BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

“It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes. …

In the full enjoyment of the gifts of Heaven and the fruits of superior industry, economy, and virtue, every man is equally entitled to protection by law; but when the laws undertake to add to these natural and just advantages artificial distinctions, to grant titles, gratuities, and exclusive privileges, to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society the farmers, mechanics, and laborers who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustice of their Government. ….

There are no necessary evils in government. Its evils exist only in its abuses. If it would confine itself to equal protection, and, as Heaven does its rains, shower its favors alike on the high and the low, the rich and the poor, it would be an unqualified blessing. …..

Many of our rich men have not been content with equal protection and equal benefits, but have besought us to make them richer by act of Congress. …….

If we can not at once, in justice to interests vested under improvident legislation, make our Government what it ought to be, we can at least take a stand against all new grants of monopolies and exclusive privileges, against any prostitution of our Government to the advancement of the few at the expense of the many, and in favor of compromise and gradual reform in our code of laws and system of political economy….”

—-Selected sections of The Bank Veto Message

—-Andrew Jackson,

July 10, 1832

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These are the issues that John Edwards is still fighting for… 176 years later.

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Andrew Jackson was perhaps one of the most inhumane presidents our country has elected.  He rounded up Native Americans in North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama and marched them from their homes to Oklahoma.  The old and the infirm, the mothers carrying their babes, the men and children were forced to walk what is now known as The Trail of Tears.  It was a dark period in our history.

Yet, in one area of governance Jackson was a visionary, it was his fear of corporations.  His words in the message to Congress concerning his veto of the national bank expressed his contempt and fear of faceless and soulless corporations.