Don't forget about the politicians. Many of them have money chests for their families for generations now, after being in power for a short period of time. They got their ex-employers sweet deals by way of government contracts, and when they weren't an ex-employee, simply were bribed for cold, hard cash (how many people really get caught?). The problem with America is that Americans don't care about the state of their fellow Americans. There is nothing wrong with wanting to see a unified world, and to have good relations, economic and otherwise, with other nation-states, but when America loses all the things that used to unite us a singular country, with an aim of achieving a high national standard of living through educational achievement and by way of loyal and well-meaning politicians. I am not an immigrant basher. I have never identified with that group. But.. ...does anyone here doubt that big business is the largest political force behind amnesty for illegal immigration and other labor-immigration issues? Why? Does anyone doubt it's to obtain cheap labor within the continental borders of the U.S.?
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0930-25.htm "Since the 1970âs, American businesses have grown larger and more monopolistic, helped along by deregulation, the repeal of anti-trust laws, and a steady transformation from manufacturing to capital management (dare I say, âcapital manipulationâ?). As Paul Bigioni puts it in his excellent essay entitled âThe Real Threat of Fascismâ: âIf we are to protect ourselves from the growing political influence of Big Business, then our antitrust laws must be reconceived in a way which recognizes the political danger of monopolistic conditions.â " "In short, the United States is suffocating from the deleterious effects of Big Money interests in virtually every arena, from public political processes to the privatization of much of what belongs to all of us. Corporate advertising secures the pernicious effects. From time to time, one hears a call for public financing of elections, for truth in advertising, and for more regulation and oversight of lobbying activities, but on the whole, Americans seem glib about the way things are, supposing that this is the only way they can be. "