Aristocracy returns to America (Gene Lyons)

[mooseandsquirrel]

One virtue of American-style capitalism is the way it has sustained
democracy by transforming the lust for power into the quest for cash. You don’t need to know much about the biographies of 19 th century robber barons like John D. Rockefeller or Andrew Carnegie, for example, to be glad they stuck to commerce instead of politics. Not that the two are ever completely separate, but we’re better off with the control freaks in the counting house instead of the White House. This shouldn’t be read as a slap at the inheritors of great fortunes, like Arkansas Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller, nor the universities, libraries, museums and hospitals founded in their names. But it’s worthwhile asking whether the truce between wealth and democracy in America isn’t breaking down as the tycoon class commands an ever greater share of the nation’s wealth and uses it to tilt the political system even further in its favor. Based upon The New York Times’ recent first-rate series on social class in America, two things are happening: A small group reporter David Cay Johnston dubs the "hyper-rich" is making so much money and paying so little in taxes that the nation may be creating a permanent, European-style aristocracy. Meanwhile, social mobility stagnates and the security of the salaried classes looks increasingly threatened.

snip

http://moose-and-squirrel.com/gene/gene.html

[liberal N proud]

1. The haves will have more and have not will have less than nothing

The haves and have mores want to have it all, creating two classes in America.
America the new third world nation.
The rich and dubious and the poor and hungry.
Hungry people work for less wages.

[Double T]

2. A Worker Revolution Is Just Around The Corner......

....there just has not been enough pain inflicted on the entire middle class yet. Sooner or later people will realize the republican party does anything but support the middle class and strictly caters to the Robber Barons and Aristocrats

[Dudley_DUright]

4. If they haven't figured that out already

I doubt they ever will. :-(

[leveymg]

3. Are We Almost Ready for Another One of These?

1776


2006?

[11cents]

5. You mean another uprising of proletarians like...

...Thomas Jefferson and George Washington?

[leveymg]

6. Most every revolution is led by disaffected elites.

The next one will be no exception. By the way, revolutions usually devolve into military dictatorships.

Tread carefully.:eyes: