Money in politics. I remember when they allowed unlimited money into politics. I AM 75. IT WAS SOLD AS FREEDOM! And now you see what that has brought us. NO FREEDOM AT ALL.
@@rustneversleeps01 It began in 1984 with R Reagan. When the supreme court ruled that giving money to Politicians was " Free Speech" and therefor could not be limited. This opend the door to the" Pay to Play" System that destroyed our Democracy.
For what I can see, the military is servant to oligarchy, just as is the government. That leaves us with oligarchy, which with their enormous capital controls the corporations, including defense industry.
"Defense industry"?! Nobody ever attacked USA! It would be much safer country without a single soldier. (I hope that nobody believes in oligarchy's media and their stories about 9/11 and "Germans")
We can thank Rockefeller for the legal corporate criminal organizations who are above all laws. I surprised it took so long to undermine our constitutional government. Why they are really not that smart .
Franz Neumann's classic account of the governmental workings of Nazi Germany, first published in 1942, is reprinted in a new paperback edition with an introduction by the distinguished historian Peter Hayes. Neumann was one of the only early Frankfurt School thinkers to examine seriously the problem of political institutions. After the rise of the Nazis to power, his emphasis shifted to an analysis of economic power, and then after the war to political psychology. But his contributions in Behemoth were groundbreaking: that the Nazi organization of society involved the collapse of traditional ideas of the state, of ideology, of law, and even of any underlying rationality. The book must be "studied, not simply read," Raul Hilberg wrote.
@@omalone1169 Fromm said people shouldn't be worrying if or when some new Hitler will come, but try to understand what it is in our institutions and culture that made it possible. Whether or not understanding it would enable us to prevent it is another story.
@@59vlada the military industrial business is so intertwined into our government then add monopolies on top of everything and you get fascism. Then you get one corporation one government and you can’t tell which is which
@@blackfreud9048 His early intentions were honest and respectable (educate the working class), but he was absorbed by the broad power elite later on and had no self awareness to what was happening.
I watched Shrek last night, and saw his "friendly "Ogre." Oligarchs could be called "ogregarchs." Real BAD monsters eating up humanity. Let's NAME the ogregarchs, and hold them to account.
The very ones who wish to focus in on and hunt down, without having their own experience with the targets. Sort of a false patriotism and solidarity. A cause they feel matters, loses it's foundation becoming antimatter and part of the problem, but weaponized ammunition.
@@jbird976We already know some of them: Elon Musk, Charles Koch, Rupert Merdoch, Harlan Crow, Michael Bloomberg, Timothy Mellon, Sam Walton, and more. But it's useless to know them. What's more useful is to know what corporations support Trump and Republicans and just don't do business with them. Look for companies that have the least political contributions and connections. For example I buy gas from Sinclair, but they're mainly in the Western states. It's very hard to find a petroleum company that doesn't give huge contributions to Republicans and isn't part of the global power elite.
Another excellent episode of this Amazing series about 'US: Deep State'! Keep up, Ben, Aaron and Seamus, with your outstanding work because the world needs it!
@Meme Memeson: You should be with Ben if you knew History... As Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) stated: 'there is a cult of ignorance in United States and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge''... And as Mehmet Murat Ildan stated: 'Ignorant voters of the democracies are always a great threat to the progression of Humanity, simply because they give their votes to the people who look like themselves'... And We all see the kind of politicians that were (and are) elected in US and which Oligarchy agenda they followed and still follow...
@Meme Memeson To side-step the impression you're comment is that of trolling behavior, and as a good practice in general; when staking a claim, be specific with an example or two. Let's root our conversations in observable facts rather than lodging claims without stating any evidence. Deal?
As a “right winger” I’m very critical of crony capitalism. Conservatives don’t like supreme centralized power structures no matter the formation or structure. We’ve just woken up to the fact that the elite class of the nation has captured political institutions into a very narrow spectrum of policy that acts as a feedback loop between big corporations/ bankers and gov institutions. Republicans have been traditionally sold that a free market economy (capitalism) is the mechanism of freedom…and are now seeing the facade and understand we are under the thumb of power elites that are transnationally oriented, use economic flows to consolidate power, speak of “democracy” as a Trojan horse and use gov / corporations and banks / military/ national systems as it sees fit to enact its technocracy - that is a feedback loop to itself in the end
There's nothing wrong with leaning towards the right. But there's everything wrong with beLIEving in any figurehead that THEY make you THINK is "representing" the Ideal. In other words, the orange one is also part of THEY.
John, the Left/Right DIVIDE has morphed and shifted over the centuries/decades. RIGHT WING supporters - religious MODERATE >>> evangelical/fanatic/zealot/ Christian Nationalist Votes to support >> LEAST CHANGE, keep the status quo, old is best, tradition is best YESTERDAY is preferred to tomorrow. LEFT WING - religious MODERATES (group also includes) agnostic and non-believers of the god claim. Hopes for - ACCELERATED CHANGE - question the status quo and seek a BETTER way of doing things, thinks tomorrow will be better than yesterday. Crony Capitalism is MOST LIKELY to occur and be supported by RIGHT WINGERS. Who have been fed and nourished on the Nipple of RELIGION ..... since birth. 1 way .... NO CHANGE ! No questions !!!! 1 God, 1 King, .... 1 way. Questioners will be .... ? ..... >>> TORTURED !!!! ............ Sound familiar ? Be well, my fellow traveler. Good luck.
This guy aaron is either a useful idiot, willing shill, or blatantly misinformed. Its a very easy and simple paper trail to follow from a few hundred years ago with the rothschilds and such families and their transition into power as the centuries went on, and their influence combined with the zionists who have allied heavily with them. The fact his position is so kosher to be ad revenue on youtube friendly, clearly should show those with working brains his position is for monetary gain and not the truth. The stuff they censor is protecting the actual powerful groups. Increasing anti 1st amendment laws becoming common in the US tied to antisemitism is a blatant joke, the old israeli prime minister is even on camera directly saying that its their oldest trick in the book to stem criticism of any kind, as are many orthodox jews. This talk was mostly misinformation mixed with misdirection with some legitimate positions mixed in.
The cartel of stockholders too. Blackrock is a good example if that. Because it represents the interests of Pfizer, Google, Apple, Microsoft, Ford, Boeing, Lockheed, Goldman Sachs, Mac Donald, etc ... the corporate cartel.
@@zacoolm yes, I would replace the media - they are the facade of the corporations and bought by them, so they are not free-standing, self-realized entities.
Thanks Ben, Aaron and Seamus, for this well informed, valuable discussion cum political lesson. For me it serves to affirm that a fear of Xi's concept of a 'community with a shared future for mankind' that has the political leaders of a European/American liberalism resorting to lies, propaganda and attempted regime change throughout the entire planet. As simplistic as it/I might be saying this, most if not all geopolitical tension and wars throughout the modern era can now be narrowed down to being a struggle between 'modern liberalism' and 'modern socialism'.
This guy aaron is either a useful idiot, willing shill, or blatantly misinformed. Its a very easy and simple paper trail to follow from a few hundred years ago with the rothschilds and such families and their transition into power as the centuries went on, and their influence combined with the zionists who have allied heavily with them. The fact his position is so kosher to be ad revenue on youtube friendly, clearly should show those with working brains his position is for monetary gain and not the truth. The stuff they censor is protecting the actual powerful groups. Increasing anti 1st amendment laws becoming common in the US tied to antisemitism is a blatant joke, the old israeli prime minister is even on camera directly saying that its their oldest trick in the book to stem criticism of any kind, as are many orthodox jews. This talk was mostly misinformation mixed with misdirection with some legitimate positions mixed in.
I read "The Power Elite" as a social science major in about 1962. I've long argued that the U.S. is an Oligarchy and was so even before Citizens United clapped the lid on any opposing argument.
I was born in 1960, never read that book, and I've been screaming the same thing since I could talk! JEEZUZ -doesn't anybody think for themselves in this country?
To say that Citizens United sealed the deal is a vast understatement. It erected a castle, dug a moat, and installed a spiked portcullis for the oligarchy. We all just peasants.
@@EarlT357 gotta love that snark. Thank the lord, cosmos, inner consciousness, whatever it is, for facetiousness cause where would we be if we couldn't randomly offend others with irreverent wise cracks? We'd be functional, that's what. And being functional is boring. Being dysfunctional....that's the opposite, those are the very interesting ones. So keep it warped. 😉
Snark isn't clever in a social medium. How about bringing some thoughtful analysis which is worth reading? Like how might citizens organise together to dissolve the present state of inverted totalitarianism? As opposed to the present MAGA efforts to flip that inversion into the more classic 1930s Strongman Totalitarian experience?
