Trump Victory Caps 50-Year Right-Wing Agenda by Oligarchs

“When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men in a society, over the course of time they create for themselves a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it.” — Frédéric Bastiat, Economic sophisms, 2nd series (1848)

The recent political developments are the realization of a strategy that has been in the making for over half a century. Originating from a blueprint crafted by Louis Powell in 1971, the Republican Party has meticulously followed this plan.

The agenda was clear: to hand over control of America to its wealthiest individuals and biggest corporations. This shift from democracy to oligarchy was funded by a select group of America’s wealthiest, who have seen returns in the trillions thanks to tax cuts and subsidies for fossil fuels, with more benefits yet to come.

As any seasoned marketer would confirm, with sufficient funds and relentless advertising, and a readiness to stretch the truth, you can convince the public of almost anything.

This is not the end… hitting bottom often begins the process of renewal.

Even someone with a criminal record, accused of severe crimes, and having ties with foreign adversaries.

This autumn, the American electorate was bombarded with a massive amount of misleading advertising funded by billions of dollars, made possible by five partisan Republicans on the Supreme Court. This overwhelming financial power was unmatched by Democrats, not to mention the influence exerted by the billionaire Murdoch family’s Fox News and numerous conservative radio shows.

Expanding the view, it’s evident that this situation extends beyond just one election. Nearly every crisis facing America today is either directly caused or worsened by the corruption of massive financial influences enabled by these five Supreme Court justices.

These justices are implicated in our national issues including gun violence, drug crises, homelessness, political stalemate, inadequate response to climate change, threats to Social Security and Medicare, border issues, and the inaccessibility of affordable medications, insurance, and healthcare.

A few Supreme Court justices have been notably complicit, receiving lavish gifts and trips from billionaires in exchange for favorable rulings. For over two decades, Clarence Thomas and his wife have accepted millions in luxury vacations, education for their adopted child, homes, and exclusive club memberships.

Sam Alito has similarly benefited, and there are unresolved questions about how Brett Kavanaugh managed his debts. John Roberts’ spouse earned millions from law firms appearing before the court, Neil Gorsuch received a beneficial property deal, and Amy Coney Barrett has consistently declined to step down from cases involving her father’s oil business.

This dubious conduct isn’t illegal because the same Supreme Court justices have made it legal for themselves and for Congress to accept such bribes.

Consequently, we see oligarchs dominating our media and elections, and the Supreme Court even legalized foreign meddling in our elections with the Citizens United decision.

This modern era of government by the wealthy began a decade after Richard Nixon appointed Lewis Powell, the author of the infamous 1971 “Powell Memo” that laid out a corporate takeover of America, to the Supreme Court.

In the 1976 Buckley v. Valeo ruling, the Court declared that election spending was a form of “free speech” under the First Amendment, overturning 200 years of understanding that equated such spending with corruption.

The “originalists” on the Supreme Court claimed to reflect the views of the Founding Fathers when equating money with speech, a stance starkly contrary to historical truths.

In his 1816 letter to Samuel Kercheval, Thomas Jefferson warned:

“Those seeking profits, were they given total freedom, would not be trusted to keep government pure and our rights secure. Indeed, wealth seekers have always been the source of corruption in government.”

Yet, the Republicans on the Supreme Court listened not to the Founders but to the billionaires who placed them in their positions, maintained by gifts and lavish trips.

Two years post-Buckley, in 1978, the Court extended its rationale to corporate entities, with Justice Lewis Powell penning the majority opinion in the Boston v. Bellotti case. The dissenters warned:

“The special status of corporations has placed them in a position to control vast amounts of economic power which may, if not regulated, dominate not only our economy but the very heart of our democracy, the electoral process.”

Yet, they were overruled, paving the way for political corruption at all levels, a trend that continued to worsen, culminating in the Citizens United decision in 2010.

As a result, America today faces a critical issue with big money dictating government actions, reaching a climax last night by electing a leader with authoritarian tendencies.

Unlike other developed nations that enjoy national healthcare systems, affordable education, and strong middle classes supported by robust unions, America is hamstrung by its corrupted political system.

This brings us to a standstill, unable to progress on key issues due to the recent election outcomes.

Yet, this is not the end. Often, hitting rock bottom is a prelude to recovery.

Many Americans remain committed to advocating for a democracy free from the influence of the excessively wealthy.

And so will I.