Corporate America took over the political process

[katanalori]

By Barry Ritholtz, "The Big Picture"

"Searching for the Truth in an Age of Disingenuousness"

"In 2009 and 2010, I learned that Corporate America took over the political process via their exhaustive lobbying efforts. What was once a Democracy is now a Corporatocracy."

"Exactly how far has the takeover gone? The corrupt US Supreme Court provided a sympathetic venue for the creation of corporate rights never envisioned by the Founding Fathers; Congress has become a wholly owned subsidiary of America, Inc. The White House talks a good game of smack, but genuflects in order to beg for job creation."

(snip)


"Politicians do the bidding not for the people, but for the corporate establishment. Those people who want to blame the barking, snarling government for all the woes of the world do not want you to look further up the leash to see who is giving the commands."

(snip)

"Fearing a corporate takeover of the nation isn’t nearly as radical as it sounds. Thomas Jefferson reviled the idea of big corporations: “I hope we shall…crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength and to bid defiance to the laws of our country.” Jefferson knew the influence bankers could have on a nation’s soul, and he was horrified by it."

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2010/12/searching-for-the-truth-in-an-age-of-disingenuousness/

[ProfessionalLeftist]

1. Fascism

is here NOW.

[maryf]

2. It's capitalism! why won't people use the word?

Corporations have arisen due to the capitalist system...what is the problem with using the word? rec anyway...

[Enthusiast]

3. There is unregulated capitalism

and regulated capitalism. Now that we opened the door to unregulated capitalism we are finding it impossible to put the genie back in the bottle because corporate power exerts so much influence on the political process. And that corporate influence was bad enough before the Citizens United decision. Just wait. But well regulated capitalism did work for a majority of the citizens back when we used to have it.

[maryf]

4. Capitalism is capitalism...

"a majority of the citizens" may have benefited, but a large minority of oppressed benefited not at all. Capitalism depends on a sub class of poor and unemployed. Sad thing is today, we don't have a paucity of jobs, we have a glut of workers, mostly due to the owners demanding more work from fewer workers. Cut hours for the workers, lower retirement age, and we'd have plenty of jobs; and no more Friday/Monday products. Sorry if this is too much a tangent! :)

[whattheidonot]

5. taxation

It is about the taxation policies. If the proper taxation is in place a capitalist system can work. Presently it is going the wrong way. The great myth that if you are failure in America it is your fault also plays a big hand. You have to know how this rigged system works to be a success. Making a living by setting up a long term viable business that makes things is not even in the cards these days. A Republican will tell you that. What we have now is money making money with not much left for handouts, thus no economy.
These stimulus programs are a finger in the dyke. They are not going to work. Obama has gone along with this. That is amazing and frigting. Means he is in on it . He did not call this out.

[upi402]

8. Some of us tried to out Obama's corporatist nature early

And we took a lot of heat here. There is no opposition party to corporatism and it is the elephant in the living room. I don't speak of it lightly here. Just a matter of time until I'm banned for pointing it out, I figure.

Bush was an evil loon, and Obama is clearly better than McCain. But the house was on fire. We need a firetruck, not a watering can.

[JohnWxy]

6. Oh no... M$M has informed me that the Tea Baggers are demanding a new GOP. Yeah, they are, uhuh.

THey are dieing to get deeper into Corporate Feudalism. The Corporations and the very wealthy are the new Lords of the land and those who have to work for a living (anybody who isn't rich enough to live off his investments) are the serfs!

ANd Chief 'Justice' John Roberts has given his official stamp of approval to the 'human' rights enjoyed by corporations (Rights without responsibilities - such a deal!). In other words, they are royalty - the new Lords of the land.

[bemildred]

7. Yep, leveraged buyout of the government. Bought it cheap too.

I think the thing that has always annoyed me the most about corruption in politics is how cheaply they sell us out.