Requiem for the American Dream

1. Concentration of wealth erodes democracy and social progress

Concentration of wealth yields concentration of political power, particularly so as the cost of elections skyrockets, which forces the political parties even more deeply into the pockets of major corporations.

Vicious cycle of inequality. As wealth becomes more concentrated, the wealthy gain disproportionate political influence through campaign contributions and lobbying. This allows them to shape policies that further increase their wealth and power, creating a self-reinforcing cycle. The result is a system where:

• Political decisions increasingly favor the interests of the wealthy
• Public opinion has diminishing impact on policy-making
• Democratic institutions are weakened
• Social mobility declines
• Public services and infrastructure suffer from lack of investment

This concentration of power undermines the fundamental principles of democracy and impedes social progress for the majority of citizens.

2. Economic policies favor the wealthy, widening inequality

If you look at the wealth distribution, the inequality mostly comes from super-wealth—literally, the top one-tenth of a percent are just super-wealthy.

Neoliberal policies exacerbate inequality. Since the 1970s, economic policies have increasingly favored the wealthy, leading to:

• Financialization of the economy, with profits shifting from production to financial speculation
• Offshoring of jobs to lower-wage countries
• Deregulation of financial markets
• Tax cuts for corporations and high-income individuals
• Reduction in social services and safety nets

These policies have resulted in:

• Stagnant wages for most workers
• Erosion of the middle class
• Increasing concentration of wealth at the top
• Greater economic instability and recurring financial crises

The justification that these policies would "trickle down" to benefit all has proven false, instead creating a "plutonomy" where the ultra-wealthy drive the economy while the majority struggle.

3. Media and education shape public opinion to benefit elites

The idea is to try to control everyone, to turn the whole society into the perfect system. The perfect system would be a society based on a dyad—a pair. The pair is you and your television set, or maybe now you and your iPhone and the Internet, and that presents you with what the proper life would be—what kinds of gadgets you should have, what you should do for your health.

Manufacturing consent. The media and education systems play a crucial role in shaping public opinion to align with elite interests:

• Corporate-owned media focuses on entertainment and consumerism rather than critical analysis of power structures
• Advertising creates artificial needs and promotes consumerism as a way of life
• Education increasingly emphasizes job training over critical thinking and civic engagement
• Historical narratives often downplay social movements and collective action

This system aims to create:

• Passive consumers rather than active citizens
• Acceptance of inequality as natural or inevitable
• Distraction from systemic issues through sensationalism and individualism
• Atomization of society, weakening collective solidarity

By controlling the flow of information and ideas, elites can maintain their power even in nominally democratic systems.

4. Corporate influence undermines regulatory effectiveness

If you look over the history of regulation—railroad regulation, financial regulation, and so on—you find that, quite commonly, it's either initiated by the economic concentrations that are being regulated, or it's supported by them. And the reason is because they know that, sooner or later, they can take over the regulators and essentially run what they do.

Regulatory capture. Corporations exert significant influence over the regulatory bodies meant to oversee them through:

• Lobbying for favorable legislation
• Offering lucrative jobs to regulators (the "revolving door")
• Providing biased information and analysis to shape regulations
• Using legal challenges to delay or weaken enforcement

This results in:

• Regulations that appear strict but are ineffective or unenforced
• Financial deregulation leading to increased risk and instability
• Environmental regulations that fail to adequately protect public health
• Safety regulations that prioritize corporate profits over worker and consumer protection

The façade of regulation provides public reassurance while allowing corporations to continue harmful practices, effectively privatizing profits while socializing risks and costs.

5. Labor unions are crucial for workers' rights and democracy

There is one organized force that, with all its flaws, has traditionally been in the forefront of efforts to improve the lives of the general population. That's organized labor. It's the one barrier to this vicious cycle going on, which leads to corporate tyranny.

Unions as a counterforce. Labor unions have historically been a key force for democratization and workers' rights:

• Collective bargaining improves wages, benefits, and working conditions
• Political advocacy pushes for policies benefiting workers and the middle class
• Education and organizing build class consciousness and solidarity

The decline of unions has contributed to:

• Stagnant wages despite productivity gains
• Erosion of workplace protections and benefits
• Diminished political voice for working-class interests
• Increased economic inequality

Revitalizing the labor movement is crucial for rebalancing power between workers and corporations, and for strengthening democracy more broadly.

6. Consumerism and debt trap people in a cycle of dependence

If you can fabricate wants, make obtaining things that are just about within your reach the essence of life, they're going to be trapped into becoming consumers.

Engineered desires. The modern economy relies on creating and manipulating consumer desires:

• Advertising creates artificial needs and links products to emotional fulfillment
• Easy credit encourages spending beyond one's means
• Planned obsolescence ensures a constant demand for new products
• Social status becomes tied to consumption patterns

This system leads to:

• High levels of personal debt
• Environmental degradation from overconsumption
• Reduced financial security and increased stress
• Distraction from civic engagement and social issues

By keeping people focused on consumption and debt repayment, this system maintains social control and prevents collective action against existing power structures.

7. Public relations industry manipulates democratic processes

When the same institutions—the PR system—run elections, they do it the same way. They want to create an uninformed electorate that will make irrational choices, often against their own interests.

Manufacturing consent in politics. The techniques of public relations and advertising are applied to politics, undermining genuine democratic deliberation:

• Campaigns focus on image and emotions rather than substantive policy debates
• Complex issues are reduced to simplistic slogans and sound bites
• Negative advertising discourages civic engagement
• Data-driven micro-targeting manipulates voters' fears and desires

This results in:

• Elections that don't meaningfully address critical issues
• Increased cynicism and disengagement from the political process
• Policy outcomes that don't reflect the public interest
• A political system that serves the elite while maintaining a facade of democracy

The challenge is to create spaces for authentic political discourse and to educate citizens to critically analyze political messaging.

8. Climate change and nuclear war threaten human survival

We are facing really serious problems. There's one thing that shouldn't be ignored—we're in a stage of history for the first time ever where we're facing literal questions of species survival.

Existential threats. Human civilization faces unprecedented risks from:

Climate change:

• Rising sea levels threatening coastal populations
• Extreme weather events causing widespread destruction
• Disruption of food and water supplies
• Mass extinctions and ecosystem collapse

Nuclear war:

• Potential for accidental launch or escalation
• Devastating immediate and long-term effects
• Nuclear winter threatening global food production

These threats are exacerbated by:

• Short-term thinking in politics and business
• Denial and misinformation campaigns
• Lack of international cooperation
• Prioritization of profit and power over long-term survival

Addressing these existential risks requires a fundamental shift in global priorities and governance structures.

9. Active citizen participation is vital for meaningful change

The way people learn is by interaction. That's even true of the advanced sciences. If you go to a research lab in the sciences, people are talking to each other, they're challenging each other, they're presenting ideas, getting reactions from colleagues, students, and so on.

Grassroots action. Meaningful social and political change comes from active citizen participation:

• Social movements have historically driven progress on civil rights, labor laws, and environmental protection
• Direct engagement in local communities builds skills and networks for larger-scale organizing
• Collective action can challenge entrenched power structures and force policy changes

Effective participation involves:

• Educating oneself and others about complex issues
• Building solidarity across diverse groups
• Developing alternative institutions and power bases
• Persistent engagement beyond electoral cycles

While the challenges are daunting, history shows that organized citizenry can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and create significant social change.

Last updated: August 14, 2024