iamwhatiseem
Diamond Member
I turned 50 today. Something I say all the time is one of the greatest threats to the American way of life is: the diminishing number of people that remember what America was before the investor class, and the corporatist takeover of America.
People under the age of 45, maybe 40 at the youngest, simply were not around to remember their cities/towns and neighborhoods filled with small businesses and privately owned establishments.
People under 40-45 only remember McDonalds, Starbucks, CVS, Lowes, Home Depot, Super-Walmart, chain gas stations, chain retail stores everywhere. Earning every location in America the name "Anytown, USA".
Small business-America has been under a direct assault from every angle. And with that are vanished opportunities.
People forget that it isn't a lack of money that is the problem for most people - IT IS A LACK OF OPPORTUNITY.
In America's economic golden era between the 1950-60's, what made it so great was not Wall Street, not central banks and sure as hell not the government - but OPPORTUNITY for everyone. Educated or not educated, there was solid, good paying jobs absolutely everywhere. Jobs with benefits that we can only dream of today, virtually everyone had a pension. Virtually everyone earned a living wage.
Not so today.
All made possible by our government. We are not a republic any longer. We are a Kleptocracy. By definition... a government that exist to promote the wealth of themselves and the ruling class. The ruling class in America is Wall Street, central banks and super corporations. Their interest have ruled this country fr the past 30 years - PERIOD.
Like I have said many times on this forum - the parties do not matter. They only exist to divide the people. No matter who is "in power" - it is never us. We do not benefit either way.
1) This is NOT a discussion about political parties. It is not a discussion to post your view of how everything was ruined by Democrats or Republicans respectfully. Rather, your thoughts on how we have lost this country to corporate interest, and other special interest. Or if you do not believe that it is/has happened.
2) It is also a discussion about partisan bickering, and how it diverts attention away from what is really happening. How the powers that be use party politics to divide us, and can we ever stop it.
3) Also a discussion of specific legislation that has contributed to the "fleecing of America" to increase the wealth of the few. WITHOUT pointing fingers at the party that YOU believe is responsible.
I truly hope we can discuss this.