Guest Post From MSNBC's Dylan Ratigan: Corporate Communists Control (Own) The Economic & Political Structure Of America
Submitted by Dylan Ratigan
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The Cost Of Corporate Communism
Lately I have been using the phrase "Corporate Communism" on my television show. I think it is an especially fitting term when discussing the current landscape in both our banking and health care systems.
As Americans, I believe we reject communism because it historically has allowed a tiny group of people to consolidate complete control over national resources (including people), in the process stifling competition, freedom and choice. It leaves its citizens stagnating under the perpetual broken systems with no natural motivation to innovate, improve services or reduce costs.
Lack of choice, lazy, unresponsive customer service, a culture of exploitation and a small powerbase formed by cronyism and nepotism are the hallmarks of a communist system that steals from its citizenry and a major reason why America spent half a century fighting a Cold War with the U.S.S.R.
And yet today we find ourselves as a country in two distinctly different categories: those who are forced to compete tooth and nail each day to provide value to society in return for income for ourselves and our families and those who would instead use our lawmaking apparatus to help themselves to our tax money and/or to protect themselves from true competition.
If you allow weak, outdated players to take control of the government and change the rules so they are protected from the natural competition and reward systems that have created so many innovations in our country, you not only steal from the citizens on behalf of the least worthy but you also doom them by trapping the capital that would be used to generate new innovation and, most tangibly in our current situation, jobs.
We are losing the opportunity cost of all the great ideas that should be coming from the proper deployment of that 23.7 trillion in capital. Everything from innovation in medical delivery systems to accessible space travel, free energy to the driverless car; all of these things may never come to bear because those powerful individuals who have failed, been passed over by technological advancements, innovation and flat-out smarts, have commandeered our government to unfairly sustain their wealth and power.
Unfortunately, they use our wealth and laws not only to benefit their outdated, failed companies, but also spend a small pittance of their ill-gotten gains lobbying and favor-trading with politicians so the government will continue to protect them from competition and their well-deserved failure.
The massive spike in unemployment, the utter destruction of retirement wealth, the collapse in the value of our homes, the worst recession since the Great Depression have all resulted directly from the abdication of proper government.
Even with all that -- the only changes that have been made, have been made to prop up and hide the massive flaws on behalf of those who perpetuated them. Still utterly nothing has been done to disclose the flaws in this system, improve it or rebuild it. Only true rules-based capitalism ensures constant adaptation and implementation of the latest and best practices for a given business, as those businesses that don't adapt fail, and those who deploy the latest innovations to their customers benefit, prosper.
The concept of communism is rightly reviled in this country for the simple reason that it is blind to human nature, allowing a small group of individuals near-total control, while sticking everyone else with the same crappy systems -- and the bill. America spent countless lives and half a century fighting against this system of government. So why are we standing for it now?
PLEASE See The Accompanying Video from Dylan Ratigan Here...
"$24 Trillion Of National Capital Is Being Sucked Into A Failed Banking System"
Oct 7, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Reader Comments (79)
http://books.google.com/books?id=lVf-k6y8y3wC&dq=notrth+american+union&printsec=frontcover&source=in&hl=en&ei=yRHPSr1Ix5jwBuG3_IYE&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=11&ved=0CCwQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Info on FTAA, which works hand in hand with the NAU.
http://www.foodfirst.org/progs/global/trade/ftaamyths.html
http://www.ratical.org/co-globalize/MBonFTAA.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/05/international/americas/05prexy.html/partner/rssnyt?_r=2
This agreement sets enforceable global rules on patents, copyrights and trademark. It has gone far beyond its initial scope of protecting original inventions or cultural products and now permits the practice of patenting plants and animal forms as well as seeds. It promotes the private rights of corporations over local communities and their genetic heritage and traditional medicines.
Maude Barlow
Soon, all they will need is a common fiat currency to propel themselves to even greater "riches". I understand the various writings on sound fiscal policy, unfortunately those authors are not in charge.
Why it's seems like only yesterday DB was agonizing over how no one commented on his posts. Well I'll have you know DB, I just spent over an hour trying to get caught-up on this discussion (baseball playoffs, you know), and I hope you're happy that the comments section is taking on a life of it's own, but my eyes and brain hurt now. Awesome discussion! I've got a lot I'd like to add, but I'm going to break it up, so this thread will be getting even longer.....
Congrats on what you've done here and thanks, DB!
