How Bernie Sold Us Out Over the Stimulus Bill

Stoller talks to Jimmy Dore, saying he is very unhappy that Bernie Sanders didn't do more to organize opposition to the gigantic coronavirus bailout bill. He calls him self-indulgent, and a paper tiger (or words to that effect), and expresses his disappointment that progressives are not better at organizing resistance to the exploiters and monopolies in societies. As a former congressional staffer, Stoller is certainly knowledgeable, too.

This echoes a previous Populist Moment (the title of Lawrence Goodwyn's book about post-Civil War America). Then, debt peonage was widespread, and the Farmers' Alliance and the People's Party formed to address the incredibly abusive commercial environment for the bulk of this population. We got lots of legislation out of this, too, including the Federal Reserve (reviving the central bank), regulations about transportation abuse (farmers were extorted to take less for their crops or they couldn't use rail transport before this), farm coops, and even the Bank of North Dakota. Nevertheless, the presidential candidate representing this populist movement--William Jennings Bryan--subtlely betrayed his constituents, and even though he was an inspiring speaker--his "Cross of Gold" address still is famous--lost every time he ran.

Who says history doesn't repeat, or at least rhyme?