I'd like to add on that everyone's retirement plans are held hostage by the same four groups that you were talking about. The 401(k) and IRA were both introduced in the 1970s, and now colossal amounts of money flow into those accounts, ensuring the financial future of Americans. They are low-risk investment plans for the future. Why are they low-risk? Because they invest in the "entire market" via mutual funds, and as we all know the market always goes up. Loosely- give your money to the banks, and they'll make sure the valuation of the companies that make up the index funds will always increase, thus giving you your year-on-year +10%, or whatever.
The corollary, of course, is that if you support any societal changes that would threaten the valuation of "the market", you'll tank everyone's investment accounts. Good luck reversing outsourcing trends, enacting progressive labor laws, or lowering the price of healthcare.
I don't even want to call it "investing" at this point. It's speculating. That's why I plan to buy land and live off of it as much as I can. I'd rather be poor and independent than rich and dependent.
That seems to be the logical conclusion. The current system is artificial, every piece is carefully stacked like a house of cards; this makes it very brittle.
We're in an Orwellian nightmare. By now, if the system collapses, it could be the most devastating crash in human history.
On the other hand, if things keep going in the same direction, we will end up in a horrible dystopia where life will only be worth living for the rich; everyone else will be slaves.
Also, I think I've figured out what the "defund the police" movement is really about; it's to allow Corporations to later step in and privatize the police force. Then they can claim the credit for restoring law and order and further gain people's trust whilst gaining more control over them. Seems kind of far fetched still, but few things would surprise me these days.
There's a saying about "Why look for conspiracy, where incompetence explains so much?"
That may be something that comes from it, but it really is about people that have been taking it in the shorts for decades, and have felt completely powerless (by design) to affect it. The "defund" thing is a blunt instrument that they hope would work; more as leverage to effect change, than anything else.
Of course, there are anarchists, who want all restraint removed from society. Those types of folks can usually be found in The Darwin Awards.
The rich are just really good at leveraging anything to their advantage, and have the tools to do it. They'll usually come out on top; regardless of what happens.
It's just that nowadays, "The Rich" includes a lot of young folks that look a lot like their employees. It isn't just a bunch of old robber barons with handlebars and muttonchops, anymore.
I'd like to add on that everyone's retirement plans are held hostage by the same four groups that you were talking about. The 401(k) and IRA were both introduced in the 1970s, and now colossal amounts of money flow into those accounts, ensuring the financial future of Americans. They are low-risk investment plans for the future. Why are they low-risk? Because they invest in the "entire market" via mutual funds, and as we all know the market always goes up. Loosely- give your money to the banks, and they'll make sure the valuation of the companies that make up the index funds will always increase, thus giving you your year-on-year +10%, or whatever.
The corollary, of course, is that if you support any societal changes that would threaten the valuation of "the market", you'll tank everyone's investment accounts. Good luck reversing outsourcing trends, enacting progressive labor laws, or lowering the price of healthcare.
I don't even want to call it "investing" at this point. It's speculating. That's why I plan to buy land and live off of it as much as I can. I'd rather be poor and independent than rich and dependent.