By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The core problem plaguing societies and driving political instability is the extreme wealth concentrated in the hands of a tiny percentage of the global population. This extreme inequality, with a minuscule fraction of people controlling vastly more wealth than the majority, fuels various societal ills, including environmental destruction and democratic erosion. While the wealth of billionaires continues to grow exponentially, political action is lacking, as many political figures and media outlets prioritize the interests of the wealthy elite. The author concludes that addressing extreme wealth is crucial for creating a fairer and more sustainable future.
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At the root of all our problems stands one travesty: politicians’ surrender to the super-rich. It’s a statement that rings true, reflecting a deeply entrenched issue that permeates every aspect of our society, from broken policies to ignored crises. The problem isn’t just about politicians being swayed; it’s about a fundamental shift in priorities, where the interests of a select few – the super-rich – consistently overshadow the needs of the many.
This isn’t a recent development. It’s a systemic failure fueled by money. Citizens United paved the way for a system where wealth dictates influence. Once individuals amass a certain level of wealth, they often exist in a different reality, detached from the incentives and constraints that govern the rest of us. They lose touch with shared human experiences, and their priorities diverge dramatically from those of the average citizen. This disparity leads to a distortion of democracy, where campaigns are funded by the very people the laws are supposed to regulate, creating a breeding ground for corruption. We’ve morphed from a representation problem to a bribery problem, where politicians can be bought, not elected.
The current system has become a machine that consistently rewards the wealthy and powerful. Think about it: lottery scraps for schools while a billionaire’s yacht budget could fix a city’s crumbling infrastructure? The priorities are not only askew but backwards. It’s a reality born from a system designed to benefit the few. The focus on “culture wars” distracts from the core issue: the concentration of wealth and power. In a world where money holds more value than people, this outcome is the only logical one. This surrender isn’t merely a matter of greed; it’s a fundamental misunderstanding of the values that should underpin a just society.
The love of money is indeed the root of all evil. It’s a sickness. This pursuit of wealth and power leads to corruption, misuse of authority, and a complete disregard for the well-being of others. Oligarchy is the inevitable consequence. We have to replace elected leaders who prioritize the wealthy over the needs of the people. This is about prioritizing the needs of the people. It’s about recognizing that the “super-rich” are the enemy of true progress. We need to wake up and acknowledge the reality that inflation, denied insurance claims, and stagnant wages are all symptoms of this power imbalance. It’s not a surrender; it’s collusion.
The corruption is a systemic failure of our government. They are supposed to represent their constituents, but instead, they increasingly represent business interests. This is a betrayal of the oath of office. The wealthy elites are kowtowing to the powerful and the wealthy for personal gain. This is the great evil. These are the sociopaths with endless money who have infiltrated our institutions. The system is the problem. Allowing wealth to accumulate at this level gives individuals and corporations the ability to control and influence the government. Our values need to change, and the people need to feel the pain that will come with those changes.
This situation requires concrete actions. We should limit the terms of those in office. We need to deal with those who are accumulating wealth and hiding behind government laws. The rich are not loyal to any country. They are loyal to their money. We should tax them out of existence. Corporate and foreign lobbying should not be legal. Our elected representatives cannot represent their constituents when the wealthy can pour money into politics at the current level. It’s a truism that politicians surrender to the rich.
The Republicans bear a great deal of responsibility in this issue. In 2012, judges declared corporate donations as an act of “free speech” that could not be infringed upon, and campaign limits were violations of free speech. The Democrats were then faced with a choice: to limit donations and be vastly outfunded by Republicans or to play the same game to survive. They chose the latter, and now all campaigns must take corporate money to win.
We have to recognize that this is not about Democrats or Republicans. The rich have more money than they and their descendants can spend, and it is never enough. This detachment from the human experience is what leads to the problems. We have to address the root causes and push for change: End Citizens United, implement upper age limits in Congress, and institute ranked-choice voting. Only then can we hope to restore a government that truly represents the people. This is not just a problem; it is the root of all our problems.