A plutocracy is a form of government where the state's power is centralized in an affluent social class. The degree of economic inequality is high while the level of social mobility is low... [Historically the term] indicates the political control of the state by an oligarchy of the wealthy... Plutocracies typically emerge as one of the first governing systems within a territory after a period of anomie. Kevin Phillips, author and political strategist to U.S. President Richard Nixon, argues that the United States is a plutocracy in which there has been "the fusion of money and government."
The [modern political] usage of plutocracy is a pejorative reference to the disproportionate influence (both positive and negative) the wealthy have on the political process in contemporary society. Positive influence includes campaign contributions and bribes; negative influence includes refusing to support the government financially by refusing to pay taxes, threatening to move profitable industries elsewhere, and so on. It can also be exerted by the owners and ad buyers of media properties which can shape public perception of political issues. Recent examples include Rupert Murdoch's News Corp's alleged political agendas in Australia, the UK and the United States or George Soros' efforts to back left-leaning PACs (political action committees) and the oil industry oligarchy which may back right-leaning PACs.
Go Plutocrats!
Fun fact of the day: IKEA is an acronym for Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd. Ingvar Kamprad is the founder's name; Elmtaryd, Agunnaryd is his home village.
IKEA for life, dudes.
The internet buzz of the day is the "Good Cop, Baby Cop" video starring Pearl and Will Ferrell. It can be found on Funny or Die or on Jarren's most recent blogpost (which includes the original "The Landlord" video, too). Love that Pearl. I won't ruin the content of the video, but alas, she has decided to bid adieu to her internet fame. Sometimes a star just burns too bright and too fast.
Accomplishment of yesterday: finishing "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy. Post-apocalyptic, terrifying human condition, characters with no names, rich and poetic prose in the McCarthy style. Won the Pulitzer for fiction by an American writer this year. I totally recommend to anyone who enjoys this sort of novel.
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Kaylars = wikiwhore = (wikipedia + whore) = a person who uses Wikipedia far too frequently with far too much trust.
2 comments:
1. That's kinda a poorly written wikipedia entry. The third paragraph has very little to do with plutocracy.
2. Kakistocracy is a much better word (rule by the least able). And it's also part of a line in a Raconteurs song. Fact of the day: The Raconteurs are known as The Saboteurs in Australia.
you and your oneupsmanship...
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