Revealed- The Capitalist Network that Runs the World

Apologies if this has been posted before. I just read it myself and thought others might find it interesting.


thanks

EXCERPT

The idea that a few bankers control a large chunk of the global economy might not seem like news to New York's Occupy Wall Street movement and protesters elsewhere (see photo). But the study, by a trio of complex systems theorists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, is the first to go beyond ideology to empirically identify such a network of power. It combines the mathematics long used to model natural systems with comprehensive corporate data to map ownership among the world's transnational corporations (TNCs). "Reality is so complex, we must move away from dogma, whether it's conspiracy theories or free-market," says James Glattfelder. "Our analysis is reality-based." Previous studies have found that a few TNCs own large chunks of the world's economy, but they included only a limited number of companies and omitted indirect ownerships, so could not say how this affected the global economy - whether it made it more or less stable, for instance. MORE www.newscientist.com...

www.newscientist.com...

If there were really a Capitalist network that runs the world, the world would be free, prosperous, would have clean water and air, bountiful harvests, and generally happier and wealthier.

This article describes Corporatism, which is the road to fascism. Capitalism and Corporatism are similar like ants and elephants are similar. They're both animals, and they both have legs. The similarities end there.

/TOA

reply to post by The Old American


Corporatism is capitalism. It is nothing but a group of capitalists organizing to purchase the means of production. It only becomes fascist once the governments start having direct control over the corporations.

Capitalism has nothing to do with free markets or individualism, it only require that the means of production are privately owned to create profit.

reply to post by The Old American

If there were really a Capitalist network that runs the world, the world would be free, prosperous, would have clean water and air, bountiful harvests, and generally happier and wealthier.

That's not true at all. Are you really trying to say that there is no poverty, starvation, or pollution in capitalist countries?

those "means of production" are you and I. the worker.

true capitalism is ownership of your labour, to create profit.

This was a really good study that I first saw in an article by David Wilcock in his financial tyranny series.

I wonder if this structure is impenetrable... Could a capably enough person start a new company that fits its way in to the corporate complex in a significant way?

My inclination is to answer this yes, which means all hope is not lost. A person with the right vision can still rise from the depths of the shrinking middle class, or even a poverty setting.

As a civilization exists longer in a continuous way, it seems those with deeper ties will have more and more power while those born unconnected will face a steeper climb to the top.

So it becomes important now, before corporate dominance is beyond return, to ensure the opportunity of the middle/lower class by prioritizing education in low income communities.

Originally posted by RealSpoke
Corporatism is capitalism. It is nothing but a group of capitalists organizing to purchase the means of production. It only becomes fascist once the governments start having direct control over the corporations.

Capitalism has nothing to do with free markets or individualism, it only require that the means of production are privately owned to create profit.

Wrong!

In a capitalist system, I work hard to grow a garden. Another works hard to raise chickens and goats. I have a surplus of vegetables, the other has a surplus of eggs and milk. We swap produce, both have a better diet, and we're all happy.

In a corporatist system, we are both told that we cannot produce goods without gov't approval and permission - which is generally prohibitively expensive or difficult to obtain - and we are forced to go to Walmart to buy what we need. Or starve.

No system will ever completely eliminate economic disparity. (This coming from someone who lives below the "poverty line.") One remedy for that problem is hard work and initiative. Another is sobriety in lifestyle, living within one's means. Another is a spirit of compassion, generosity and mercy on the part of those who have enough to share with those truly in need.

reply to post by incoserv


No, you're wrong.

What you are talking about is a free market,,,which is not required in a capitalist system. Government regulations, rules, or permits have absolutely nothing to do with whether a system is capitalist or not.

Capitalism = private means of production in order to create profit

reply to post by incoserv


In the system of Nazi fascism, the government controlled the companies. In modern America, the companies have disproportional control over the government. There isn't much of a difference in reality.

What would be the effect of a widespread boycott of super companies/corporations by the public? Is it even possible? Could communities support themselves without relying on big bank loans, mass production of goods, etc....?

As others have mentioned- this ain't capitalism but corporatism- they are not the FREAKING same

Corporatism demands more intrusive state control and regulation- tighter regulation makes it harder for smaller business to compete in terms of finance, manpower devoted to meeting regulation etc, which is where the big business flourish- hand in hand with the state- corporatism

Anyone reckoning this is capitalism is either lying with an agenda or doesn't understand the terms they are using

A true capitalistic society is not bad as long as someone is controlling the environmental impact of the little businesses. What we have is big business and profiteering at the expense of others in the system we have. This whole system needs to be replacing.

It is hard for a small business to make profits. A small hardware store in a town supplies a local supply of supplies for maintenance of a persons possessions. The store supplies two to three local walk to work jobs. They cannot compete with the big chain stores because the low volume does not give enough gross profits to pay a living wage to employees. A locality used to have hardware stores in each town but now big chains have endangered their survival. Now people need to travel ten miles to get what they could go ten blocks to get. All money goes to the chain stores and the profits leave the area endangering the economies of the local communities. This same problem exists in grocery stores and sooner or later all the small markets will be gone. Large chain stores do not supply the same amount of jobs as multiple smaller stores but the price is less because of less workers per quantity of food sold. Again the profits leave the area and trickle up to a few individuals at the top making them very rich.

This is not capitalism at all, in capitalism a small businessman who works hard can build a business that can span generations. This new dog eat dog world with no local upper management of the business present is dangerous. When a depression comes a small paid for food store can use his built up influence to supply food for the community. Will big business do this? They will raise prices to what the market will bear. Big chain stores have big bills also and most are overextended and could never survive a long depression.

