I heard a line in a movie which summed up our nation today. It claimed that the United States was not a country, it was a business. A factual analysis of that statement proves it to be legitimate. Profit takes preference over humanity. Those who have financial privilege live the American dream, while those in the working class find daily life and increasing struggle.

Capitalists denounce Senator Bernie Sanders, not because his ideas are outrageous, because he’s right and they fear the truth. Growing income inequality and the rising numbers of families living in poverty are proof that change is necessary. Let’s look at just a few large businesses we make wealthy, and what they offer to consumers.

I begin with the obvious; politicians, and the business that is politics. All but two of our legislators in Washington are millionaires. With a base salary of $174,000 per year, how do they accumulate so much wealth? I don’t need to tell you, they have wealthy supporters. Our founding fathers did not intend to create professional politicians, nor create millionaires while in the service of our nation’s people. The greatest failure of our political system is that while our legislators become wealthy, they do nothing for the majority of the American people. It’s easy to see why they support capitalism; capitalists support them.

Another obvious villain is the oil and gas industry. Every year they reveal record profits and our government continues to subsidize them in the form of tax incentives. Their executives keep their profits and fail to reinvest. No new refinery has been built in the United States in over 25 years. The primary reason independent gas stations are disappearing across the nation is directly related to the greed of the industry. They reduced the profit small business owners were paid for the sale of gasoline, and it became impossible for them to operate their businesses with even a minimal profit.

You may like your doctor, and even favor a specific hospital, but make no mistake about it, they are part of one of the largest corporations in our nation. The goal for the medical industry is profit first, health care second. Excuses are offered as to why healthcare is so costly in our nation, but the truth is very simple; corporations are concerned with growing profits.

The large pharmaceutical companies are criminal. They overcharge consumers for their medications. There are occasions when they fail to produce drugs which are life-saving for a single reason; they do not produce sufficient profit for their CEO’s. They produce drugs which have serious side effects, and after billions of dollars in sales, and a lawsuit is originated, they gladly pay damages which are minimal compared to profits.

The insurance industry happily accepts your premiums, but is often reluctant to pay claims. This is true of health insurance, auto insurance, home insurance and catastrophe insurance. The premiums are often much higher than necessary to ensure greater profits.

The food industry produces beautiful ads which actually make us hungry or thirsty. Whether the ad is for a grocery store or a beer, they have proven to be some of the most effective advertising efforts in our nation. Ads for food claim that the companies care about what consumers eat; that their products are safe and healthy. If you believe that this is true, they’ve succeeded in their deception.

60 nations around the world have either banned the use of GMOs or at the very least forced food producers to label products which are offered to consumers and made with the use of GMOs. Scientists around the world have come to the conclusion that the long term effects of consuming food which was grown with the aid of GMOs is dangerous to the health of humans. In addition, the use of more powerful pesticides necessary because of GMO use are poisoning our water supply due to runoff from the fields.

Americans trust the FDA, but they shouldn’t. The organization which is intended to protect consumers has authorized unrestricted use of GMOs in our food supply. Many of the products we consume are actually unhealthy, and the food industry is leading the fight against labeling these dangerous products in several states.

There are many other corporations to discuss, but I will only offer one last example of why capitalism fails the working class. This one may upset some, but if it’s the truth, I will write it. I am talking about the major religions and televangelists.

No religion is taxed, nor are the incomes of priests, ministers, clerics or rabbis. These institutions are in fact large corporations which benefit from or capitalistic system, but do not contribute to our federal, state or local revenue. For example, Vatican City is the wealthiest nation in the world, but not a single dollar raised from donations in this country is taxable. There are multiple huge churches and temples in our nation, and they pay zero dollars in real estate or property tax. Televangelists enjoy lives of luxury and privilege, all from donations, and they pay no taxes. Some travel in private jet aircraft which cost tens of millions of dollars.

Originally there was a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ between government and religion; they were to remain neutral in the political arena, and would not receive efforts of taxation. Today the Christian religious right has the GOP in its back pocket, and influences every decision made by them in Washington.

Bernie Sanders is 100 percent correct; our system no longer works for the vast majority of our nation’s people. A democratic socialist system would ensure that all Americans would have the opportunity to enjoy an elevated quality of life.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Photo Courtesy of Gage Skidmore