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Plutocracy

Plutocracy's Toll on America

Michael Brenner | Posted 04.08.2013 | Politics
Michael Brenner

Does this sort of perverse pride go before the fall? No sign of that happening yet. Plutocracy in America is more likely to be our destiny.

The Triumph of Plutocracy

Michael Brenner | Posted 04.04.2013 | Politics
Michael Brenner

Does this sort of perverse pride go before the fall? No sign of that happening yet. Plutocracy in America is more likely to be our destiny.

Plutocracy in America

Michael Brenner | Posted 04.01.2013 | Politics
Michael Brenner

The United States today qualifies as a plutocracy -- on a number of grounds. Let's look at some striking bits of evidence.

Surprising Studies Find DC Does What Wealthiest Want, Majority Opposes

Dave Johnson | Posted 03.28.2013 | Politics
Dave Johnson

Amazingly, the priorities of the 1 percent match up with the priorities of our political class, while the priorities and needs of the vast majority of us are ignored.

BuyPartisan Consensus: ExxonMobil Donates $260,000 to Obama Inauguration

Steve Horn | Posted 03.23.2013 | Green
Steve Horn

Critics say it's more of the same out of an Obama Administration that in the first term had a cozy relationship with corporate patrons.

Call It Corruption, Not Ideology

Dave Johnson | Posted 03.20.2013 | Politics
Dave Johnson

This week the president of the United States held a press conference with the DC elite press corps. They had the opportunity to ask the president what our government is doing about the nation's most serious problems.

So Can We Focus on Jobs NOW?

Dave Johnson | Posted 03.05.2013 | Business
Dave Johnson

Congress and the media paid homage to the agenda of the billionaires and Wall Street, with the manufactured "fiscal cliff" PR campaign frenzy that just ended. So now can we get back to the country's priorities? Can we talk about jobs now?

Chrystia Freeland: "A Clash Between Plutocracy and Democracy"

92nd Street Y | Posted 02.04.2013 | Politics
92nd Street Y

In the second part of our three part interview, Thomson Reuters Digital Editor Chrystia Freeland spoke with us about the 2012 election and Mitt Romney...

Chrystia Freeland: On the Self Tax and Democratic Government

92nd Street Y | Posted 02.02.2013 | Politics
92nd Street Y

Thomson Reuters Digital Editor Chrystia Freeland recently spoke with us about her new book, Plutocrats: The Rise of the New Global Super-Rich and the ...

Five Plutocracy-Busting Ideas From America's Progressive Past

Sam Pizzigati | Posted 01.28.2013 | Politics
Sam Pizzigati

Between 1900 and the 1950s, average Americans beat down plutocrats every bit as dominant as ours. Most Americans today, unfortunately, have no inkling that this huge transformation ever took place.

From a Democracy to a Plutocracy: Why This Democrat Despises Barack Obama

Eric Zuesse | Posted 11.19.2012 | Politics
Eric Zuesse

Unlike Mitt Romney and his plutocratic financial backers, Barack Obama does this sort of thing only because he respects plutocrats, not because he is one. He won't gain financially by turning this nation into a banana republic.

Career Day: A Lesson Seniors Will Never Forget

Judy Frankel | Posted 01.15.2013 | Home
Judy Frankel

"What is that sucking sound?" I asked a classroom of seniors at San Pedro High School in California. I had been invited to speak for their Career Day, Making a Difference In Our Youth. Upon the wall I showed a picture of a vacuum cleaner. A few giggles erupted through the room.

America Reelects President Obama, and Rejects the Republican Plutocrat.

Russell C. Smith | Posted 01.09.2013 | Politics
Russell C. Smith

The American people have seen how extreme wealth concentrated at the top greatly unbalances the lives of citizens, and a growing number of people want the opposite, and are willing to work to change the system.

