Revealed - the capitalist network that runs the world

[ceetee9]

AS PROTESTS against financial power sweep the world this week, science may have confirmed the protesters' worst fears. An analysis of the relationships between 43,000 transnational corporations has identified a relatively small group of companies, mainly banks, with disproportionate power over the global economy.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21228354.500-revealed--the-capitalist-network-that-runs-the-world.html

[Snowbird]

Meet your owners.


The 1318 transnational corporations that form the core of the economy. Superconnected companies are red, very connected companies are yellow. The size of the dot represents revenue (Image: PLoS One)


http://www.newscientist.com/data/images/ns/cms/mg21228354.500/mg21228354.500-3_600.jpg


http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21228354.500-revealed--the-capitalist-network-that-runs-the-world.html

[Unified Serenity]

I don't believe they represent capitalism, but more oligarchism going into world control. Capitalism is about free markets, and these corporations detest free markets.

[buckminster fuller]

free market is what lead to this situation...

[Unified Serenity]

free market is what lead to this situation...

I completely disagree. Crony capitalism is what led to this situation. Fractional banking, payoffs to crony corporations, bail outs of too big to fail crony corporations and arm twisting in congress that the country would go into a tailspin if the Tarps and bail outs were not approved all went into this problem. The boom and bust business cycle created by the Federal Reserve which they have done around the world caused the problem.

Free market capitalism where companies compete on an even playing field has not been allowed for decades. American businesses have been over regulated while foreign competitors have state backed support and steal American technology have caused our economy to suffer. China is selling us fraudulent processors for military aircraft which is both a security problem and stealing. Big goverment programs which stifle competition which would lower costs have contributed and caused massive fraud and over spending. Nafta and GATT ruined our manufacturing base, and we wonder why we don't have any jobs. It's not the fault of capitalism.

[buckminster fuller]

free market is what lead to this situation...


Free market capitalism where companies compete on an even playing field has not been allowed for decades.

So, you're saying that what we see today in terms of concentration of powers through corporations is not a logical extension to the idea of capitalism (as economics based on competition).. It seems to me that the competition is over, and that we have winners..

Edit : maybe it's time to get out of this paradigm of "isms"

[13th Warrior]

free market is what lead to this situation...

I completely disagree. Crony capitalism is what led to this situation. Fractional banking, payoffs to crony corporations, bail outs of too big to fail crony corporations and arm twisting in congress that the country would go into a tailspin if the Tarps and bail outs were not approved all went into this problem. The boom and bust business cycle created by the Federal Reserve which they have done around the world caused the problem.

Free market capitalism where companies compete on an even playing field has not been allowed for decades. American businesses have been over regulated while foreign competitors have state backed support and steal American technology have caused our economy to suffer. China is selling us fraudulent processors for military aircraft which is both a security problem and stealing. Big goverment programs which stifle competition which would lower costs have contributed and caused massive fraud and over spending. Nafta and GATT ruined our manufacturing base, and we wonder why we don't have any jobs. It's not the fault of capitalism.

Actually, it was deregulation that setup the down fall of the economy; the repeal of the Glass-Steagle Act comes to mind first, and the deregulation of Wall Street and unfettered betting, second.

An economic system based on exponential growth isn't in-line with natural order and is destined for failure...

[RMorgan]

I think this is indeed a consequence of Free Market. Free Market is when governments decide not to take strong regulatory measures over corporations, right? However, in this case, the corporations took even more advantage over it and started to control the governments.

[buckminster fuller]

free market is what lead to this situation...

I completely disagree. Crony capitalism is what led to this situation. Fractional banking, payoffs to crony corporations, bail outs of too big to fail crony corporations and arm twisting in congress that the country would go into a tailspin if the Tarps and bail outs were not approved all went into this problem. The boom and bust business cycle created by the Federal Reserve which they have done around the world caused the problem.

