct, it has no desire or agenda, it is not the problem. The problem is that it no longer serves the people, and the questions that should be at the forefront of the political debate are 'Why doesn%u2019t the government serve the people?' and 'How do we get the levers of power back in the hands of the people?' But instead the media and two political parties have us arguing about what 'marriage' is and spreading paranoia about all of those troublesome Mexicans. How can we ask the government to help solve our health care or environmental problems when we know they will only provide solutions that benefit those they serve (not us)?
Gnos Grajab on January 21, 2008, 6:13 PM
Thank you. There is a lot of pointing fingers at the government and blaming it for our problems, but the government is just an institution, a social construct, it has no desire or agenda, it is not the problem. The problem is that it no longer serves the people, and the questions that should be at the forefront of the political debate are ‘Why doesn%u2019t the government serve the people?’ and ‘How do we get the levers of power back in the hands of the people?’ But instead the media and two political parties have us arguing about what ‘marriage’ is and spreading paranoia about all of those troublesome Mexicans. How can we ask the government to help solve our health care or environmental problems when we know they will only provide solutions that benefit those they serve (not us)?
tim hall on April 20, 2009, 3:29 PM
You cannot make government work for you by yourself. Government only acts on large numbers of voices. Did you see how fast they went after that bonus money after we spoke up? The Senator’s and govenor’s e-mail was cramed to the hilt. Community works. It works the best at local levels. You cannot do it by yourself. Organize within your local communities and take back your National and State governments. It is designed that way. First you need the 1.7 poorest families in your community actively involved. That means you have to get off the couch, turn this shit off and physically go out to your community and find those young Dennis Kucinichs. These people are our hardest workers because they stand to lose the most. Don’t be scared. One foot in front of the other. It is the most gratifying accomplishment you will ever make. You will be amazed at how many folks are waiting for you to knock at their door.
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