An American Oligarchy?
Caring commentators are reaching for descriptive terms to fit what the U.S. risks becoming: "Third World Nation," "Unemployed Nation," "Angry Rich," "Tea Party," or my preference here, "Oligarchy." Nations can be and are operated in the interests of the rich at the cost of the poor. Our global economic competitors, India and China, as well as African and other nations are so fueled.
My question is whether Obama and our caring Democrats can hold the barriers high enough in the coming elections -- this fall and in 2012 -- against this monstrous takeover of our democratic republic? Already the gap between super rich and millions of hungry kids here is a national embarrassment! With the extension of unemployment insurance came a little noticed cut in food stamp allotments. Oil and medicine are making out like bandits while even Wall Street is feeling some quavers about our weak economy per a lead article in today's NY Times.
For the benefit of those searching for the right descriptive term, I have included the Wiki definition of oligarch below.
I wonder where our Wikileaks crowd is hiding out now -- under attack by both our key general in Afghanistan and the Obama team?
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An oligarchy (from Greek ὀλιγαρχία, oligarkhía[1]) is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with a small segment of society distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, or military control. The word oligarchy is from the Greek words "ὀλίγος" (olígos), "a few"[2] and the verb "ἄρχω" (archo), "to rule, to govern, to command".[3] Such states are often controlled by a few prominent families who pass their influence from one generation to the next.
Oligarchies have been tyrannical throughout history, being completely reliant on public servitude to exist. Although Aristotle pioneered the use of the term as a synonym for rule by the rich, for which the exact term is plutocracy, oligarchy is not always a rule by wealth, as oligarchs can simply be a privileged group, and do not have to be connected by bloodlines as in a monarchy. Some city-states from ancient Greece were oligarchies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligarchy
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"A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope." (Livy cited by Machiavelli)
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Ed Kent [blind copies]
My question is whether Obama and our caring Democrats can hold the barriers high enough in the coming elections -- this fall and in 2012 -- against this monstrous takeover of our democratic republic? Already the gap between super rich and millions of hungry kids here is a national embarrassment! With the extension of unemployment insurance came a little noticed cut in food stamp allotments. Oil and medicine are making out like bandits while even Wall Street is feeling some quavers about our weak economy per a lead article in today's NY Times.
For the benefit of those searching for the right descriptive term, I have included the Wiki definition of oligarch below.
I wonder where our Wikileaks crowd is hiding out now -- under attack by both our key general in Afghanistan and the Obama team?
*****************************************
An oligarchy (from Greek ὀλιγαρχία, oligarkhía[1]) is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with a small segment of society distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, or military control. The word oligarchy is from the Greek words "ὀλίγος" (olígos), "a few"[2] and the verb "ἄρχω" (archo), "to rule, to govern, to command".[3] Such states are often controlled by a few prominent families who pass their influence from one generation to the next.
Oligarchies have been tyrannical throughout history, being completely reliant on public servitude to exist. Although Aristotle pioneered the use of the term as a synonym for rule by the rich, for which the exact term is plutocracy, oligarchy is not always a rule by wealth, as oligarchs can simply be a privileged group, and do not have to be connected by bloodlines as in a monarchy. Some city-states from ancient Greece were oligarchies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligarchy
--
"A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope." (Livy cited by Machiavelli)
--
Ed Kent [blind copies]
posted by Ed Kent at 6:42 AM
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