Small businesses also have high insurance costs and high expenses for heating and cooling. This has to be passed on. Power companies and local government used to give these businesses a break but with overspending on their part on nonessential things they cannot do that anymore. So the backbone of America is disappearing. These remaining small businesses are riddled with debt from years of reduced sales and cannot keep supplying their small communities. This is very dangerous, the big businesses have little ties to an area they do not live in. I see a total collapse of our economy shortly starting with big businesses shutting their doors to protect their corporation execs way of life. It will create a wave of opportunity for small businesses to start but sadly to say there is not much loyalty in the new generation to make these stores survive. People will travel ten miles to save a buck on something at a different store with three dollars in gas consumed. They then brag that what they bought was cheaper than the local market and complain of the high costs at the local store. People can't see the future. The internet shopping is also a threat to local economies.

Capitalism is not bad but what we have is not capitalism. What we have is a total disregard of local loyalty of the community. Spend your money in your community and your community will thrive as the rest of the nation falls apart. Buy local and support your people not others that you do not know.

reply to post by rickymouse




exactly mate, capitalism should be a friend of small business, so when big business and corporatism flourishes you don't have capitalism- it requires an enlarged state interfering in the minutia of businesses which is financially and physically intolerable for many smaller firms- and I think we can all agree that an enlarged state hitting industry with regulations is not capitalism!

(I agree about the environmental side and I am also not a complete capitalist fanatic- for example I live in the UK and think the minimum wage has largely been a good thing)

reply to post by rickymouse


While the structure of the overall economy might be corporate over capitalist, I'd like to point out that capitalist opportunities still exist for the individual.

Both systems suck, and are the same anyway, exploitation of the masses for a selected few. Truth is it has been going on since the medieval ages, kings and queens, princes and princesses, knights, etc. It is the same system nonetheless, who cares how the selected few are named? Will you name the sun tomorrow with a different name? It is pointless and irrelevant, and off topic. Remember what's important.

reply to post by MassOccurs


I made a living with my business but costs of running the businesses including insurances, licenses, new tool costs, consumables, etc... used to develop and maintain the business ate up most of the money. I worked hard and long and made less than I could of if I had a job working many other places. I did supply jobs for about three or more employees though but my responsibility to their family income also caused me to make less. I tried to give them steady work so sometimes created projects for them to work on that weren't necessary.

reply to post by rickymouse


Not sure if you're agreeing or disagreeing...

Get the impression you're saying yeah, there is some opportunity BUT success isn't very likely because of the squeeze on small business. Which I suppose is true.

A theme here is is the exploitation of many by few. Any thoughts on the possibility that the rich are rich mostly because they are just smarter? If you had an idea that had the potential to generate some billions, shouldn't you have the right to follow through on it?

reply to post by MassOccurs

I was agreeing but was trying to show how small businesses are more personal to employees and that they by choice sometimes live with less than their employees make at times.

Being rich doesn't make a person bad. Desire to maintain a lifestyle and even increasing a lifestyle many times makes business owners or managers disregard the employees needs. Most big corporations do not have a personal tie to their out of area ventures or even their in area employees. Maintaining their personal lifestyle sometimes gets in the way of being humane to the workers needs. Companies that have ties to the communities often have more reason to treat their employees right. They live in the area and are under the eye of the public. Corporations are different because there is no single person that is liable for transgressions. It's all part of business as they say. There is also hardly no personal liability of the execs of the corporation compared to a regular company or a class C corporation. The money to pay for transgressions of the Execs comes from the stockholders profits, making stockholders loose money and not the management of the Corporation.

reply to post by rickymouse


Good post, read your first one too fast and didn't get what you were saying.

I've done a lot of thinking and talking on this site about how I think government should be more community/local based especially in the aid sector of welfare, social security, health care...

The same logic applies to business and the private sector as you've pointed out.

Our identities tend to be individual, household, then American. There is a disconnect in many not having a community identity, and an effective support system close to home.

Originally posted by RealSpoke
reply to post by The Old American

 

If there were really a Capitalist network that runs the world, the world would be free, prosperous, would have clean water and air, bountiful harvests, and generally happier and wealthier.

That's not true at all. Are you really trying to say that there is no poverty, starvation, or pollution in capitalist countries?

There are no Capitalist countries. The best that exists is a mixed system of Capitalist and other economic systems. The U.S. is a mix of Capitalist and Socialist. Only people that believe in force and theft think that Capitalism is bad, and the same people use lies and propaganda to tie Corporatism to Capitalism.

Learning things isn't just for kids.

/TOA

Originally posted by The Old American

Originally posted by RealSpoke
reply to post by The Old American

 

If there were really a Capitalist network that runs the world, the world would be free, prosperous, would have clean water and air, bountiful harvests, and generally happier and wealthier.

That's not true at all. Are you really trying to say that there is no poverty, starvation, or pollution in capitalist countries?

There are no Capitalist countries. The best that exists is a mixed system of Capitalist and other economic systems. The U.S. is a mix of Capitalist and Socialist. Only people that believe in force and theft think that Capitalism is bad, and the same people use lies and propaganda to tie Corporatism to Capitalism.

Learning things isn't just for kids.

/TOA

Only the people who dont have a clue believe capitalism work. Every system of capitalism is socialist at its core if you want to keep it affloat. Lets assume there is a fixed ammount of money in the system, sooner or later everybody has taken a profit and stored it and the moneyflow slows down to a trickle or stops.

So new money must be infused into the system, it is always a redistribution of wealth, either through inflation, or other means.

Elevating socialism and capitalism to dogmas, when they are just tools that need to be applied within reason when appropriate, is what gets you.