Breakdown:

1. Introduction: The Lack of Real Alternatives in US Politics
   The piece starts by questioning why the Democratic Party doesn’t provide a real alternative to the inequality and materialism perpetuated by the conservative party. The author argues that this is because the Democratic Party, historically and presently, is fundamentally aligned with capitalism and imperialism, not the interests of working people.
2. Historical Context: The Democratic Party’s Role in Protecting Capitalism
   The Democratic Party was established as a Social Democratic entity with the primary role of safeguarding liberal capitalism. The article contends that, rather than offering genuine reform or an alternative to capitalism, the Democratic Party has historically been anti-left and anti-communist. It was designed to manage the working class with welfare policies that protect capitalist interests, ensuring that these policies don’t threaten the overall capitalist system.
3. The Function of Imperialism in Maintaining Capitalism
   Imperialism is identified as a critical tool that sustains capitalist economies. The U.S. exports its poverty to the Global South, creating a situation where wealth is extracted from weaker countries to fuel the economic growth of powerful nations. This exportation of poverty also serves to pacify the working classes in the U.S., creating an illusion of prosperity while preventing revolutionary tendencies.
4. Comparing HR to the Democratic Party: Protecting the System, Not the People
   The article draws an analogy between human resources (HR) departments and the Democratic Party. Just as HR is designed to protect the company’s interests rather than the employees, the Democratic Party exists not to protect the working class but to defend the interests of the capitalist elite. Both provide temporary fixes that maintain the status quo, rather than enacting systemic change.
5. The Collapse of US Imperialism and the Working Class
   The article highlights the barriers U.S. imperialism faces as it can no longer expand its empire in the same way. The resulting inability to export poverty has led to a collapse in the U.S. working class, exposing the failure of the systems the Democratic Party and capitalism uphold. This is framed as a consequence of capitalism’s inherent need for imperialism to function, with the working class increasingly facing economic decline.
6. The False Promise of Liberalism and Social Democracy
   The article critiques liberalism as being fundamentally about capital accumulation, not human rights or progress. It argues that under liberalism, human rights and equity are always sacrificed for profits. Social Democrats initially tried to reform the Democratic Party from within but were ultimately rejected, leading to the formation of the Democratic Socialist Party. This historical failure to reform from within highlights the deep-rooted structural issues in the system.
7. Capitalism’s Fundamental Incompatibility with Human Rights
   The argument is made that capitalism is the root cause of systemic inequality and human rights violations. As capitalism depends on profit maximization, it requires imperialism to offset diminishing returns and provide temporary relief to the working class. However, human rights and economic gains are unsustainable under capitalism because they are not ultimately profitable.
8. US Resistance to Economic Rights and Global Implications
   The article points out that the U.S. is one of only two countries that have refused to ratify the United Nations Declaration on Economic, Political, and Cultural Rights, highlighting its reluctance to acknowledge economic rights as fundamental human rights. This refusal is presented as a direct consequence of the U.S.’s empire, where human rights and empire cannot coexist.
9. Conclusion: The Necessity of Rethinking the System
   The final takeaway is a call to rethink the systems that seem to be working for us, particularly the political and economic systems that uphold imperialism and capitalism. The article asserts that real change cannot come from parties designed to maintain the status quo, and that addressing the root causes—capitalism and imperialism—is essential for the survival of the U.S. and the global community.

The piece concludes by acknowledging that while the change required will not be easy or profitable, it is absolutely necessary for the survival of humanity and the world as a whole.