SGUK Ep 151 Modern Power Dynamics USA UK
Hello, Ivy here.
This week’s podcast is titled Modern Power Dynamics, focusing on the USA and the UK. Episode 151 will explore various thoughts about power dynamics and the motivations of wealthy elites in global politics, including concerns about the concentration of power and whether individuals with significant wealth act in ways that benefit the broader population or primarily themselves. Throughout this podcast, I will revisit points made last week, including concerns about power concentration, worker treatment, and societal trends. But for those that do, be very, very mindful of that organisation and you probably do know more about it than I do. I just want to remind USA friends. There are a number of Think Tank sites, not just the Heritage Foundation, but that came to mind because they’ve been in this for decades, certainly between two to three decades that I know of and they mean business and they don’t mess around and they’re very, very thorough. i regard them as dangerous and if you know of Project 25. In one bullet point in one reference sources, it states that they’re involved in shaping legislation. That is an understatement, it’s fact, but it’s an understatement. So much goes into those words of shaping legislation. If you read Project 25, you’ll come away fully understanding why I say. ‘be aware of them’.
Specific examples tech billionaires growing political influence, rapid workforce reductions. We definitely both in the USA and the UK are seeing that. The difference is that in the USA people are just told basically on that day and they’re out the door the same day. The UK is doing that, reducing jobs in many areas. Well, they’re supposedly playing by the books, so it takes a little bit longer, but there is a reduction definitely.
Additionally, Jeff Bezos allegedly stated he wants his employees to fear him, reflecting management philosophies that can create toxic work environments and problematic power dynamics. The rapid job cuts at companies, including Elon Musk’s enterprises, have caused significant hardship for many workers, often leaving them with little warning or preparation.
Anxieties around healthcare access, especially for elderly individuals, highlight challenges in accessing quality care. Concerns about healthcare systems’ incentives potentially working against patient interests are valid issues requiring attention. Last week, I discussed media narratives, political strategies, and power dynamics, viewing tabloid media’s role in creating antagonism and distracting from political agendas. Sociologists might term this “divide and conquer,” where populations focus on intergroup conflicts rather than questioning those in power, fostering scapegoating when economic or social issues arise.
Defining Aristocracy
For the next few weeks, historical parallels will be used to compare current activities in the USA and the UK. These comparisons include:
- The Gilded Age (1870s-1900s) and today’s tech billionaires.
- Post World War II media ownership consolidation and modern social media platforms.
- Historical labour movements and their successes or failures against corporate power.
- The fall of democratic systems in 1930s Europe through economic instability and elite accommodation.
Before delving into today’s podcast, I’ll reiterate a paragraph from last week and a slide worth repeating:
Throughout history, political systems have evolved, reflecting societal values and structures. Oligarchy, where power rests with a small elite group, raises questions about governance, equity, and representation. Understanding this framework helps grasp the dynamics of power today.
Various political systems shape governance and societal organisation, addressing power distribution and citizen roles. Understanding these systems provides context for oligarchy, with its unique characteristics:
- Democracy: Power lies with the people, exercised through elected representatives, encouraging participation, accountability, and transparency.
- Monarchy: Led by a single ruler, monarchies can be absolute or constitutional, with varying levels of authority.
- Totalitarianism: Characterised by strong central power and limited freedoms, decision-making resides with a single entity or small group.
- Theocracy: Governed by religious leaders with laws based on religious principles.
- Oligarchy: A small elite group holds power, prioritising ruling class interests over broader representation.
Understanding these political systems illuminates power dynamics and societal outcomes. Aristocracy involves governance where power resides with noble families, influencing political landscapes historically. Characteristics include heredity, wealth concentration, limited participation, privilege, and political alliances.
Oligarchy in modern society illustrates power concentration among a select few, impacting governance and societal outcomes. Comparisons with aristocracy show similarities in power structure but differ in operation and context. Influential oligarchs shape society through economic and political power, including political influence, corporate power, media dominance, and global reach.
Case studies highlight the roles of aristocratic systems in shaping governance structures. Historical examples include ancient Greece and Rome, feudal Europe, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and post-Soviet Russia.
