Progressive Ponderings: Masters of Manipulation

by Joe Mayer
3/2/11

We are in crisis – cities, counties, school districts, states. Many of us are in crisis as individuals while the wealthy among us seek tax havens to protect their disproportionate opulence and multinational corporations have more cash than they know what to do with.

Maybe it’s time for a values check — who we are as individuals and what we are as a nation.

The Republican House started the session with a grandiose reading of the Constitution. But let us go back further to the Preamble: “We, the people…, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the Common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty…”

This continues to be a radical statement!

It overturned the way the world was ruled for millenniums. It questioned the manner in which wealth and ownership was shared. It elevated the Common Good. The words in bold in the paragraph above emphasize a new societal direction, a recognition that governance should be shared by the governed. NO reference was made in either the Preamble or the Constitution for Corporate participation in governance.

I still recall the first chapter of my college course Economics 101: Economics is the study of how people satisfy their needs and wants. Again, no mention of corporations.

Our evolving corporate world is undermining both our governance and our shared economic objectives. When first chartered by states, corporations were limited in duration, limited to specific industries and charged with working for the GOOD of the COMMUNITIES where they were located. Today that charge has been completely reversed. Now large corporations control our governing bodies by hefty political donations which purchase political puppets that become obligated to fulfill their corporate desires. Understanding this is the only way to comprehend our current mess:

• Governance is purchased which strangles democracy
• Those who cause national economic disasters are bailed out
• The economic VICTIMS are told to SACRIFICE
• Unions of people are denigrated by unions of corporations (Chamber of Commerce)
• The commons is privatized with no one being held responsible for its stewardship
• Inequalities in income and wealth increase
• Citizens and society in general are sent on a downward slide

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is the current “poster boy” for the unbridled capitalism of multinational corporations. He was elected by the “masters of manipulation,” money and fear. Both Walker and these masters may have overreached. An awareness and rage has been kindled in the common folk.

And the world is alive with this rage. Global societies are being plundered and exploited by the Free Market system – by unequal wealth (and ownership) beyond tolerance. As common citizens we have two choices, join the rebellions of the world or sink into Third World misery.

You have read this article Scott Walker / Wisconsin with the title Progressive Ponderings: Masters of Manipulation. You can bookmark this page URL https://ogbcommunity.blogspot.com/2011/03/progressive-ponderings-masters-of.html. Thanks!