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Is Capitalism Failing Middle America?

From: Craig Barnes
Length: 00:03:05

While the Bush administration and the courts promote free markets, farmers, ranchers and consumers are suffering, making one wonder for whom modern capitalism is working. Read the full description.

Default-piece-image-2 President Bush and his intellectual circle are promoting a return to 19th century Darwinian capitalism, taking down the safety nets and protections of the last 100 years. In this environment, Wal-Mart in the cities and Monsanto in the country have become prime examples of predatory expansion. Further, at the same time that consumers are in record debt the Congress has cut bankruptcy protection and federal courts have simply evaporated hard-earned pensions at United Airlines, Bethlehem Steel and others. The combined picture is that property, shareholders and creditors are now preferred over workers and families. In such conditions, for whom is capitalism working? The piece has been broadcast on KSFR, Santa Fe, NM, and KRZA, Alamosa, CO.

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Piece Description

President Bush and his intellectual circle are promoting a return to 19th century Darwinian capitalism, taking down the safety nets and protections of the last 100 years. In this environment, Wal-Mart in the cities and Monsanto in the country have become prime examples of predatory expansion. Further, at the same time that consumers are in record debt the Congress has cut bankruptcy protection and federal courts have simply evaporated hard-earned pensions at United Airlines, Bethlehem Steel and others. The combined picture is that property, shareholders and creditors are now preferred over workers and families. In such conditions, for whom is capitalism working? The piece has been broadcast on KSFR, Santa Fe, NM, and KRZA, Alamosa, CO.

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Review of Is Capitalism Failing Middle America?

A crisp and succinct commentary that eloquently questions what the "market fundamentalists" really mean by "free markets."

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Review of Is Capitalism Failing Middle America?

So now non-reproducible seeds are being genetically engineered so that farmers have to buy new seed each year rather than harvest seed from existing plants? This is a scary piece that needs to be aired. Some things I knew, some things I didn't. Mr. Barnes lays out his case with great authority and leaves listeners with questions for which only time can give the answers. Very thought provoking. This would certainly be a "wake me up, get the adrenaline going" piece.

Broadcast History

KSFR, Santa Fe, NM, June 7, 2005
KRZA, Alamosa, CO, not sure what date.

Transcript

Is Capitalism Failing Middle America?

By now it has become clear that President Bush and his intellectual circle intend great changes in American society. They mean not merely to roll back the social reforms of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, not merely to take down the safety nets that arose out of the Great Depression, but to return even further back to the end of the 19th century and Darwinian capitalism. They mean to reinstate the survival of the fittest as the hallmark of American business.

Perfectly suited for this roll back and perhaps its prime example, the world’s largest enterprise, Wal-Mart, is spreading across the face of America like a red cancer, eating up local businesses. After that company invaded Iowa, between 1983 and 1993, that one state lost grocery, hardware, building supply, variety, clothing, shoe, and drug stores. Wal-Mart quite simply succeeded in driv...
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Related Website

http://www.craig-barnes.com