Free market capitalism where companies compete on an even playing field has not been allowed for decades. American businesses have been over regulated while foreign competitors have state backed support and steal American technology have caused our economy to suffer. China is selling us fraudulent processors for military aircraft which is both a security problem and stealing. Big goverment programs which stifle competition which would lower costs have contributed and caused massive fraud and over spending. Nafta and GATT ruined our manufacturing base, and we wonder why we don't have any jobs. It's not the fault of capitalism.

Actually, it was deregulation that setup the down fall of the economy; the repeal of the Glass-Steagle Act comes to mind first, and the deregulation of Wall Street and unfettered betting, second.

An economic system based on exponential growth isn't in-line with natural order and is destined for failure...

Yet, deregulation is the result of intense lobbying from those playing the game of free market..
I agree 100% that capitalism, if based on the idea of economic growth, is doomed to failure since we live in a finite world.
Only a resource based economy can be expected to allow the flourishment of human societies.

[13th Warrior]

free market is what lead to this situation...

I completely disagree. Crony capitalism is what led to this situation. Fractional banking, payoffs to crony corporations, bail outs of too big to fail crony corporations and arm twisting in congress that the country would go into a tailspin if the Tarps and bail outs were not approved all went into this problem. The boom and bust business cycle created by the Federal Reserve which they have done around the world caused the problem.

Free market capitalism where companies compete on an even playing field has not been allowed for decades. American businesses have been over regulated while foreign competitors have state backed support and steal American technology have caused our economy to suffer. China is selling us fraudulent processors for military aircraft which is both a security problem and stealing. Big goverment programs which stifle competition which would lower costs have contributed and caused massive fraud and over spending. Nafta and GATT ruined our manufacturing base, and we wonder why we don't have any jobs. It's not the fault of capitalism.

Actually, it was deregulation that setup the down fall of the economy; the repeal of the Glass-Steagle Act comes to mind first, and the deregulation of Wall Street and unfettered betting, second.

An economic system based on exponential growth isn't in-line with natural order and is destined for failure...

Yet, deregulation is the result of intense lobbying from those playing the game of free market..
I agree 100% that capitalism, if based on the idea of economic growth, is doomed to failure since we live in a finite world.
Only a resource based economy can be expected to allow the flourishment of human societies.

Yes, it should be clear to most that Capitalism needs regulation. As Gerald Celente likes to say: "Past performance is indicative of future trends"; past performance says that corporations will exploit people and the environment if left to their own devices. This is why we have groups like the DNR, EPA and Unions.

Granted, i will consed that "Crony Capitalism" has a problem with regulation because you have the top elite corporations dictating polices to stifle their competition, creating an unfair market place but, as others have pointed out this is endemic of Capitalism in general.

[Unified Serenity]

free market is what lead to this situation...

I completely disagree. Crony capitalism is what led to this situation. Fractional banking, payoffs to crony corporations, bail outs of too big to fail crony corporations and arm twisting in congress that the country would go into a tailspin if the Tarps and bail outs were not approved all went into this problem. The boom and bust business cycle created by the Federal Reserve which they have done around the world caused the problem.

Free market capitalism where companies compete on an even playing field has not been allowed for decades. American businesses have been over regulated while foreign competitors have state backed support and steal American technology have caused our economy to suffer. China is selling us fraudulent processors for military aircraft which is both a security problem and stealing. Big goverment programs which stifle competition which would lower costs have contributed and caused massive fraud and over spending. Nafta and GATT ruined our manufacturing base, and we wonder why we don't have any jobs. It's not the fault of capitalism.

Actually, it was deregulation that setup the down fall of the economy; the repeal of the Glass-Steagle Act comes to mind first, and the deregulation of Wall Street and unfettered betting, second.

An economic system based on exponential growth isn't in-line with natural order and is destined for failure...

