‘It’s the Economy, Stupid!’

275

March 9, 2016

Published in Liberation
(France) on 29 February 2016
by Laurent Joffrin (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Sophie Thresher. Edited by Danielle Tezcan.

Is the U.S. moving toward the left? Since Ronald Reagan, we were used to seeing the United States as the nation with the most unfettered liberalism. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama had certainly tempered the imperious conservative revolution, but their victory was gained at the price of a refocusing of the system, which left social issues at the bottom of the list of priorities.

Bernie Sanders’ beautiful campaign has changed the deal. Openly a social democrat (or socialist, as he says), Hillary Clinton’s challenger has modified the Democratic agenda. After more than 30 years of economic growth that reserved the benefits of this growth for a small group of millionaires (or rather, billionaires), the Americans are discovering the extent of the inequalities that their successive leaders have allowed to develop. For the first time in a long time, they are coming around to the idea of considering the advantages of a European-style minimum wage in the country of free enterprise and a minimal welfare state.

During his first election, Bill Clinton defined the meaning of his overall message with the wisecrack, “It’s the economy, stupid!” Will Hillary write “It’s society, stupid!” on the walls of her campaign headquarters? If she succeeds in the primaries, the controlled spokesperson for the Democratic establishment could still change the focus of her rhetoric, especially if she must face Trump, against whom she will compete for the votes of moderates. But Sanders, against all odds, could manage to identify America’s great wound: the arrogant tyranny of the rich.

«The economy, idiot!»

US go left ? Depuis l’élection de Ronald Reagan, on s’était habitué à voir les Etats-Unis en patrie du libéralisme le plus débridé. Certes, Bill Clinton et Barack Obama avaient tempéré cette impérieuse révolution conservatrice. Mais leur victoire avait été obtenue au prix d’un recentrage systématique qui laissait le plus souvent la question sociale en queue des priorités. La belle campagne de Bernie Sanders a changé la donne. Ouvertement social-démocrate (socialiste, dit-il), le challenger de Hillary Clinton a modifié l’agenda démocrate. Après plus de trente ans d’une évolution économique qui a réservé les bénéfices de la croissance à une mince couche de millionnaires, voire de milliardaires, les Américains découvrent l’étendue des inégalités que leurs dirigeants successifs ont laissé se développer. Pour la première fois depuis longtemps, ils en viennent à considérer les avantages d’un Smic à l’européenne au pays de la libre-entreprise et de l’Etat social minimal. Lors de sa première élection, Bill Clinton avait défini par une boutade le sens de son message : «The economy, idiot !» Hillary va-t-elle inscrire «the social idiot !» aux murs de son siège de campagne ? Porte-parole policée de l’establishment démocrate, elle a encore tout loisir, si elle l’emporte dans les primaires, de recentrer son discours, surtout si elle doit affronter Trump, à qui elle disputera les électeurs modérés. Mais Sanders, contre toute attente, aura réussi à mettre le doigt sur la grande plaie américaine : l’arrogante tyrannie des riches.

This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Hot this week

Block title

Ireland: The Irish Times View on the War in the Gulf: Trump Staggers Toward the Exit

March 27, 2026. Published in Irish Times

Australia: Donald Trump’s Backtrack Illuminates Iran’s Leverage in an Asymmetrical War

March 24, 2026. Published in ABC News Australia

Austria: Donald Trump Stages the Iran War Like a TV Show

March 27, 2026. Published in Der Standard

As soon as things become complicated, the U.S. president looks for a new spectacle.

Jordan: Would the US Sacrifice Israel?

March 30, 2026. Published in assawsana

[T]he U.S. may have come to realize how much its international standing has declined due to its subservience to Israel.

Ghana: Great Power Protection: What the Sahel Can Learn from Iran and Venezuela

March 26, 2026. Published in GhanaWeb

[G]reat powers rarely come to the rescue of smaller states once their own strategic interests are at stake.

Topics

Jordan: Would the US Sacrifice Israel?

March 30, 2026. Published in assawsana

[T]he U.S. may have come to realize how much its international standing has declined due to its subservience to Israel.

Germany: Trump’s Problem at the Pump

March 30, 2026. Published in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

Even this president, who always presents himself as being so sure of victory, has respect for the American voter.

Ireland: If You Want To Know Why Trump Keeps Going to War, Look at the Size of His Military Budget

March 30, 2026. Published in Irish Times

Australia: Houthis Open Up New Front in Middle East War, Making Things Much More Complex for Trump

March 30, 2026. Published in ABC News Australia

Egypt: Trump’s Responsibility

March 29, 2026. Published in Ahram Online

In the U.S., Trump no longer has a declaration of a victory over Iran within his grasp.

Philippines: Iran War Could Lead to US Empire’s End

March 29, 2026. Published in The Manila Times

Military power alone cannot sustain global dominance, and attempts to assert it in the face of structural decline may hasten the very outcome they seek to prevent.