Forum Post: 'The American Ruling Class'
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 25, 2011, 8:16 a.m. EST by redteddy
(263)
from New York, NY
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Hosted by Lewis Lapham, who's grand-father happened to be the founder of Texaco, this "dramatic-documentary-musical", should be watched by every hard working American who is foolish enough to believe they live in a democracy. For OWS you should all watch it because this 2007 release (a year before the meltdown) is definitive proof that the stages of neo-feudalism descending on the masses was no accident but a natural consequence to a system that's designed to disenfranchise. It seems that the American ruling class are very very self-aware, at the very least it will reveal to OWS exactly what it is we are all up against. The American Ruling Class know the system is designed to quell rebellion, they KNOW what they do and what they've done to rig the system, its only the masses who are now playing catch up.
This is a mocking look downward from the top by the most influential 1% in our society. They mock poverty while explaining why they are necessary to society because they "own the country" and "buy presidents".
These strikes and protests we've been engaged in were anticipated. They were expecting us! Its disturbing to say the least but if you know anyone who still doubts that there is a concerted effort in this country to brush democracy under the rug and consolidate power and wealth just let them watch this because after all its coming from the horses mouth, no 'woo woo' conspiracy theories to dismiss it, no doubting if people are just being too paranoid. Our society is so far gone that they are not even afraid to reveal themselves in stark honesty. It highlights at one point Howard Zinn warning the masses not to obey but he also explains explained that rebellion would push the establishment to kill us to maintain control.
Anyone who works for the common good, the working class are treated in kindly condescending way as being virtuous but naive sacrificial lambs. The bottom tier is deemed not quite intelligent enough, because if anyone of us were smart enough they would be co-opted by the top tier, invited in.
My favorite moment is when Lapham stands in front of the Council on Foreign Relations and says "For the past 50 years every prominent Secretary of State has been a member. The members are oligarchs staunch in their loyalty to the money interest and are apt to believe that nobody is fully human unless he or she makes an income of at least $500, 000 a year." Nice.
So to all of you 'less than human beings' running around out here, you know, the 99%, take a look at the true face of power unashamed to show itself.
You cannot find a free viewing online unfortunately but I've decided to purchase it at Amazon and maybe there can be a viewing at Zuccotti Park.
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for structuring society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.
There is also a broader definition that includes not only warrior nobility but all three estates of the realm: the nobility, the clerics, and the peasantry bonds of manorialism; this is sometimes referred to as a "feudal society".
Wikipedia Feudalism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feudalism
A return to feudalism is such a huge leap backwards, such a fall from grace. Though there has been a noteworthy nostalgia for gothic culture, is the United States willing to give up automobiles, central heating, air conditioning, modern appliances, modern medicine and dentistry and incandescent illumination to live in Camelot, and work at a local Renaissance Fair that’s open year round? Or is the brief moment in technological brilliance ending due to the collapse of capitalism as civilization declines into a new dark age?
Max Keiser on Superstitious Trading http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGK4_ItBORc&feature=youtu.be
Here's a good clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDgFiW2xtf0
This movie until recently was available to view freely online on many sites. Amazingly it has totally disappeared from free viewing... Almost like it has been scrubbed.
Hi im darren check out my blog http://youngphilosopher89.wordpress.com its left wing reflecting my anarcho-syndicalist views
Hi Darren, I was just reading your blog and you say "My view of the best, most fair, most democratic and most advanced system is Anarcho-Syndicalism! A-S favours dismantling the current system of centralised government and installing what I call a “ladder of representation"..."In an A-S society the company’s owned by millionaires and billionaires and government would be put into the control of the workers whom currently work for these companies..." etc.
The problem is that its the American people themselves who would fight you on this plan. Americans are not collectivists, the ideological tradition in this country doesn't allow for the implementation of such a radical change. The average american only wants to tweak the system not dismantle it. They would fight you and fight you violently. Not to mention that if you try to implement it globally you could only do so with force, which contradicts your idea of shirking all authority. You cannot fashion or mold the entire world into your own image.
oh yes i totally believe that about the american society, this is a result of mass capilism and propaganda that exist in the american society, obviously it will be had to tart but we need to start in the education system, we need to teach our children independent taught not the indoctrination that currenly exist in the american education system. Most of the founding fathers where collective or individual anarchists/libertarians most notably Jefferson. I am not saying lets go around with AK-47 and force people to accept it, what I am saying is we need to educate society on the alternatives and the let society passively change the system, Anarchist are traditionally pacifist we don't believe in violence
@Metapolitik
Yeah I've see "The Corporation" and its excellent. I say humanitarian because they literally give away millions. Look at what Bill Gates is doing in Africa with his interest in malaria and HIV, and its all sincere too...and tax deductible. LOL! I shouldn't be so cynical. Its one of the ironies, the contradictions I was pointing out earlier. The point is I think that the world looks very different when you are standing at the top of the mountain.
