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Related: About this forumThe Age of the Oligarchs
http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/robert-parry/55195/the-age-of-the-oligarchsThe Age of the Oligarchs
Corporate America | Government
by Robert Parry | April 5, 2014 - 9:54am
The chaos in Ukraine can be viewed, in part, as what happens when a collection of oligarchs sometimes competing, sometime collaborating take control of a society, buying most of the politicians and owning the media. The political/media classes become corrupted by serving their wealthy patrons and society breaks down into warring factions.
In that sense, Ukraine could be a cautionary tale for the United States and other countries that are veering down a similar path toward vast income inequality, with billionaire oligarchs using their money to control politicians and to pay for propaganda through media ventures.
Oil billionaires David and Charles Koch.
Depending on your point of view, there may be good oligarchs and bad oligarchs, but the concept of oligarchy is antithetical to democracy, a system in which governance is supposed to be driven by the informed consent of the majority with respect for minority rights. Instead, were moving toward a competition among oligarchs with the people mostly as bystanders to be manipulated one way or the other.
On Wednesday, a 5-4 majority of the U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on total amounts that an individual can contribute during a campaign cycle, an extension of the 2010 ruling on Citizens United allowing the rich to spend unlimited sums on political advertising. It was another step toward an American oligarchy where politicians, activists and even journalists compete to satisfy one oligarch or another.
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The Age of the Oligarchs (Original Post)
unhappycamper
Apr 2014
OP
And then they'll find another greasy pitchman to sell mercantilism with a new vocabulary
Warpy
Apr 2014
#3
The Oligarchs, Corporations And Banks Own And Control The Politicians That Own And Control Us
cantbeserious
Apr 2014
#2
Demeter
(85,373 posts)1. America is well into Oligarchy already....has been since Reagan, at least
It's just becoming blatant lately, because they THINK they have it all in their control. They THINK they have covered every exit, cornered the people, enslaved them for eternity.
I KNOW they are fooling themselves (and some of the people, too). Time will prove my point. Ten years, and you won't find an oligarch in a public venue. 50 and you won't find an oligarch, period. We'll have wealth recycling to put an end to oligarchy. And then, the American Revolution will be truly completed.
Warpy
(111,339 posts)3. And then they'll find another greasy pitchman to sell mercantilism with a new vocabulary
and people who hate their neighbors will buy it and the whole mess will start all over again.
We've been here before, only they called them Robber Barons and Trusts in earlier times.
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)2. The Oligarchs, Corporations And Banks Own And Control The Politicians That Own And Control Us
eom