Benefits and drawbacks of aristocratic systems reflect advantages in experience and stability but also highlight inequality and limited representation. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for recognising implications on modern societies, acknowledging elite groups’ impact on policies and societal outcomes.
Today’s podcast will cover corporate influence in the USA political system, campaign finance, lobbying, the UK’s revolving door between government and the private sector, and the role of think tanks and policy institutes in shaping legislation. Research and accompanying articles provide further information on these topics.
The UK Elected government will try and come across as being more polite and caring. They’re not, they’re not. I know it’s the Labour Party, but they’re not. They’re equally cold. Cruel. Vindictive and they are, in my opinion, and I will reiterate that it is my opinion, working to and for a small group of people who are powerful and affluent and who exert influence. Very much like what’s going on in the USA at the moment. So giving some real life examples that you will be able to look up and read about and it will give a better understanding of this power and influence with the USA and the UK.
How power is consolidated in modern political systems and the intersection of government, government and corporate interests. One corporate influence in US politics. The rise of super PACs. and dark money in elections following Citizens United 2010 and for those of you that didn’t know, like I didn’t what a super PAC was. It is an independent expenditure only Political Action Committee or committees. There are a few quite a number of them around, better known as Super PACs. They are a type of political action committee in the United States.
How lobbying shapes legislation in favour of major industries. Such as pharmaceuticals, tech and finance.
Case studies
1.Exxon Mobile or mobile influencing climate policy? Big Pharma lobbying against drug price caps. Historical parallel the gilded ages, industrial magnets, monopolies, and their grip on US governance.
2. The UK’s revolving door between government and the private sector. The movement of politicians into corporate boardrooms. After leaving office. Notable. Examples. David Cameron and the Greensill capital scandal. Ministers lobbying for corporations.
3. How media and financial elites maintain control over policy making. Comparisons with the past, the influence of the East India Company directors. In Parliament in the 18th century.
4. Think tanks and policy institutes shaping legislation. The role of groups like the Heritage Foundation in the USA and the Policy Exchange in the UK in writing government policy. Like I said, think of Project 25. In terms of the UK, they’re more secretive about it, but Trust me, it’s going on exactly the same way. How billionaires funding influences independent research and narrative setting?
Past precedent? Post World War 2, institutions like the Council on Foreign Relations. Influencing US foreign policy. Tech billionaires, growing political influence and workforce reductions. Musk. Bezos, Zuckerberg. Power beyond business shaping political landscapes.
The automation versus employment crisis. How AI and job cuts mirror industrial shifts of the 1800s. Is philanthropic capitalism just soft power expansion. Bill Gates. Open AI and soft imperialism.
A quick summary to bring. With various themes together. And to bring this podcast to a close. So today we looked into how modern power operates in the USA and UK. And if you’ve ever wondered why corporate interests seem to shape every major policy decision or why government officials mysteriously. Land lucrative jobs in the private sector. The massive influence of corporate money in US politics. How UK officials seamlessly transition from public office to private lobbying. The role of Think Tanks. How it quietly is shaping our laws and modern parallels to historical eras like the Gilded Age and its infamous robber barons. You will see by the end of this podcast, and certainly when you look at the article or pursue any of those reference sources over the coming months. You will see that history. Has a way of repeating itself and knowing the past can help us shape the future.
If this topic resonates with you. Make sure to subscribe and share this episode. To those that you feel may be interested. I, for one, would love to. Well, I do hear from many of you as it is, but I would love to hear even more from a wide group of people, particularly those new to finding out about such things and hear what their thoughts are because it helps me put together – Themes and Topics for future consideration in future podcast episodes.
Corporate influence in US politics. The main talking points the Citizens United ruling 2010 and how it allowed unlimited corporate spending in elections? Lobbying power corporations writing legislation for lawmakers. For example. Big pharmaceuticals tech and Wall Street. And the role of super PACs in shaping political narratives. A case study for any of you that want to look further into this. The oil and gas industry funding climate denial policies, despite public demand for green solutions. That’ll be quite interesting, and for an historical parallel with that, as I said, I’m trying to give examples of what’s going on now or have gone have been happening recently. Looking back at history where anything similar has taken place and what were the actions that followed. Was it things that we want to follow or is it something that we want to avoid in working a different way? So the historical parallel. To that oil and gas industry activity. Is the Gilded Age from the 1870s? To the 1900s and the rise of robber barons. Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Carnegie as examples who controlled politics much like today’s tech billionaires.
