Jimmy Carter: The U.S. Is an "Oligarchy With Unlimited Political Bribery"

Oh boy. Coming from Germany I have been closely following your last election when Obama was "re-elected". Everything that happens on your political scene is nothing more than ACTING and the politicians are greedy ACTORS. Money can win any election and who puts the most into the game wins.

There is manipulation, corruption and media ignorance involved. RON PAUL would have deserved MUCH more respect and attention for what he stands for. But he doesn't have the money and by openly telling his thoughts he only provokes more opposition in a game that someone like him cannot win. You have to BE corrupt to be invited to the party!

It' really time to wake up and REMOVE this so called "political system". Elections are a farce. They shall give you the IMPRESSION that you have any control while you have in fact NONE.

I vote for a political network which includes ALL citizens. Not just a few "elected" ones. The whole democratic priciple is hopelessly lost. Until we don't get rid of our ILLUSIONS and believe that ANYONE who gets elected can do anything good for the situation it still has to get even WORSE for us to WAKE UP!!

Well, that said - here in Germany and many others countries the so called "democracy" is also none. Power to the people? Not with them! Money rules the world. Corporations are in control. Politicians are just advocats for big money.

We need to grow up and do politics OURSELVES!!

a reply to: AlaskanDad

Good for him! Reminds me of the speech by Ned Beatty in the movie "Network."

originally posted by: crazyewok
Anyone who cant see that and think US politics operates on a fair and non corrupt basis is blind.

BTW
In the UK all mp have to declare who sponsered them and any links to buisness on election.

Do US congressmen and senaters have to do the same? And if so were would you find that information?

Would be curious who is funding who....

Kind of. Candidates have to make financial disclosures, the problem is the system we have in the US with PAC's is that these groups operate independently from the campaign in support of a specific candidate. Those are who the corporations donate money to. So you can have 100 rich silent donors support these groups independent of your campaign that are working to get you elected, and you never have to disclose it because you don't have any official ties to them.

originally posted by: jrod
I never understood why so many liked to ridicule Jimmy Carter, as far as I am concerned he was the last president that truly cared about the American people.

I do wonder if the Iran thing was manufactured to keep him from being re-elected.

It was. Reagan negotiated with Iran behind the Carter administrations back while he was still a candidate and struck a deal with them to not work with Carter, and if they did so he would give them a secret payoff if they released the hostages once he became president.

a reply to: marg6043

I stand with you. He made the oil companies mad and they started a campaign against him using their political influence.

a reply to: AlaskanDad

That is sad, but so very true. Makes me hang my head in shame.

originally posted by: crazyewok

originally posted by: angeldoll
I I remember too who was specified as having the lowest. : )

Did his last name begin with B ?

In fact it did. Really, it was him. The other one listed was a minor president from the early days, so I don't remember the name. It was a rather insignificant President. Good guess, though, you're absolutely right. I was trying to find where I located this list before I posted this response but no dice. Sorry.

a reply to: marg6043

That is the sad thing about Carter, his legacy has been shrouded in name calling and tagging, perhaps because he never sold his soul to the power behind the presidential seat and neither the wealthy backers, but the truth be known that he was the last honest politician in the Whitehouse.

Many of us who voted for him were fully aware of that fact while he was actually in office.
He was extremely bright, very honest, and ruined by the media. I'm glad this is finally being recognized though, even if he is very late getting the credits that are due him.

He's a wonderful man who still does many wonderful things for the world in general. : )

a reply to: angeldoll

and ruined by the media

Let's also not forget that the end of his presidency was sabotaged by Reagan. The entire Iran Hostage situation was manipulated behind his back while he really tried to get the hostages released.

Thanks to Citizens United, legalized bribery and political corruption (laughingly called "lobbying") have created the most corrupt political system on the face of the planet.

Go to almost any other country on Earth and try American style lobbying. It's VERY likely that you'll be thrown in jail for fraud and corruption.

The Supreme Court claimed that Citizens United wouldn't cause "any undue influence or power peddling over our politicians". The FEC has said that political corruption is so widespread and rampant that they are powerless to do anything about it.

In the UK election earlier this year, they spent about $40 million. TOTAL. Between all candidates, all parties, all seats. Over 600 seats in the House of Commons.

$40 million would be a bad fundraising quarter for any political candidate in the USA. For ONE candidate.

I never liked Jimmy Carter, but after Clinton and Barak Obama he looks like one of the great Democratic Presidents.

And maybe that's due to the comparison we have today to consider him against. What was the choice back then? Dead Hostages in Iran, or President Reagan.

Since then, the options for the Democrats have been lessers in all regards, so now, Carter looks like a Genius.

His remarks are direct and open. Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama, now Bush or Clinton. It seems the gene pool is becoming a Blue Blood claim to the Throne.

Goes to show what America has devolved to. 200 odd years ago you cased out that class of people's, and now you making your own. What happens in 2024. The Offspring challenge and we have either a President Chelsea, or an other Obama in the white house. Could save the tax payers. Bill or Barak could give guided tours and raise more money that way showing secret area with the visitors. Bill could show where more blue things got stained, and Barak could show you the entry to the Enlightened Restriction Area where only the chosen are afforded passage in the ERA. All underground from Coast to Coast

Yeah Jimmy's right

As Russia is a post Soviet Union oligarchy built upon gas, so too is the United States a post World War II oligarchy built, initially, on industry, but now by arms and the propagation of war. Of course, Russia's comparable status today was, in large part, orchestrated and expedited by the U.S.'s Cold War arms race with said nation.