This guy aaron is either a useful idiot, willing shill, or blatantly misinformed. Its a very easy and simple paper trail to follow from a few hundred years ago with the rothschilds and such families and their transition into power as the centuries went on, and their influence combined with the zionists who have allied heavily with them. The fact his position is so kosher to be ad revenue on youtube friendly, clearly should show those with working brains his position is for monetary gain and not the truth. The stuff they censor is protecting the actual powerful groups. Increasing anti 1st amendment laws becoming common in the US tied to antisemitism is a blatant joke, the old israeli prime minister is even on camera directly saying that its their oldest trick in the book to stem criticism of any kind, as are many orthodox jews. This talk was mostly misinformation mixed with misdirection with some legitimate positions mixed in.
This guy aaron is either a useful idiot, willing shill, or blatantly misinformed. Its a very easy and simple paper trail to follow from a few hundred years ago with the rothschilds and such families and their transition into power as the centuries went on, and their influence combined with the zionists who have allied heavily with them. The fact his position is so kosher to be ad revenue on youtube friendly, clearly should show those with working brains his position is for monetary gain and not the truth. The stuff they censor is protecting the actual powerful groups. Increasing anti 1st amendment laws becoming common in the US tied to antisemitism is a blatant joke, the old israeli prime minister is even on camera directly saying that its their oldest trick in the book to stem criticism of any kind, as are many orthodox jews. This talk was mostly misinformation mixed with misdirection with some legitimate positions mixed in.
Nobody should be able to earn a degree in any branch of the social sciences if they have not read The Power Elite. It is that relevant, that informative, and that well written.
Prospect for America was the Rockefeller Bros description of the Domino Theory, written by Henry Kissinger and a few retired generals. That one was even used as a reference by JFK. The connection to Anaconda and Chase Bank adventures in Vietnam seemed to reveal Mineral Deposits in the Central highlands, and offshore Oil Wells that now provide Vietman with resources that support their economy. Kissinger was hired to assemble this reference material about 1957.
@@slicksnewonenow The Oligarchy has to support the Trust Funds that keep the Children feeling like they are the privileged Scion of an Oligarchy. It resembles the Monarchy pretty well in texture and form. The Children will struggle for their place as the majority of the Population attempt to feed their children. This appears to be the final stage of Capitalism as a social system?
Just like the Palestinians getting gone, otherwise under control. Not at all a zionist orchestrated endeavor is it? I mean, virtually, wiping out the native of Palestine. Yet, it could not be a zionist spearheaded project, according to Aaron, Ben, and Seamus, who are certainly not critics of you know who and why? Any coincidence? A class is not certainly taking over, but just read the names of individuals who head these enterprises, projects and businesses and the truth will hit home.
So Amerikkka has not come to terms with its own genocide. Some of us see it and dislike it greatly. Yes. If it was up to me I would give it all back. No question there. Not only is Amerikkka killing its own people but it's disrupting natural planetary systems upon which human life depends. Crapitalism is destructive on the planetary level also. No arguments there.
Finally, a community of people that get me. I thought I was the only one following the plot and acknowledging the significance of the era from a historical perspective AND impact on humanity from a global perspective.
With re: education, the system defunded public education from the time of integration, so any hope of educating a well informed citizenry that could critically think about civic and political engagement or could properly critique society and government was lost. Again, by design. I appreciate our coverage on what's happened in higher education.
Idk about defunding. In Baltimore City, the feds have spent huge amounts of money with nothing to show for it, including it's pathetic school system. In my experience, the money gets stolen by local elites and the population acts like wild animals who are near impossible to teach.
Why would public (government dictated) education have any interest at all in a well-informed society? The fact that education is public and forced is how they control the curriculum and thus thinking. Or lack thereof. It needs to be teuly defunded as does all of government.
@bobleglob162 sure, in a capitalist liberal democracy--sure. In looking at USSR or other socialist revolutions--education and a well educate citizenry is critical to a country's success and thriving.
I remember when I was in college (in Fall 1975) that we studied an article by C. Wright Mills. When it came time to discuss the article in class, the entire class agreed with Dr. Mills but the professor did not (or at least he did not say he did... I gather he wanted to keep his job).
Read the Book of Revelations, Daniel, Genesis, & Ephesians for a start. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12.
I have had this gut feeling that all this chaos we are seeing is an attempt to break the world in order to rebuild it with a boot on everyones neck. Get rid of the remainder of those pesky civil liberties. The freedom of information is too big of an issue. They want to batten down the world to preserve their way of life at the cost of everyone else’s. The biggest error people can make is to think that these people are any smarter than the average college graduate. Their hubris will be their undoing.
@@GymJones865 False. Globalist Billionaires who want Communism for humanity with a Fascist Super-State out of Europe to run the world funded by a Global Climate tax.
Humanity, has been made materialist on purpose by a group of very greedy, people with a very narrow vision for humanity. Human beings are a lot more than greed and desire for luxery. Humanity's general nobility was down played, and supressed by the greedy who decided that they were the owners of everything, everywhere.,making "stuff: and possesions defining human beings. They did'nt have honourable goals for humanity ,instead they corrupted everything, making human beings the cheapest commodity. Wars the worst employment of human beings, sattisfying the greed of the controlling group. Endlessly slaughtering innocent human beings, destroying and controlling their economies. The greedy non humans shoulf take a good, hard look at their grotesque reflections in the mirror.
I love your work Ben! Just a quick suggestion: try to make shorter clips from these long videos. That way, more people who don't have that much time watch it, and it also means more videos to monetize. Keep up the good work, REAL journalism is what the people need.
@@samanthadouglas3487 Segmenting by topic can 1) help hook a broader audience based on a range of specifics to THEN lead to how the connections fit 2) fits modern attention spans 3) slower rates of speech are essential for many to deepen comprehension. For those of us who can handle high speed/ longer duration 'packaging', we've got it here. 👍🏿👍🌎✊🏿✊🏻
Enlightening! Very thought provoking. It's extremely difficult for an individual to come up with a corrective course but if there is already an alternative choice then we can all participate.
Excellent series! What puzzles me is that documents you would expect to be top secret are publicly accessible (at least for a while). An example of this is the Rand Corporation 2019 document which lays out the plan to deal with Russia (I think it has now been removed). It is good that scholars have this facility, but surely the Russians and the Chinese must also have access to these same documents.
One major function of Walkmart (one of the most prominant members of the U.S. oligarchy) is video surveillance, which it conducts without the permission of its staff and customers it records, and then offers it up to the highest bidders.
"Anarchy is no guarantee that some people won't kill, injure, kidnap, defraud, or steal from others. Government is a guarantee that some will." Gustave de Molinari
This is a fantastic series! - hopefully an eBook will be avaliable soon! This stuff will be eye-opening for most Yankees but as an Australian, it explains so much of my political experience of the last 70 years . .
The Famous 2014 study based on 20yr study run by Princeton University's Martin Gilens and Northwestern University's Benjamin Page concluded: Multivariate analysis strongly indicates that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have by far the greatest influence on US Government Policy, while citizens based groups have little or no influence. Even when a clear majority of American citizens disagree with economic elites and/or their organized interests they invariably lose. Moreover because of the absurdly strong Status Quo Bias it makes no difference what policy changes the majority of Americans favor.
I am a sociologist and so I really appreciate you focusing on one of our classic theorists! I just ordered his book yesterday in order to make a video about it in order to spread his message in a public sociology forum. So glad to see others doing the same.
This is so incredibly astounding! I can plot my own father's trajectory by these historical political, economic, military mix! And some of our own time overlying this boatload of decades' elites power hierachy decisions! Gigantic thanks! Great fun! Ben And all of you!
Nice job! I remember well during George H W Bush reign how saying the "L word" was demonized. Since then, it seems to me that "liberalism" became utterly lost to the understanding of US public. It was a concerted effort to bury, once and for all, any memory of the ideas that had nascently bloomed in the 60's & early 70's.
