Posted on 05/19/2006 11:34:39 AM PDT by Bob Ireland
It Is An Oligarchy - And Here Is How the Wealthiest Politicians are Designing to Enslave America's Working Class
by: Bob Ireland
Long-time FReepers may remember my constant warnings that America's government is becoming an oligarchy: both local and national. Now we are seeing the continuing emerging evidence supporting my claim.
The reason Mexico depends on emigration of its poor class into the United States illegally is because the wealth of Mexico is funneled into the pockets of a wealthy priviledged class. This migration not only solves the problem of not sharing the country's wealth among all Mexico's classes, but it also channels billions of U.S. dollars into the same wealthy Mexican pockets that collect petroleum revenues et al.
Now - in this author's opinion - America's wealthy ruling class sees a possibility of instituting the same economic dynamics into our own society. By opening the doors of the U.S. to unlimited immigration, it is only a matter of time before America's working class will become the same as Mexico's working class: wage slaves.
For example, our wealthy politicians make great power gains by fomenting class warfare: 'tax cuts only benefit the wealthy'. This is a convenient lie: there is no tax on wealth in the United States. The tax they speak of is a tax on earnings, and the wealthy are the top wage earners.
What this accomplishes is to attenuate any effort at advancing ones material status through punitive taxation; and where does this taxation end up? In the hands of our masters - the ones we used to call politicians. This author can attest this easily, because when he worked in New York City 70% of his paycheck was deducted prior to his receiving it. Naturally the point arrived when it no longer benefited one to continue working.
Where does this punitive tax money go? Wherever our masters determine it should go.
However, here is a telling example:
Senate millionaires
John Kerry, D-Massachusetts: .......................... $163,626,399
Herb Kohl, D-Wisconsin: .................................. $111,015,016
John Rockefeller, D -West Virginia: ................... $81,648,018
Jon Corzine, D-New Jersey: .............................. $71,035,025
Dianne Feinstein, D-California: .......................... $26,377,109
[annual pension income from city of San Francisco of $43,138]
Peter Fitzgerald, R-Illinois: ................................. $26,132,013
Frank Lautenberg, D-New Jersey ...................... $17,789,018
Bill Frist, R-Tennessee: ..................................... $15,108,042
John Edwards, D-North Carolina: ...................... $12,844,029
Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts: ................ $9,905,009
Jeff Bingaman, D-New Mexico: .......................... $7,981,015
Bob Graham, D-Florida: .................................... $7,691,052
Richard Shelby, R-Alabama: .............................. $7,085,012
Gordon Smith, R-Oregon: .................................. $6,429,011
Lincoln Chafee, R-Rhode Island: ....................... $6,296,010
Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska: .................................. $6,267,028
Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee: ....................... $4,823,018
Mike DeWine, R-Ohio: ........................................ $4,308,093
Mark Dayton, D-Minnesota: ................................ $3,974,037
Ben Campbell, R-Colorado: ............................... $3,165,007
Chuck Hagel, R-Nebraska: ................................ $2,963,013
Olympia Snowe, R-Maine: ................................. $2,955,037
James Talent, R-Missouri: ................................. $2,843,031
Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania: ......................... $2,045,016
Judd Gregg, R-New Hampshire: ........................ $1,916,026
John McCain, R-Arizona: ................................... $1,838,010
James Inhofe, R-Oklahoma: .............................. $1,570,043
John Warner, R-Virginia: .................................... $1,545,039
Kay Bailey Hutchison, R - Texas: ..................... $1,513,046
Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky: ........................... $1,511,017
Harry Reid, D-Nevada: ....................................... $1,500,040
Sam Brownback, R-Kansas: ............................. $1,491,018
Thomas Carper, D-Delaware: ........................... $1,482,017
Ted Stevens, R-Alaska: ..................................... $1,417,013
Maria Cantwell, D-Washington: ......................... $1,264,999
Barbara Boxer, D-California: ............................. $1,172,003
[Annual pension of $3,536 from time as Marin County supervisor.]
Orrin Hatch, R-Utah: .......................................... $1,086,023
Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana: .............................. $1,080,014
Bill Nelson, D-Florida: ........................................ $1,073,014
Charles Grassley, R-Iowa: ................................ $1,016,024
*These figures are base estimates provided by senators on their financial disclosure forms.
Source: CNN Washington Bureau, Friday, June 13, 2003
Here are some more stats from Parade Magazine ... May 7, 2006:
WHO'S THE RICHEST IN CONGRESS?
The GOP may be the richer overall, but the Democrats have the really big bucks. Though 32 of the 50 wealthiest members of Congress are Republicans, the top four are all Democrats, according to the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call. Leading the wealth brigade: Sen. John Kerry (D. Mass.), with $750 million, mostly from his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry.