I don't find the threats to American sovereignty by a NAU as improbable as a conspiracy by banks to create the recession to implement a common currency. As you noted, there's credible evidence on the conspiracy to create a North American Union. But the bank angle is a bit far-fetched.
You should read Trilateralism by Holly Sklar. It's good. Break out the foil hat... ;)
DB,
It was 1:35 as of Aug. 14,1971. In the Theory of Money and Credit, Mises suggests that the current market price be taken as the definition of gold weight. But Rothbard said "this suggestion violates the spirit of his own analysis, which demonstrates that gold and the dollar are not truly separate commodities with a price in terms of the other, but rather simple definitions of unit of weight. But any initial definition is arbitrary, and we should therefore return to gold at the most conveniently defined weight. After a definition is chosen, however, it should be eternally fixed, and continue permanently in the same way as the defined unit of the meter, the gram, or the pound." He suggests dollar be defined as 1/1696 gold ounce, but I don't get the explanation... yet.
@ Dylan, good post, but I think you paint with too broad a brush. Surely a lack of innovation has made some industries welfare cases, but in the case of banking, it was an abundance of "innovation" (read contrived thievery) that lead to systemic destabilization. Dylan doesn't write enough....he should hire a ghost writer (namely, me).
@ Allie, Wow, Barrons...let me be the first to say, "You MSM sell-out...why don't you act your age and put your brain cells on a death march. like normal 22 year-olds...(I'll bet you're cute and spunky too).
Just kidding, except for "cute & spunky". You're wise beyond your years. Remember us when you make it big time. Congrats, kid.
Thank Allie.
Thanks James
Thanks Gompers
Thanks Mark
Happy Friday to everyone...I think I've got H1N1...my GF caught it last week from someone at work and though i have taken every precaution possible for 10 days i started feeling sick last night...
Luckily, it was a pretty mild Flu for her....in fact the mildest flu i've ever seen...barely any fever, few body aches...
I feel OK still but it's as though I am can tell something is creeping up on me...
Allie's a cutie...i've seen a photo of her with Ron Paul...
Ah, the benefits of running the site...
Now, back to your scheduled programming...
Private think tanks are real, and their objectives are not "how can we make the world a better place?" They are "how can we make the people paying us richer and more powerful?" The short answer is to get as many people as deeply in debt to you as possible. There is no doubt that this is what's happening. Gomp's just trying to figure out who's behind the curtain.
"Give me control of a nations money supply, and I care not who makes the laws" ~Mayer Rothschild
And as far as I know, there's only one account of Jesus losing his temper...The idea of enslaving people through debt isn't new, and it doesn't happen accidentally.
That's why I hate these arguments...we can all agree on much of what Gomp said and equally with your line above...
The rest doesn't matter...the powerful wish to remain powerful...agreed...next...what might replace the Fed...definitely the more important question that gompers asked...
Thanks Mark.
Thanks DB. Get some sleep, and maybe antivirals and some vitamin C. I hope its mild for you too, and you feel better soon!
Join in folks
November 22 - Nationwide End the Fed Action Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-cR0i2YP3A&feature=player_embedded#November 22 - Nationwide End the Fed Action Day
And you are right, Jesus only lost his temper once... I have spent my life peeping behind green curtains...
Allie,
Read it years ago when it was a new book, and about your age.
To put it simply, trilateralists are saying: (1) the people, governments, and economies of all nations must serve the needs of multinational banks and corporations; (2) control over economic resources spells power in modern politics (of course, good citizens are supposed to believe as they are taught; namely, that political equality exists in Western democracies whatever the degree of economic inequality); and (3) the leaders of capitalist democracies-systems where economic control and profit, and thus political power, rest with the few-must resist movement toward a truly popular democracy. In short, trilateralism is the current attempt by ruling elites to manage both dependence and democracy-at home and abroad...
Sometimes you have to create great turbulence to get the herds to move in the direction you want them to go. No one would vote for the NAU or a common money, that would be thrust upon us. The rise of Hitler from the man made trying times in Germany, is a perfect example.
In 1920 the Fed called in a mass percentage of loans and overnight, over 5,000 banks collapsed. In 1929 the FED again called in loans en masse. This time, the crash caused 16,000 banks to fail and the stock market to fall through the basement floor. And the international banks and private and well protected banks within the FED system were able to snap up the failed banks and corporations for pennies on the dollar. It was the greatest robbery in history, and eliminated a lot of banks not controlled by the FED.
