Forum Post: Class Warfare

With the battle-cries of the neo-cons and their merry band of teasters still echoing - Death Panels! Socialism! Obamacare! Job-Killing Regulations!, their latest mantra declares: Class Warfare!

There is no argument that class warfare does indeed exist in this country. The question is, who is waging battle against whom? One needs look no further for the answer than two “industry note(s)” issued by Citigroup; one in October 2005, the other in March 2006 .

The 2005 paper begins, “The world is dividing into two blocs - the Plutonomy and the rest.” You will not find the word “plutonomy” in any dictionary because Citigroup invented it. Loosely defined, it’s an economy of the wealthy, by the wealthy and for the wealthy - sort of like our government. By the report’s own words, “At the heart of plutonomy, is income inequality.”

These papers are not easy to find,. It appears that Citigroup’s attorneys have scoured the internet and removed most, but not all traces of these documents. A thorough search eventually turned them up.

The 2005 document continues, explaining the drivers of a plutonomy. Among them, “…creative financial innovation, capitalist-friendly cooperative governments…[and] overseas conquests invigorating wealth creation, …” Overseas conquests? Like war? Invigorating wealth creation? This is frightening, but it gets worse.

In their second report dated March 2006, “Revisiting Plutonomy: The Rich Get Richer”, Citigroup’s paper proffers, “…we think that global capitalists are going to be getting an even greater share of the wealth pie over the next few years, as capitalists benefit disproportionately from globalization and the productivity boom, at the relative expense of labor.” They later suggest, “At some point it is likely that … there will be a political backlash against the rising wealth of the rich.”

And so, the question remains, who is waging class warfare against whom? The answer is clear.

We are a country founded on the principle that, “…all [persons] are created equal.” Why then, does our government allow these conditions to persist.? Because we allow it. In a democracy, the government derives its power from the consent of the people. It’s time to tell them, No More!”

There are many in this country who claim us to be a Christian nation. Where does Jesus proclaim that we, “Go forth and conquer to invigorate wealth creation“? Where does any holy book suggest that we kill, steal from or otherwise injure another for wealth? It’s evil, pure and simple. Despairingly, these papers expose just the tip of the iceberg of the corporate misfeasance and government corruption that has eroded our political and economic systems.

Capitalism doesn’t need to be like this; there are far more egalitarian forms in practice around the world. The logical alternative to corrupt capitalism is socialism. If the free-market will not provide for the people, then the people will provide for themselves in a fair-market.

So, the next time you hear some neo-con teaster screaming Class Warfare!, remember who it is firing the shots. And, fight back.