The US as an Oligarchy

Of course, as everyone knows by now, the US is an Oligarchy. We have a professional class of plutocrats who think they know better than we do about what we want and don't want from government. They've created a system that makes us dependent on them. They have, in fact, created the means by which they can bribe us with our own money. They've created a surveillance state and are awaiting the opportunity---be it real or manufactured---to impose a police state. But first, we'll have to demand it. "Do what" you say? We would never demand that government impose a police state on us. Well, yes we would, and here's how.

Imagine a situation where crime, especially violent crime, has gotten out of hand. Imagine an economy where good paying jobs are hard to come by because there are more workers than openings. As a result, people are willing to take less and less; benefits disappear and worker associations are either impotent or too afraid to act; they may work hand in glove with employers to maintain order. People become frustrated. They start protesting. Before long these protests turn into riots and looting becomes rampant. Crime increases.

The infrastructure collapses as a result of decades long neglect. There are more and more external threats to the nation, and those threats are spilling over the borders. Along with that, there's increased immigration; mostly illegally, which is not only bringing an ever greater stain on the economy but also diseases. Taxes are on the rise and there seems to be no end in sight. Government is corrupt. Once they at least tried to hide it. Now they don't even bother. They are bought and paid for by a handful of very wealthy individuals. Of course, they continue to talk like our opinions matter; like they are a part of the working class but the "Republic" is an illusion.

Pretty soon things are so bad that the people start demanding the government do "something". The people can no longer stand by and watch the Republic fail. And so the government does, or rather, those within the government. Think I'm talking about some future scenario? Nope. What I just described was Ancient Rome during the late Republic period; the same Rome which we based our political system on. This was Rome just before the arrival of the Caesars. So don't think it can't happen here.

So, what do we do? Well, we can do nothing and see what happens but that's rarely a good idea. Maybe we'll get lucky, but don't count on it. If we did, we'd be the first Republic to do so. I think that what we need to do is come together as Americans first. We have to put aside our differences, which are in reality relatively few. We need to see things as they are.

Most of our "differences" are manufactured to keep us at each other's throat and to prevent a united front. We have far more in common than not. Washington DC and the federal government is already a goner. It no longer represents us. It exists to serve the needed of the super wealthy and corporations. Instead, we have to start taking charge of our communities despite or in spite of local government.

That means we have to start supporting local businesses as much as possible. It means creating active block watches and neighborhood associations to address their own problems and do what they can without involving the government. Think of it as "self-governance". This would not only give them greater independence but would reduce government expenditures which should hopefully save tax money.

Since politicians can't be trusted with money, local governments should be subject of regular audits from outside auditors (ie: tougher to bribe). The citizens should also have the final say on any tax and rate increases, and that includes salaries and benefits for elected officials. There should mandatory transparency throughout government. Nothing behind closed doors unless it directly involves national security.

Along the same lines, government must stop corporate welfare. Period. These global corporations like Exxon and Bank of America should not get off the hook paying zero taxes. There should be a minimum tax that they must cut a check for. We must also reduce the red tape that it takes to own and operate small businesses. Small businesses have been the heart and soul of this country and our communities since the beginning. We can't lose that.

No company is "to big to fail" . Taxpayers should be bailing out corporations because of their poor (and usually greedy) business decisions. No more corporate owned political parties or politicians. That means ending Citizens United. Corporations are artificial entities, not "people". If they want to "say" something, they can buy adverting, but they shouldn't buy parties or politicians. As an aside, maybe we should also limit campaigns to 90 or 120 days. If you can't say what you need to that amount of time, then maybe you need to reevaluate your message.

We need to impose term limits as well. No more politicians for life, and when they leave, their salaries and benefits stop. No more professional politicians with lifetime salaries and perks. As for how long, 12 years is good round number. That's two 6 years terms for Senators and federal judges (including the Supreme Court); six 2 year terms of Representatives, and three 4 year terms for the President.

As for government paid security, the President and his/her immediate family along with the Vice President and immediate family should be entitled to Secret Service protection for the first six months out of office and that's all. After that it should be on them. It should go without saying that all laws passed by Congress should apply equally to them. No more set of laws for us and another for them. No more private pools, gyms or saunas, etc.