You're right about those aspects of de-regulation, but I speak of the regulations in environment and development hidden taxes which get passed on to the consumer and the highest corporate tax rates in the world that have caused corporations to move offshore thus destroying our jobs in manufacturing. So, it's a double whammy. The corporations have bought and paid for special allowances which the President or Congress has happily provided thereby destroying an even playing field for the other corporations. Special allowances for "disadvantaged" groups to get contracts over lower bidding corporations drive up costs to the taxpayer.

Recently, here in the Florida State Capital, we discovered that corporations were using said, "disadvantaged" minority owned businesses to file for contracts with the city only to have the real work done by the other corporation. The minority owned business just pocketed some money and never did any work. It's all a game, and the city residents are paying for this game. So, that's what I mean by over regulation. It might have been a good idea in some instances, but in the long run it's destroyed jobs.

I daresay, show me a socialist country that is not bankrupt and/or the majority of their citizens suffering as in china. Socialism / Communism have failed worldwide, and you can say all you want to get rid of the "isms", but I live in reality and in the reality I see, we have governmental structure worldwide set on controlling the people, and crony corporations connected to a vast network working towards having a two class society of the dirt poor happy to live in a share cropper lifestyle and the filthy rich. The middle class will be a distant memory. Get used the shackles.

[13th Warrior]

free market is what lead to this situation...

I completely disagree. Crony capitalism is what led to this situation. Fractional banking, payoffs to crony corporations, bail outs of too big to fail crony corporations and arm twisting in congress that the country would go into a tailspin if the Tarps and bail outs were not approved all went into this problem. The boom and bust business cycle created by the Federal Reserve which they have done around the world caused the problem.

Free market capitalism where companies compete on an even playing field has not been allowed for decades. American businesses have been over regulated while foreign competitors have state backed support and steal American technology have caused our economy to suffer. China is selling us fraudulent processors for military aircraft which is both a security problem and stealing. Big goverment programs which stifle competition which would lower costs have contributed and caused massive fraud and over spending. Nafta and GATT ruined our manufacturing base, and we wonder why we don't have any jobs. It's not the fault of capitalism.

Actually, it was deregulation that setup the down fall of the economy; the repeal of the Glass-Steagle Act comes to mind first, and the deregulation of Wall Street and unfettered betting, second.

An economic system based on exponential growth isn't in-line with natural order and is destined for failure...

You're right about those aspects of de-regulation, but I speak of the regulations in environment and development hidden taxes which get passed on to the consumer and the highest corporate tax rates in the world that have caused corporations to move offshore thus destroying our jobs in manufacturing. So, it's a double whammy. The corporations have bought and paid for special allowances which the President or Congress has happily provided thereby destroying an even playing field for the other corporations. Special allowances for "disadvantaged" groups to get contracts over lower bidding corporations drive up costs to the taxpayer.

Recently, here in the Florida State Capital, we discovered that corporations were using said, "disadvantaged" minority owned businesses to file for contracts with the city only to have the real work done by the other corporation. The minority owned business just pocketed some money and never did any work. It's all a game, and the city residents are paying for this game. So, that's what I mean by over regulation. It might have been a good idea in some instances, but in the long run it's destroyed jobs.

I daresay, show me a socialist country that is not bankrupt and/or the majority of their citizens suffering as in china. Socialism / Communism have failed worldwide, and you can say all you want to get rid of the "isms", but I live in reality and in the reality I see, we have governmental structure worldwide set on controlling the people, and crony corporations connected to a vast network working towards having a two class society of the dirt poor happy to live in a share cropper lifestyle and the filthy rich. The middle class will be a distant memory. Get used the shackles.

Pre-programing says that if you are not for Capitalism then you are a Socialist; right?



I daresay, show me a socialist country that is not bankrupt and/or the majority of their citizens suffering as in china. Socialism / Communism have failed worldwide, and you can say all you want to get rid of the "isms", but I live in reality and in the reality I see, we have governmental structure worldwide set on controlling the people, and crony corporations connected to a vast network working towards having a two class society of the dirt poor happy to live in a share cropper lifestyle and the filthy rich. The middle class will be a distant memory. Get used the shackles.