Good discussion but a bit rambling. I read Mills in grad school (anthropology) in mid 70s and found him wonderfully cogent and clear. Definitely opened my eyes. His great insight was to discern and describe in detail a clear-eyed view of “how things really work” in the U.S. But I think even he would be shocked to see that what he described is now far more massive, powerful and ingrained. As these guys explained, we’re talking about the power-elite/oligarchical structure comprised of the national political “club,” the post WWII American Empire geopolitical project, the think tanks, the web of relationships between money center corporate interests and defense research and industrial interests (the generals are just glorified errand boys so far as the the military industrial complex is concerned and are appeased so long as they get the hardware and weapons systems they want). These are the fundamental structural pillars of the USA. The rest is window dressing. Arguments over whether the U.S. is a democracy or a “constitutional republic” are silly and irrelevant.
I'm not sure that liberalism promotes critical thinking. Liberalism advocates a particular set of 'values' which transcend the actual individual. When liberalism shifts into 'ideology' a form of Power emerges that marginalises dissenters'. Freedom of speech becomes conditional. Sound familiar? Classical liberalism was anti-democracy as in the 'tyranny of the majority' argument. Rather absurdly it takes on the classical Greek philosophical- political premise of Philosopher Kings. Only the most highly educated and morally superior should control the state. State control is exercised through its Institutions. Everyone is free to agree. Liberalism is so internally inconsistent, I'm amazed that anyone takes it seriously, other than, that the state needs to exist to legitimise property rights both within the state and world-wide. Where exactly does 'liberalism' end and 'neo-liberalism' begin?
Philosopher Sir Karl Popper has an answer. Socialism must be rejected because of the Totalitarian Temptation. But we can experiment around the edges. One up to date example: observing the last 60 years of free health care in the UK (ie, The National Health Service), one can say it has failed. Medical attention takes weeks or months, even years, to get appointments and operations. That deadly. Not healthy.
Great read. I randomly puled The Power Elite off my dad's shelf one day to read. He studied sociology in school. Really changed my entire perspective of thos country., and how the demos and the legislative branch gradually relinquished responsibility of an active participation in the representative system to private forces, corporate influence pushed by old and new money. Highly valuable reading.
Who has agency? You may think that an individual oligarch has agency, but what would really happen if Bill Gates or Warren Buffet tried to push things in the opposite direction? Unless he could persuade the rest of the oligarchs, he would be beating his head against a wall. We have to ask: WHY do the oligarchs hold the views they do? It may be personal choice for an individual, but for a group of oligarchs, their collective views are statistically determined.
One billionaire could fund a media foundation that could have enormous impact. There are precisely zero well-funded counter-hegemonic media or think tank operations.
I think thats the point oligarchs do. Not necesary deciding as a group the direction of history. It's more of they have agency in the Chess game they are playing some oligarchs lose. But the rest of us are pon in their game of power. So Oligarchs do push in opposite directions. Still have agency over their pons.
Power concentrates. Power organizes. And Humans as Pack Mammals will defer to the impressive few in order for convenience. The smaller is to the larger as the larger is to the whole. The human brain gets tons of calories compared to the other organs and all it does is make images and decide where to move the organism. Trillions of cells somehow organized into a more or less cohesive whole. The oligarchs know history and remember what happens if the masses revolt. But the oligarch always needs to take more power or else his cousin will. Eventually, they fold under their own mandate to compete just as the masses fold under complacency.
Is that you, Zuck? Must be tough being a gazillionaire who realizes he has "no choice" - nice try. You got the same choice all of us have - stand in truth or not. But, that takes courage, which you don't have.
Of course it was bound to become an Oligarchy. Old mindsets die hard. The transfer of a European power elite to the United States would ultimately end up with a power structure resembling the serfdom dynamic. These families/ institutions will always do what is in THEIR best interests.
Thanks, gentleman, for this important discussion. C. Wright Mills had clear insights into what had happened and what was happening and the catastrophic results. The emperor truly has no clothes as you point out. I fear this country is still blinded by American Exceptionalism the true religion of this Empire.
Great episode! This added to my understanding of the "who" that made up the decision makers---ex CFR--Wall St.--Standard Oil/Rockefeller, at least in the WWII Bretton Woods era. and J.P. Morgan in the WWI era. To this point, I still don't know how they made all the pivotal adjustments, either pre-planned or winging it. Ex from WWI by wanting to get paid back by England, so we entered WWI, to pre and post WWII, transitioning into the war economy, the later transitioning to the petro dollar. I cannot tell if all these adjustments were pre planned or winged it.
I didn't know the word then, but watching LBJ, McNamara, et. al, confound Vietnam policy lifted the stench of servitude to hollow ideals. Our inventions don't carry our real value.
This seems to be very much in sync with Emmanuel Todd's latest book "The Defeat of the West" where he summarises that US foreign policy is essentially oligarchic, with careerists essentially supporting it. He though clarifies that deep state theories have some limitations in explaining this oligarchic system. He also explains how the foreign policy elite needed enemies, such as after the collapse of the USSR, and constantly create wars for this reason.
Didn't the integration of Business-Military-Government begin in WW1 when Woodrow Wilson made Bernard Baruch his "Czar of War Materials Acquisition & Supply".
FYI,today's American $ystem is called Democracy!Point of reference is James Traficant~in his 1993 speech,he stated that the US govt was suspended between 9 Mar 1933 - 5 Jun 1933;on the 5th June,1933 the new $ystem became DEMOCRACY=a Socialist/Communist order...!Even before that,in 1913,woodrow wilson was 👑 crowned as the 1st Emperor of the US, unanimously annointed by US Congress...!RIP Republic,1913~that's why there's the expression~IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY...!
This is so true. FDR new deal and his executive order which made us all collateral to the federal reserve system because of our national deficit back then.
Learn math, real math.... There are only 4 types of points in a system(ANY SYSTEM). These points essentially state that any system, due to the way it is designed, will evolve towards stability or instability. America was designed towards instability... In fact, currently all societies have been designed to be unstable. It doesn't matter the details of why a society crashes when because that is just noise from the system doing what it does. Feedback cycles will wind the system towards destruction or salvation. But to design a stable system is a hard problem, can't do it ad hoc or with elementary ideas. The only question is, will this be the last society humans created. After all, nukes are the ultimate way to terminate a system.
Do you have a book name describing the 4 point system? Reminds me of Greek metaphysics, pyramids, theology etc. are you referring to number theory when you say real math?
all countries, everywhere, at all times are oligarchies to one degree or another. Mills is a great example of a man who wanted to end the "oligarchy", but his solutions were merely to replace one oligarchy with another--the New Soviet Man. No, he did not use that term, but he correctly defined his new kind of men as such. Pareto and other Italian authors cut right through the entire discussion by demonstrating that oligarchies are in essence non-hereditary aristocracies. In the US, that is really embodied in a few universities such as Harvard. In fact, since the 1960s, the US government is essentially a Harvard alumni club. Also, the concept that there is a difference between large corporations and government is hilarious. Large corporations do not make money by selling you good products or services, but by capturing the administrative state--which is who actually runs the USA--to prevent competition.
excuse me mate, but the original inhabitance of north america, didn’t just disappear (freeing up arable land), they were slaughtered/murdered by the Europeans, using 19th century WMDs!!
One critical area you didn't touch on was spiritual/religious influence. Religious narratives were historically controlled by oligarchs and tyrants. King James is one prime example. Religious narratives to serve the oligarchy continue today.
The founders of America were socialists who detested the notion of democracy and popular vote. John Adams is on record saying "Democracy will infallibly destroy civilization." The system is meant to make people live under the illusion that they have a choice and they have a voice. The two parties are in fact catering to corporations, not to the people who vote in elections. Mills was definitely right, but the same Wall Street capitalists, large corporations, and military industrial complex that are the actual leaders of America are controlling the media and the distribution of information in general, the education system included. The people of America and the people of the world are tricked into living according to a false perception of reality. The only thing that would liberate their thought process from that is a public acknowledgement of this reality. For as promised by someone who was actually teaching against religion, the truth will set everyone free.
@@Pimping9167 Only people who don't know what socialism is and what democracy is believe that. Their thought process is tributary to political propaganda, "We must defend our democracy!" not realizing what democracy is and does. Hitler was democratically elected, and so was Mussolini. Trump was democratically elected, and so was pretend President Obama. Democracy does not guarantee freedom of speech. In America speech is highly controlled. Even the Greeks, who were there the first to try it, would reject it in the end. Within a socialist system there are no political parties. As a result, there would be no "democratic" elections to establish who runs the country.
