General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Now will people believe me when I say we live in a de facto police state? [View all]MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)For this reason, WillyT, I believe it's difficult to determine the severity. But, it does exist in what I believe to be a wide-spread manner in the U.S.
Take for example, institutions of higher learning. They are dictated by their ability to raise money and the levels that are guaranteed survival are basically at the top. The debt bubble is growing for anyone who isn't already able to pay. These are the same people banging at the walls trying to get in to become something in a scheme of "get an education to rise in society".
Another example is the organizations that employ lots of people and suppress wages. I believe there was a thread earlier tonight calling them the real welfare queens. I agree because they - A) Don't pay real estate taxes as non-profits - B) Lobby state general assemblies to allow them to exist as non-profits and C) Keep most of their employees from having a career ladder, thus sustained under-employment, non-union pay, no collective bargaining. This all creates a permanent underclass.
It's corporatism, but it's controlled by very view. Oligarchy? It's certainly kept in check. No one can really get away from jobs that keep them in a permanent state of fear. Fear of loosing jobs, and now, fear of being extricated from gainful employment when they dare to step up and protest
. especially if they are persons of color.