John Edwards, a self-made multi-millionaire, is traveling around the country trying to persuade people that they’re poor. To their credit, they’re not buying it. This is a classic progressive tactic, going back to Karl Marx (1818-1883): persuade people that they are being oppressed, exploited, dominated, and victimized by others, in the hope that they will become resentful and, as a result, rebellious. When people refuse to believe that they’re being oppressed, exploited, dominated, or victimized, tell them (in your sternest voice) that they have a “false consciousness.” Note the self-serving logic: If you agree with me, you have a true consciousness; if you disagree with me, you have a false consciousness. Heads I win; tails you lose!

Addendum: Edwards’s campaign is going nowhere, and deservedly so, given his shameless warmongering. He trails Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in all the major polls. When Al Gore is added, he trails Gore as well!