I tried to use reply but I only got a 'system malfunction' report.
Hence the fact that what we call "conservative" in the U.S. is really just outright fascism:
http://www.occupywallst.org/forum/what-conservatism-really-means/
Actually I think its deeper than that. I think the financial elite transcends the left right paradigm as well as conservative vs. liberal. Its more a matter of insiders vs outsiders. The system has elements of fascism built in but its heavily disguised, you won't know how fascist the system is until you actually threaten the establishment and that hasn't happened as yet. Also traditional fascism had a face to it and one had to adhere to certain politics, now we are faced with a kind of global elite who transcend race, nation state and even politics. I mean even Steve Job considered himself a liberal and yet he was a member of the ruling class, same with Richard Branson. it was openly said that if one is smart enough they are immediately co-opted, invited in, so its no longer a ruling class based on birth like Versailles or race like the WASP elites, or politics like traditional fascists,this type of neo-feudalism basis entry on wealth alone.
Ever see this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzsUAjKQ3xU
Its Jay-Z sitting with Warren Buffet being interviewed by Forbes himself. And their glad to have him! Ex-drug dealer from the hood though he be. LOL! My point is that the 1% have placed themselves brilliantly precisely because they learned to be inclusive...to those who can find their way in. It only shows itself malignant when you see the influence of wealth on political power, in government when they are just as willing to rule over a democrat as they would a republican, this is why I say it has nothing to do with 'conservatism' as when the WASP ruling families were running the show.
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No I am pointing out how it is different from the conglomeration of former power elites, including traditional fascism. One can call it what it likes, but the global element makes it a very new kind of power structure, a very different nut to crack. As Hedges describes it this fascism is best described as politics subordinate to economics which differs from traditional fascism.
I hate semantic arguments...
How about we just agree to call it "neo-fascism" and be done with it.
http://www.occupywallst.org/forum/what-conservatism-really-means/
LOL! I think neo-feudalist is more accurate.
Well, if you insist on getting technical about it:
"Feudalism" was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labor.
"Fascism" is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology.
So it seems what we have here is neo-fascist politics in the service of neo-fuedalist oligarchs. But of course, TECHNICALLY it is neither of these things.
Ahh... The poverty of the English language.
I don't care what you call it.
It's Effing Effed Up!
As for Chris Hedges, he seems to use these terms interchangeably.
Right and neo-feudalism is described as the emergence of domains of mass private property that are ‘gated’ in a variety of ways. Shearing describes it as "Private organizations, and in particular large corporations, have since 1960, and probably earlier, exercised direct power over policing the public through systems of private security. The growth of mass private property has facilitated an ongoing privatization of social control characterized by non-specialized security. As a result, North America is experiencing a "new feudalism": huge tracts of property and associated public spaces are controlled — and policed — by private corporations. To undertake this responsibility, these corporations have developed an extensive security apparatus, of which uniformed security personnel are only the supervisory tip of the iceberg."
You get foreclosed because the banks now own your home. You can be denied health care because private industry owns the bed. You can be groped by private security by a the private TSA.
But you are right its all of those things and none of those things, or rather it transcends all of those definitions which is why its so fascinating and dangerous. And why its going to be a very difficult fight, especially when you realize how self-aware members of the elite really are. I like neo-feudalist fascist humanitarian oligarchs. LOL! it has such a nice ring. Its like knowing that a company is run by the elites and at the same time having to acknowledge that its owned by public shares. So much irony and contradiction. But seriously watch The American Ruling class, you can find it on Amazon I think though I found it on Netflix.
Another good one is "The Corporation"
http://www.thecorporation.com/
...Humanitarian? (don't know about that one)
You are well informed. Learn the historical how, and please add to our forum http://occupywallst.org/forum/interesting-read-about-the-constitution-and-corpor/#comment-413890 I'm trying to build a nexus of intelligent conversation that aims to rediscover our REPUBLIC (which has been dismbered by faux democracy). Thanks for posting
Most Conservative are Neocons...that means right wing facism...others would call it Neocohns...but this is another story, dealing with Israel and the policy of Zionism...
Ron Lawl is a good republican
http://www.bilderberg.org
Lyndon LaRouche is in my opinion a good democrat...and no creature of wall street and the City of London...
http://www.larouchepac.org/
I think you just answered my question from the other thread :)
You reminded me of this while I was talking to you so I thought I would share it with everyone else.
Right on. It sounds like it is worth sharing. I'm checking out the website www.theamericanrulingclass.org right now.
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