No more use of private corporate airplanes or corporate paid "fact finding" trips to some resort or golf course. By the way, this should apply to their staff as well. All conversations or interaction between professional lobbyists and government should be recorded and made public. In short, we need to put the "public" back in the term "public service" and try to restrict the corporate bribery as much as possible.

We also need to eliminate partisan gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is the act of redistricting a given district by a political party in order to ensure that they remain in control of that district. This is nothing less than self-perpetuating incumbency which promotes partisan gridlock. Did you know that the old Soviet Politburo had a higher turnover rate than the US Congress? Sad but true.

Well, you can thank the lack of term limits, gerrymandering, and corporate influence for that. Another problem we need to address is the restriction of third parties and Independents form running. Since Ross Perot, the Democrats and Republicans have worked together to keep anyone other than the Status Quo out of debates and away from the money. Elections should not be based on the highest bidder.

Meanwhile, the corporate media tries to ignore them; denying them access (pretending that they aren't "legitimate" candidates") or treating them as if they're a sideshow. Indies and third parties should have the same access to the ballot as the two corporate parties; the same number of signatures, the same access to participate in debates and have media coverage.

Here's a trivia question for you. The US has been involved in "nation building" since the end of World War II. We've pumped tens, if not hundreds, of billions of dollars in helping build democracies around the world. So, how many countries have based their new governments on the US model? The answer is zero. Absolutely none. It's our rigged election system. It's the fact that only two sides are represented and in our "winner take all" system that means only one side is represented at a time.

For the rest of the world, the preferred form of democracy is based on the British Parliamentary system of government which allows for everyone to have a voice in government. Naturally, it has its flaws like any other political system, but at least it's more balanced and you have representation.

So where does that leave us? We have a never-ending "War on Terrorism" which keeps the economy chugging along; artificially stimulating the economy while lowering unemployment as "excess" population goes off to fight these wars which are all about gaining access to markets or resources. At home the government/corporate alliance attempts to manufacture disorder and hatred while spinning the story to fit their prescribed narrative.

In order to "protect" us, the police are militarized while government and their corporate partners in crime go into overdrive with their surveillance state (it's even marketed as "safe", "convenient" and "easy"). How cute. Millennials don't seem to care much about their privacy as long as they think they're getting something for free. The older generation, which aren't that familiar with today's technology to begin with, often go along blindly. However, there are a few resisters but soon enough people will be snared through laws that can force the remainder to comply.

Last year I came across several articles about employees voluntarily getting microchips put into the hand as a means of transporting their personal information, as well as potentially including our financial history (bank accounts and credit report, along with our medical history). How convenient. Here in the State's we're seeing the introduction of a "Smart" drivers license which may eventually serve the same purpose (in lieu of a drivers license, you can get a "Smart" photo ID) complete with facial recognition. Regardless, this is nothing more than a national ID similar to your average everyday totalitarian state; a electronic version of the passport Germans had to carry during WWII under the Nazis or the Communists beginning with ole "Uncle Joe" Stalin. I suppose there are pluses to consider.

It would be a convenient way to track your kids or seniors who occasionally wonder off. It would be more difficult to steal your personal information. Supposedly, it would make it easier to track down suspected terrorists (for some reason "Minority Report" just popped into my mind), and illegal immigrants.

They could also just as easily track our purchases and monitor which site we visit online, which they do already. These chips could control your increasingly "connected" life. Perhaps it could control your not-so-futuristic "Smart" home. Then again, it may be your home which controls you. I see it as simply an electronic leach. Call me old fashion but I'd like a little less "connectivity" and a little more personal privacy.



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Frustrated Americans

The frustration in this country is almost palpable. As of this month, December, we are officially the second largest world economy; the first is now China. While not given much publicity by the corporate media, it's remains a fact never the less. Earlier this year we learned that America was no longer the democratic-republic bequest to us by our Founding Fathers. Instead, we are now more or less officially an oligarchy, which means political, and with it economic, power is concentrated in the hands of a small elite minority. Essentially, a few corporations. Those very same entities in which the US Supreme Court erroneous decided were just like you and me, but only more so and with less restrictions when it comes to taxes and political donations, and as we all know, money is mother's milk of politics. America hasn't fallen, but it's on a greasy downhill slide. Joseph Stalin would be so proud, and somewhere, Nikita Khrushchev is pounding his shoe in sardonic laughter.

