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Class Warfare in America, a pretense to Feudalism 2.0
Or, how laws, rules and taxes only apply to the “little people.”
Feudalism: The dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from the Crown (in exchange for military service), and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants (villeins or serfs) were obliged to live on their lord’s land and give him homage, labor, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection.
http://www.google.com/dictionary?aq=f&langpair=en|en&q=feudalism&hl=enFeudalism 2.0: The emerging social system of the 21st century, especially in the USA, where the ultra-rich and corporations hold wealth and jobs, supported by puppet politicians, and the “middle class” (nuovo poor) are servants (employees) of the corporations and do all the work and pay all the taxes. The destitute work multiple low paying jobs and remain forever unhealthy and in debt.
The greed, profit motives are in place. Corporate executives who used to make about 40 times what the lowest paid person in their company made now routinely make hundreds or thousands of times what the lowest paid employee makes. According to some economic theories that is not a sustainable way to run a company. Using that money to support more employees (more jobs) or reinvestment in the company would be better for everyone. Corporations today talk about running “lean” (read: fewer jobs) but eventually it is cut to the bone (except for executives) and impedes performance.
The 1950′s are frequently idealized as a near utopian time in US history. Top tax rates were above 70%, much of the current national infrastructure was built, the country was not at war. Now we are at war with everything (drugs, cancer, terror, etc. ), including two actual wars overseas and taxes have cut well into the bone. The income and wealth of the top 2% has increased greatly (15-20% by most measures) while the rest of us have seen decreases in salary, “wealth”, 401k’s and buying power.
The best way to control people is to keep them uneducated, unhealthy and fearful. The revenue “income” of the federal government has been reduced dramatically, creating an excuse to cut many social programs, health care and education.
Deregulation is a primary tool, used by the ultra-rich (via corporations) and put into effect by paid-for politicians and judges to let them do whatever they want. Repealing Glass-Steagall was the coup-de-grace. Of course deregulation only benefits big businesses, small business get only lip service and pay much more in taxes than the big corporations. Court decisions like Citizens United give big corporations far greater power than they ever had before.
Wasn’t the the purpose of “trickle down,” “supply side economics” and of tax cuts to the rich to create jobs and stimulate the economy? This has been going on now for more than 30 years, how long can it possibly take to show results? Where are the jobs and economic improvement? What IS the argument for not increasing taxes on the rich, or for cutting them even more?
Taxes now are lower than when “Saint Reagan” was President, and even Reagan raised taxes several times, as he realized that the Federal Government needs to take in revenue.
The pretense of a “level playing field” is long gone. Welcome to Feudalism 2.0.
Supporting evidence and indications (examples, not an exhaustive list):
We all know that the GOP is the “party of the rich” – both rich individuals and rich corporations.
- Wall St
- Controls financial markets, tool of the rich (who own more than 50% of all investments)
- Wall St. gets to make money on your 401K, while you cannot touch it, even if it decreases in value.
- McDonalds (and other fast food manufacturers)
- Wants customers to purchase more (eat more). Engineers their food for addiction, empty calories.
- Customer health is not a concern but burdensome regulation.
- Private Health Care
- Would a health institution deny service because of “lack of profit?” (we all know that answer).
- At least SOME public health services are needed, some others (mainly elective) could be private.
- Private Prisons
- Their objective would be to make money. More profit would require more inmates. Owners could lobby (bribe) politicians top pass stricter laws. They would remove productive people from society, charge families for incarceration (more profit for private prison).
- Could make a lot of money on white-collar criminals… think that is what they have in mind?
- Monsanto
- Lobbied the government to eliminate a rule tracking pesticide/herbicide water pollution, another burdensome regulation.
- Exxon, Bank of America, GE: corporations that pay no taxes
- The “top 2%”
- Over the last 10-20 years their incomes and wealth have increased dramatically, while the average for the other 98% has been an income and wealth decrease. More of this is yet to come.
The GOP seems to want to make laws and rules that ONLY apply to everyone else (hypocrisy).
- Sen. Inhofe.
- Recklessly lands a plane on a runway full of workers, is universally condemned by pilots.
- Yet he “goes after” the FAA by launching legislation to “curb abuses” (like he was exposed to)
- The CIA, John Yoo
- Brazenly destroys evidence they were ordered to preserve.
- The CIA was given a pass because John Yoo told them they could perform acts, that we prosecuted as war crimes 60 years ago (the “following orders” defense was not recognized at Nuremburg.)
- Sen. Vitter
- Patronizes hookers and is re-elected. Weiner “tweets” and is hounded from office.
- Larry “wide stance” Craig
- Rails against homosexuality, pushes anti-gay laws and then is outed in an airport men’s room.
- Abu Ghraib
- Need I say more? Punish only the lowest level people involved.
- Nixon
- Pardoned for crimes. Had Nixon been prosecuted, would Bush/Cheney have been so reckless and lawless?
- Where’s my Health care?
- Rep. Andy Harris, A conservative Maryland physician elected to Congress on an anti-Obamacare platform asked why his free government health care had to take so long, what he would do without 28 days of health care.
