Page 146 - Mike Ratner CC - WISR Complete Dissertation - v6

It offers an explanation of the cycles of reform and retrenchment of a socio-economic political

system and how it remains undisturbed by rivalries and animosities. (Unger 2001)

Oligarchicalism as a Control Group

Oligarchy describes a small group of people having control of a country, organization, or

institution. It is derived from the Greek words “olígos”, meaning 'few', and “arkho”, meaning 'to

rule or to command. (Greek-English Lexicon) It reflects a form of power structure whose strength,

wealth and influence has grown dramatically within the United States in which direct power

primarily rests with a small number of people. Throughout history, oligarchies have often been

tyrannical, relying on public obedience or oppression to exist. Aristotle pioneered the use of the

term as a synonym for rule by the rich, (Winters, 2011) for which another term commonly used

especially by Ralph Nadar today is plutocracy. I have termed C.O.G as Controlling Oligarchic

Group or Government and will relate to how it greases the wheels to empower its own interests.

A recent report by UBS reveals that the global march of economic inequality is

accelerating. The report found that the billionaire’s share of wealth grew by nearly 20 percent last

year, reaching a level of disparity not seen since 1905, the gilded age. In short, monopolies and

oligopolies will continue to control and dominate political self-serving interests that result in

extreme income disparities between the increasingly few haves until the expanding have-nots have

a say and are made aware through a peer dialogue.

Today, just five people have as much wealth as the 3.8 billion people comprising the least

wealthy half of the world’s population, the system is rigged, and society’s stubborn belief and trust

in capitalism is at fault along with the “Mass Trance” belief in markets is what has allowed that.

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