Here's one example for you; dubbed the "Happiest People in the World"

Denmark

[buckminster fuller]

Communism has not failed anything, the idea of sharing labor and its fruits is still floating around... people have failed communism on purpose. It was never meant to become a tool for happiness as it has been done, just a control mean.

Capitalism has been given a go at worldwide, even china today IS a capitalist country to most extents. And capitalism has FAILED, big time. Competition between human beings is just not working out, wether over a market or simply a job. America's dream, afterall, was a nightmare. Some can see it, others, anchored too deep in this fallacious reality, just remain blind. The monetary system we have today is not straightly the result of political decisions, but of those that have something to gain from the game. And no, it is not the middle class..

[Unified Serenity]

Here's one example for you; dubbed the "Happiest People in the World"

Denmark

So, you want to compare the demographics of Denmark with the United States and think we could have the same or similar systems? I look at Greece, Russia, France, China etc and while they pretended for a long time that their system was wonderful we now see the cold hard facts that it is a system that cannot support constant over spending. I know that if my neighbor goes into incredible debt living above their means while the rest of us live below our means with much less than the good ol' "Jones" next door that if someone came and took half of our savings to bail out the high spending over their means living "Jones" there would be hell to pay, but somehow it's ok to shake down Germany or other countries to bail out Greece who thinks its just wonderful to have extravagent wages and social benefits which they cannot support but want other people's money to pay for it. As Mrs. Thatcher said, "The problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money" which used to just mean your own countrymen and women who worked hard to earn it, but now extends to other countries who have managed their resources more responsibly or are not quite yet at the catastrophic emergency state yet like Greece is.

Let them fail, let them learn, and end this crap. Let the Big banks fail, let the insurance companies fail, and end the games. Eventually, people will learn to work for what they have and to never again have a private central bank pulling the strings.

[divine_moments_of_truth]

I'll just be waiting for my Earth Corp. paycheck :rolleyes:

[Unified Serenity]

I'll just be waiting for my Earth Corp. paycheck :rolleyes:

LOL, yeh don't hold your breath.

[Fred Steeves]

How bout we just stop it with ALL the useless "isms", and start thinking a little bigger than rehashing tired old ideas handed down to us that were destined to fail in the first place. Choose an "ism", and you choose failure.

Cheers,
Fred

[13th Warrior]

Here's one example for you; dubbed the "Happiest People in the World"

Denmark

So, you want to compare the demographics of Denmark with the United States and think we could have the same or similar systems?

I was simply showing you an example where it has worked.

We could compare if you like but, i'd wager your argument would be based upon Denmarks higher tax rates and if there were a true apples to apples comparison of taxes vs benefits realized you would be surprised at the comparison.

[Unified Serenity]

Hey Fred,

I would love to let go of "isms"; however, I sense a disturbing painting of a very good system that encourages one to reach for their dreams and working hard to achieve them with the prospect of building a solid future and providing jobs and a great benefit to one's society with what we have today which is not true capitalism. I find many here aligned with the idea of socialism and none of it's costs and ultimate downfall throughout history who repeatedly beat up on America's past success with said free market capitalism.

So, yes, it would be great to drop isms, but it does not change how our world has worked. Let's say OWS were to be successful and all these corporations fail and the government takes over, where are the jobs going to come from? Where are the taxes going to come from to pay for everything these protesters want? Ultimately the entire world needs to fall apart, and unfortunately I believe that there are certain countries who are just waiting for us in the West to implode so they can smash us with an iron fist and we can truly see how wonderful their system works as proven from the past with millions dead and imprisoned because they dared to speak their minds.

At least we can debate and bash our country, many can't and if we are ruined neither will we.

[Fred Steeves]

At least we can debate and bash our country, many can't and if we are ruined neither will we.

