• Linkey
    86
    As far as I can see, the Western democracy is mostly an illusion; the Western countries are ruled by the financial aristocracy. This works as follows: if a problem arises in society, the financial elite, represented by parliamentarians, passes laws to solve it; but these laws simultaneously serve one more purpose—increasing the wealth and power of the elite. In particular, these laws are always aimed at suppressing small businesses, because small businessmen are less dependent on the power and can overthrow it.
    I have a couple of examples, but I apologize for not fact-checking everything thoroughly; I hope someone here can help me with this:
    1) I have seen an interview on Euronews, where it was said that agricultural subsidies in the European Union always help large agricultural holdings more than small farmers;
    2) One blogger wrote about how laws aimed to combat global warming (greenhouse gas emission quotas) in New Zealand similarly benefit large agricultural holdings, and lead to ruining of small farmers.
    Please comment my examples above and suggest any others.
  • AmadeusD
    4k
    As someone who lives in NZ, I don't think you have that right. Can you provide the blog?
  • Metaphysician Undercover
    14.8k
    In particular, these laws are always aimed at suppressing small businesses, because small businessmen are less dependent on the power and can overthrow it.Linkey

    In general, large business is advantageous to the government. There are many reasons, but it's easier and more efficient for the government to have the company rule over its various activities itself, and it's employees, collect taxes etc., and report to the government, then for it to govern over a whole bunch of small businesses.

    So in agriculture and food production for example, the government can stipulate that the company must hire inspectors, and maintain a safe food supply, rather than having to send out a whole crew of inspectors around to all the different small businesses. The company does the inspections, but a small business couldn't afford this. It's a matter of efficiency.
  • Linkey
    86
    Can you provide the blog?AmadeusD

    Sorry, no - it is in Russian and in Telegram.
  • LuckyR
    713
    As far as I can see, the Western democracy is mostly an illusion; the Western countries are ruled by the financial aristocracy.

    To be more specific, the notion that democracy ignores the external influence of power, is an illusion. But did anyone actually believe this naive concept?
  • L'éléphant
    1.7k
    To be more specific, the notion that democracy ignores the external influence of power, is an illusion. But did anyone actually believe this naive concept?LuckyR
    The public, consisting of the average people, is people's worst enemy.
    One, the workforce (labor) seems to have given up on fighting for stronger economic condition. The pension plan had been eliminated by most corporations. What we're left with is compensation deferrals -- which is not a pension, but workers' own fruit of labor being set aside for their own subsidy in old age. Not everyone can afford to contribute to their own retirement accounts, at least meaningfully. And no one protested on the street when pension disappeared.

    Two, we do not try to understand how our money held in banks and retirement accounts are being invested. The big money is beyond our comprehension -- we are passively providing the investment for corporations that, with their oligarchic behavior influencing government policies that benefit their wealth, uses money that eventually destroys us.

    Three -- there is something to understand about living wages. The minimum wage is not a living wage. But increasing the minimum wage affects most small businesses and all other benefits that can be provided to the workers.

    Four -- health insurance and affordable housing. I live in HCOL area, I just cannot understand how local governments can allow housing costs to go out of control without corresponding wages going out of control to match the housing costs.
    And why is the social security administration still stuck in the old policy of not taxing all wages? Instead, the higher wages are not taxed after a certain amount.

    Five -- taxation of the wealthy the size of the galaxy.
  • BC
    14.2k
    the workforce (labor) seems to have given up on fighting for stronger economic condition.L'éléphant

    It's less 'have given up' and much more "they've been defeated'. It is extremely difficult to overcome the legal barriers erected against unionization; equally difficult is attempting to organize a company when the workers are deluged by anti-union messaging and threats. Fewer and fewer workers have experienced work in an effectively unionized company.

    Another barrier is cheap labor (unemployed people, immigrants--documented and not documented) are willing to work for less than the previously unionized workers were. For the newly hired striker-replacements, the lower wages paid are still a lot better than what they were getting at home south of the border.

    I live in HCOL area, I just cannot understand how local governments can allow housing costs to go out of control without corresponding wages going out of control to match the housing costs.L'éléphant

    As far as I know, local governments usually do not have control over rental rates. It isn't just that they haven't tried; they can't. They have to be granted that power by their state legislature. Needless to add, property interests fight VERY hard against rent control.

    For the most party, government does not have control over wages (except for their state employees). Not congress, not legislatures, not city councils lay out wage rates which companies have to pay.

    Wages and rental rates are affected by labor markets and housing markets far, far more than any regulation.

    we do not try to understand how our money held in banks and retirement accounts are being invested.L'éléphant

    Pretty much true. And we don't know enough to invest our own money in a complex equity markets.

    The minimum wage is not a living wage.L'éléphant

    No kidding! $15k vs $90k.

    The Federal Minimum Wage is absurdly low -- $7.25 per hour. That's about $15.000 per year, full time. Some states have set higher minimum wages. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41, almost $24,000 working full time. The minimum wage in Minneapolis is $$16.37, or a little over $34,000 a year. $34,000 might be ok for a frugal single person, but it certainly would not be much for a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children) not matter how frugal they were. An estimated "living wage" in Minneapolis is considered to be about $43.11 per hour for a single earner supporting a family of four (2 adults, 2 children). That works out to be a little over $90,000 a year. $90k isn't luxuriant. A reasonably nice apartment for 4 people could easily cost $36,000 a year.

    Five -- taxation of the wealthy the size of the galaxy.L'éléphant

    What is the size of the galaxy -- the wealth that isn't getting taxed or the state income if we taxed wealth at the formerly high rates?
  • BC
    14.2k
    As far as I can see, the Western democracy is mostly an illusion; the Western countries are ruled by the financial aristocracy.Linkey

    We aren't "ruled by the financial aristocracy"; we are ruled (so far) by civilian government. But as Marx said "The government is a committee for arranging the affairs of the bourgeoisie." So, a prime concern of the government has always been he needs and wishes of the wealthy class.
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