Reich: Dem Party "dead"

[Michael Perelman]

Twenty-five years ago, chairman had a great deal more power than they do today.
They could strong-arm the rank-and-file to vote when they wanted when they
needed a particular issue passed or blocked.  Today, the typical representative
is more swayed by campaign contributors.

Nathan Newman wrote:


> Dick Gephardt is far to the left of old Sam Rayburn and Bonior is even more
> leftwing.   And the Congressional chairmen and chairwomen who would control
> committees if the Dems took back control of Congress are far more
> progressive.  Compare John Conyers to Sam Ervin at Judiciary and Charlie
> Rangel at Ways and Means is far more progressive than his predecessors a
> generation ago.  Here's a challenge for you Justin-  find one chairman of a
> House committee in 1970 who is more progressive than his (and notably it
> would only be a white male back then) counterpart of today?  You may find
> one or two, but most of them were pretty conservative, often Southern
> racists, who have largely disappeared from the party and joined the GOP.
>

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Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
michael at ecst.csuchico.edu
Chico, CA 95929
530-898-5321
fax 530-898-5901