Even if they did not create it, it can, and I am sure will be used a tool to further consolidate power if left unchecked. The great authors will not decide what comes after the FED, the bought electorate will. We already know who they represent.
Great leaders have always used superior strategy to win the day. If you face battle, and want to stack the odds of success, sometimes you force the hand of your opponent and present him with a target he cannot resist while appearing to be inferior.
Thereby you control where the attack comes from, and have already taken measures to defend against it.
Boxers use this as well, when one feigns an injury to make his opponent drop his guard and move in for the kill thereby exposing himself in the process.
I do strongly feel that the "after the FED" needs to be discussed so that none of us are caught as unwitting agents of change that we did not want. For they will not give up easily, but they may throw us a false "win" to roll out something we will not want.
Mark is right, you are not only wise beyond your years, but more importantly, you question the status quo.
“When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation, since the hand that gives is above the hand that takes... Money has no motherland; financiers are without patriotism and without decency; their sole object is gain." -- Napoleon Bonaparte, 1815
“The government should create, issue and circulate all the currency and credit needed to satisfy the spending power of the government and the buying power of consumers..... The privilege of creating and issuing money is not only the supreme prerogative of Government, but it is the Government's greatest creative opportunity. By the adoption of these principles, the long-felt want for a uniform medium will be satisfied. The taxpayers will be saved immense sums of interest, discounts and exchanges. The financing of all public enterprises, the maintenance of stable government and ordered progress, and the conduct of the Treasury will become matters of practical administration. The people can and will be furnished with a currency as safe as their own government. Money will cease to be the master and become the servant of humanity. Democracy will rise superior to the money power." Abraham Lincoln Senate document 23, Page 91. 1865
"If this mischievous financial policy, which has its origin in North America, shall become endurated down to a fixture, then that Government will furnish its own money without cost. It will pay off debts and be without debt. It will have all the money necessary to carry on its commerce. It will become prosperous without precedent in the history of the world. The brains, and wealth of all countries will go to North America. That country must be destroyed or it will destroy every monarchy on the globe." - Hazard Circular - London Times 1865.
In this administration? Probably the Soviet Gosplan and the appointment of a five-year plan czar. But I would hope that nothing would replace the Fed but a free market. I was thinking one of Ron Paul's end-the-fed bills (like HR 2755) had an outline for what happens next, which would be convenient, but I'm not seein it on thomas.gov. And I'm guessing you want an in-depth answer to those annoying specific hypothetical questions...... me too.
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"Even if they did not create it, it can, and I am sure will be used a tool to further consolidate power if left unchecked. The great authors will not decide what comes after the FED, the bought electorate will. We already know who they represent."
"I do strongly feel that the "after the FED" needs to be discussed so that none of us are caught as unwitting agents of change that we did not want. For they will not give up easily, but they may throw us a false "win" to roll out something we will not want."
Nice post, good points. Reminded me of the common quote, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty---"It is the common fate of the indolent to see their rights become a prey to the active. The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt."—John Philpot Curran
Also, thanks. In the words of George Carlin, the status quo sucks.
Have a nice weekend! :)
It is funny that in the sixties, the slogan was "don't trust anyone over 30" on the theory that, once past 30, a person had so many vested interests in the status quo that he or she wouldn't be open to change.
It is ironic that those who chanted this mantra in the sixties, are responsible for this mess today.
When you ask me, "what's next?," my answer is: "Justice." The Fed (and the treasury) have abused their authority, failed to honor their mission, lied, created a "state of emergency" to extort money and power from the people. If Paulson goes to jail, even for something as simple as saying, "we're not going to make gold eagles for under $700" (to paraphrase). And we have to teach guys like Geithner and Bernanke that saying, "I don't know" to Congress is obstruction of Justice.
"Friends of Angelo" should become "friends of Bubba" and I think we should all see how Mozilo's tan will contrast with a prison jumpsuit.
What I'm getting at is the Banking system isn't nearly as corrupt as the individuals we entrusted it to. Make these traitors pay for their crimes, and I think the next bunch will behave better.
I don't think a gold standard is as Utopian as some would like you to believe. Gold is deflationary and encourages hoarding rather than investment, which stifles innovation and growth. So I think there is quite possibly something to James H's concern that the ending the Fed may be exactly what the "super-rich" want (a la Brer Rabbit).
And that's why my mantra is "SEEK JUSTICE FIRST!"
"The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools."
I love that quote!!!! In many ways, it is a variation of "seek justice first."
