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Robert Bruce Adolph's avatar

Well done Bill. This is what I call the New Nobility, much like the old nobility — that act in their own self-interest against the “common good.”

Doug Clapp's avatar

Spot on, Bill! That Trump is embossing the White House and Washington DC with gold leaf everywhere is an apt metaphor for this neo-Gilded Age of obscene wealth extracted from the 98% who toil away, many at multiple jobs, and pay taxes that feed the tech-giant friendly government and new generation of Robber Barons. America may appear to glitter, but beneath the golden veneer lie festering unmet needs of the American people...housing, food insecurity, healthcare crisis, poverty, despair. The seeming insatiable overreach and capture of our government by the new Robber Barons is not a recipe for our long term national security...in fact it is the opposite.

BILL PIEKNEY's avatar

Thanks, Doug. Means a lot coming from you.

Greg Rushford's avatar

Very well-put: The encouraging part came at the end, a timely reminder that the American people have successfully stood against Robber Barons and their political lackeys before. We citizens remain our country's true sovereigns. Not them.

Jo Burns's avatar

Excellent article that shares the truth. The robber barons have always been here they just become more prominent if the political landscape is favorable. The graft is real. The greed is real. the take away from those who have less is real. Thank you for this.

Harry I. Hannah's avatar

Great piece. Highlights that we should have done deeper reform after the 2008/09 financial crisis, including prosecuting the key people with Lehman, AIG, Bears Stearn, and Merrill Lynch who all got off and kept millions plus.

Teri Gelini's avatar

Excellent post to remind us of how history repeats itself. It also reminds us of the strength of our people. Thanks Bill

Jeffrey Jon Bode’'s avatar

I’m sharing with a Trump voter.

Lee Bloomquist's avatar

sewage in, sewage out.

the law of entropy.

James P Petrila's avatar

Good to remember that this is not the first time in our country's history that the Supreme Court thought that it was a Judicial Politburo. And one of them (Roger Taney) was so bad that he made a Civil War inevitable. The current one just declares the president to be criminally immune and to rule like a king, which already has pretty awful consequences, but is unlikely to start a civil war.