This is my first "diary" here at Daily Kos. I don't know if this post is appropriate for this site. It is more a collection of musings and questions than a presentation of facts and information. I hope it is of some value... to someone...
As I have started to pay more attention to what is going on in this world outside of my sphere of action, I have increasingly turned to alternative news sources for information. This has made me painfully aware of the ridiculous (malicious?) limitations of mainstream media. The mere fact that the vast majority of traditional "news" sources in this country are controlled by a very small number of media conglomerates is disturbing to a mistrustful person like myself. Throw in the fact that there are "news" sources that are unabashedly propaganda machines (Faux News, I'm looking at you!), and it starts to seem obvious that the easily-accessible sources of "news" and information that influence public opinion and (mis)inform the American public are nothing but tools of manipulation.
How many Americans know more about "DeflateGate" and some hot starlet's latest shenanigans, than the implications of the Republican budget bill or the potential dangers of the TPP trade agreement?
But I digress...
I have recently been fixated on my own indignation that there is a push to cut social programs (and stigmatize the recipients of the benefits of those programs... separate topic), while I have heard no discussion of cutting subsidies and tax breaks for highly profitable corporations. What need do oil companies have for taxpayer funded subsidies? How can large corporations like General Electric end up paying virtually no taxes?
I will readily admit, I know nothing of economic theory. Studying money seems distasteful and money-grubbing (a term I consider a pejorative) to me. But, it looks to me as though capitalism as it is currently practiced in America is no longer working. I wonder if that system only works in a growing economy, to provide opportunity and incentive for innovation, while simply encouraging manipulative and destructive practices in a stagnant economy -- as our current economy would have to be described.
Because that is how these subsidies and tax breaks appear to me. They are ways to manipulate the system for personal or corporate profit, while damaging (hell, bankrupting!) the system as a whole.
Throw in to this equation the undeniable fact that wealthy corporations and people are obviously and literally buying control of the system, so they can manipulate it for their own gain without any regard for the damage that does to the system -- and it sounds very much like "corporate raiding" and "asset stripping" America and our economic system.
Think about it: corporate raiders buy a company, use up and/or sell off its assets, then discard its empty corpse... much like a virus (Agent Smith was right!). Isn't that what corporations and the wealthy are trying to do to this country? They are buying our elections, to gain control. They are sucking up America's financial assets, through subsidies, tax breaks, and wars (the country goes broke, and arms manufacturers rake in huge profits), while putting nothing back into the system. And there has recently been talk of selling off public lands. Who do you think is going to reap the benefits of those sales? The country as a whole? Or the mining and oil companies that will buy up that land to rape it of all its natural resources? (For big profits, no doubt)
The privatization of federal programs and services seems only another step in the asset stripping process, viewed in this light. Get rid of departments that aren't profitable, to maximize the value (and marketability) of what is left. That's why things like the Kock brothers are so determined to kill social programs like Social Security and Welfare. What other reason could they have? They could finance those programs entirely, while barely making a noticeable dent in their annual income. But they'll spend more buying candidates for office, to kill those programs, than it would cost to finance those programs!
So, that's the main premise and primary thrust of this diary. From my perspective, it looks very much like corporations and wealthy people are trying to buy this country, so that they can strip it of its assets for their own profit. And, like any 'good' corporate raider, once the assets are exhausted, the next natural step is for these corporations to discard the worthless hulk that is left, once all value has been sucked out.
I don't want to come off like a crazy conspiracy theorist. I don't want to BE a crazy conspiracy theorist. But what's going on looks wrong to me. And it looks like some evil machinations are afoot (Something wicked this way comes?). This premise probably needs (calls for?) extensive research that is beyond my ken. All I can do is share my thoughts and perspective.
I would welcome solid rebuttals from people better informed about economic theory. Please show me I am wrong, with valid arguments and information! This idea scares the crap out of me, particularly because recent developments would seem to indicate that the effort to "asset strip" America would succeed, if there is any validity to my arguments.
Thanks for reading this.
