how corrupted American ‘democracy’ really is

A battle over the budget is closing our schools, our libraries, firing our teachers and taking away collective bargaining rights. While the banks and largest corporations are also not paying any taxes, including Bank of America, Exxon Mobil, and GE. Protesters today gathered in NYC's Union Square for the Sound of Resistance protest. The Nation Institute's Chris Hedges weighs in.

QUOTE: A phenomenal series of Venn diagrams at the end of this article shows in painstaking detail just how corrupted our political system in the United States has become.

When I look at the the connections of Goldman Sachs, it makes me wonder how anyone thought that people actually had the brazenness to claim that those pointing out the revolving door between Wall Street and Washington conspiracy theorists.

Thankfully, as is often the case, the so-called “Government Sachs” conspiracy theorists were right all along, and when it is laid out as it is above it makes it obvious why this is the case.

These are perfect visual representations of how what should be our government has become a government that serves corporate interests to the detriment of the American people.

Take the White House’s move to block the release of a Monsanto-linked lobbyist’s e-mail, for instance. This is hardly shocking when one considers the numerous connections the global corporation enjoys on Capitol Hill shown below.

Even when the products they are hawking are linked to birth defects and necrosis, these individuals seem to have no problem with actively circumventing everything democracy is supposed to be in order to pursue their corporate interests.

Just like the thoroughly reprehensible activities of the war profiteers who knowingly profit off of death, destruction and suffering, those who lobby for corporations like Monsanto are actively contributing to the problems of the many for the benefit of the few.

It’s truly disturbing to see all of this laid out in such an easily comprehensible manner, especially when one observes the high level positions many of these individuals either once held or currently hold.

Of course, this is only a small portion of the individuals involved in the widespread corporatist corruption that has infected so much of the United States.

There are countless connections to be explored and exposed, especially those which are thrown right in our faces, as is the case with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

Corporatism, which can also be called crony capitalism, is, in my opinion, one of the most dangerous forces at work in the United States and the world.

It works to turn governments against the people they are supposed to be working for while not only reducing the standard of living for those who aren’t manipulating the system but also destroying the environment for future generations.