One might even bandy about the not-so-conspiratorial theory, something along the lines of: Inside the U.S.S.R. (i.e., K.G.B.), there were likely many party to the collapse (war hawks, in particular... like Putin), who knew full well they'd be first in line when the subsequent resources rush began with the collapse of communism. That is, essentially, it was a long term putsch which shuffled the balance of power, leaving the the K.G.B. in control -- the only conceivable way something like that can happen in an dictatorial communist regime.

'America needs a permanent war economy. ' -Charles Wilson, CEO GMC, c.1945

Because of all the slander and ridicule heaped upon the Carter presidency, it makes an honest person have second thoughts about entering the field of politics. With very few exceptions, the main motives for entering politics these days seems to be 1) make the right connections to ensure great wealth, 2) seek elevated social status and 3) influence legislation to ensure the 1st two motives. Even if it takes lying, cheating and stealing to get there, then so be it. And if you’re good enough at it to reach the highest levels, you’ll note the sign on the front door of the clubhouse reads, “SOCIOPATHS ONLY”. When you see that sign, you know you’ve made it.

It truly is a shame what happened to Carter. He was the genuine article, and we threw it away. Political greed and corruption took his place and has ruled ever since.

At this point, I don’t know how we turn this train around. It may be too late. It may be that the country will eventually implode, as the economy collapses and the social contract is breached. We’ll basically be reduced to third world status as the corporate elite confiscate any/all surviving resources in one big coast to coast fire sale.

I love Bernie, but he’d have to be a magician to pull this one off...

Our reaction to Richard Nixon was to elect an honest fool, Jimmy Carter. After 4 years of his naive bumbling, he got booted out of office. Even today, people hang on his sophomoric pronouncements and listen to his imaginary wisdom. As Dirty Harry put it, "you're a legend in your own mind", Carter. He is, however, a decent farmer and construction worker. "The U.S. is an oligarchy". Ooooo.....Ahhhhh...thank you Captain Obvious, you're so smart.
a reply to: AlaskanDad

Well, good for him saying it, despite that it's known anyway by those paying attention. Outside of CT circles for example, it's likely unknown to many of the voting masses.

i don't believe I have ever felt compelled to agree with Peanut, er, President Carter.

But his brief assessment is accurate.

originally posted by: ProfessorChaos
While he may be correct in what he says, this situation didn't begin in the last 20-30 years; its been going on for a very, very long time, and he didn't seem to an issue with being the face of it when he was in the oval office.

Also not true.
Just do some research yourself

Prior to 1970, there were less than 200 Corporate and Banking Lobby Offices in DC.

Today, there are more than 2500 Banking and Lobby Offices in DC.
We have a government owned by Multinational Corporations and Banks that answer to them rather than a government owned by all people and for the people for all in this country.

Corporate Fascists have been trying to convince everyone, every step of the way that not allowing them to have full control is socialism or fascism.

Big Business Loves Big Government

They claim to be super-patriots but they would destroy every liberty guaranteed by the Constitution. They demand free enterprise but are the spokesmen for monopoly and vested interest. Their final objective toward which all their deceit is directed is to capture political power so that using the power of the state and the power of the market simultaneously they may keep the common man in eternal subjection."

Vice President Wallace on Fascism 1944

This was the reason in the late 90's I was hoping and waiting and knowing that something BIG had to happen to shake the people awake. Unfortunately when I got my wish I was still in high school and ignorant of the plans behind it. Everybody in 1999-2000 was in this naive bubble I wanted to slap them all.

WOMEN most women don't know/don't give two #s about politics and IF they vote they'll just follow what/who their boyfriend/husband tells them to vote. I'm sorry to be a sexist pig but everybody here knows that a female who's politically astute is a rare find.

Now that we've taken away 45% of voters we can move to MINORITIES. Don't know many that give a # either. We all know who 99% of african americans voted for. It would be hard to get hispanics to vote unless there was going to be somebody with a last name that ends with an O or who's Catholic to run and we haven't had that since JFK so you know that's not going to happen.

My rare politically active hispanic fiance that has different views than me would be horrified at what I just said. But at least I can have a decent intellectual conversation with a woman who has her own independent views because she offers a challenge.


Everybody here knows that the rich are smart enough to keep the "American Dream" dangling in front of our eyes and they will suck as much money as they possibly can while they farm us. But since the rich are farming us they'll maintain us too which means we'll never give up hope for that huge house and white picket fence so they'll water us from time to time with money as they'll make sure that we won't bite the hand that feeds us.

I'm sorry to say this but if you want CHANGE I suggest we start heading to the hills with a 7.62 rifle. And it's been such a hot summer too one can only hope we're on the verge of a RACE WAR!!!! Just a few more unjustified shootings away. But the MSM knows that if they do cover more than this they'll tip the scale. LETS JUST HOPE THAT A FEW MORE BLACKS GET SHOT!!!! PLEASE SACRIFICE YOURSELF SO WE CAN HAVE THE LA RIOTS TIMES TEN EVERYWHERE IN AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!

Anybody have any better ideas??

God bless President Carter for telling the truth.

Another word to describe our political system is FACISM.

Well the guy is waking up now?!

It has probably been an oligarchy for thousands of years! ..before the US even existed.