"Corruption in the U.S. Reaches the Highest Levels"

The essayist Barbara Ehrenreich spent 20 years “gutting” the mentality of American society.

The essayist and journalist Barbara Ehrenreich spent more than 20 years gutting the psyche of American society from her opinion columns in such publications as The New York Times, Harper’s, The Progressive magazine and Time magazine. The author of over 20 books has emerged as a strong supporter of causes such as public health, peace, women’s rights and economic justice.

Ehrenreich does not mince words and takes no issue with admitting that she has no arguments to convince today’s youth, like her son, to vote. Despite that, Ehrenreich does not believe placing an envelope in a ballot box every four years is the only way to participate and opines that the important thing is to create movements capable of adding “pressure” to politicians and holding them accountable for their commitments.

The author of “Smile or Die: How Positive Thinking Fooled America and the World” visited Barcelona recently, invited by the Center de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, where she delivered a lecture at the conference “9/11: The World 10 Years On.”

Is the tea party movement and Occupy Wall Street a reflection of the end of the optimism of American society?

I think it’s the beginning of a kind of realism. People are beginning to realize that what is happening is not their fault. Outraged Americans know that things cannot continue as before, and they have to do something. I identify myself with this movement.

Do you think the Occupy Wall Street movement could become the tea party of the left? I mean a movement that can mobilize.

It has already surpassed the tea party in some respects, despite starting only a few weeks ago. The most recent polls show that most Americans identify with this movement. Only a quarter say they feel identified with the tea party. This is amazing! And it is not because the movement has had entirely good press. … It’s fun because protesters will not say they are leftists; they will say they are done with the headline of right versus left, or in the American case, Democrat versus Republican. But as a person on the left, their claims seem to be from that of the left, as they are fighting for people who are suffering from the crisis; in fact, they are the ones who suffer. The tea party, however, has always represented the interests of the rich. On the other hand, there are people formerly of the tea party who are joining the movement simply because they were angry and saw that it was the only form of expression.

Do you think Americans have lost faith in institutions? Why?

For two reasons: The first is that Obama has been a disappointment; we could make a long list of the things he said he would do, and he has not done. Another reason is political corruption.

Why do you make that accusation?

In the United States, we do not like using the word corruption to talk about our political system; we think that corruption is something that happens outside our borders, but corruption in the U.S. reaches the highest levels. Look, of the $1 million that Obama has raised for his campaign, much of that money has come from Wall Street. Why is this? I will probably vote because I guess I’m old, and people my age think they have that responsibility, but I have no arguments to convince my son to do so. On the other hand, my daughter votes, she’s a Democrat, but I understand that there are many people who no longer feel bound to do so. The same happens in Spain, when you have a social democracy that sticks to simply making cuts; people no longer feel represented.

What is the solution?

Not all answers are in elections. The most important thing is to build movements that put pressure on politicians and make them accountable for their commitments. If the American left had not faded when Obama was elected, maybe we could have pressured him enough to make changes or fulfill his promises.

The left faded when Obama won the election?

Yes, very much. The same thing happened when Clinton won; people thought, “Let’s give him a try.” I did not expect too much from Obama. I think the least he could do is ask the Democratic mayor to be respectful of the protesters, who would listen and not send in the police. But they don’t even approach the locations holding the protests. Is it really so difficult? And the first municipal evictions have been in Democrat-held cities, such as Oakland.

Do you think Americans have an identity crisis?

I wouldn’t put it like that. I think we are awakening from the illusions that led us to the financial crisis. We used to tell ourselves we were the most wonderful country, something that can be countered through poverty statistics, the level of incarceration. … There was the belief that nothing could go wrong. Maybe we are waking up, and we’re realizing that we are just another state in the world.

You have affirmed feelings of disillusionment toward Obama’s actions. Do you believe the blame can be directed to him entirely, or are there other culprits?

I think some things he has done during the recession have been useful. But I cannot think of more positive things. I know there are, but none come to mind! But I’m especially disappointed by the things he said he would do but has not done, like closing Guantanamo. I used to think much about who was responsible, if it was only Obama or if it was the foul play perpetuated by Wall Street … but I’m not interested in asking myself that anymore.