The police, whose motto has always been "To Protect and To Serve" seems to have changed recently to something more akin to "Detain or Disperse". They are a far cry from the friendly beat cop of a generation or so again. He was the guy who knew just about everyone's name, or at least their faces, on his beat. He knew all the business owners; who belonged and who didn't. He would share a joke or two, and maybe a cup of coffee. The kids all knew him by name and felt comfortable coming up and talking to him. He was someone who made everyone feel safe. Now he's is some surreal looking individual who looks more like something out of some apocryphal movie. More inhuman than human standing there in his battle gear.

But perhaps that's not surprising. They've been trained to think of each of us as a potential criminal or terrorist and they as the protectors of the "system"; the new Reich. They are equipped to look like "Robocop" or "Judge Dredd". They've been given armored military vehicles and military gauged weapons. So, then why should we expect them not to act like Imperial Stormtroopers of the Empire? Yet, in return, we are assured that while we're surveyed, patted down, x-rayed, monitored, photographed, videotaped, fingerprinted, credit and background checked, body fluid tested, biometrically scanned and recorded, registered, and have our property searched, it will be for our own good and protection---and, oh, by the way, "have a nice day citizen". Perhaps the ancients were right after all; people will voluntarily surrender their freedoms for security, or at least the appearance of it. Isn't it grand to live in a "free" country?

We've allowed our government to be supplanted by the illusion of a Republic just a ancient Rome still called itself a republic after the military coup of Augustus Caesar introduced the long line of Caesars. We fell asleep at the voting booth. We are given the illusion of choice. We are treated to Kabuki theater. What we see isn't always the reality, but we're still left with the entertainment, and distraction of the act itself. We allowed ourselves to be divided and turned against each other by talking heads. We went along with them; after all, weren't they the "experts" we were told they were, and who knew better than some political or academic wonk what was best for us? We knew what we wanted but they knew what we really needed. Funny how each "solution" begat a new and more dangerous problem wasn't it? Divided we fall. United they are unable to stand against us.

We are sent off to fight wars for "American freedom", but we're never allowed to question the reasoning amid the flag waving and manufactured cheers. Yet, while we come home in plastic bags to grieving husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, family and friends and hangers full of perfected aligned draped coffins, someone somewhere in some boardroom or golf course is being congratulated on the latest quarterly earnings or newest government contract. It is these shadows who pass themselves off as human beings who decide when our "freedom" has been sufficiently defended. But what changed? A name on a map? A flag? The only change most of us see is the value of some corporate contractor's stock going up; the ownership of a piece of property or water rights or a oil or gas or gold field in some place whose name we can barely pronounce, while we lose arms, legs, eyes, and lives; ruined lives. How are we any more secure as a nation? How are we freer? I see a less free America. A less secure world.

Where are our jobs? Well, supposedly the job market has improved. After enduring the "Great Recession", the employment situation has improved the government reports say. However, what we seem to have are more "McJobs"; low wage or part time jobs as well as jobs without benefits. Of course too, the latest reports doesn't take into consideration that numerous individuals who have simply stopped looking, or are underemployed--working beneath their experience or academic levels, though it does count those employed solely as seasonal or temporary. It also does not include those in the military. So, where are the jobs? Well, as many of you already, most of the high wage production jobs were exported years ago to second and third world countries where companies don't have to worry about union contracts, job safety, overtime, or benefits. Workers can be paid pennies by comparison to what they used to pay US workers. Just recently, with Obama's "amnesty" for approximately 5 million illegals (the constitutional legality of which is still up in the air), employers are being encouraged to hire these individuals by giving them a $3000 credit. Meanwhile, we have a whole of veterans returning who are looking a job, not to mention million of ordinary Americans.

Of course, we can raise the minimum wage since some individuals claim they can't live on what they're making, never mind the fact that the minimum wage never intended to serve as a "living wage". It was simply meant to be a entry level wage just like Welfare was meant to be a temporary safety net not a career option. Increasing the minimum wage will, of course, cause businesses to raise prices, cut full time hours, or reduce some employees from full time to part time, and perhaps even cutting back on the number of employees they need, leaving the remaining employees doing more for not much more pay. But what will not change I assure is the profit margin. Some things are written in stone.

