The wealthy who earned their big bucks during the Industrial Age, in the days before an income tax, or voting rights for women, long to return to those times. They honestly believe they are the only ones who should be deciding what's good for the country and business, etc.
Even the early industrialist Andrew Carnegie, who was one of the f…
The wealthy who earned their big bucks during the Industrial Age, in the days before an income tax, or voting rights for women, long to return to those times. They honestly believe they are the only ones who should be deciding what's good for the country and business, etc.
Even the early industrialist Andrew Carnegie, who was one of the few who started out as a regular guy when he was born to a working class family in Scotland, and believed that he was on the side of his workers, came to believe that he was entitled to rule with the other wealthy industrialists and the workers should be happy for whatever he wanted to give them.
This attitude is still their driving force. They are allowed to pour millions into twisting people's viewpoints, and they've gotten really good at it.
We are in for the battle of our lives. Even if Trump loses, they aren't going to change the view they've had for over 100 years.
Totally agree about the wealthy putting up a fight. They are in a slightly different category now though than those who remember the Golden Age of the 1946-1965 period. The robber barons of the 19th century - Rockefeller, Carnegie Leland Stanford, et al, took advantage of new “tech” - railroads, oil, Western land to such an extent that they were finally reined in by the Antitrust Act of the early 20th century. During and after the Depression, their highest marginal tax rate roe steadily, poking its nose over 90% by 1959.
Today’s billionaire class made their money largely on Wall Street and new tech (again). But there was no high tax rate for them. Under Reagan’s espousal of trickle down theory, they have made out like bandits, paying much less in tax and learning the art of sheltering their money.
The vast majority of Trump supporters have been immiserated by today’s robber barons. Yet both groups put their trust in Trump, the larger one for no good reason, the smaller obscenely wealthy group do so because they know Trump will protect them. But even a few of the wealthy are starting to have second thoughts, recognizing the probability that Trump is likely to drive the United States over the cliff.
As you said, “We’re in the battle of our lives”. You’ll get no argument from me on that score.
The wealthy who earned their big bucks during the Industrial Age, in the days before an income tax, or voting rights for women, long to return to those times. They honestly believe they are the only ones who should be deciding what's good for the country and business, etc.
Even the early industrialist Andrew Carnegie, who was one of the few who started out as a regular guy when he was born to a working class family in Scotland, and believed that he was on the side of his workers, came to believe that he was entitled to rule with the other wealthy industrialists and the workers should be happy for whatever he wanted to give them.
This attitude is still their driving force. They are allowed to pour millions into twisting people's viewpoints, and they've gotten really good at it.
We are in for the battle of our lives. Even if Trump loses, they aren't going to change the view they've had for over 100 years.
Totally agree about the wealthy putting up a fight. They are in a slightly different category now though than those who remember the Golden Age of the 1946-1965 period. The robber barons of the 19th century - Rockefeller, Carnegie Leland Stanford, et al, took advantage of new “tech” - railroads, oil, Western land to such an extent that they were finally reined in by the Antitrust Act of the early 20th century. During and after the Depression, their highest marginal tax rate roe steadily, poking its nose over 90% by 1959.
Today’s billionaire class made their money largely on Wall Street and new tech (again). But there was no high tax rate for them. Under Reagan’s espousal of trickle down theory, they have made out like bandits, paying much less in tax and learning the art of sheltering their money.
The vast majority of Trump supporters have been immiserated by today’s robber barons. Yet both groups put their trust in Trump, the larger one for no good reason, the smaller obscenely wealthy group do so because they know Trump will protect them. But even a few of the wealthy are starting to have second thoughts, recognizing the probability that Trump is likely to drive the United States over the cliff.
As you said, “We’re in the battle of our lives”. You’ll get no argument from me on that score.
Eric: Thanks for, "immiserated"! Perfect!