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The US controlled by Ruling Class

By Bernie Sanders

"Since 1975, there has been a massive redistribution of wealth in America that has gone in exactly the wrong direction. Over the past 47 years, according to the Rand Corporation, $50tn in wealth has been redistributed from the bottom 90% of American society to the top 1%, primarily because a growing percentage of corporate profits has been flowing into the stock portfolios of the wealthy and the powerful.

We now have more income and wealth inequality than at any time in the last hundred years. In the year 2022, three multi-billionaires own more wealth than the bottom half of American society – 160 million Americans. Today, 45% of all new income goes to the top 1%, and CEOs of large corporations make a record-breaking 350 times what their workers earn.

Meanwhile, as the very rich become much richer, working families continue to struggle. Unbelievably, despite huge increases in worker productivity, wages (accounting for real inflation) are lower today than they were almost 50 years ago.

Today, half of our people live paycheck to paycheck and millions struggle on starvation wages. Despite a lifetime of work, half of older Americans have no savings and no idea how they will ever be able to retire with dignity, while 55% of seniors are trying to survive on an income of less than $25,000 a year.

Let’s be clear. The most important economic and political issues facing this country are the extraordinary levels of income and wealth inequality, the rapidly growing concentration of ownership, the long-term decline of the American middle class and the evolution of this country into an oligarchy.

We know how important these issues are because our ruling class works overtime to prevent them from being seriously discussed. They are barely mentioned in the halls of Congress, where most members are dependent on the campaign contributions of the wealthy and their Super Pacs. They are not much discussed in the corporate media, in which a handful of conglomerates determine what we see, hear and discuss.

Let us stand together and fight back against corporate greed and a corrupt political system that serves the top 1%."


 
He's not wrong.
No, he's not. Though this goes to the root of the capitalist and gov systems being ethically challenged, corrupt and broken. It's so comprehensive that nobody knows where to start or how to sink their teeth into it. And, frankly, it doesn't fire people up like the smaller, more emotional and divisive issues.
 
No, he's not. Though this goes to the root of the capitalist and gov systems being ethically challenged, corrupt and broken. It's so comprehensive that nobody knows where to start or how to sink their teeth into it. And, frankly, it doesn't fire people up like the smaller, more emotional and divisive issues.
I agree. I really think this is at the heart of a lot of this countries issues. I think if we addressed it, we could eliminate a lot of the issues we focus on simply because they are a result of our ruling class.
 
I agree. I really think this is at the heart of a lot of this countries issues. I think if we addressed it, we could eliminate a lot of the issues we focus on simply because they are a result of our ruling class.
One way to tackle this confiscation of wealth, by the extremely leveraged elite, is to institute price and wage controls and campaign reform. Though any attempt by the people to pressure the powerful and wealthy to install these fixes would cause them to launch a massive PR campaign against it. They want us hyperfocused on knee-jerk social topics and partisan political conspiracies to keep the voters from uniting against them. Wait till the majority gets broke enough and they won't be blinded to corporate tactics of divide and conquer.
 
No, he's not. Though this goes to the root of the capitalist and gov systems being ethically challenged, corrupt and broken. It's so comprehensive that nobody knows where to start or how to sink their teeth into it. And, frankly, it doesn't fire people up like the smaller, more emotional and divisive issues.

We have an economy that is based on growth. Everything is about growth, growth, growth. Ruthless exploitation of human and natural resources, until we've exhausted them completely, which explains our current condition.

Look at what's happening worldwide. Economies are growing, and if they're not then the government central banks borrow money in an attempt to get people to spend more money (that they don't really have) to keep the corporate profits growing. Now we're indebted. We're out of stimulus options. And, and, and...our fresh water is drying up right before our eyes. And soon, so will our food supply.

There are limits to growth. There's even a foundational paper on this topic that was written way back in 1972, and it is still on track to be a horrifyingly accurate prediction.


