Nancy Pelosi Wall Streets Response Option

So. Nancy Pelosi has embraced the Occupy Wall Street movement. To many, this is a boon: An acknowledgement by someone in power recognizing the legitimacy of the anti-Wall Street movement. Many will clap and cheer Nancys sympathy for the movement. Nancys endorsement will be viewed as a sign that the powers-that-be are finally heeding the call of the 99%. The real truth is that Nancy, far from legitimizing the 99%s dissatisfaction with rule by the 1%, is in fact seeking to coopt it. To control it. To ensure that no material change takes place. One need look no farther than her role, as Speaker of the House, during the Healthcare debate to understand Nancys true allegiance: That of representing the plutocracy. Many will find my assertion unnerving and will quickly point out that Nancy has been a liberal champion, citing many social issues from gay rights to a womans right to choose. Yes, that is correct: She may have championed social rights but when it comes to economic rights she has been a stalwart defender of the status-quo. Let us examine the debacle known as Healthcare Reform: In 2009, the House, under Nancys leadership, passed a Healthcare Reform bill which contained a Public Option. The Public Option was and is anathema to the Private Insurance industry: It was never intended to pass. Harry Reid, as Senate Majority Leader, indicated he was only one or two votes shy of the 60 needed for a Public Option. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/23/reid-is-only-one-ortwo-v_n_331652.html) When questioned regarding the option of invoking Reconciliation, Harry Reid responded that he would NOT invoke reconciliation: http://news.firedoglake.com/2009/11/19/reid-says-noreconciliation-conservadems-immediately-get-leverage/. Fast forward to 2010: Scott Brown is elected as the replacement Senator for Ted Kennedy. With the election of Scott Brown, a public movement ensues which seeks to have Senators go on the public record regarding a Public Option. Senators begin to publicly express their desire for a Public Option. However, Harry Reid who previously had said he would NOT invoke reconciliation, decides to invoke reconciliation. Supporters of the Public Option are ecstatic. They feel that, since Harry in 2009 said he was only one or two votes shy for 60 votes for the PO, that now the PO will pass easily since Harry only needs 50 votes.

Nancy Pelosi removes the Public Option from the House bill, since, in her opinion the votes arent there in the Senate: "I'm not having the Senate, which didn't have a public option in its bill, put any of that on our doorstep," she said. "It did not prevail. What we will have in reconciliation will be something that is agreed upon, House and Senate, that they can pass and we can pass... It isn't in there because they don't have the votes." (Nancy) So we went from one or two votes shy of 60 votes in the Senate to not even giving it a chance in the Senate for having 50 votes. Are you fucking kidding me? Thank you, Nancy. Thank you for not putting Harry Reid on the spot. Thank you for saving Obama the embarrassment of having to veto a Public Option. Thank you for playing your role in the Kabuki Theater in which Democrats are powerless, impotent, and at the mercy of the Republicans. So now Nancy Pelosi embraces the Wall Street protesters. Really? This is an endorsement from someone who clearly knows Real Politik. Who helps to ensure that no material change actually takes place. I, for one, am not celebrating her vocal support. I view it as yet another obstacle to change. Nancys role will be to harness the anger of the 99% for the Democratic Party. For what end? To showcase their impotency on implementing change. Do not be fooled. Nancy Pelosi is NOT on the side of the 99% when it comes to economic change. Nancy, and the Dem Leadership, are just as adept as their Rethuglican counterparts when it comes to using Social Issues to distract from the Economic Issues.