The benefit of an educated, discerning intelligencia is to remind us that ideas and concerns are not new and there's always more work to do. Accepting what is, due to apathy or ignorance is the great stumbling block of progress for humanity. This discussion is encouraging knowing that another generation has alert intellects at work. Good work gentlemen.
Thank you guys for sharing such vital information. You peeps remind me of, " I never let schooling interfere with my education" of course y'all know who sed dat
Thank you for this series. For me you have brought history and facts into an inner knowing. I'd love to see it made into a movie, perhaps similar to the style of the Big Short, to reach larger audiences. Too many of us are in the dark.
At 17:57 changing history is not so strange given the context of Quantum mechanics where observing a phenomenon can alter the phenomenon in the past. So perhaps a desire to change what happened can change what happened.
The meaning of the word liberal changed in the United States during the era of New Deal dominance. There is no sense ranting about it. If you are going to be understood by a general audience, you will have to use this word as it is generally used in contemporary political discourse. Many words change in meaning over time. For example, prevent used to mean precede circa 1600. Just get used to it.
Nobody understands another, according to the plan results. We each do understand our own opinion, based on opinions, which we use to paper over the apertures in our walls, free at last in death.
Americans have refused to govern themselves. Men of good will have tried to help American citizens to understand this since before our Civil War. Now to late. Like the song. ""Oh will they Ever Learn."" The answer now it seems that the answer has become very clearly ""No.""
THOSE Whom. Are working out their Goals. *The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. (ARE INTERNATIONALISTS) *Revelation 3::9. *Gen. Albert Pike's 1871 Letter to Macini
In 1971, Associate Justice Lewis Powell wrote a memorandum (Powell Memorandum) that attacked the New Deal gains. I wonder if this played a roll in intensifying Corp attitudes to destroying those gains.
It is enlightening to learn such important analysis in order for a retired teacher as myself to understand why US government is promoting war crimes / genocide in so many countries. From Italy a big thank you.
@@walter1932 W.E.B. Du Bois had a complex relationship with eugenics. Early in his career, he was an advocate for eugenic ideas, largely because he saw them as a way to uplift African Americans and improve their social status. In the early 20th century, eugenics was often associated with social reform and was supported by some progressive thinkers who believed that controlling reproduction could lead to a better society. However, Du Bois's support for eugenics was not uncritical. He believed in the improvement of society through education and social reform rather than through the more radical and harmful measures advocated by some eugenicists. As time went on, Du Bois became increasingly critical of eugenics, recognizing its potential for misuse and its racist underpinnings. By the 1930s and 1940s, Du Bois had distanced himself from eugenics as the movement became more associated with racial discrimination and pseudoscience. He became more focused on civil rights and social justice, critiquing ideas that promoted racial hierarchies and discrimination. His later writings reflect a more nuanced understanding of race, genetics, and social policy.
@@walter1932 eugenics is a pseudo-science, would you not agree? Auguste Comte (1798-1857): Often regarded as the "father of sociology," Comte coined the term "sociology" and aimed to apply scientific methods to the study of society. He proposed a theory of social evolution and stressed the importance of studying social phenomena systematically. Karl Marx (1818-1883): Marx’s work focused on class struggles and the effects of capitalism on society. His theories of historical materialism and class conflict have had a profound impact on sociological thought.
You need Mao's view on dialectic philosophy. You need to look at the major contradiction; for imperialism, the major contradiction is the struggle between colonizers and colonizers, not capitalists and proletariat. Capitalism has been elevated to imperialism. The major contradiction needs to be resolved to have another contradiction mentioned by Marx.
![Stromae, Pomme - “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1F3OGIFnW1k/mqdefault.jpg)
Money in politics. I remember when they allowed unlimited money into politics. I AM 75. IT WAS SOLD AS FREEDOM! And now you see what that has brought us. NO FREEDOM AT ALL.
They used public trust against the public, and now, many are waking up
When was that, exactly ?
@@rustneversleeps011975
Uniparty and deep state.
@@rustneversleeps01 It began in 1984 with R Reagan. When the supreme court ruled that giving money to Politicians was " Free Speech" and therefor could not be limited. This opend the door to the" Pay to Play" System that destroyed our Democracy.
For what I can see, the military is servant to oligarchy, just as is the government. That leaves us with oligarchy, which with their enormous capital controls the corporations, including defense industry.
"Defense industry"?!
Nobody ever attacked USA! It would be much safer country without a single soldier.
(I hope that nobody believes in oligarchy's media and their stories about 9/11 and "Germans")
We can thank Rockefeller for the legal corporate criminal organizations who are above all laws. I surprised it took so long to undermine our constitutional government. Why they are really not that smart .
Franz Neumann's classic account of the governmental workings of Nazi Germany, first published in 1942, is reprinted in a new paperback edition with an introduction by the distinguished historian Peter Hayes. Neumann was one of the only early Frankfurt School thinkers to examine seriously the problem of political institutions. After the rise of the Nazis to power, his emphasis shifted to an analysis of economic power, and then after the war to political psychology. But his contributions in Behemoth were groundbreaking: that the Nazi organization of society involved the collapse of traditional ideas of the state, of ideology, of law, and even of any underlying rationality. The book must be "studied, not simply read," Raul Hilberg wrote.
@@omalone1169 Fromm said people shouldn't be worrying if or when some new Hitler will come, but try to understand what it is in our institutions and culture that made it possible. Whether or not understanding it would enable us to prevent it is another story.
@@59vlada the military industrial business is so intertwined into our government then add monopolies on top of everything and you get fascism. Then you get one corporation one government and you can’t tell which is which
The well respected US news anchorman and reporter Walter Cronkite noted during the 1990s that: "America is not a democracy, but an oligarchy".
He should know. What a fraudster.
@@blackfreud9048
His early intentions were honest and respectable (educate the working class), but he was absorbed by the broad power elite later on and had no self awareness to what was happening.
What Walter Cronkite are you referring to?
So did Jimmy Carter say that.
He and Jimmy Carter were Freemasons for Lordy's sake!
I went ahead and bought the audiobook version of American Exception, so now I'm playing along with these episodes.
Where have you bought it? Refer,please.
@@andrewyeletski9103 unfortunately, on Amazon
@@johnblackman9720
Franz L. Neumann and 1 more
Behemoth: The Structure and Practice of National Socialism, 1933-1944
Keep consuming , and spending .
I watched Shrek last night, and saw his "friendly "Ogre." Oligarchs could be called "ogregarchs." Real BAD monsters eating up humanity. Let's NAME the ogregarchs, and hold them to account.
Names, addresses, phone numbers, family/ organization members…
The very ones who wish to focus in on and hunt down, without having their own experience with the targets. Sort of a false patriotism and solidarity. A cause they feel matters, loses it's foundation becoming antimatter and part of the problem, but weaponized ammunition.
@@mtn1793OH HELL YES! THIS SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC!
Been saying this for years but there is probably a reason nobody has done it yet
@@jbird976We already know some of them: Elon Musk, Charles Koch, Rupert Merdoch, Harlan Crow, Michael Bloomberg, Timothy Mellon, Sam Walton, and more. But it's useless to know them. What's more useful is to know what corporations support Trump and Republicans and just don't do business with them. Look for companies that have the least political contributions and connections. For example I buy gas from Sinclair, but they're mainly in the Western states. It's very hard to find a petroleum company that doesn't give huge contributions to Republicans and isn't part of the global power elite.
Awesome work. We need more classes like this. The format is digestible.👍👍👍
Another excellent episode of this Amazing series about 'US: Deep State'! Keep up, Ben, Aaron and Seamus, with your outstanding work because the world needs it!
@Meme Memeson: You should be with Ben if you knew History... As Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) stated: 'there is a cult of ignorance in United States and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge''... And as Mehmet Murat Ildan stated: 'Ignorant voters of the democracies are always a great threat to the progression of Humanity, simply because they give their votes to the people who look like themselves'... And We all see the kind of politicians that were (and are) elected in US and which Oligarchy agenda they followed and still follow...
@Meme Memeson He does.
Your problem is: you ain't listening.
@Meme Memeson To side-step the impression you're comment is that of trolling behavior, and as a good practice in general; when staking a claim, be specific with an example or two. Let's root our conversations in observable facts rather than lodging claims without stating any evidence. Deal?
@@justice.freedom.mankind The U.S.' biggest problem is the ignorance and/or political inactivity of its populace.
