http://samuel-warde.com/2016/05/78135-plutocrat-warns-other-plutocrats/
"It’s refreshing to hear a man who literally wallows in wealth say things like “We plutocrats need to get this trickle down economics thing behind us.” It’s heartening to hear a man of his level of wealth stand behind a $15 minimum wage. “I know that most people think that the $15 minimum wage is this insane, risky economic experiment. We disagree. We believe that the $15 minimum wage in Seattle is actually the continuation of a logical economic policy. It is allowing our city to kick your city’s ass.” And “… the fundamental law of capitalism is, when workers have more money, businesses have more customers and need more workers"."
Showing posts with label Plutocrats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Plutocrats. Show all posts
November 29, 2014
November 25, 2014
'Let them eat cake': The GOP and its attacks on the middle class
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/11/23/1345709/--Let-them-eat-cake-The-GOP-and-its-attacks-on-the-middle-class
"We have had our own "Let them eat cake" moments in America. During the gilded age Cornelius Vanderbilt stated, "What do I care about the law? Ain’t I got the power?" His son, William Vanderbilt, once said, "The public be damned!" when he heard of criticism of his railroad monopoly. This is the same man who was poorly treated by his father until he cheated the Army on the price of hay during the Civil War. What a fine family they were.
Jay Gould, another robber baron, once said about striking railroad workers, "I can hire one half of the working class to kill the other half." Republicans of today are obvious disciples of Mr. Gould. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and his "divide and conquer" statements, Mitt Romney with his comments about the 47 percent being dependent on government, Rep. Paul Ryan blaming poverty on lazy inner city men, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie being tired of minimum wage talk, and Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson stating, "I think it’s unrealistic, for public-sector employees to believe that they are immune from modifications to their pay and benefit packages."
These men, doing the work of the robber barons of today—the Koch brothers being the most well know of them—are out of touch with the American middle class."
"We have had our own "Let them eat cake" moments in America. During the gilded age Cornelius Vanderbilt stated, "What do I care about the law? Ain’t I got the power?" His son, William Vanderbilt, once said, "The public be damned!" when he heard of criticism of his railroad monopoly. This is the same man who was poorly treated by his father until he cheated the Army on the price of hay during the Civil War. What a fine family they were.
Jay Gould, another robber baron, once said about striking railroad workers, "I can hire one half of the working class to kill the other half." Republicans of today are obvious disciples of Mr. Gould. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and his "divide and conquer" statements, Mitt Romney with his comments about the 47 percent being dependent on government, Rep. Paul Ryan blaming poverty on lazy inner city men, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie being tired of minimum wage talk, and Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson stating, "I think it’s unrealistic, for public-sector employees to believe that they are immune from modifications to their pay and benefit packages."
These men, doing the work of the robber barons of today—the Koch brothers being the most well know of them—are out of touch with the American middle class."
November 12, 2014
Hightower: Why Corporations Are Doing Everything They Can to Destroy Net Neutrality
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/hightower-why-corporations-are-doing-everything-they-can-destroy-net-neutrality
"The biggest loser though, would be the Internet itself, which would be made to surrender its determinedly democratic ethic to the plutocratic rule of corporate profiteers."
"The biggest loser though, would be the Internet itself, which would be made to surrender its determinedly democratic ethic to the plutocratic rule of corporate profiteers."
August 2, 2014
Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Now Supported by Half of Senate Members
Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Now Supported by Half of Senate Members
"As US elections have become increasingly determined by the unlimited political spending of shadowy organizations financed by the rich, participatory democracy has further deteriorated."
"As US elections have become increasingly determined by the unlimited political spending of shadowy organizations financed by the rich, participatory democracy has further deteriorated."
July 24, 2014
Clueless Rich Kids on the Rise: How Millennial Aristocrats Will Destroy Our Future
www.alternet.org/clueless-rich-kids-rise-how-millennial-aristocrats-will-destroy-our-future
"Today's wealthy are far more likely to have inherited their fortunes. Here's why that's going to doom our politics."
"Today's wealthy are far more likely to have inherited their fortunes. Here's why that's going to doom our politics."
