Recently, I have been doing a lot of reading on the Enlightenment and the great minds it spawned. The 19th century was a period of upheaval all over the globe. The collective mind was being challenged to separate superstition from reason. I find this period of history fascinating based on where we are as a nation currently.
Of particular interest to me has been the thoughts of Karl Marx. (Yes, that Karl Marx) Without getting into the minutiae, Marx basically saw Capitalism as a severely flawed economic system. The basic premise is Capitalism is a system in which the worker is exploited by the Capitalist to the point of losing his individual freedom of mind and soul. Relationships are based solely on monetary gains and losses, and the worker is generally always on the losing end.
For Marx, the only logical outcome and solution would be for workers (the majority) to organize and revolt against the Capitalists (the minority.) Such a revolt would be the only way to shift the balance of power between the "haves and have-nots."
This concept resonated with me as I was thinking about the Republican party, the Koch brothers, and the plight of the working class in this country. Even as unemployment numbers slowly fall, health care reform is underway, and the people are waking up to the dismal state of the country overall; there are those who absolutely have no interest in creating a more just and equal America.
Who are those people? They are the Republican members of the Congress, Senate, and the Supreme Court. Let's ignore the hostility the GOP has shown towards the President and his policies that could make life better for the average citizen. That's obvious and too easy.
First, let me disabuse you of the notion we live in a Democracy. We, in fact, live in a Republic. To go further, we live in Constitutional Republic in which those in power will use every means to stay in power, up to and including stripping the rest of us of even the most fundamental Constitutional rights. The very wealthy use the Supreme Court to take away the rights we have long been afforded or that many have had to fight for. Example? The Supreme Court (populated by very wealthy individuals) recently ripped the heart out of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The Supreme Monarchs, by a 5-4 vote, decided America really didn't need the provisions requiring states who have historically discriminated against minorities get approval from Washington before making any changes to election requirements and procedures.
As you can guess, the majority of states who were held to account by this portion of the Voter's Rights Act are in the South. Why is this a coup for the wealthy who comprise and are advocated for by the Republican Party? It is a big deal for them because the fewer people voting, the greater the likelihood the Right will win elections and run the Nation. Of course this is not news. I'll let Paul Weyrich, the so-called "founding father of the Conservative Movement" explain the Right's view on on everyone voting:
Point made.
The gutting of the Voting Rights Act is just one example of how the GOP hates us...all of us and would much rather see the country handed over to the likes of the Koch Brothers (who, by the way, funded the Stand Your Ground Legislation being hotly debated in the wake of the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman case.) I could go on for days about the Koch brothers and how they are damaging the country, and I will at some point, but for now...
Charles and David Koch
The GOP's strongest desire is to create a nation in which there are two classes: the incredibly wealthy and the desperately poor who will feed the Capitalist machine and make the wealthy wealthier. Even if one does not subscribe to Karl Marx's theory of how to overthrow Capitalism, it has to be stipulated; Capitalism is a real problem, especially how the GOP does it.
For the Republicans who want move America into feudalism, you and I are not sentient beings with health concerns, aspirations, families, minds, or souls. To them we are merely cogs in machine who's sole purpose is to make them money. Whether we can feed our children, get basic healthcare, have the right to vote, can drink fresh water, or eat foods that have not been genetically modified is of little consequence to them.
What they do care about is ensuring their family, friends, and "sponsors" are and remain in the top %1. Capitalism is our economic system, but it is for their benefit more than it is for yours and mine. They hate us...they don't care if we are poor, what kind of schools our children attend, if you can live your dream, or any of the things that really concern us. Instead, they use the media to keep us distracted. Why fight for your right to vote when you can discuss Duck Dynasty?
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