Stephen Lendman

Neocon House Speaker Paul Ryan’s agenda should scare everyone. Last October, he succeeded John Boehner in a palace coup.

The former speaker wasn’t hardline enough for tea party Republicans. Ryan’s ascendancy lurched Washington further to the right.

He wants more spending for militarism and wars, less for social programs - endorsed privatizing Social Security and Medicare en route to ending them altogether.

He favors abolishing America’s social contract, everyone on their own sink or swim, tax cuts for the rich, and more generous corporate handouts. His ideal America is government and monied interests partnering for self-enrichment at the public’s expense, producing greater inequality than already, while cracking down hard on nonbelievers.

He and likeminded neocons infest Congress. Their best of all possible worlds is unfit to live in, wanting America’s privileged class alone served.

On Thursday, Ryan said he’s “not ready” to endorse Trump as GOP nominee. “What Republicans want to see is that we have a standard bearer that bears our standards,” he said.

“(C)onservatives want to know (if) he share(s) our values and principles.” Ryan’s agenda demands universal condemnation.

In a written statement, Trump responded, saying he’s “not ready” to support it. “Perhaps in the future we can work together and come to an agreement about what is best for the American people. They have been treated so badly for so long that it is about time for politicians to put them first.”

What he has in mind is unclear. He’s no populist champion or peacemaker. Earlier he said Ryan will “pay a big price” for withholding support. Presidential nominees virtually always get it from top party officials.

Powerful monied interests run America. Government officials serve them. Elections are farcical when held, meaningless theater.

Democracy is pure fantasy. America’s political process is too corrupted and venal to fix. Nothing short of revolution can change things.

-###-

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.