Jimmy Carter Predicts the Future

Nearly 32 years ago President Jimmy Carter addressed the American people in speech about a crisis in confidence, specifically the growing mistrust in our democracy. The speech itself is still incredibly important and relevant to our current situation. By this point in time the corporate interest had already begun its assault on American government. That’s not to say all corporations are evil and all government is inherently good. Both exist because of human creation and as such have faults and problems but attacking the very essence of our political system and the involvement of the people allows an unprecedented power grab.

For years the corporate interests had been spending millions of dollars to undermine any kind of energy reform and blocked forward progress during the crisis in Carter’s presidency. As Dave Johnson notes:

the smear machine, the propaganda, the mass repetition of carefully crafted anti-government and in-it-for-yourself messaging, etc. – so people were just blindsided by it.

Three decades later, the corporate interests have more influence and power than ever. The working class sees little of the progress made during that time and our democracy is further fractured. This campaign took hold of so many and pushed the country to the right… away from doing right by the people and instead doing right for the bottom line of global corporations.

Carter said it was a “fundamental threat to American democracy.”

Nothing could be closer to the truth. It’s why so many are fighting in the Occupy movement. It is why so many dedicate their lives to advocacy organizations. It’s why I write and do my best to draw attention to exactly what Carter points out.