That paper's hypotheses were tested again last year, and guess what: that 50-year prediction holds true today. We're on pace for total collapse by 2040.

 
We have an economy that is based on growth. Everything is about growth, growth, growth. Ruthless exploitation of human and natural resources, until we've exhausted them completely, which explains our current condition.

Look at what's happening worldwide. Economies are growing, and if they're not then the government central banks borrow money in an attempt to get people to spend more money (that they don't really have) to keep the corporate profits growing. Now we're indebted. We're out of stimulus options. And, and, and...our fresh water is drying up right before our eyes. And soon, so will our food supply.

There are limits to growth. There's even a foundational paper on this topic that was written way back in 1972, and it is still on track to be a horrifyingly accurate prediction.


That paper's hypotheses were tested again last year, and guess what: that 50-year prediction holds true today. We're on pace for total collapse by 2040.

The endless growth model is logically flawed in a world of limited land and resources. But conservative supporters of corporate greed would like us all to deny the obvious impact that unrestricted capitalist expansion has on our environment and society. It's almost too late for civilization to find a balance and natural equilibrium with our ecosystem and economy, without tremendous upheaval, as we continue to push for endless growth.
 
the ultra-rich know what they're doing to the planet, they just think their money will save them somehow.
It's akin to armchair warriors believing major superpowers can have a limited nuclear conflict. It would escalate to Armegeddon very quickly.

 
The endless growth model is logically flawed in a world of limited land and resources. But conservative supporters of corporate greed would like us all to deny the obvious impact that unrestricted capitalist expansion has on our environment and society. It's almost too late for civilization to find a balance and natural equilibrium with our ecosystem and economy, without tremendous upheaval, as we continue to push for endless growth.

I almost think that we need to have a controlled demolition of certain nation-states. I don't mean that in a nihilistic or violently revolutionary sense. With any luck there wouldn't be a need for revolution at all, just an unwinding. More like what the British and French empires did, avoiding total collapse like the Western Roman Empire.
 
By Bernie Sanders

"Since 1975, there has been a massive redistribution of wealth in America that has gone in exactly the wrong direction. Over the past 47 years, according to the Rand Corporation, $50tn in wealth has been redistributed from the bottom 90% of American society to the top 1%, primarily because a growing percentage of corporate profits has been flowing into the stock portfolios of the wealthy and the powerful.

We now have more income and wealth inequality than at any time in the last hundred years. In the year 2022, three multi-billionaires own more wealth than the bottom half of American society – 160 million Americans. Today, 45% of all new income goes to the top 1%, and CEOs of large corporations make a record-breaking 350 times what their workers earn.

Meanwhile, as the very rich become much richer, working families continue to struggle. Unbelievably, despite huge increases in worker productivity, wages (accounting for real inflation) are lower today than they were almost 50 years ago.

Today, half of our people live paycheck to paycheck and millions struggle on starvation wages. Despite a lifetime of work, half of older Americans have no savings and no idea how they will ever be able to retire with dignity, while 55% of seniors are trying to survive on an income of less than $25,000 a year.

Let’s be clear. The most important economic and political issues facing this country are the extraordinary levels of income and wealth inequality, the rapidly growing concentration of ownership, the long-term decline of the American middle class and the evolution of this country into an oligarchy.

We know how important these issues are because our ruling class works overtime to prevent them from being seriously discussed. They are barely mentioned in the halls of Congress, where most members are dependent on the campaign contributions of the wealthy and their Super Pacs. They are not much discussed in the corporate media, in which a handful of conglomerates determine what we see, hear and discuss.

Let us stand together and fight back against corporate greed and a corrupt political system that serves the top 1%."


Bernie is controlled opposition.
 
I almost think that we need to have a controlled demolition of certain nation-states. I don't mean that in a nihilistic or violently revolutionary sense. With any luck there wouldn't be a need for revolution at all, just an unwinding. More like what the British and French empires did, avoiding total collapse like the Western Roman Empire.

Which ones?
 
