I'm not convinced that the "plutocracy vs. democracy" distinction is relevant and to be a bit controversial I'll add that I think it might even be unproductive. I also don't think the Citizens United case was that big of a deal. Let's pretend for a moment though that it was possible to get money out of politics. What are the laws and policies that low and middle class voters would want to have implemented?
I agree that the shrinking middle class is a big problem but I think a lot of it can be explained by the offshoring and automating of manufacturing and other low-skilled jobs. The only options I see for dealing with those realities are to either re-shore those jobs through tariffs or get better at producing more highly skilled workers.
I feel like the conversation should be centered around those kinds of tangible issues rather than more abstract concepts such as plutocracy and modern day serfdom. On a macro level trade and education policies have real impacts and real tradeoffs that need to be discussed so that difficult compromises can be reached. On an individual level believing that you are powerless and cannot improve your life because the country is run by a cadre of elites conspiring against you will only decrease your chances of success.
Kind of teared up at one point during reading thinking about the excitement I, a not very politically interested millennial, and so many others felt about Bernie Sanders. I wonder if he would’ve had more of a chance if that Supreme Court ruling was never overturned.
Saw a meme that mentioned plutocracy -> googled the definition -> thought to myself “that sounds like America” -> googled “is America a plutocracy” and found this great, easily digestible essay.
I'm not convinced that the "plutocracy vs. democracy" distinction is relevant and to be a bit controversial I'll add that I think it might even be unproductive. I also don't think the Citizens United case was that big of a deal. Let's pretend for a moment though that it was possible to get money out of politics. What are the laws and policies that low and middle class voters would want to have implemented?
I agree that the shrinking middle class is a big problem but I think a lot of it can be explained by the offshoring and automating of manufacturing and other low-skilled jobs. The only options I see for dealing with those realities are to either re-shore those jobs through tariffs or get better at producing more highly skilled workers.
I feel like the conversation should be centered around those kinds of tangible issues rather than more abstract concepts such as plutocracy and modern day serfdom. On a macro level trade and education policies have real impacts and real tradeoffs that need to be discussed so that difficult compromises can be reached. On an individual level believing that you are powerless and cannot improve your life because the country is run by a cadre of elites conspiring against you will only decrease your chances of success.
The “false consciousness” concept is The Matrix.
Kind of teared up at one point during reading thinking about the excitement I, a not very politically interested millennial, and so many others felt about Bernie Sanders. I wonder if he would’ve had more of a chance if that Supreme Court ruling was never overturned.
false consciousness - crazy to think about.
We don’t know what’s happening- everywhere, all around us.
Saw a meme that mentioned plutocracy -> googled the definition -> thought to myself “that sounds like America” -> googled “is America a plutocracy” and found this great, easily digestible essay.
👏👏 right on. I had never heard the term plutocracy before, so for me it was: Saw this article -> read it -> got it. (So true re: The Matrix too.)