The Great Plutocracy

blindboy started the topic in Saturday, 20 Feb 2016 at 03:30 pm

A good explanation of why US politics have become so debased.

blindboy Saturday, 20 Feb 2016 at 03:30 pm
AndyM Saturday, 20 Feb 2016 at 04:47 pm

“Government is a disease masquerading as its own cure" -

Certainly applies in the States and it's pretty similar here IMO.

Will we see the fall of the Empire in our time or will it just be a slow decline into ever-increasing militaristic desperation.

blindboy Saturday, 20 Feb 2016 at 08:57 pm

AndyM wrote:

“Government is a disease masquerading as its own cure" -

Certainly applies in the States and it's pretty similar here IMO.

Will we see the fall of the Empire in our time or will it just be a slow decline into ever-increasing militaristic desperation.

Andy the intention of the article was to show how thinking like the quote you gave has caused the problems we now face. It came from someone essentially opposed to any reasonable form of government and in favour of the unrestricted capitalism of pure self interest. It has become a self-fulfilling prophecy of US governance where the central authority has become discredited and weakened by the reckless disregard of the rich for the well being of society and the willingness of the political class to lick billionaire arse.

Blowin Saturday, 20 Feb 2016 at 09:13 pm

Unfortunately the reckless disregard for society is in no way limited to the rich and the death from a thousand cuts that is the tragedy of the commons brings us down just as surely.

Not saying the Koch brothers et al don't need a kick in the nut sack though.

AndyM Saturday, 20 Feb 2016 at 10:21 pm

BB - saying that they've been discredited and weakened is flattering to the government - I'd say controlled and dictated to.
Point taken on the context of the quote I used, still relevant for those on the other end of the socio-economic spectrum though.

tim foilat Sunday, 21 Feb 2016 at 10:11 am

Blowin wrote:

Unfortunately the reckless disregard for society is in no way limited to the rich and the death from a thousand cuts that is the tragedy of the commons brings us down just as surely.

Not saying the Koch brothers et al don't need a kick in the nut sack though.

The tragedy of the commons is a perfect description for wealthy powerbrokers disregard for society.

mk1 Sunday, 21 Feb 2016 at 02:15 pm

Not sure where I got this from - might have been on this very site

https://junkee.com/the-weekly-political-donations-democracys-fucked/73637

Combined with the article regarding Australia's wealthiest people making money from govt. legislation rather than creative entrepreneurship, one has to wonder about the state of the australian political-economic system and the BS we've been fed about free market capitalism.

blindboy Sunday, 21 Feb 2016 at 06:03 pm

mk1 wrote:

Not sure where I got this from - might have been on this very site

https://junkee.com/the-weekly-political-donations-democracys-fucked/73637

Combined with the article regarding Australia's wealthiest people making money from govt. legislation rather than creative entrepreneurship, one has to wonder about the state of the australian political-economic system and the BS we've been fed about free market capitalism.

Most of the 1%'s wealth is generated by political favouritism. If you are in NSW you can watch the process live In the current carve up the council areas.

blindboy Sunday, 21 Feb 2016 at 06:41 pm