Well, for the time being anyway. I don't even feel a part of this country any more, and I wouldn't bat an eye to apologize to many others in this world for the things done to them in my name. I carry the spirit of freedom and independence we once stood for, but that's as far as my relationship with this country goes any more. How many other people in different countries can't speak their minds at all as you correctly point out, but because of puppet regimes "we" have put into place.

When the time comes for the excuse to crack down on America also, it will be attempted. Count on it. If there's one thing that can still be said for this place, I think the future of this whole planet is going to depend on what happens right here on American soil. That's why I'm not going to leave, no matter what. If the last flicker of freedom in the hearts of men dies here, that's it. Hello to a brand new and better than ever dark age.

I don't understand all the sudden foolish hoopla concerning socialism, but whatever. Capitalism ain't gonna save the day either. The only way forward is a revolution in consciousness, anything else will wind up in dismal failure.

Cheers,
Fred

[scotusa]

Here's one example for you; dubbed the "Happiest People in the World"

Denmark

So, you want to compare the demographics of Denmark with the United States and think we could have the same or similar systems? I look at Greece, Russia, France, China etc and while they pretended for a long time that their system was wonderful we now see the cold hard facts that it is a system that cannot support constant over spending. I know that if my neighbor goes into incredible debt living above their means while the rest of us live below our means with much less than the good ol' "Jones" next door that if someone came and took half of our savings to bail out the high spending over their means living "Jones" there would be hell to pay, but somehow it's ok to shake down Germany or other countries to bail out Greece who thinks its just wonderful to have extravagent wages and social benefits which they cannot support but want other people's money to pay for it. As Mrs. Thatcher said, "The problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money" which used to just mean your own countrymen and women who worked hard to earn it, but now extends to other countries who have managed their resources more responsibly or are not quite yet at the catastrophic emergency state yet like Greece is.

Let them fail, let them learn, and end this crap. Let the Big banks fail, let the insurance companies fail, and end the games. Eventually, people will learn to work for what they have and to never again have a private central bank pulling the strings.

Socialism/Capitalism/Communism et al are just names and tools for the evil bankers to make money by 'dividing and conquering' us "hapless fools". They all have a common denominator, making money for those who promote and fund the competition and aggressions. Until these individuals are removed from any system be prepared for more and more doom and despair.
The love of money is the root of all evil and these bankers have deep roots. Time to uproot and grow anew.

[ktlight]

My understanding is that the PTB practice socialism (this, because they bailed out the banks and GM with public money) and impose capitalism on the masses. Personally, I would call what they practice cabalism.

[buckminster fuller]

Only a paradigm shift will bring the opportunity to think society in a pro-creative way. Jobs, taxes, incomes, debts, are words which describe a certain set of "tools" for the current economic policies. These are blinded by the arrogance of technocratic economists which personal world depends on the reality of their necessity. Truly, once enough of us have stepped back and considered the whole thing for what it is, a scam, we'll be good to get into a new paradigm, with no money, no debt, no isms, no greed, respect for all and for our environment. It is easy to bring the word utopia, yet, what we live in today can be defined as one (utopia).

[Unified Serenity]

I agree Fred. I happen to believe it will take a very hard turn and it might be too late to get American's into action, but we can hope that a worldwide consciousness shift will happen and we can create a world where money is not used, where all find room to grow and expand their abilities and where laziness is not rewarded nor something people find a pleasing option. It truly will take a new thought paradigm.

[jorr lundstrom]

If you think its gonna help to protest, demonstrate against these guys or write petitions
or beg or change the laws or wot so ever. Please remove the veil from your eyes.
Those guys are psychopaths. We can do all those things and its just gonna add like cream
on the cake to them. I think they showed their real face when they drank champagne and
saluted the masses on the balcony overviewing Wall Street. They spat the whole world in
the face. This is how they function, They are right now the stars own their own scene.
One of the thing that could have turned the situation on Wall Street should have been
a man with balls and a modern slingshot and some steel bullits.
If you live in a village in, lets say India and a tiger comes in and prey on the children would
you hesitate in taking out the tiger? Now we have to deal with human predators that wont stop
their game that costs the life of uncountable humans each year. This game will continue until
some humans start to take action in practise. I know that not everyone is aimed to participate
in such actions, but please support and honour those who are. If not for anything else, so for
creating a situation that make it possible for our grandchildren to live a life worth to live.