@@albertog7245: Exactly. As Muhammad Jafar stated: 'A learned person among ignorant people is like a live person among the dead'...
As a “right winger” I’m very critical of crony capitalism. Conservatives don’t like supreme centralized power structures no matter the formation or structure. We’ve just woken up to the fact that the elite class of the nation has captured political institutions into a very narrow spectrum of policy that acts as a feedback loop between big corporations/ bankers and gov institutions. Republicans have been traditionally sold that a free market economy (capitalism) is the mechanism of freedom…and are now seeing the facade and understand we are under the thumb of power elites that are transnationally oriented, use economic flows to consolidate power, speak of “democracy” as a Trojan horse and use gov / corporations and banks / military/ national systems as it sees fit to enact its technocracy - that is a feedback loop to itself in the end
There's nothing wrong with leaning towards the right.
But there's everything wrong with beLIEving in any figurehead that THEY make you THINK is "representing" the Ideal.
In other words, the orange one is also part of THEY.
John, the Left/Right DIVIDE has morphed and shifted over the centuries/decades.
RIGHT WING supporters - religious MODERATE >>> evangelical/fanatic/zealot/ Christian Nationalist
Votes to support >> LEAST CHANGE, keep the status quo, old is best, tradition is best YESTERDAY is preferred to tomorrow.
LEFT WING - religious MODERATES (group also includes) agnostic and non-believers of the god claim.
Hopes for - ACCELERATED CHANGE - question the status quo and seek a BETTER way of doing things, thinks tomorrow will be better than yesterday.
Crony Capitalism is MOST LIKELY to occur and be supported by RIGHT WINGERS.
Who have been fed and nourished on the Nipple of RELIGION ..... since birth.
1 way .... NO CHANGE ! No questions !!!! 1 God, 1 King, .... 1 way. Questioners will be .... ? ..... >>> TORTURED !!!!
............ Sound familiar ?
Be well, my fellow traveler.
Good luck.
Today is really not all that different from the gilded age. Some differences sure but the story beats are almost entirely the same
This guy aaron is either a useful idiot, willing shill, or blatantly misinformed. Its a very easy and simple paper trail to follow from a few hundred years ago with the rothschilds and such families and their transition into power as the centuries went on, and their influence combined with the zionists who have allied heavily with them. The fact his position is so kosher to be ad revenue on youtube friendly, clearly should show those with working brains his position is for monetary gain and not the truth.
The stuff they censor is protecting the actual powerful groups. Increasing anti 1st amendment laws becoming common in the US tied to antisemitism is a blatant joke, the old israeli prime minister is even on camera directly saying that its their oldest trick in the book to stem criticism of any kind, as are many orthodox jews.
This talk was mostly misinformation mixed with misdirection with some legitimate positions mixed in.
@@evilryutaropro*”0rg/nzd/Ćr/mé:Ūn/vrśhd/Tr/th/Abt/G0v”/Čh/6/ńd/44/0n/Trth/åbt/Ân/tį/Trśt/âre/grt/šhrt/åwdīō/Ćhś*
The for branches of government:
1) corporate America
2) think tanks
3) lobbyists and media middlemen
4) military.
The cartel of stockholders too.
Blackrock is a good example if that.
Because it represents the interests of Pfizer, Google, Apple, Microsoft, Ford, Boeing, Lockheed, Goldman Sachs, Mac Donald, etc ... the corporate cartel.
Should add the financial oligharchy
@@zacoolm yes, I would replace the media - they are the facade of the corporations and bought by them, so they are not free-standing, self-realized entities.
@@zacoolm i lumped them into "corporate"!
Corporate = executive branch
Think Tanks = legislative branch
Military (+fire +pol) = judiciary branch
lobbyists+media = civil service bureaucracy
(ie. middlemen)
1) Zi8n1st
2) Christian z10Ni5t
3) The ones who refuse to see it
I read The Power Elite in college around 1974. Very important book.
Sociologists and our students know Mills! The Sociological Imagination is much popular. The Power Elite should be taught more.
Yep I only took sociology 100 and both of those books were part of the curriculum (in hindsight I should have paid more attention in that class haha)
I know him, and i'm in another country.
who do you think directs education?
"The Power Elite" by Mills is probably not known by today's young educators.
@@jetipre1839cause many are not actually reading it for class.
Thanks Ben, Aaron and Seamus, for this well informed, valuable discussion cum political lesson. For me it serves to affirm that a fear of Xi's concept of a 'community with a shared future for mankind' that has the political leaders of a European/American liberalism resorting to lies, propaganda and attempted regime change throughout the entire planet. As simplistic as it/I might be saying this, most if not all geopolitical tension and wars throughout the modern era can now be narrowed down to being a struggle between 'modern liberalism' and 'modern socialism'.
This guy aaron is either a useful idiot, willing shill, or blatantly misinformed. Its a very easy and simple paper trail to follow from a few hundred years ago with the rothschilds and such families and their transition into power as the centuries went on, and their influence combined with the zionists who have allied heavily with them. The fact his position is so kosher to be ad revenue on youtube friendly, clearly should show those with working brains his position is for monetary gain and not the truth.
The stuff they censor is protecting the actual powerful groups. Increasing anti 1st amendment laws becoming common in the US tied to antisemitism is a blatant joke, the old israeli prime minister is even on camera directly saying that its their oldest trick in the book to stem criticism of any kind, as are many orthodox jews.
This talk was mostly misinformation mixed with misdirection with some legitimate positions mixed in.
I read "The Power Elite" as a social science major in about 1962. I've long argued that the U.S. is an Oligarchy and was so even before Citizens United clapped the lid on any opposing argument.
I was born in 1960, never read that book, and I've been screaming the same thing since I could talk! JEEZUZ -doesn't anybody think for themselves in this country?
@@ohgawdNo, most are simply their conditioning in the first 7 yrs. Or rebelling against it! 🥲
To say that Citizens United sealed the deal is a vast understatement. It erected a castle, dug a moat, and installed a spiked portcullis for the oligarchy. We all just peasants.
YAY! This is the kind of examination series I never want to end, just so enlightening.
This series is just excellent. Keep up the good work 👍
Thanks much for explaining the Oligarch's agenda when crucial decision-making in the USofA takes place.
"The USA is an oligarchy"
And in other news, the sky is blue, water is vital to sustain life, and beaches have sand.
...and the fury of the apes during elections!
And it's snarky shit like that that really advances the education of normies!
@@EarlT357 gotta love that snark. Thank the lord, cosmos, inner consciousness, whatever it is, for facetiousness cause where would we be if we couldn't randomly offend others with irreverent wise cracks? We'd be functional, that's what. And being functional is boring. Being dysfunctional....that's the opposite, those are the very interesting ones. So keep it warped. 😉
Yep, all you gotta do to be dysfunctional is vote and hungry creatures will take it from there.
Snark isn't clever in a social medium.
How about bringing some thoughtful analysis which is worth reading?
Like how might citizens organise together to dissolve the present state of inverted totalitarianism?
As opposed to the present MAGA efforts to flip that inversion into the more classic 1930s Strongman Totalitarian experience?
So much great information, all of these gentlemen are amazing. Bravo!!! And thank you.
This guy aaron is either a useful idiot, willing shill, or blatantly misinformed. Its a very easy and simple paper trail to follow from a few hundred years ago with the rothschilds and such families and their transition into power as the centuries went on, and their influence combined with the zionists who have allied heavily with them. The fact his position is so kosher to be ad revenue on youtube friendly, clearly should show those with working brains his position is for monetary gain and not the truth.
The stuff they censor is protecting the actual powerful groups. Increasing anti 1st amendment laws becoming common in the US tied to antisemitism is a blatant joke, the old israeli prime minister is even on camera directly saying that its their oldest trick in the book to stem criticism of any kind, as are many orthodox jews.
This talk was mostly misinformation mixed with misdirection with some legitimate positions mixed in.
This guy aaron is either a useful idiot, willing shill, or blatantly misinformed. Its a very easy and simple paper trail to follow from a few hundred years ago with the rothschilds and such families and their transition into power as the centuries went on, and their influence combined with the zionists who have allied heavily with them. The fact his position is so kosher to be ad revenue on youtube friendly, clearly should show those with working brains his position is for monetary gain and not the truth.
