Billionaires Are Responsible for the Demise of America and the Rise of Donald Trump

 

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart

Money is the root of everything which debases humanity. As the new nation became a reality and shocked the world by defeating the British Empire in September of 1783, America became a beacon of light for all people living on the third planet from the sun.

Between 1787 and 1789, a new country emerged and became the United States of America. It was founded by men who were imperfect, but shared lofty principles and ideals based on personal freedom, human rights, and equality without regard to wealth, ethnicity, religion, or departure from common beliefs. Free thought and the freedom to separate from the majority and embrace lifestyles which were often considered unusual, different, and even abnormal offered a future when diversity became the new nation’s strength, not a threat to the status quo, but acceptance and respect for our differences dominated.

Their actions were brave, idealistic, dramatic, and presented the existence of both great promise and great failure. Over the first 100 years, most of our leaders learned from their mistakes.

One hundred years later, America had survived a second war with England and the bloodiest war in our nation’s history which was fought by brothers against brothers, friends vs former friends, and the ideals and dreams of our Founding Fathers opposed by men who would destroy the very concept of what America meant to all the people of our world.

However, the end of one war often signals the beginning of another.

Leaders of industry experienced personal growth of great wealth and great power as the 20^th century began. Ruled by a system depending on the economic system of capitalism, the greatest economy in the world collapsed in 1929 when the Great Depression devasted America’s working class.

In 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt campaigned on promises made to the working class, ignoring the opposition of leaders who controlled the most profitable companies in the nation. FDR easily defeated Herbert Hoover with an Electoral College vote of 472-59, and a popular vote of 22, 821, 857 to 15,761,841.

He called his plan for America the “New Deal,” promising full employment and an increase in the quality of life for all Americans.

President Roosevelt fought against the “captains of industry” who created “sweat shops” where men, women, and even children worked long hours in conditions which could only be called cruel and dangerous to the health and well-being of their employees.

FDR was reelected in 1936, 1940, and 1944. The fact that he was unbeatable, thanks to the support of the working class, the majority, is why the 22^nd Amendment was ratified in 1951.

Not a single president since FDR placed the majority in priority over the profits of big business. He will be justifiably remembered as the only true “great President” in our nation’s history.

Democrats made promises never kept. Republicans displayed an increasing preference for the interests of corporations and the super-rich. In 1981, Ronald Reagan took absolute control of the Grand Old Party with an economic policy he called “supply-side economics,” but became known by the American people as “trickle-down economics.” Reagan believed that if the profits of the super-rich were protected and allowed to grow, in turn, they would create new, well-paying jobs for the majority. To no one’s surprise, this never happened. They placed their bloated profits in offshore accounts, investments in foreign business, and with the purchase of multiple mansions, expensive cars, yachts, and other toys.

Over the last 44 years the situation has become our nation’s biggest problem. Income inequality has virtually destroyed the middle class. In the 21^st century, more than one-half of all Americans struggle to survive in the low-income and poverty levels of our society.

The Supreme Court was intended to be apolitical. However, it is now completely divided by political ideology. This situation resulted in decisions which favored right-wing extremists.

Citizens United gave the super-rich an opportunity to literally buy elections. The Court continues to allow gerrymandering which allows states to rearrange voting districts to favor right-wing politicians.

The very existence of the Electoral College removes the right of the people to choose the man or woman who will lead their nation every four years. Because states have the power to elect presidents, our nation became divided into what are known as red and blue states.

In 2016 it became apparent that our nation’s billionaires/oligarchs owned the former Republican Party. In 2024, these 813 men and women openly supported a man who is clearly a tool of Vladimir Putin who supports the end of democracy and replacing it with a fascist regime, with Trump as the Fuhrer of the United States of America.

The evils of capitalism are no longer America’s greatest problem. They have been replaced by the destructive polices of a plutocracy, an oligarchy.

America’s billionaires are the enemies of the working class.

Adjusting for “Greedflation,” the average American worker’s wages have declined. Benefits including health insurance, vacations, and retirement have decreased and, in many cases, disappeared.

Not a decision in Washington becomes reality without the approval of Trump’s oligarchs.

Although President Biden was blamed for what was perceived as inflation, in truth it was “Greedflation.” Large corporations control our nation’s food supply, energy, transportation, and every other necessity raised prices because they had the power, not out of necessity.

Prices remain too high. As Trump’s ill-advised tariffs began to affect our nation’s economy, consumers will face even higher prices.

My bride and I live on Social Security: a program fully funded by us and our employers. It’s a struggle, but we continue to survive. Lying politicians refer to our retirement fund as an “entitlement.” If that is true, professional politicians are to blame. Not raising taxes on the super-rich and largest corporations to a fair level was their goal. Men and women engaged in the worst profession in the world attached other programs including Medicare and Medicaid to Social Security. In reality, Washington’s failures embezzled money from our Social Security funds: money which belongs to every working man and woman in America. It is not a part of the national treasury, it is mine and yours.

Billionaires don’t care. As long as they can purchase $5,000 bottles of wine for their lunches and dinners, their life is perfect.

There is no other way to define what has happened in America today. Professional Politicians, in concert with Trump’s oligarchs, are in control of our nation, and have become the enemies of all working-class men and women.

The desires of the few have priority over the needs of the many.

Remember this the next time you go to the polls: if there is a “next time.”

Op-ed by James Turnage

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Sources: https://www.oxfamamerica.org/explore/issues/economic-justice/is-the-us-witnessing-the-rise-of-oligarchy/

https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/blogs/oligarchy-in-america/