June 30, 2014
The Pitchforks Are Coming… For Us Plutocrats | Common Dreams
The Pitchforks Are Coming… For Us Plutocrats | Common Dreams
"At the same time that people like you and me are thriving beyond the dreams of any plutocrats in history, the rest of the country—the 99.99 percent—is lagging far behind. The divide between the haves and have-nots is getting worse really, really fast. In 1980, the top 1 percent controlled about 8 percent of U.S. national income. The bottom 50 percent shared about 18 percent. Today the top 1 percent share about 20 percent; the bottom 50 percent, just 12 percent.
But the problem isn’t that we have inequality. Some inequality is intrinsic to any high-functioning capitalist economy. The problem is that inequality is at historically high levels and getting worse every day. Our country is rapidly becoming less a capitalist society and more a feudal society. Unless our policies change dramatically, the middle class will disappear, and we will be back to late 18th-century France. Before the revolution.
And so I have a message for my fellow filthy rich, for all of us who live in our gated bubble worlds: Wake up, people. It won’t last."
"At the same time that people like you and me are thriving beyond the dreams of any plutocrats in history, the rest of the country—the 99.99 percent—is lagging far behind. The divide between the haves and have-nots is getting worse really, really fast. In 1980, the top 1 percent controlled about 8 percent of U.S. national income. The bottom 50 percent shared about 18 percent. Today the top 1 percent share about 20 percent; the bottom 50 percent, just 12 percent.
But the problem isn’t that we have inequality. Some inequality is intrinsic to any high-functioning capitalist economy. The problem is that inequality is at historically high levels and getting worse every day. Our country is rapidly becoming less a capitalist society and more a feudal society. Unless our policies change dramatically, the middle class will disappear, and we will be back to late 18th-century France. Before the revolution.
And so I have a message for my fellow filthy rich, for all of us who live in our gated bubble worlds: Wake up, people. It won’t last."
May 31, 2014
If You Thought Oligarchy and Aristocracy Were Bad, You'll Really Hate Kochocracy
www.alternet.org/economy/if-you-thought-oligarchy-and-aristocracy-were-bad-youll-really-hate-kochocracy
"The lords of a vast oil empire are buying up our entire democracy with a fraction of their fortune."
"The lords of a vast oil empire are buying up our entire democracy with a fraction of their fortune."
May 22, 2014
May 20, 2014
April 2, 2014
With McCutcheon Ruling, An Activist Court Opts for Full-On Plutocracy | Common Dreams
With McCutcheon Ruling, An Activist Court Opts for Full-On Plutocracy | Common Dreams
"Any doubts about the determination of an activist United States Supreme Court to rewrite election rules so that the dollar matters more than the vote were removed Wednesday, when McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission was decided in favor of the dollar.
The court that in 2010, with its Citizens United v. FEC decision, cleared the way for corporations to spend as freely as they choose to buy elections has now effectively eliminated the ability of the American people and their elected representatives to establish meaningful limits on direct donations by millionaires and billionaires to campaigns."
"Any doubts about the determination of an activist United States Supreme Court to rewrite election rules so that the dollar matters more than the vote were removed Wednesday, when McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission was decided in favor of the dollar.
The court that in 2010, with its Citizens United v. FEC decision, cleared the way for corporations to spend as freely as they choose to buy elections has now effectively eliminated the ability of the American people and their elected representatives to establish meaningful limits on direct donations by millionaires and billionaires to campaigns."
The Supreme Court Just Put America Up For Sale
www.addictinginfo.org/2014/04/02/supreme-court-just-put-america-sale/
"This court decision is just the status quo for the Roberts Court. He has overseen the largest dismantling of voting rights in US history with his support of the fledgling American Plutocracy
and their fight to eliminate the rights of “lesser” citizens to have a voice in their governance.
America is now directly up for sale to the highest bidder. Money is the only voice which matters in Robert’s America."
"This court decision is just the status quo for the Roberts Court. He has overseen the largest dismantling of voting rights in US history with his support of the fledgling American Plutocracy
and their fight to eliminate the rights of “lesser” citizens to have a voice in their governance.
America is now directly up for sale to the highest bidder. Money is the only voice which matters in Robert’s America."