- Myth: Republicans value sexual morality:
- Too many to list here, please see:
- http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Examples_of_Republican_hypocrisy_on_moral_values
12 Comments
So a puppet king and the nobles/corporations really rule all ? This reminds me of Poland’s elected monarchy after the Turkish invasion of Europe where the kings of Poland and Hungary died in battle.
Neither country was the same after that battle. But Poland’s elected monarchy without real control of the nobles always seemed to me the most unstable form of government at the time.
Your not filling me with hope here.
Corporate executives who used to make about 40 times what the lowest paid person in their company made now routinely make hundreds or thousands of times what the lowest paid employee makes.
Any numbers on what the hedgefund owners who own many companies make?
According to some economic theories that is not a sustainable way to run a company
Some? nope just the sane ones;)
Using that money to support more employees (more jobs) or reinvestment in the company would be better for everyone. Corporations today talk about running “lean” (read: fewer jobs) but eventually it is cut to the bone (except for executives) and impedes performance.
Profit short term as you point out is a motive. But deep down why impede business performance and profit?
Because control, power is even more important.
Wasn’t the the purpose of “trickle down,” “supply side economics” and of tax cuts to the rich to create jobs and stimulate the economy? This has been going on now for more than 30 years, how long can it possibly take to show results?
GOPers have been telling this lie so long to us that they believe it now societies fall apart when the ruling class starts believing their lies.
Revolutions happen when the Middle Class stops believing the lies, myths, religion, state or corporate controlled media.
When Reagan killed the Fairness Doctrine thats when newspaper and tv news viewers started to stop listening to them and the ratings and newspaper circulation have gone down ever since.
Without anyone to push back against them our ruling elite have gotten crazier Obama is to the Right of Nixon now and the GOP is a few short steps from deporting the Jews er Mexicans or setting up camps.
Well they already have private for profit prisons death camps if they can’t send the Mexicans away are next.
We are at a crossroads either the Left wins or we go full Nazi.
This has been going on now for more than 30 years, how long can it possibly take to show results?
Wealth does not matter its power look at the Nazi’s they built good tanks but their small private contractors and slave labor economy could not match the quality of Russian tanks or the numbers of American tanks.
Given American failure’s for ten years to build safe armored vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan that can handle at best 2nd more likely 3rd world tech (some of Saddam’s power plants used Vacuum tubes a tech that America stopped using I am quite sure before I was born).
Well our Corporate/Feudal overlords obviously can’t or won’t innovate. Can’t because the Corporate system kills American innovation the ” Dilbert” comics explain that better than I can or won’t Innovate because of cost.
Who cares end result the Germans got beat by tech that matched their own us we are getting beat by tech from people a generation or two behind our own.
Iraqi Penetrator bombs are a great example of low tech innovation beating high tech. The fact after 10 years of war we can’t find a response to this tech suggests our innovation is dead.
Thaksin introduced universal health care for the first time in Thailand, instituted a 3-year debt moratorium for farmers, low interest loans to the poor, and gave locally managed development funds for all villages. Within four years, the poverty rate had been cut in half. Thailand repaid its IMF loans two years ahead of schedule, and the gini coefficient reversed a long uptrend to fall significantly.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/07/10/993046/-Another-Left-Wing-Populist-Wins-in-a-Landslide?via=siderec
This shows what a Lefty can do in the real world Thailand vs the Bush/Obama tax cuts to fix an economy and pay off the national debt.
Isn’t Thaksin now exiled – and his Sister the elected leader?
When “the right” loses the social argument with the masses they employ other means, up to and including assassinations, like they did with JFK,MLK, RFK in the 1960′s.
Owner power is important. CEO (and other high level execs) want to rape for immediate personal profit.
IMO this is contrary to long term success of the company, does not meet shareholder best interests and (here in the US) damages the overall economy.
In theory, various economic systems work well as long as there is a “level field” – ie. all participants engage fairly.
When wealth becomes very unbalanced the wealthy have an unfair advantage (under pricing to put competitors out of business, for example). Regulations are needed to offset this.
Too many regulations can restrict business, but too few is also a risk.
Unfortunately I think you are right. The GOP is leading the way, and the Democrats are tagging along – not offering much resistance.
Its still an example of what works but you are right about assassinations, coup attempts, fake populist mobs notice the Klans growth and increase crime political influence during the American gilded age, the rise of Nazi crime against Lefties, Jews etc and political influence before they took power and the tea bagger growth now and the lone nut shooting, bombings of abortion clinics etc.
Common factor a Right Wing Press corporate owned spewing hate.
Hmmm maybe I should look at the CEO’s of Clearchanne owners of Rush Limbaughl, board of Directors and major investors then look at Glen Beck’s people the same way.
Yes it is, I did not mean to imply otherwise.
It just seems to me that whenever some party/country/leader actually starts doing something for the people “something” happens to them. Violence, dishonest smears (or something) by the right-wing, other than honorable, logical debate.