Romney: Tribune of the Plutocracy

Robert L. Borosage | Posted 01.01.2013 | Politics
Robert L. Borosage

Step back from the partisan posturing and political rhetoric for a moment. Ask yourself a simple question. What is the agenda of the richest Americans? What would they want to consolidate their position? In every case, Romney takes up their cause.

The Real Incumbent in Tonight's Debate Is "the Plutocracy"

Richard (RJ) Eskow | Posted 12.02.2012 | Politics
Richard (RJ) Eskow

Both political parties are concentrating on government deficits at a time when they should be focused on jobs and growth the middle class. That's the mark of a plutocracy: government by and for the wealthy.

Jobs Are for We, the People; Budget Cuts Are for the Billionaires -- Who Will Prevail?

Dave Johnson | Posted 12.01.2012 | Business
Dave Johnson

The deficit hysteria and the "fiscal cliff" are all about cutting government and the things We, the People do for each other, so that the billionaires can have more.

Feint Praise

Paula Gordon | Posted 11.24.2012 | Politics
Paula Gordon

When the plutocrats and their minions abuse the average citizen, it is called "oppression." When the oppressed presumed to assert their rights as citizens, the Republicans call it "class warfare." We call it justice ... or, the American way. No feints in that.

The Real Question: WHY Don't People Make Enough to Pay Income Taxes?

Dave Johnson | Posted 11.18.2012 | Business
Dave Johnson

Mitt Romney was caught on video complaining that 47 percent of us don't make enough to pay taxes, believe they are victims, are dependent on government, etc. The right question is why do so many of us make so little?

Romney Dooms His Candidacy by Doing the Full Murray

William K. Black | Posted 11.18.2012 | Politics
William K. Black

Charles Murray's newest book, Coming Apart: The State of White America, proves two classic truths. First, it is impossible to compete with self-parody. Second, be careful what you ask for; for you may receive it. Charles Murray asked right-wing plutocrats to drop what he derided as "political correctness" and denounce Americans who received governmental support as immoral failures. Murray is a vigorous supporter and flatterer of Mitt Romney, claiming that the fact that he became wealthy at Bain should make him a "slam dunk" for the presidency. Murray's reasoning is so crude that he announces a new doctrine -- the divine right of CEOs to govern America. But be careful what you wish for, Romney and Paul Ryan answered Murray's call of right wing plutocrats to arms.

Make 'Em Pay

Jim Worth | Posted 09.17.2012 | Politics
Jim Worth

A message must also be sent to Rove, the Kochs, Romney and the Supreme Court that we are not for sale. This should start by telling Congress that the DISCLOSE Act is a necessary first step to preserving our democracy and the integrity of our elections.

Here Is Why Our Elites Are Not Fixing the Economy

Dave Johnson | Posted 08.27.2012 | Politics
Dave Johnson

When we had democracy, We, the People made the rules and we ran our country and our economy for our benefit. Now that we are a plutocracy things are ...

Paul Krugman: Our Political System Has Been Warped By A Small, Wealthy Minority

The New York Times | Paul Krugman | Posted 05.04.2012 | Politics

Before the Great Recession, I would sometimes give public lectures in which I would talk about rising inequality, making the point that the concentrat...

1% Vs. 99% Battle Comes to GE Detroit Shareholder Meeting Tomorrow

Dave Johnson | Posted 06.24.2012 | Detroit
Dave Johnson

The cause of our terrible economic inequality is clear: the 1% have too much power, and use that power to enrich themselves at the expense of the rest of us -- the 99%.

Republican Budget for Billionaires

Dave Johnson | Posted 05.27.2012 | Business
Dave Johnson

The new Republican budget (called the "Ryan Budget" by DC insiders) reflects current electoral reality: billionaires and corporations now finance cand...

The Republican Budget, Explained

Dave Johnson | Posted 05.22.2012 | Business
Dave Johnson

The new Republican budget plan: Smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke. Tax cuts for the 1%, cuts in the things We, the People do for each other.