The Diane Rehm Show

The Steffens and Darrow strategy outlined in the exerpt of blaming what would today be called union terrorism by the McNamara brothers on structural imbalance in law and government would be difficult now. The bomber's plea that he didn't know the vats of ink were flammable or that he had planted the explosives just above a gas main sound comical.
It would be very much akin to 9/11 conspirators claiming they did not know the World Trade Center complex was already wired with thermite and explosives before they caused two airliners to crash into it. Today long sentences are given to those who jokingly bid on oil leases, release lab animals and spike old growth trees. And yet the lifestyles of those elites like the Otis's and Chandler's have not changed that much, except that they are more powerful and influential. Listen to Hour One and you may conclude this results from prevalence of a criminal gene among our Oligarchy. With July 4th 10 days away one wonders how many will be jailed for celebrating freedom by lighting a tiny ladyfinger. Oligarchs, don't worry, the muffled pops sound worse than they are. The big bad masses are still searching for your well-hidden door. Can we get there through courts or journalism? I doubt it.

Vladmir Lenin issued death warrants against those who were in fact trying to assassinate him. I heard Peter Hartshorn label this as "extreme". Lenin survived three shootings and died with shrapnel still lodged in his body from previous attempts. It was the concentrated wealth of the feudal system that had been in place that was paying handsome sums for hitmen. Many people are unaware that Woodrow Wilson sent American troops into Russia during the revolution with the mission of "securing" the Trans-siberian railway. Just prior to this joint Amerian, British and Japanese invasion the American congress passed the Espionage Act of 1917 which allowed this manipulation of foreign countries to happen without ever being debated and voted on in congress. American troops were tasked with providing support for any white russian who controlled any section of the railway. The white russians where being payed off by the corrupted feudal leadership that communism ousted. Money was laundered on wall street to fund the American troops and white russians since funding it with tax dollars would have to be voted on. America was supporting feudalism with capitalism. America will continue to be an illusion of democracy as long as we label what has to be done to have democracy as "extreme". I see exactly how Lincoln Steffens arrived at this "extreme". It is reality.