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt81/sakasvattaja/walmart.jpg

[christian]

Capitalism just means free market. Today corporations, banks and government colluded, this is by definition fascism or corporatism. I'm all for a free market where everyone has the chance to rise and fall on his own merits. I for one, would then have a decent business, that actually helps people and the planet and would only support those, who do the same and boycott the others by not trading with them. This way the system is self-regulating.



free market is what lead to this situation...

I completely disagree. Crony capitalism is what led to this situation.

This and the lack of people standing up to the cronies. Humanity was complacent.

The more we take on personal responsibility and always remain vigilant, the less the robber-barons will have their way with us.

[Carmody]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2051902/Men-use-internet-porn-likely-hopeless-bedroom.html

the critical point about the psychology of the situation and how it ties into this one, here in this thread:

The report, called 'Porn-Induced Sexual Dysfunction is a Growing Problem', explains that the loss of libido 30 years early is caused by continuous over-stimulation of dopamine, the neurotransmitter that activates the body's reaction to sexual pleasure, by repeatedly viewing pornography on the internet.

A 'paradoxical effect' is created whereby with each new thrill, or 'dopamine spike', the brain loses its ability to respond to dopamine signals, meaning that porn-users demand increasingly extreme experiences to become sexually aroused.

The capitalist becomes inured to the idea of death and destruction and demands more, just to reach the same original high.

How did Caligula get to the point where he had people dying/killed while being on pikes and similar, while he was outside in the sun partaking of his Din-Din (eating Dinner)?

He did it in exactly the same way as the article on sexual dysfunction states. Rolling into new extremes just to maintain the differential that the high itself is.

The sociopath goes down this road as this is the most potent part of their avatar/human experience, as they have no empathy, and at best, a twisted sense of love. They get high and demand even more, the next time they get high.

[christian]

The capitalist becomes inured to the idea of death and destruction and demands more, just to reach the same original high.

[...]

The sociopath goes down this road as this is the most potent part of their avatar/human experience, as they have no empathy, and at best, a twisted sense of love. They get high and demand even more, the next time they get high.

Capitalist = Sociopath?

I like the notion of a really free market, I like freedom in any way, I like freedom-kabobs, freedom creole, freedom gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple freedom, lemon freedom, coconut freedom, pepper freedom, freedom soup, freedom stew, freedom salad, freedom and potatoes, freedom burger, freedom sandwich... :fish2:

I don't think a free market necessarily corrupts its participants, it all depends on the spiritual attitude and understanding of each one.

[13th Warrior]

The capitalist becomes inured to the idea of death and destruction and demands more, just to reach the same original high.

[...]

The sociopath goes down this road as this is the most potent part of their avatar/human experience, as they have no empathy, and at best, a twisted sense of love. They get high and demand even more, the next time they get high.

Capitalist = Sociopath?

I like the notion of a really free market, I like freedom in any way, I like freedom-kabobs, freedom creole, freedom gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple freedom, lemon freedom, coconut freedom, pepper freedom, freedom soup, freedom stew, freedom salad, freedom and potatoes, freedom burger, freedom sandwich... :fish2:

I don't think a free market necessarily corrupts its participants, it all depends on the spiritual attitude and understanding of each one.

This post should be in the "Channeled Information" section since this has clearly been channeled from Bubba Gump...now back to your regular programming.

[58andfixed]

If "isms" are going to be tossed about, perhaps making a differentiation between corportism and capitalism would be well worth the effort.

One take, and there are many others, from "The Young Turks."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g3twyieRlQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g3twyieRlQ

5m 34s 22,648 views

Posted March 9, 2009

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