If the choice is ruling class or Trumpers, I'll take ruling class. We can call it oligarchy is it makes anyone happy, I'll still take it over fascism.
 
Provided you're a functioning, able-bodied adult, if you're calling on government to get you your "fair share" then, frankly, you should be embarrassed. Want more money than you have? Don't act like a spoiled brat. Go out and earn it.

I believe the assertion that Bernie is guiding you towards is that the working class is underpaid. I think the government will need to induce the capitalist class to increase benefits to workers. Because left on their own they will just keep screwing over the bottom 90%.

Capitalists pocketing the surplus generated by labor and yada yada.. other Marxist stuff and Marxist critiques of things
 
I believe the assertion that Bernie is guiding you towards is that the working class is underpaid

Want to raise the cost for unskilled labor?

Stop letting our government jack up supply by leaving our borders de facto open. Reduce supply by sending illegal aliens home.

Supply goes down. Cost goes up.

You can have a generous welfare state, and you can have open borders. You just can't have both.
 
By Bernie Sanders

"Since 1975, there has been a massive redistribution of wealth in America that has gone in exactly the wrong direction. Over the past 47 years, according to the Rand Corporation, $50tn in wealth has been redistributed from the bottom 90% of American society to the top 1%, primarily because a growing percentage of corporate profits has been flowing into the stock portfolios of the wealthy and the powerful.

We now have more income and wealth inequality than at any time in the last hundred years. In the year 2022, three multi-billionaires own more wealth than the bottom half of American society – 160 million Americans. Today, 45% of all new income goes to the top 1%, and CEOs of large corporations make a record-breaking 350 times what their workers earn.

Meanwhile, as the very rich become much richer, working families continue to struggle. Unbelievably, despite huge increases in worker productivity, wages (accounting for real inflation) are lower today than they were almost 50 years ago.

Today, half of our people live paycheck to paycheck and millions struggle on starvation wages. Despite a lifetime of work, half of older Americans have no savings and no idea how they will ever be able to retire with dignity, while 55% of seniors are trying to survive on an income of less than $25,000 a year.

Let’s be clear. The most important economic and political issues facing this country are the extraordinary levels of income and wealth inequality, the rapidly growing concentration of ownership, the long-term decline of the American middle class and the evolution of this country into an oligarchy.

We know how important these issues are because our ruling class works overtime to prevent them from being seriously discussed. They are barely mentioned in the halls of Congress, where most members are dependent on the campaign contributions of the wealthy and their Super Pacs. They are not much discussed in the corporate media, in which a handful of conglomerates determine what we see, hear and discuss.

Let us stand together and fight back against corporate greed and a corrupt political system that serves the top 1%."


Capitalism, much like militias, must be Well Regulated.
 
The endless growth model is logically flawed in a world of limited land and resources. But conservative supporters of corporate greed would like us all to deny the obvious impact that unrestricted capitalist expansion has on our environment and society. It's almost too late for civilization to find a balance and natural equilibrium with our ecosystem and economy, without tremendous upheaval, as we continue to push for endless growth.
Why do you think that Malthusian predictions have consistently failed to bear out since the dawn of the industrial revolution?
 
Why do you think that Malthusian predictions have consistently failed to bear out since the dawn of the industrial revolution?
Because industrialists are a two-edged sword, on the one hand, they build civilization, while on the other, they destroy natural resources. And now we've reached a tipping point.
 
Because industrialists are a two-edged sword, on the one hand, they build civilization, while on the other, they destroy natural resources. And now we've reached a tipping point.
So why do you think that claim (that we are now at a tipping point) has failed every time it has been made since the dawning of the industrial revolution?
 
Provided you're a functioning, able-bodied adult, if you're calling on government to get you your "fair share" then, frankly, you should be embarrassed. Want more money than you have? Don't act like a spoiled brat. Go out and earn it.
And I don't see Bernie Sanders redistributing his own wealth from book sales
 
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