Are governments just protection rackets for the 1%?

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Greatest I am
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Are governments just protection rackets for the 1%?

Post by Greatest I am »

Are governments just protection rackets for the 1%?

Our political systems, regardless of who is elected or in power, have become tools of our oligarchs and are designed to insure that they retain their wealth. We are in fact and in reality ruled by our various oligarchs.

Do you recognize that fact?

Regards
DL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzQYA9Qjsi0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-rpkZe2OEo
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Re: Are governments just protection rackets for the 1%?

Post by bobevenson »

Please, the ultra-rich largely spend their money creating goods and services for the not-so-rich instead of spending it on themselves.
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Re: Are governments just protection rackets for the 1%?

Post by Philosophy Explorer »

bobevenson wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2017 7:25 pm Please, the ultra-rich largely spend their money creating goods and services for the not-so-rich instead of spending it on themselves.
Trickle-down theory

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Re: Are governments just protection rackets for the 1%?

Post by bobevenson »

It's whatever's trickling down your leg that you should be concerned about!
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Re: Are governments just protection rackets for the 1%?

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bobevenson wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2017 8:35 pm It's whatever's trickling down your leg that you should be concerned about!
I can take the piss from you. :lol:

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Re: Are governments just protection rackets for the 1%?

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Please, I was referring to the sweat running down your leg!
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Re: Are governments just protection rackets for the 1%?

Post by Philosophy Explorer »

bobevenson wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2017 8:46 pm Please, I was referring to the sweat running down your leg!
You did say whatever, you dog.

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Re: Are governments just protection rackets for the 1%?

Post by Greatest I am »

bobevenson wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2017 7:25 pm Please, the ultra-rich largely spend their money creating goods and services for the not-so-rich instead of spending it on themselves.
Good service in your medical system must be off their radar as well as the care of the poor.

Did you not look at that graph.

http://www.upworthy.com/9-out-of-10-ame ... ing-fact-2

The trickle down that they allow is not trickling to where it is needed the most.

Regards
DL
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Re: Are governments just protection rackets for the 1%?

Post by Greta »

Greatest I am wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2017 7:09 pmAre governments just protection rackets for the 1%?
Once governments represented the people, theoretically anyway. Now they clearly represent corporations and billionaires. It's not the top 1% who are protected by the government so much as the 0.1%.

The stagnation and, sometimes, reduction of wages suggests that the ultra wealthy have largely stemmed the flow of the "trickle down". No doubt they feel they need the extra money in these difficult times.
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Re: Are governments just protection rackets for the 1%?

Post by Seleucus »

What other forms of organizing life are possible? The membranated nucleus and cell wall really has no close competitor at all. The system isn't caused by the elites, that's a misconception. The nucleus can be removed from a cell. The other organelles operate in parallel, they are largely not being directed by the nucleus; many cellular components have a distinct (quasi-/)genetic lineages. The non-elites in a state perform their roles largely autonomously.

Another point to consider is that there are genuinely corrupt and purely symbolic elites. They are a burden on the society, so when the Czar and Russian aristocracy was overthrown, the country became more productive. On the other hand, are genuinely knowledgeable and productive elites, when these elites are removed, railroads come to a halt, power stations go dark, and hospitals cannot operate, as happened in South Africa when so many Whites evacuated the country at the end of apartheid.

And another point might be, we don't live in a pure plutocracy, but a democracy where the vote is enormously powerful. No matter how much money you have, in a democracy the wealthy can have only limited political control.

I always get the the impression when this kind of conversation comes up that it is really motivated by jealousy and resentment. Narcissism. How many of those who complain about "the 1 percent" aren't working 60 hours a week, aren't working on a graduate degree, aren't starting a business on the side, but instead are spending their time watching YouTube? And if building your wealth isn't your thing, but prayer is, or fitness is, or aesthetics is, or love is, I doubt you'd be distracted with "the 1 percent".
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Re: Are governments just protection rackets for the 1%?

Post by Greta »

Seleucus wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2017 3:14 amI always get the the impression when this kind of conversation comes up that it is really motivated by jealousy and resentment. Narcissism.
Such implied ad homs mean nothing. It could just as easily be said - and be just as false - that supporting such an unfair system is an example of Stockholm syndrome. Can you do better than that?

It's simply a fact - wealth is concentrating and that leaves those at the bottom end in an especially parlous situation. I think we should be at least able to discuss this dynamic without being shut down by political correctness.
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Re: Are governments just protection rackets for the 1%?

Post by Greatest I am »

Greta wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2017 1:13 am
Greatest I am wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2017 7:09 pmAre governments just protection rackets for the 1%?
Once governments represented the people, theoretically anyway. Now they clearly represent corporations and billionaires. It's not the top 1% who are protected by the government so much as the 0.1%.

The stagnation and, sometimes, reduction of wages suggests that the ultra wealthy have largely stemmed the flow of the "trickle down". No doubt they feel they need the extra money in these difficult times.
You might be right on the %, but if you include their bribe taking slaves .01 % might not cover it.

I don't know what the actual % of pricks are in the world.

Regards
DL
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Re: Are governments just protection rackets for the 1%?

Post by Greatest I am »

Greta wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2017 5:49 am
Seleucus wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2017 3:14 amI always get the the impression when this kind of conversation comes up that it is really motivated by jealousy and resentment. Narcissism.
Such implied ad homs mean nothing. It could just as easily be said - and be just as false - that supporting such an unfair system is an example of Stockholm syndrome. Can you do better than that?

It's simply a fact - wealth is concentrating and that leaves those at the bottom end in an especially parlous situation. I think we should be at least able to discuss this dynamic without being shut down by political correctness.
+ 1

Regards
DL
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Re: Are governments just protection rackets for the 1%?

Post by bobevenson »

Philosophy Explorer wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2017 9:04 pm
bobevenson wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2017 8:46 pm Please, I was referring to the sweat running down your leg!
You did say whatever, you dog.

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I was giving you the benefit of the doubt.
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Re: Are governments just protection rackets for the 1%?

Post by bobevenson »

Greatest I am wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2017 12:10 am
bobevenson wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2017 7:25 pm Please, the ultra-rich largely spend their money creating goods and services for the not-so-rich instead of spending it on themselves.
Good service in your medical system must be off their radar as well as the care of the poor.

Did you not look at that graph.

http://www.upworthy.com/9-out-of-10-ame ... ing-fact-2

The trickle down that they allow is not trickling to where it is needed the most.

Regards
DL
I repeat, the ultra-rich largely spend their money creating goods and services for the not-so-rich instead of spending it on themselves.
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