This week, George Lakoff published a piece called “Disaster Messaging” and Eric Alterman penned an essay called “Kabuki Democracy: Why a Progressive Presidency is Impossible, for Now.” Lakoff and Alterman know what is standing in the way of progressive achievement in America. Let’s call it The Wall. Lakoff speaks of the conservatives’ message advantages. Democrats [...]

We like to think that we live in a democracy, but the sad reality is that the US is a democracy in much the same way that the UK is a monarchy. The American voter has become a figurehead who controls very little, if anything.

Government regulatory agencies and congressional oversight committees are captured by the industries they’re supposed to regulate. Massive and supposedly unforeseen disaster occurs as a result. Public is outraged. Congress and President seize the moment to demand sweeping reform. And then… well, not so much. The reforms that eventually get passed never seem to go as far as they should, and the industries responsible emerge largely unscathed.

The Mine Safety & Health Act is not to blame for the 29 deaths at Massey Coal. The real problems are much deeper.