The big steal

[HRM Resident]

Just when I thought there was nothing left to discuss,
Mike mentions the Powell Memo. I must admit I had never
heard of it. Some digging on the Internet enlightened me.

There is way too much to put in a single post. But
Heavens to Betsy, a publicly known scheme to take as
much from the middle class as possible was hatched in
1971 and honed by successive right-wing governments.

Why did this happen? Because it was done so slowly
and incrementally? The same thing is happening in
Canada. Those Alberta conservative think tanks are
crafting ways to get more, and their PM-in-waiting will
start the giant steal snowball rolling down the hill in 2025.

--
HRM Resident

[Mike Spencer]

HRM Resident <hrm...@gmail.com> writes:

> There is way too much to put in a single post. But
> Heavens to Betsy, a publicly known scheme to take as
> much from the middle class as possible was hatched in

> 1971...

And Nixon put the guy who hatched it on the Supreme Court.

> ... and honed by successive right-wing governments.

Yes. Governments since Reagan, as well as a multitude of "think tank"
entities, ALEC and other machinations.

> Why did this happen? Because it was done so slowly
> and incrementally?

Yes. It happened *very* gradually from ca. 1650 to the '20s when the
"robber barons" thought they owned the world and would do so
forever. The '30s Great Depression was a setback but worse, FDR tore
up their metaphorical rails and started to dismantle the fruits of
their efforts, heading the whole civic railroad in the "wrong" direction.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Plot

They've been whining and conspiring and maneuvering ever since, as it
all seemed to go wrong for them in the 50s & 60s. The Powell Memo and
the Reagan administration were the landmarks of a renewed campaign.
Even the Democratic US administrations since Reagan have done little to
oppose the campaign or have actually aided it. (Clinton signed repeal
of Glass-Steagal.) Then there's gradually taking over SCOTUS, failing
to support voting rights or suppress gerrymandering among other
regressive decisions.

> The same thing is happening in Canada. Those Alberta conservative
> think tanks are crafting ways to get more, and their PM-in-waiting
> will start the giant steal snowball rolling down the hill in 2025.

Maybe I should be following that more closely.

--
Mike Spencer Nova Scotia, Canada

[HRM Resident]

Mike Spencer <m...@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> wrote:
>
> Maybe I should be following that more closely.
>

It is a waste of time because (1) there is nothing we can
do to stop it, and (2) we are too old for it to affect us very
much. Sadly, the next generation(s) will have to either
find a way to reverse it or endure their ever-declining
standard of living.

Sort of related to this discussion, about 15 years ago, I
was an unwitting socialist spy amongst the wealthy. There
was a big sale on hotels and flights to the Cayman Islands.
I spent five weeks there.

Most days, we were swimming, and I had occasion to
listen to rich Americans who were bobbing around me. The
chatter was my enlightenment. Comments about the unfair
tax system in the US and how the right thing to do was to
move their money there so the socialist government at
home would not give it to people experiencing poverty.

The following year, I was in Barbados, also on a lucky sale
at a lovely resort. The owner invited all guests to his
mansion once a week for finger food and wine. I went and
observed. Everyone there was mega-rich and interspersed
with tax lawyers and accountants. They were aghast that
Switzerland had modified its tax laws a bit, and they were
discussing ways to move funds elsewhere.

This is not hearsay. I listened to the rich pigs scheme
with my own ears, both in the Cayman Islands and
Barbados.

--
HRM Resident