A majority of the problems we’re discussing in here can be traced back to one simple thing: big business/corporations being given carte blanche to do whatever they want. Poverty, depression, lack of education, anti-unionism, extreme financial inequality, lack of health care, homelessness, and so many more things are things that we can attribute to corporations being able to do basically whatever they want without having to answer for it. The chickens are finally coming home to roost in the good ol’ US of A and now people are finally wising up to the fact (too late I might add) that we coddled corporations and allowed our government to be in cahoots with them for far too long.
Capitalism NEEDS regulation in order to work or it just turns out like where we’re at now. We actually have laws and safeguards in place, but our government refuses to uphold said laws (Google the Wagner Act.) But beginning with Reagan, every president has deregulated more and more allowing the corporate stranglehold on the American people to get tighter and tighter.Unions have been attacked and gutted at every turn leaving American workers working more hours for less pay and less benefits, which they do because they need money to in order to pay everyday expenses and don’t have many options.
People talk about the need for a free market, but we don’t (and haven’t) had one. If we did, corporations wouldn’t get the tax breaks and advantages they do, they wouldn’t have gotten bailed out, small business would be able to compete more, and the overall playing field would be much more level for all involved because the bigger companies wouldn’t be getting a head start. If you think we truly have a free market, you’re not paying attention.
Let’s not even get started on how corporations control the government. Through constant lobbying, gladhanding, and downright bribing, corporations have been able to influence many in our government to draft laws and regulations that work AGAINST their constituents. The fact that virtually none of the executives have seen any jail time, and many of the ones who have been brought up on charges and fined had THE COMPANY pay their fines speaks to this.
Part of the Wall Street problem is that those in our government who actually know anything about it all have ties and friends on Wall St. So of course things are going to get skewed.
You can be mad at the government, illegal aliens, the poor, etc., all you want, but if you are, you’re directing your anger at the wrong source. Until we stop coddling the rich and corporate culture, stand up to them, and back up the working people, things are only going to get worse. Corporations have used their influence and money to stack the deck against everyone who isn’t in the club. And chances are, you’re not in the club.