The developing feudalism in the United States has several distinct differences from traditional European feudalism, but it is built upon the same general skeleton.
Wealthy individuals and corporate interests are the new feudal lords—with billionaires and multi-national corporations as the new kings and millionaires and regional corporate interests as the new lords—while the American majority has become the new serfdom. In effect, organizations like the petrochemical lobby and individuals like the Koch brothers are the new neo-feudal monarchs, who command the loyalty of their local vassals (politicians), in order to control and exploit the serfs (the American people).
Rather than simply seize control of a municipality through violence (as happened in traditional feudalism), neo-feudal economic rulers buy political power through “campaign donations” and bend the laws to serve their interests.
The new feudal oligarchy uses its political power to pass laws which reduce their tax burdens as well as allow them to exploit workers and extract even more profit from their labor. Additionally, these feudal powers funnel public funds into their own pockets by privatizing public goods and services. These upward redistributive measures closely resemble the old feudal organizations, where lords would collect draconian “taxes” from their serfs, yet provide no substantive benefits.
In addition to facilitating the upward redistribution of economic welfare, American feudalism has allowed rich religious zealots to impose certain aspects of their religion on others. Specifically, these people have supported dozens of anti-gay, anti-secular, and anti-choice laws on the state level. This is similar to how European feudal monarchs would align themselves with the church, impose religious laws on their populations, and punish those who refuse to conform.
The American serfdom suffers under wage stagnation, cuts in social services, an epidemic of joblessness, and a complete lack of influence on their “elected” officials. A vast majority of the American people is stuck just making ends meet and putting food on the table, while their employers take all of the gains of their productivity. In many cases, these neo-serfs are stuck in crippling debt and have no job mobility, thus are as stuck as any share-cropper or indentured serf in the past.
American serfs are left with the illusion of democracy because they can still technically vote, but are forced into a false-choice between two bought candidates. Regardless of who the poor and middle class vote for, those with the most money will get their way on policy choices—services to the poor will get cut, regulations on powerful interests will be weakened and taxes will never be substantially increased on the poor.
more
http://theprogressivecynic.com/2014/05/13/neo-feudalism-captures-the-united-states/
Wealthy individuals and corporate interests are the new feudal lords—with billionaires and multi-national corporations as the new kings and millionaires and regional corporate interests as the new lords—while the American majority has become the new serfdom. In effect, organizations like the petrochemical lobby and individuals like the Koch brothers are the new neo-feudal monarchs, who command the loyalty of their local vassals (politicians), in order to control and exploit the serfs (the American people).
Rather than simply seize control of a municipality through violence (as happened in traditional feudalism), neo-feudal economic rulers buy political power through “campaign donations” and bend the laws to serve their interests.
The new feudal oligarchy uses its political power to pass laws which reduce their tax burdens as well as allow them to exploit workers and extract even more profit from their labor. Additionally, these feudal powers funnel public funds into their own pockets by privatizing public goods and services. These upward redistributive measures closely resemble the old feudal organizations, where lords would collect draconian “taxes” from their serfs, yet provide no substantive benefits.
In addition to facilitating the upward redistribution of economic welfare, American feudalism has allowed rich religious zealots to impose certain aspects of their religion on others. Specifically, these people have supported dozens of anti-gay, anti-secular, and anti-choice laws on the state level. This is similar to how European feudal monarchs would align themselves with the church, impose religious laws on their populations, and punish those who refuse to conform.
The American serfdom suffers under wage stagnation, cuts in social services, an epidemic of joblessness, and a complete lack of influence on their “elected” officials. A vast majority of the American people is stuck just making ends meet and putting food on the table, while their employers take all of the gains of their productivity. In many cases, these neo-serfs are stuck in crippling debt and have no job mobility, thus are as stuck as any share-cropper or indentured serf in the past.
American serfs are left with the illusion of democracy because they can still technically vote, but are forced into a false-choice between two bought candidates. Regardless of who the poor and middle class vote for, those with the most money will get their way on policy choices—services to the poor will get cut, regulations on powerful interests will be weakened and taxes will never be substantially increased on the poor.
more
http://theprogressivecynic.com/2014/05/13/neo-feudalism-captures-the-united-states/
