"US corporatocracy" - the system of government that serves the interests of, and is essentially run by, corporations. It primarily seeks to further ties between government and business--where corporations, multi-national corporations, conglomerates, and private parties including political organizations and highly-paid corporate executives (a tiny elite) are the primary control. Areas of control rely on direction and governance often tied to contrived, sometimes fearsome, mass-media visages of elements, ideas, and persons within the country--the system depends on highly-paid media "pundits" for dissemination of major themes. There is a revolving door between the components of the corporatocracy. The system retains the superficial appearance of being a democratic republic, by relying on long-standing faith in the democratic voting, legislative, judicial, and executive processes--but below the surface, it is a system of government without true representation of the people.
Major activities of the corporatocracy include carrying out economic planning notwithstanding the 'free market' label. A tiny elite group benefits financially from the system, at the same time they are granted tax-free mechanisms. Because the major interests served in the system are corporate-related, the general welfare of the nation suffers--the benefits of productivity do not proliferate. Compensation as a share of national income falls. Taxes "invert," placing a greater burden on all but the rich and the ultra-rich. Some corporations pay no taxes at all. As a result of the massive disparity in distribution of wealth within the consumer-driven economy, demand necessarily relies on easy credit, and/or economic boom/bust cycles.
The US Federal Reserve is intimately involved in creating these cycles, but in doing so, has recently run up against a fundamental math barrier (near-zero interest rates). The US Treasury is used as source of income for the tiny elite, through a series of complex transactions and events which obfuscate--but ultimately leave the taxpayer and our children bearing the cost of benefits to the tiny elite.
The corporatocracy relies on communist China (and other foreign) underpinnings for sources of cheap production, labor, and credit--and possibly also on communist Chinese political influence channeled through anonymous political organizations. In addition, as a recent development, the system ensnares the US judicial branch within its overall goals. In fact, the judicial system enhances the finances of the system and protects the corporatocracy as if it had the same--if not more--rights than the individual (the Citizens United decision); it does so against the will of 80 percent of the people. "Unlimited, anonymous funds" allowable through corporate donations to political organizations result in a huge "multiplier effect" on speech, given the nature of high-tech mass-media and broadcasting--a fact apparently not accounted for in the Citizens United decision. The corporatocracy distorts basic sciences such as economics; the system even presents the gross domestic product of other nations as its own.
Moreover, at the nucleus of the corporatocracy is an unelected body--the US Chamber of Commerce. This powerful group is extremely well-financed through unknown entities, and is becoming increasingly involved in corporate, media, political, election, legislative, and judicial activities; it does so with an eye that prefers foreign interests over US citizens. Thereby, the corporatocracy achieves an unprecedented fusion of formerly separate powers, in spite of the fundamental principles of separation upon which America was founded. As scary as the reality may seem, the Chamber spends huge (and now anonymous and unlimited) money toward spoon-feeding the text--word-for-word--of corporatocratic law into being, through massive and long-standing Congressional influence.
http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/top.php?indexType=s In short--we have one great beast--no longer with checks and balances, and no longer for the American People.
"The selfish spirit of commerce knows no country, and feels no passion or principle but that of gain."
- Thomas Jefferson to Larkin Smith, 1809.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(456 posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