Next is Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D. W.Va.), heir to the Standard Oil fortune and worth $200 million. Sen. Herb Kohl (D. Wis.), a former department store owner, has $136 million. And Rep. Jane Harman (D. Cal.) has a net worth of $128 million, thanks in part to her husband, an electronics magnate [Ms. Harman is the minority Chair of the House Intel Commte.]
Rounding out the top five is Rep. Darrell Issa (R. Cal.), with $121 million. By the way, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R. Tenn.) is no. 13, with $14.2 million.
Nancy Pelosi is a member of the House; Pelosi is married to investor Paul Pelosi; the couple estimated their total assets to be worth $25 million to $102 million last year. [one figure in 2006 was set at about $55 Million]. Annual pension of $8,944 from time as San Mateo County supervisor.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, in the news with the release of her memoir, reported a net worth ranging from $352,000 to $3.8 million. [June, 2003]
Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut had an estimated net worth of $482,000 to $1.8 million. [June, 2003]
Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel; $500,000 to $2 million; pension from his previous job as an elementary school principal, $100,000 to $250,000.
Not all senators are millionaires. At least 10 senators reported net worths of less than $100,000.
Source [unless otherwise indicated]:
San Francisco Chronicle
Saturday, June 26, 2004
One point of posting this article is to draw attention to three entries in the column above; 1| note that Dianne Feinstein, D-California, besides her claimed net worth of $26 mil+, besides her Senate salary with all its expense priviledges and percs, requires the tax payers of the city of San Francisco to pay her an annual pension of $43,138. It might also be noted that a great deal of Sen. Feinstein's husband's [who cleverly uses a different last name] income derives from coordinating the transfer of American jobs to China - while his wife campaigns as defending American jobs.
2| Note that Barbara Boxer, D-California, who claims a net worth of over $1 mill, also draws an annual pension of $3,536 from her time as Marin County supervisor.
3| Also note that Nancy Pelosi receives an annual pension of $8,944 from her time as San Mateo County supervisor.
Finally, 4| also note Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel [Cal], with a claimed net worth of $500,000 to $2 million, draws a pension from his previous job as an elementary school principal of $100,000 to $250,000.
Present point made! Our politicans are becoming our masters, our ruling class - IMHO.
FReegards,
Bob Ireland
8 of the top 10 Senate millionaires are democRATS. Gee, now why don't we hear that tidbit on the news?
sigh
All the more reason we need Term Limits....politics should not be a career.
Plus how much hidden away in trusts so the taxman doesn't get any of the Kennedy family fortune?
True... a point I hinted at in my comments above.
When did class warfare become a conservative talking point?
You hit it on the head....feeeeeeeeelings. It's all about feeeeeeelings.
I get the gist...but an updated list would help. There's been senate elections since 2003.
Peter Fitz served 1 term then left.(Like he always hinted he would). I think he did it right.
What I've seen is that tax structures, insurance and workers compensation liability seem to be specifically designed to keep small businesses small.
Unless you innovate and produce a new or improve a product you can just barely scrape out an average wage earner's pay being self employed. I don't believe it's an accident. Politicians all seem to want to make new laws so that we think they are doing their jobs. The truth is, all they are doing is restricting our freedom.
So, do you propose to seize the wealth of the "ruling class" in an October Revolution, Comrade?
The two lunny senators from CA "earned" their pensions. It is legal...do you want them to return it?
The people of the US deserve the government they vote into office.
You need to convince people not to vote for rich, capitalistic pigs, Comrade! And turn Congress into a People's House & Senate!
"Throw the Bums Out!" might be a great campaign slogan too
Money talks, and bullsh*t walks!
The existence of the extremely wealthy, even in positions of power, is not in and of itself enough to conclude that America is now or soon will be an oligarchy. The form of government that our forefathers set up, is still in place today. If our three branches of government and all of the many individuals that inhabit them do not constitute a republic then I do not know what does.
(Not to mention--whatever power still rests with state and local governments, which I acknowledge is not as much as it should be, but there is still some.)
Perhaps the definition of oligarchy is a problem here, as the word 'few' could be interpretted differently by each of us, but I am still looking for more from you to back up your claim.
I totally agree with the fact that our country is turning into an oligarchy. And for those who are doing the unjust ruling, all I can say is, "Have fun spending all your cash in hell"...
If so, this is a very hefty increase in wealth in 3 years.
If the figures are true, Kerry's actually closer to being a billionaire.
I would love to know who these folks are. Democrats or Republicans?
Bummer.
"These figures cannot be verified as completely accurate; they simply reflect the claims of the individuals named. "
I am wondering where Bill Frist is hiding the rest of his money? When the Frists sold HCA their share was aroung $270 million. I guess he must have frittered it away.
Very astute post and the truth.
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