A Supreme Court out of control! How McCutcheon will spur corruption and inequality
A Supreme Court out of control! How McCutcheon will spur corruption and inequality
"That clanging sound you hear is the Supreme Court, hammering the final nails into democracy’s casket. With Wednesday’s decision in McCutcheon v. FEC, the court has crossed the line protecting the last vestige of campaign finance reform, and making it official: Rule by the rich is now unfettered. Plutocracy’s moment has arrived."
"That clanging sound you hear is the Supreme Court, hammering the final nails into democracy’s casket. With Wednesday’s decision in McCutcheon v. FEC, the court has crossed the line protecting the last vestige of campaign finance reform, and making it official: Rule by the rich is now unfettered. Plutocracy’s moment has arrived."
The Supreme Court’s Ideology: More Money, Less Voting | The Nation
The Supreme Court’s Ideology: More Money, Less Voting | The Nation
"In the past four years, under the leadership of Chief Justice John Roberts, the Supreme Court has made it far easier to buy an election and far harder to vote in one."
"In the past four years, under the leadership of Chief Justice John Roberts, the Supreme Court has made it far easier to buy an election and far harder to vote in one."
How The Supreme Court Just Legalized Money Laundering By Rich Campaign Donors
www.thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/04/02/3422036/how-the-supreme-court-just-legalized-money-laundering-by-rich-campaign-donors/
"Chief Justice John Roberts begins his opinion in McCutcheon v. FEC with a flourish: “[t]here is no right more basic in our democracy than the right to participate in electing our political leaders.” He then spends the next forty pages explaining why that participation includes the right of rich people to attempt to buy elections."
"Chief Justice John Roberts begins his opinion in McCutcheon v. FEC with a flourish: “[t]here is no right more basic in our democracy than the right to participate in electing our political leaders.” He then spends the next forty pages explaining why that participation includes the right of rich people to attempt to buy elections."
Supreme Court’s abomination: How McCutcheon decision will destroy American politics
Supreme Court’s abomination: How McCutcheon decision will destroy American politics
"Thanks to Scalia and co., the rich will now be able to buy politicians as effortlessly as they buy anything else"
"Thanks to Scalia and co., the rich will now be able to buy politicians as effortlessly as they buy anything else"
March 30, 2014
Plutocracy without end: Why the 1 percent always defeats the middle class
Plutocracy without end: Why the 1 percent always defeats the middle class
"There are more of us than them. But income inequality keeps getting worse -- and there is sadly no end in sight"
"There are more of us than them. But income inequality keeps getting worse -- and there is sadly no end in sight"
The Shame of American Politics: GOP Presidential Hopefuls now Trek to Las Vegas seeking Adelson Blessing | Common Dreams
The Shame of American Politics: GOP Presidential Hopefuls now Trek to Las Vegas seeking Adelson Blessing | Common Dreams
"A series of pro-corporation Supreme Court decisions and the latter’s disingenuous equation of money with speech, including “Citizens United”, have turned the United States from a democracy to a plutocracy."
"A series of pro-corporation Supreme Court decisions and the latter’s disingenuous equation of money with speech, including “Citizens United”, have turned the United States from a democracy to a plutocracy."
March 25, 2014
Our Plutocracy Problem
www.inthesetimes.com/article/16475/our_plutocracy_problem
"These days, there’s a much more direct process. One percenters and corporations can secretly buy politicians. Using front groups, the wealthy can “donate” unlimited millions to elect a candidate and remain completely anonymous."
"These days, there’s a much more direct process. One percenters and corporations can secretly buy politicians. Using front groups, the wealthy can “donate” unlimited millions to elect a candidate and remain completely anonymous."
March 19, 2014
The Plutocrats Strike Back
The Plutocrats Strike Back
"Populism is popular with voters, but not with big donors. But the problem for the bankers, Langone, Perkins and the rest is that they no longer operate in secret. The special interest claims no longer have legitimacy. Folks don’t buy the trickle down voodoo anymore."
"Populism is popular with voters, but not with big donors. But the problem for the bankers, Langone, Perkins and the rest is that they no longer operate in secret. The special interest claims no longer have legitimacy. Folks don’t buy the trickle down voodoo anymore."
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