The stuff they censor is protecting the actual powerful groups. Increasing anti 1st amendment laws becoming common in the US tied to antisemitism is a blatant joke, the old israeli prime minister is even on camera directly saying that its their oldest trick in the book to stem criticism of any kind, as are many orthodox jews.
This talk was mostly misinformation mixed with misdirection with some legitimate positions mixed in.
Nobody should be able to earn a degree in any branch of the social sciences if they have not read The Power Elite. It is that relevant, that informative, and that well written.
Does it reference The Bankers!!
@@richardbelfman903
C'mon, Rich...
You know that THAT rag is PURELY "theory"....😉
You should also read the book creature from Jekyll island and the book Us monetary history by Murray Rothbard.
We don't need to read it. We're living it.
@@Barabus-yx2cn😂❤❤❤
These guys need to have Whitney Webb on.
Prospect for America was the Rockefeller Bros description of the Domino Theory, written by Henry Kissinger and a few retired generals.
That one was even used as a reference by JFK.
The connection to Anaconda and Chase Bank adventures in Vietnam seemed to reveal Mineral Deposits in the Central highlands, and offshore Oil Wells that now provide Vietman with resources that support their economy.
Kissinger was hired to assemble this reference material about 1957.
Strangely enough, ALL of those people were also in the same Clubs...
May Suns, various Skool "organizations", certain Ree Lijjuss orters.
@@slicksnewonenow The Oligarchy has to support the Trust Funds that keep the Children feeling like they are the privileged Scion of an Oligarchy.
It resembles the Monarchy pretty well in texture and form.
The Children will struggle for their place as the majority of the Population attempt to feed their children.
This appears to be the final stage of Capitalism as a social system?
Wars are about resources, money and population reduction. Look at the old war machine. Men lined up and slaughtered each other. How dumb was that?
@@danielhutchinson6604I think it's all over for this country after the election.
@@ohgawd Especially Kamala.
Excellent discussion. Thanks
"Native Americans getting gone, otherwise under control"??? Interesting use of words.
You mean virtually wiped out?
Just like the Palestinians getting gone, otherwise under control. Not at all a zionist orchestrated endeavor is it? I mean, virtually, wiping out the native of Palestine. Yet, it could not be a zionist spearheaded project, according to Aaron, Ben, and Seamus, who are certainly not critics of you know who and why? Any coincidence? A class is not certainly taking over, but just read the names of individuals who head these enterprises, projects and businesses and the truth will hit home.
Not wiped out but assimilated just like the Irish, Polish, and Russian. Part of the whole.
@@joycehaines2055Some of those who are left, certainly have assimilated. However, by and large, they were wiped out.
So Amerikkka has not come to terms with its own genocide. Some of us see it and dislike it greatly. Yes. If it was up to me I would give it all back. No question there. Not only is Amerikkka killing its own people but it's disrupting natural planetary systems upon which human life depends. Crapitalism is destructive on the planetary level also. No arguments there.
@@joycehaines2055 when 98% were genocided, the vernacular accurately becomes "wiped out," cuz 2% ain't much
Finally, a community of people that get me. I thought I was the only one following the plot and acknowledging the significance of the era from a historical perspective AND impact on humanity from a global perspective.
With re: education, the system defunded public education from the time of integration, so any hope of educating a well informed citizenry that could critically think about civic and political engagement or could properly critique society and government was lost. Again, by design. I appreciate our coverage on what's happened in higher education.
Idk about defunding. In Baltimore City, the feds have spent huge amounts of money with nothing to show for it, including it's pathetic school system. In my experience, the money gets stolen by local elites and the population acts like wild animals who are near impossible to teach.
Why would public (government dictated) education have any interest at all in a well-informed society? The fact that education is public and forced is how they control the curriculum and thus thinking. Or lack thereof. It needs to be teuly defunded as does all of government.
@bobleglob162 sure, in a capitalist liberal democracy--sure. In looking at USSR or other socialist revolutions--education and a well educate citizenry is critical to a country's success and thriving.
C Wright Mills is very famous in political science and sociology.
You are right, which means 99% of the general population has never uttered or heard his name.
This series reflects why I never trusted postmodernism in the University - (though they have the right to their confused opinions).
What a video! It is a pleasure to hear people like you, guys, in US. So far from Coca Cola ideology! Thanks 😊
Having read Foreign Affairs for years, I remember seeing theories for attacking China explicitly stated in articles and commentaries in that magazine.
Managed democracy.
Love this PANEL!!
Great discussion!
I remember when I was in college (in Fall 1975) that we studied an article by C. Wright Mills. When it came time to discuss the article in class, the entire class agreed with Dr. Mills but the professor did not (or at least he did not say he did... I gather he wanted to keep his job).
My question is who is planning WWIII, it's outcome and post war world right now.
The power elite.
Read the Book of Revelations, Daniel, Genesis, & Ephesians for a start. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12.
I have had this gut feeling that all this chaos we are seeing is an attempt to break the world in order to rebuild it with a boot on everyones neck. Get rid of the remainder of those pesky civil liberties. The freedom of information is too big of an issue. They want to batten down the world to preserve their way of life at the cost of everyone else’s. The biggest error people can make is to think that these people are any smarter than the average college graduate. Their hubris will be their undoing.
AI
@@GymJones865 False. Globalist Billionaires who want Communism for humanity with a Fascist Super-State out of Europe to run the world funded by a Global Climate tax.
Humanity, has been made materialist on purpose by a group of very greedy, people with a very narrow vision for humanity. Human beings are a lot more than greed and desire for luxery. Humanity's general nobility was down played, and supressed by the greedy who decided that they were the owners of everything, everywhere.,making "stuff: and possesions defining human beings. They did'nt have honourable goals for humanity ,instead they corrupted everything, making human beings the cheapest commodity. Wars the worst employment of human beings, sattisfying the greed of the controlling group. Endlessly slaughtering innocent human beings, destroying and controlling their economies. The greedy non humans shoulf take a good, hard look at their grotesque reflections in the mirror.
Well said, I agree 100 percent.
In voting we mock ourselves
But they won't. Best we can do is not buy into it. I know that's sounds weak but really what else do you have control of?
I love your work Ben!
Just a quick suggestion: try to make shorter clips from these long videos. That way, more people who don't have that much time watch it, and it also means more videos to monetize.
Keep up the good work, REAL journalism is what the people need.
just speed it up and get the same amount of info in less time.
@@samanthadouglas3487 Segmenting by topic can 1) help hook a broader audience based on a range of specifics to THEN lead to how the connections fit 2) fits modern attention spans 3) slower rates of speech are essential for many to deepen comprehension.
For those of us who can handle high speed/ longer duration 'packaging', we've got it here. 👍🏿👍🌎✊🏿✊🏻
Enlightening! Very thought provoking. It's extremely difficult for an individual to come up with a corrective course but if there is already an alternative choice then we can all participate.
All options are laid out in 1 Samuel 8, 10, and 12, where the Almighty expressed that human rule is a really bad idea, history now bearing witness.
Excellent series! What puzzles me is that documents you would expect to be top secret are publicly accessible (at least for a while). An example of this is the Rand Corporation 2019 document which lays out the plan to deal with Russia (I think it has now been removed). It is good that scholars have this facility, but surely the Russians and the Chinese must also have access to these same documents.
One major function of Walkmart (one of the most prominant members of the U.S. oligarchy) is video surveillance, which it conducts without the permission of its staff and customers it records, and then offers it up to the highest bidders.
😮really?
Creepy USA and UK and their draconian, colonial thought processes. We in Asia and the Middle East did not have this constant monitoring
It’s called loss prevention
"Anarchy is no guarantee that some people won't kill, injure, kidnap, defraud, or steal from others. Government is a guarantee that some will." Gustave de Molinari
Always guaranteed, its the nature of the beast.
This is a fantastic series! - hopefully an eBook will be avaliable soon! This stuff will be eye-opening for most Yankees but as an Australian, it explains so much of my political experience of the last 70 years . .
i really appreciate the format & articulable knowledge you three share on these facets of history!
well done!😊
The Famous 2014 study based on 20yr study run by Princeton University's Martin Gilens and Northwestern University's Benjamin Page concluded: Multivariate analysis strongly indicates that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have by far the greatest influence on US Government Policy, while citizens based groups have little or no influence. Even when a clear majority of American citizens disagree with economic elites and/or their organized interests they invariably lose. Moreover because of the absurdly strong Status Quo Bias it makes no difference what policy changes the majority of Americans favor.
