Sleepwalking Toward Plutocracy

By BuzzFlash

Created 02/15/2011 - 7:43pm

MARSHALL C. WHITFIELD FOR BUZZFLASH AT TRUTHOUT

"Corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed." - Abraham Lincoln ^{[1] [1]}

This grim vision caused Lincoln to "tremble for the safety of my country," as he wrote on November 21, 1864. It foretold of Plutocracy (rule by the wealthy) in America.

Today, we watch his vision coming true: the richest 1 percent of Americans now take home 24 percent of U.S. income, up from 9 percent in 1976. ^{[2] [2]} America's wealth is "aggregating in a few hands" right before our eyes, in plain view.

And we stare uncomprehendingly, like deer in the headlights.