Joe Manchin illustrates that the real division in American politics is no longer left versus right, conservative versus liberal, even Democrat versus Republican. The real division is democracy versus the moneyed interests.

It’s No Mystery: Joe Manchin Represents the Monied Interests and Nobody Else

Senator Joe Manchin, the putative Democrat from West Virginia, refuses to vote on Biden’s sweeping “Build Back Better” climate and social spending package before Christmas—which puts BBB into the 2022 danger zone. (Arizona’s Senator Kyrsten Sinema will go along with whatever Manchin decides.) Biden is meeting with Manchin today to try to get his and support for a vote before the holidays, but no one believes the meeting will change Manchin’s position.

Why is Manchin so obstinate? I once thought he was trying to protect West Virginia’s coal mining industry and he worried that Build Back Better’s climate provisions would hasten its demise. But West Virginia’s coal industry employs only around 13,000 workers—less than 2 percent of the state’s work force. Not even Manchin’s personal financial interests in coal would be much diminished if BBB’s climate measures were enacted.

Manchin’s resistance becomes even more puzzling when you realize that West Virginia’s biggest industry by far is health care, which employs more than 100,000 people (including many middle-class jobs). Build Back Better would make it easier for many West Virginians to get health care.

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By Robert Reich via CommonDreams.org