I'm not going to have room on my body from all the tatoos I want from these comments!
I am a sociologist and so I really appreciate you focusing on one of our classic theorists! I just ordered his book yesterday in order to make a video about it in order to spread his message in a public sociology forum. So glad to see others doing the same.
Best inform the people with their fingers on triggers.
I did a Japanese law subject where they used Mills' Power Elite to describe the LDP 'Iron Triangle'.
This is so incredibly astounding! I can plot my own father's trajectory by these historical political, economic, military mix! And some of our own time overlying this boatload of decades' elites power hierachy decisions! Gigantic thanks! Great fun! Ben And all of you!
Nice job! I remember well during George H W Bush reign how saying the "L word" was demonized. Since then, it seems to me that "liberalism" became utterly lost to the understanding of US public. It was a concerted effort to bury, once and for all, any memory of the ideas that had nascently bloomed in the 60's & early 70's.
Heh. The “Progressives” today welcome not actual progress, but regression into lawless tribalism!
See Tragedy & Hope by Carroll Quigley gentlemen.
Good discussion but a bit rambling. I read Mills in grad school (anthropology) in mid 70s and found him wonderfully cogent and clear. Definitely opened my eyes. His great insight was to discern and describe in detail a clear-eyed view of “how things really work” in the U.S. But I think even he would be shocked to see that what he described is now far more massive, powerful and ingrained. As these guys explained, we’re talking about the power-elite/oligarchical structure comprised of the national political “club,” the post WWII American Empire geopolitical project, the think tanks, the web of relationships between money center corporate interests and defense research and industrial interests (the generals are just glorified errand boys so far as the the military industrial complex is concerned and are appeased so long as they get the hardware and weapons systems they want). These are the fundamental structural pillars of the USA. The rest is window dressing. Arguments over whether the U.S. is a democracy or a “constitutional republic” are silly and irrelevant.
I don't have room on my body for these comments I want as tatoos!
Is a conversation about post-kenendy Jewish power and the reality of aipac - window dressing?
Malcolm Moos wrote the final speech for Eisenhower. He was a political scientist who studied at John's Hopkins University.
And then Moos became president of the University of Minnesota.
US democracy: you are getting the same can of stale beans you've gotten for at least a century, they just change the label on it every 4 years.
How can I send a one off donation to Multipolarista or American exception?
"AGENCY": Is a subject/category to be Talked and talked...
Thank you all!
#LONGLIVERESISTANCE
Needs to be more commonly understood by the most learned of history.
Ever thought that as an 'agent', you were never compensated?
Contracts, assumption & presumption.
One step in the death of resistance is voting
I'm not sure that liberalism promotes critical thinking. Liberalism advocates a particular set of 'values' which transcend the actual individual. When liberalism shifts into 'ideology' a form of Power emerges that marginalises dissenters'. Freedom of speech becomes conditional. Sound familiar?
Classical liberalism was anti-democracy as in the 'tyranny of the majority' argument. Rather absurdly it takes on the classical Greek philosophical- political premise of Philosopher Kings. Only the most highly educated and morally superior should control the state. State control is exercised through its Institutions. Everyone is free to agree.
Liberalism is so internally inconsistent, I'm amazed that anyone takes it seriously, other than, that the state needs to exist to legitimise property rights both within the state and world-wide. Where exactly does 'liberalism' end and 'neo-liberalism' begin?
neoliberalism began 1989. liberalism still exists but it's a sport.
Neo liberals are intolerant.
Their ideology is superior ( in their opinion) and your ideology holds no merit.
Philosopher Sir Karl Popper has an answer. Socialism must be rejected because of the Totalitarian Temptation. But we can experiment around the edges. One up to date example: observing the last 60 years of free health care in the UK (ie, The National Health Service), one can say it has failed. Medical attention takes weeks or months, even years, to get appointments and operations. That deadly. Not healthy.
Great read. I randomly puled The Power Elite off my dad's shelf one day to read. He studied sociology in school. Really changed my entire perspective of thos country., and how the demos and the legislative branch gradually relinquished responsibility of an active participation in the representative system to private forces, corporate influence pushed by old and new money. Highly valuable reading.
Should be requisite for voting
Who has agency? You may think that an individual oligarch has agency, but what would really happen if Bill Gates or Warren Buffet tried to push things in the opposite direction? Unless he could persuade the rest of the oligarchs, he would be beating his head against a wall. We have to ask: WHY do the oligarchs hold the views they do? It may be personal choice for an individual, but for a group of oligarchs, their collective views are statistically determined.
One billionaire could fund a media foundation that could have enormous impact. There are precisely zero well-funded counter-hegemonic media or think tank operations.
I think thats the point oligarchs do. Not necesary deciding as a group the direction of history. It's more of they have agency in the Chess game they are playing some oligarchs lose. But the rest of us are pon in their game of power. So Oligarchs do push in opposite directions. Still have agency over their pons.
What happens when a billionaire bucks the swamp? SEE Elon Musk. From veneration to persecution. Now comes prosecutions for stepping out!
Power concentrates. Power organizes. And Humans as Pack Mammals will defer to the impressive few in order for convenience.
The smaller is to the larger as the larger is to the whole. The human brain gets tons of calories compared to the other organs and all it does is make images and decide where to move the organism. Trillions of cells somehow organized into a more or less cohesive whole.
The oligarchs know history and remember what happens if the masses revolt.
But the oligarch always needs to take more power or else his cousin will. Eventually, they fold under their own mandate to compete just as the masses fold under complacency.
Is that you, Zuck? Must be tough being a gazillionaire who realizes he has "no choice" - nice try. You got the same choice all of us have - stand in truth or not. But, that takes courage, which you don't have.
I found this discussion fascinating, especially the segment entitled "The Elite Theory" starting at 18:10. Well done!
Of course it was bound to become an Oligarchy. Old mindsets die hard. The transfer of a European power elite to the United States would ultimately end up with a power structure resembling the serfdom dynamic. These families/ institutions will always do what is in THEIR best interests.
The founding fathers ensured that Minority Rule by those of wealth and privilege would prevail. After all, they were men of wealth and privilege.
Thanks, gentleman, for this important discussion. C. Wright Mills had clear insights into what had happened and what was happening and the catastrophic results. The emperor truly has no clothes as you point out. I fear this country is still blinded by American Exceptionalism the true religion of this Empire.
Great episode! This added to my understanding of the "who" that made up the decision makers---ex CFR--Wall St.--Standard Oil/Rockefeller, at least in the WWII Bretton Woods era. and J.P. Morgan in the WWI era. To this point, I still don't know how they made all the pivotal adjustments, either pre-planned or winging it. Ex from WWI by wanting to get paid back by England, so we entered WWI, to pre and post WWII, transitioning into the war economy, the later transitioning to the petro dollar. I cannot tell if all these adjustments were pre planned or winged it.
Great series guys thank you very much.
I realized America is an oligarchy since sixth grade in the 1960s.
I didn't know the word then, but watching LBJ, McNamara, et. al, confound Vietnam policy lifted the stench of servitude to hollow ideals. Our inventions don't carry our real value.
@@randykalish7558 not rocket science
Great points raised by Aaron Good, very interesting and enlightening listening to him.
Thanks. 😊
So brilliant and relevant
wonderful talk gents 👍
Wonderful news Mr Ben. Thanks for the truth.
This seems to be very much in sync with Emmanuel Todd's latest book "The Defeat of the West" where he summarises that US foreign policy is essentially oligarchic, with careerists essentially supporting it. He though clarifies that deep state theories have some limitations in explaining this oligarchic system. He also explains how the foreign policy elite needed enemies, such as after the collapse of the USSR, and constantly create wars for this reason.
Thank you for this captivating conversation.
Didn't the integration of Business-Military-Government begin in WW1 when Woodrow Wilson made Bernard Baruch his "Czar of War Materials Acquisition & Supply".
I thought it began with Pres. Lincoln.
Try pre-Nebuchadnezzar...the die is cast, the mold is poured, the Father spoke, the demons dined...
❤❤❤❤Ben norton (very informative with his great opinions)
FYI,today's American $ystem is called Democracy!Point of reference is James Traficant~in his 1993 speech,he stated that the US govt was suspended between 9 Mar 1933 - 5 Jun 1933;on the 5th June,1933 the new $ystem became DEMOCRACY=a Socialist/Communist order...!Even before that,in 1913,woodrow wilson was 👑 crowned as the 1st Emperor of the US, unanimously annointed by US Congress...!RIP Republic,1913~that's why there's the expression~IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY...!