Anyone have any thoughts about limiting foreign ownership of US sovereign debt? Like for example, that US citizens (not banks) must be the majority holders of all newly issued debt.
Whadaya think?
I agree, every angle should be explored, and a viable alternative should be ready to go, in case we get our dream. Otherwise, something unexpected may fill the sudden void... And the "super-rich" may already have their plan waiting in the wings...
Interesting... That would also encourage wages that could buy the debt.
You can bet " they" have a plan, they have been remarkably open about "their" plans for years.
The "lack of a plan" by those pushing this elimination of the FED, is interesting, a void will not be allowed, as it will allow anarchy to rise, and then the moneyed priests will lose control, and feudal lords will arise from the chaos.
This will not be allowed. Looks like we continue the race to the bottom.
Interesting... The silence is deafening... The game is afoot.
Feeling rather hyperbolic today?
The plan is to end the Fed and restore the market process. And to eventually end government manipulation of money. Obviously this process would have to be gradual. I think the first step would be to repeal legal tender laws --permit the issuance of competing currencies while still permitting the Federal Reserve Note. Then, set up an auction system to set the price of short term money. Then in no particular order, abolish the TAF, let banks fail, abolish Fannie, Freddie, the FHA and the FDIC, stop bailouts and cut government spending.
There.
Sounds easy enough.
Does that lack of a bill to replace the FED concern you?, As the great writers will not resolve this question, bought politicians will.
Competing currencies is exactly what the EU did with the Euro, there were backlashes by many who felt the sting of loss of sovereignty as well as rising prices, etc.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/backlash-against-euro-could-mean-slovenia-is-last-entrant-430195.html
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/06/21/1023864501325.html
NAU is, and has been the goal for many administrations, a common currency is their next step. A crisis is needed to make it acceptable. That currency will devalue Americans and Canadians, but help the Mexicans.
On with the race to the bottom! There is a method to the madness of it all.
And the rich will be richer in the end...
What I'm getting at is the Banking system isn't nearly as corrupt as the individuals we entrusted it to. Make these traitors pay for their crimes, and I think the next bunch will behave better.
This is a good point...we need substantial tweaking of the rules and a new set of leaders, and we need to see some of the guilty go to prison...
Nice stuff from all of you...fwiw, i didn't end up being sick...my symptoms were a false alarm...did attend a wedding in Columbus Ohio and met some people there who read the Bail...that was a pleasant surprise...hope everyone had a nice weekend...
Found an article over the weekend with some insight “End the Fed? A Not-So-Crazy Idea”
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10419
Re: gradual won’t work---I doubt debt holders would like abrupt. And I doubt they like the massive “quantitative easing” coming out of the Fed now. In fact, I’d argue that debt holders would support abolishing the Fed.
Re: competing currencies---I meant simply repealing legal tender laws, which force people to accept fiat currency which can be devalued to nothingness. I don’t get the reference to the EU/Slovenia example, that’s exactly what I’m arguing against—end government monopoly over money. There’s no justification for the existing position of a government monopoly of issuing money.
I agree with Mark too. It would be nice to see some go to prison, and have people with ethics hold office.
Something will replace it, I assure you. Yes there is a huge chance of it backfiring, years ago the congressional bank was forced to close because to many of our elected officials were bouncing checks. If they cannot keep their own checkbooks straight, it is hard to imagine keeping the books straight for the nation.
Maybe we should elect CPA's, we don't use most of the laws the lawyer class make, otherwise you would see these perpetrators going to jail.
Look what they have done with other "money pots" like Social Security, to show what they have already done when they had free access to the cookie jar. Free access to the Treasury for them, is indeed a scary thing.
"end government monopoly over money. There’s no justification for the existing position of a government monopoly of issuing money."
Wouldn't this allow individual banks to issue currency? We tried this in the past, with ill effects. The Euro is a competing currency against the currencies of the nation states.
"I agree with Mark too. It would be nice to see some go to prison, and have people with ethics hold office."
I agree as well. Unfortunately if we do it I am afraid it will be a token, men who seek high position gave up on ethics long ago. High position has always been about self gratification.
So far HR. 833 has no cosigners, bills that don't get cosigners tend to die in committee. Find it interesting the clamor to "audit" the FED, but no one jumping on HR. 833? There is a election coming, politicians need contributions...
No they do not like what is going on now, but they will want assurances on what is owed them. Not devaluation of their money owed to them.