So what of the illegal immigrants? Whatever happened to the 60,000 children and their so-called "guardians" abandoned on our border with Mexico? Supposedly, they were to be processed and returned. Those who claimed to have family here in States "promised" to checked in when they arrived at their destination. Guess what? It never happened, and the children along with their "guardians" simply vanished. Oh, and some of these children were allegedly sick with some unknown illnesses and were quarantined. They were packed up literally in the night and sent off to undisclosed government bases. What those illnesses were we'll never know since they too have vanished---poof! Meanwhile, border protection has been gutted and deportations stopped by Obama and now former Attorney General Eric Holder for all practical purposes. Again, the People spoke and Washington ignored.

So where do we go from here? We all know the system is broken; broken beyond repair. Talk by candidates that they'll go to Washington and tell so-n-so that the good citizens of such-n-such States won't take it anymore or that they'll singlehandedly change Washington is just so much BS. We know it. They know it and they know we know it but they say it anyway. I guess it still makes for a good sound bite. Nevertheless, we must deal with the situation. We have no realistic choice. We now face a $12 trillion dollar debt. While many will cite chapter and verse about mortgaging our great grandchildren's economic future, the cold reality is that this figure is simply impossible to ever pay off. It's financially impossible just to keep up with the interest payments alone. As it is, we have to borrow money from nations like China--our idealistic archenemy---just to pay the interest on what we owe while not even touching the principal! Can you imagine having to go to some loan shark (since there's no way any reputable bank would loan you money) and borrow money just to pay the interest on your credit card payments month after month? Most of us would long ago file bankruptcy (and risked getting our legs broken by the loan shark). That's not an option for the US Government; at least not yet, but that day is surely coming and much sooner than some of us realize.

And because the US Government is unable to keep up with its bills, it does what most of us do; it puts off what it can. However, in this case, it's our infrastructure. Things like highways, roads, drainage, the national electrical grid, dams, transportation safety, and so forth. The very things which not only make it safe for you and I to get around, but makes for efficient commerce---the very things we need to help pay down the debt and keep people feed, housed, and employed. Yet, we seem to find billions to bail out poorly run multinational businesses; businesses deemed "too big to fail" but not too big to use taxpayer money to pay their executive officers huge bonuses and to keep doing what they've been doing. We also seem to have billions to spend overseas for all sorts of seemingly trivial projects which, if anything, benefit only a relatively few major corporate players, while many more receive what's politely called "corporate welfare", paid by taxpayers like you and I. Why is that do you think? Meanwhile, corporations now have many of the same "rights" that you and I have, except more, especially when it comes to political contributions and lobbying. You don't suppose there's a connection do you? Why is it that they get tax breaks for sending American jobs---especially good paying middle class union jobs----overseas and still pay little or no taxes despite the billions they earn?

I could easily go on and on and I'm sure that each of you could add your own examples. America is frustrated. We're tired of being sick and tired with Washington. So let's agree that the time has come for this to end. It's time for the government to be restored to the American People, be it by protests, citizen lobbying, petitions, registering as an Independent or third party, or simply voting against incumbent or anyone running under the corporate duopoly of Democrat or Republican. Let's not give them a moment's peace. Let's not let feel safe in their seats on single day. And let's also organize and stand up to these corporations anytime and anywhere we can---from our neighborhoods to the boardrooms. American will not remain an oligarchy and we will not remain their economic serfs.

Children of Illegal Immigration

What is America to do with the children of the 12 million or so illegal immigrants? Do we deport them? Do we support them but not their parents? Or do we support the whole family (which often includes extended families)? We've all heard the hue and cry from the liberal media about some little child being separated from one or both of the parents (or, in some cases, their aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, etc.) and the "inhumanity" of it. Some have referred to it as a form of child abuse, and perhaps it is. But on who's shoulders should that nefarious title rest?