This is so true. FDR new deal and his executive order which made us all collateral to the federal reserve system because of our national deficit back then.
@@johnholstun5128
The birth certificate is the hook before 1933, then the ssn trust is post 1933.
"The Sociological Imagination " is a sensational book.
Learn math, real math.... There are only 4 types of points in a system(ANY SYSTEM). These points essentially state that any system, due to the way it is designed, will evolve towards stability or instability. America was designed towards instability... In fact, currently all societies have been designed to be unstable. It doesn't matter the details of why a society crashes when because that is just noise from the system doing what it does. Feedback cycles will wind the system towards destruction or salvation. But to design a stable system is a hard problem, can't do it ad hoc or with elementary ideas. The only question is, will this be the last society humans created. After all, nukes are the ultimate way to terminate a system.
Do you have a book name describing the 4 point system? Reminds me of Greek metaphysics, pyramids, theology etc. are you referring to number theory when you say real math?
Very good session, informative and applicably today
Have to include Academia in there as well.
Excellent, and thank you very much for spreading this critically important information! Power to the truth-tellers!
all countries, everywhere, at all times are oligarchies to one degree or another. Mills is a great example of a man who wanted to end the "oligarchy", but his solutions were merely to replace one oligarchy with another--the New Soviet Man. No, he did not use that term, but he correctly defined his new kind of men as such.
Pareto and other Italian authors cut right through the entire discussion by demonstrating that oligarchies are in essence non-hereditary aristocracies. In the US, that is really embodied in a few universities such as Harvard. In fact, since the 1960s, the US government is essentially a Harvard alumni club.
Also, the concept that there is a difference between large corporations and government is hilarious. Large corporations do not make money by selling you good products or services, but by capturing the administrative state--which is who actually runs the USA--to prevent competition.
Great discussion. You guy's cut through to the core issues.
excuse me mate, but the original inhabitance of north america, didn’t just disappear (freeing up arable land), they were slaughtered/murdered by the Europeans, using 19th century WMDs!!
Indeed, the correct wording is important.
Spot on.
Let's not forget that the slaughter occurred on both sides, fueled by the clash of two cultures. Who had the greater culpability?
Maybe they should've not murdered women and children. 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
@@fiorella1021and there is the middle man.
Fantastic conversation. Thank you, gentlemen.
One critical area you didn't touch on was spiritual/religious influence. Religious narratives were historically controlled by oligarchs and tyrants. King James is one prime example. Religious narratives to serve the oligarchy continue today.
The founders of America were socialists who detested the notion of democracy and popular vote. John Adams is on record saying "Democracy will infallibly destroy civilization." The system is meant to make people live under the illusion that they have a choice and they have a voice. The two parties are in fact catering to corporations, not to the people who vote in elections. Mills was definitely right, but the same Wall Street capitalists, large corporations, and military industrial complex that are the actual leaders of America are controlling the media and the distribution of information in general, the education system included. The people of America and the people of the world are tricked into living according to a false perception of reality. The only thing that would liberate their thought process from that is a public acknowledgement of this reality. For as promised by someone who was actually teaching against religion, the truth will set everyone free.
Socialism is democracy 🤦🏿 how do people not know that
@@Pimping9167 Only people who don't know what socialism is and what democracy is believe that. Their thought process is tributary to political propaganda, "We must defend our democracy!" not realizing what democracy is and does. Hitler was democratically elected, and so was Mussolini. Trump was democratically elected, and so was pretend President Obama. Democracy does not guarantee freedom of speech. In America speech is highly controlled. Even the Greeks, who were there the first to try it, would reject it in the end. Within a socialist system there are no political parties. As a result, there would be no "democratic" elections to establish who runs the country.
@@Pimping9167 Evidence? What do you mean by socialism and democracy?
By/s0č, maybe you mēan/arist/ocrtic/intrv/ntīo/nst/Bń/kr/lėd/ståt/śtś/?
*”Th/Ćrpt/0rgńś/0f/Cń/Bkńg/lń/Amr”*
(5/5/mīń/Fāć/Påkd/Iëćtr)
The benefit of an educated, discerning intelligencia is to remind us that ideas and concerns are not new and there's always more work to do. Accepting what is, due to apathy or ignorance is the great stumbling block of progress for humanity. This discussion is encouraging knowing that another generation has alert intellects at work. Good work gentlemen.
Thank you guys for sharing such vital information. You peeps remind me of, " I never let schooling interfere with my education" of course y'all know who sed dat
Thank you gentlemen. I appreciate your scholarship and the quality of your discussion.
USA is a corporation.
Thank you for this series. For me you have brought history and facts into an inner knowing. I'd love to see it made into a movie, perhaps similar to the style of the Big Short, to reach larger audiences. Too many of us are in the dark.
? bring democracy into business or take business out of democracy?
At 17:57 changing history is not so strange given the context of Quantum mechanics where observing a phenomenon can alter the phenomenon in the past. So perhaps a desire to change what happened can change what happened.
That's yet to be seen.
This election's results will determine it
The meaning of the word liberal changed in the United States during the era of New Deal dominance. There is no sense ranting about it. If you are going to be understood by a general audience, you will have to use this word as it is generally used in contemporary political discourse. Many words change in meaning over time. For example, prevent used to mean precede circa 1600. Just get used to it.
Nobody understands another, according to the plan results. We each do understand our own opinion, based on opinions, which we use to paper over the apertures in our walls, free at last in death.
Americans have refused to govern themselves. Men of good will have tried to help American citizens to understand this since before our Civil War. Now to late. Like the song. ""Oh will they Ever Learn."" The answer now it seems that the answer has become very clearly ""No.""
If the govern are stupid there rulers are stupid. Lol not rocket science
Thank You for reporting the issues and striving for the TRUTH!
THOSE Whom. Are working out their Goals. *The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. (ARE INTERNATIONALISTS) *Revelation 3::9. *Gen. Albert Pike's 1871 Letter to Macini
In 1971, Associate Justice Lewis Powell wrote a memorandum (Powell Memorandum) that attacked the New Deal gains. I wonder if this played a roll in intensifying Corp attitudes to destroying those gains.
It is enlightening to learn such important analysis in order for a retired teacher as myself to understand why US government is promoting war crimes / genocide in so many countries. From Italy a big thank you.
The most famous sociologist who created the field was Dr.WEB DuBois.
No, it was Karl Marx. DuBois was a eugenicist.
@@nuqwestr YES. Dr. WEB DUBOIS. Leave your madness in the closet.
@@walter1932 W.E.B. Du Bois had a complex relationship with eugenics. Early in his career, he was an advocate for eugenic ideas, largely because he saw them as a way to uplift African Americans and improve their social status. In the early 20th century, eugenics was often associated with social reform and was supported by some progressive thinkers who believed that controlling reproduction could lead to a better society.
However, Du Bois's support for eugenics was not uncritical. He believed in the improvement of society through education and social reform rather than through the more radical and harmful measures advocated by some eugenicists. As time went on, Du Bois became increasingly critical of eugenics, recognizing its potential for misuse and its racist underpinnings.
By the 1930s and 1940s, Du Bois had distanced himself from eugenics as the movement became more associated with racial discrimination and pseudoscience. He became more focused on civil rights and social justice, critiquing ideas that promoted racial hierarchies and discrimination. His later writings reflect a more nuanced understanding of race, genetics, and social policy.
@@nuqwestr What do your assertions have to do with DuBois creating the field of sociology ?
@@walter1932 eugenics is a pseudo-science, would you not agree?
Auguste Comte (1798-1857): Often regarded as the "father of sociology," Comte coined the term "sociology" and aimed to apply scientific methods to the study of society. He proposed a theory of social evolution and stressed the importance of studying social phenomena systematically.
Karl Marx (1818-1883): Marx’s work focused on class struggles and the effects of capitalism on society. His theories of historical materialism and class conflict have had a profound impact on sociological thought.
. Good on you for bringing Mills's work forward.
You need Mao's view on dialectic philosophy. You need to look at the major contradiction; for imperialism, the major contradiction is the struggle between colonizers and colonizers, not capitalists and proletariat. Capitalism has been elevated to imperialism. The major contradiction needs to be resolved to have another contradiction mentioned by Marx.
This discussion was great
❤❤❤