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Overclass
- Defined
How effective is the Black Overclass
Overclass
is a recent and pejorative term for the most powerful group
in a social hierarchy. They are typically very successful
multi-millionaires or billionaires. Users of the term generally
imply excessive and unjust privilege and exploitation of the
rest of society. Compare the older term, upper class, which
nowadays is sometimes also pejorative, but is not necessarily
so, and historically was rarely so.
The
wealthy have always used many methods to accumulate wealth,
but it was not until the mid-1970s that these methods coalesced
into a superbly organized, cohesive and efficient machine.
After 1975, it became greater than the sum of its parts, a
smooth flowing organization of advocacy groups, lobbyists,
think tanks, conservative foundations, and PR firms that hurtled
the richest 1 percent into the stratosphere.
The
origins of this machine, interestingly enough, can be traced
back to the CIA. During the 1970s, men of the CIA would take
the propaganda and operational techniques they had learned
in the Cold War and apply them to the Class War. The CIA's
expert and comprehensive organization of the business class
would succeed beyond their wildest dreams. In 1975, the richest
1 percent owned 22 percent of America’s wealth. By 1992,
they would nearly double that, to 42 percent — the highest
level of inequality in the 20th century.
How
did this alliance start? The CIA has always recruited the
nation’s elite: millionaire businessmen, Wall Street
brokers, members of the national news media, and Ivy League
scholars.
Perhaps
the most commonly agreed-upon "overclass" consists
of leaders in international business, finance and the defense
industry.
Historian
Paul Fussell refers to what he calls a "top out of sight"
class in the United States. These are people who have an even
better quality of life than a visible overclass because their
vast wealth allows them to affect cultural and political changes
without first exposing them to public comment. Conspiracy
theories often propose a secret society with supernatural
overtones as an invisible global overclass.
The most obvious criticism of the New Overclass is that their
political machine is undemocratic. Using subversive techniques
once used on communists, and with all the money they ever
need to succeed, the Overclass can - if they choose to - undemocratically
control our government, our media, and even a growing part
of academia.
These
institutions in turn allow the Overclass to control the supposedly
"free" market, once payment (in the form of sponsorship)
has been made. Note how the overclass was at work before and
during Bill Clinton's impeachment trial. They obviously do
not always win but they do score an endless string of other
victories elsewhere. The power that the overclass wield can
be great for a community, or those close to them. They can
be a force to accelerate progress among minorities and the
poor. However, like the good witch/bad witch scenario, we
have to watch for some who might be involved inprojects which
help no-one but themselves, and install practices which are
to the detriment of workers, consumers, women, minorities
and the poor. They are pulling up the draw bridge so that
no one else can get rich.
Thankfully,
most black millionaires make an over the top effort to give
back. Sometimes giving back so much, they end up broke. But
if their branding and products are in demand, they can earn
a limitless amount, and power is in their hands to transform
the world as we know it.
It
is noted that Oprah, the world's richest black woman, decided
to open a school in South Africa, and not in America? Hopefully
she also plans to open school (or schools) in America. Its
no point saying, black American children are only interested
in new clothes and designer trainers. Its up to adults to
adults, teachers and mentors to teach them otherwise. All
thinking is flexible. All culture is adaptable.
Here
is our question to the Overclass - could you do the following?
If you are doing these alreadyplease continue, and thank you.
- Create
manufacturing outlets within America, to employ people who
desperately need jobs.
- Mentor
and invest in new entrepreneurs.
- Donate
to scholarship funds
- Open
supplementary schools to enhance the education children
receive.
- Open
Department stores
- Set
up franchises
- Invest
well, so that money multiplies, so that you may continue
to be able to do good.
- You
can make immediate changes that Congress, or State legislature
cannot make, or refuse to make. They are too busy tied up
in partisan wrangling and red tape.
- Start
Charities/Foundations.
- Donate
to existing Charities/Foundations; and follow up to ensure
the correct use of donations.
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