The "unpolitically correct" answer is simply this. It's their parents who are criminals. Yes, I know that's considered a "harsh" term to some, but the fact of the matter is that they are here in violation of our national laws; in violation of our national soverenity. Not that we wouldn't normally welcome them. America is, after all, a nation of immigrants. We simply ask that everyone take their turn and follow the legal steps. Is that asking too much? And if someone can't do that, what can we expect of their attitudes will be toward the rest of our laws? Of adopting our culture and language? Heck, by coming here illegally, many are in violation of their own nation's laws!

I understand their desires. I really do. Most of these people in abject poverty and quite often in fear of not only the drug cartels, but of their equally brutal and corrupt governments. They live in an economic world where not only have their governments failed them, but their entire economic and social system has failed them. There are barriers in place and ruthlessly enforce to keep them in their supposed places. Much of it is imposed by their governments (many of whom are military backed dictatorships sponsored by the US Government), and by the Catholic Church, whose aim is to preserve the status quo.

Any amateur historian knows that development of a large middle class in Latin American was curtailed since it would impact on the rich, which gave generously to the Church while an illiterate and politically powerless population made for dependant and pliable followers and workers. After all, power is the name of the game, whether economic and spiritual. Liberation theology, which mashed the socialistic teachings of Jesus and the Gospels with the cause of the poor and was immensely popular in the 1970's and 80's, has largely been suppressed by the Catholic Church. Its avocation carries with it the guarantee of excommunication which is the Church's version of the death penalty. Sure, there has been a few willing to challenge the status quo (Zapata, Villa, and Che come immediately to mind, but their efforts were eventually subverted and often didn't have happy endings. Che vive en nosotros todos mis amigos), but questioning authority has usually been a quick way to purgatory or the morgue.

Corporations, the real power in American politics, have seen to it that lip service is the only thing offered the American People. Why? The logic is simple if you bear but one thing on mind: money. Money equates with power. The more you have of one the more you gain of the other. To make more money, it's necessary to hire people willing to work for little of nothing, and what's better than workers who can't complain; can't strike over money, benefits, or work conditions? Who are they going to complain to? More workers like this, the fewer "legitimate" employees they need. The results, is more individuals willing to work for less; to tolerate more. To survive, these same individuals have to incur more debt. They means they live on a borrowed existence. It doesn't stop there of course, the same strategy applies across the economic spectrum. The result is a decreased middle class and its transformation into a defacto working poor class.

Of course, religion has much to gain too. America has been a beacon of independent thinking, hard working Protestants. American Catholics too are a different breed. They tend to think that dictums issued by the Church are more like suggestions. Their pew companions from south of the border have been conditioned to think that a word from the Church, be it the Pope or village Priest, is like a commandment from God himself. A large influx of these parishioners would greatly increase the Church's political (and thus economic) influence in a heretical land. Thus, we've seen the Church ignore various laws to help "accommodate" in entry and support of illegal aliens into this country (of course, there are others but none with the same resources).

The costs to support illegals in this country are born by the taxpayers, creating a resentment among the classes. The costs, in the multimillions of dollars, are at a near breaking pointing of what our social safety net can bear. Still, an effective strategy to divert attention from the corporate overlords. At worse, it's the politicians, serving as the buffer on behalf of their paymasters, which takes the brunt of the public's outrage. But any successful blow is soften by the revolving door between government and the corporate world. What they fear the most, however, is the public's attention to the (pardon me Dorothy), "CEO behind the curtain". In this, the OWS and Tea Party movement almost had it right. Both saw a government out of control; totally unresponsive to anyone except Wall Street. Their leaders ultimately co-opted or marginalized. However, the energies of both groups were deflected, and easily so, thanks in large part to the media of both ideologies. For theirs is the power to create and influence public perception, and with that, public opinion. "Thank goodness for sheeple with attention deficient!" could be on countless plaques in boardrooms across America.

The children of the illegal immigrants in this country are but one, perhaps the most vulnerable, casualties. No one wants to see children suffer. It's not their fault in any sense of the word. They are true victims here. They are the victims of their own countries, which has failed them; of a Church for supporting a repressive status quo; of a crime of necessity committed by their parents; of government sanctioned corporate greed which funnels them into an economic serfdom, and by an economic and social system which failing all of us.