When I was a young man in the 1950’s a company which made 30 percent profit each year was a success. The hopes of our founding fathers that business would share their success with those who worked for them appeared to be a reality. When greed replaced competent and caring company presidents, our nation began a downward spiral which adversely affected the working class.
“The perennial conviction that those who work hard and play by the rules will be rewarded with a more comfortable present and a stronger future for their children faces assault from just about every direction. That great enemy of democratic capitalism, economic inequality, is real and growing.” Jon Meacham
Today’s corporations make 300, 400, 500 percent profit or more, and the only persons who benefit from these bloated profits “work” in the board room. CEO’s who once made hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, are now gifted tens of millions. The sad truth is that adjusted for the cost of living, millions of their employees make less money than they did ten years ago.
“In the Soviet Union, capitalism triumphed over communism. In this country, capitalism triumphed over democracy.” Fran Lebowitz
The truth is that capitalism has failed the majority of Americans. Greed has replaced fairness and compassion. During the great recession of 2008, as the working class was devastated, the profits of corporations actually increased as offshore banking accounts became overstuffed with cash.
If a fascist such as Donald Trump ever becomes our president, capitalists will flourish and then crash as a second American revolution crushes the government and removes corporations from their control over our nation.
“Fascism is capitalism in decay.” Vladimir Lenin
No one need look any farther to see the failure of capitalism than the economic disparity in America today. Income inequality is growing, and the middle class is disappearing. More families are living at or near the poverty level than at any time in history since the great depression of 1929.
At last count 536 billionaires reside in America. Second in this number is China with 213. As of the last available census records, five years ago, the United States had 11 million millionaires; the number is much larger today. There is no excuse for one American living in poverty or forced to become homeless when our nation allows such a huge number of men and women to live lives of privilege. This is the ‘one-percent.’
Our Democratic Republic was crushed by politicians more than a decade ago. The American people now live under the control of an oligarchy which is quickly moving towards a plutocracy. Your vote no longer counts; our elected officials seek office for their own advancement, not to serve the American people. As long as the Electoral College continues to elect our president, you are wasting your time and money going to the polls.
“Capitalism attacks and destroys all the finer sentiments of the human heart; it ruthlessly sweeps away old traditions and ideas opposed to its progress, and it exploits and corrupts those things once held sacred.” Daniel De Leon
If you doubt my words, think about how special interests control every decision made by our government thanks to lobbyists. The working class has no lobby. Our future is relegated to decisions made by the wealthy, who own one entire political party.
“Capitalism is not about free competitive choices among people who are reasonably equal in their buying and selling of economic power, it is about concentrating capital, concentrating economic power in very few hands using that power to trash everyone who gets in their way.” David Korten
Sadly, Bernie Sanders will not become our 45th president; he is more than worthy. His philosophy that our nation is in great need of an economic revolution is entirely accurate if the Constitution remains the Law of the Land.
Trump would exacerbate the situation.
Hillary Clinton’s policies are close to those of Senator Sanders, and with his input, America could move toward the greatness it has always sought.
“While there’s capitalism, there’ll be socialism, because there is always a response to injustice.” Ed Miliband
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Photo Courtesy of mayeesherr.
The Truth With No Restrictions 