Our 3rd area of summary, The UK’s revolving door between government and private sector. The main talking points :-. Politicians transitioning seamlessly into high paid corporate roles after leaving office. David Cameron and Greensill capital scandal, a former Prime Minister lobbying for a collapsed financial firm. How private sector ties influence public policy and decisions. The historical parallel with that is the East India companies unchecked influence in Parliament in the 1700s and how private businesses controlled colonial expansion. Similar to how modern corporations dictate trade policies.
The 4th area of summary, the role of Think Tanks like the Heritage Foundation and Policy institutes. And the main discussion points around that theme. Organisations like the Heritage Foundation in the USA and the Policy Exchange in the UK dictating public discourse. Who funds them? How independent are they really? A case study. UK austerity policies. Media and think tanks justifying economic cuts despite public harm. I can’t put into words how that because it’s ongoing within the UK at the moment from supposedly a Labour government. They couldn’t be more vicious if they tried, and the kind of cuts. It’s very true. The kind of reductions and that they’re making and taking. Assistance various grants away. From elderly, disabled people, veterans, there’s just the list goes on the list of all of those groups were people that were deemed. Untouchable. They’ve done their part for country. Over decades and now at their time in life, where for a variety of reasons some are less abled because of doing their duty for country and others just illness has just taken over and they are suffering and had some assistance by government in the past and currently that is not the case. Money has been diverted to areas which one could consider to be and comfortable. Very much very similar to what’s going on in the USA now.
The historical parallels and for this theme. Is post World War 2 media consolidation? Governments aligning with corporate owned media to control the narratives. Yeah, that’s definitely being repeated at the moment in the UK. How Cold War institutions shaped political ideology? The question here in one of the. Papers and documents reports that I looked at to put the podcast together. The question was asked: Many people assume think tanks are neutral but if a billionaire funds it, is it really independent? What do you think? Our final theme that we’ve covered and in this podcast relates to tech billionaires and the workforce disruption? The main talking points. Elon Musk. Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg. Billionaire CEOs. Influencing policy decisions. Mass layoffs despite record profits. The rise of automation and its impact on workers. AI replacing jobs. Historical comparisons to the Luddite movement in the early 1800s. Historical parallel. The industrial Revolution, how automation wiped out artisan labour, creating class divides. And it’s a discussion point here. Do you think the government should regulate AI to prevent job displacement? Or is automation just an inevitable part of progress? To bring this podcast to a close. We’ve covered a lot in this podcast and believe me, it is just an overview. There’s more detail, as I said in the article, but even that it’s still an overview of what’s out there. So if any of this resonates with any of you. You may over the coming months and years, wish to look into the history behind these activities and groups and individuals. As we’ve said. History repeats itself, and we need to learn from what worked and what didn’t in historical examples?
So in terms of what we’ve covered, we’ve gone from corporate lobbying to the media’s role as shaping policy. But history teaches us one thing. Power never gives up control willingly. It’s up to an informed public to push back. This is not going to go away, and it’s not just America and the UK, I’ve just chosen those because one I was born in the one country and the other I’ve got family. It’s happening. It’s springing up in different parts around the world, and if I have a fear at all, (I do have a number) but if I have an overriding fear it is that because these kind of activities and groups are springing up in different countries and the power has been controlled by a small group in each of those countries. It’s not too far a stretch to see that there are common themes that will apply to all of those groups. Not everything, but they will have some things in common. Should these powerful people for want of a better phrase for them, if they come together and have joint discussions on some financial aspects, for example, then we really are in hot water. And I don’t think it’s that far a stretch. It might take a decade or so but the fact that the USA and the UK is not alone in this, It’s not that far fetched. that some of the people that I’ve been mentioned that are involved in USA and UK politics. It’s not impossible for them to have discussions like that with. Like minded billionaires that are operating elsewhere. So food for thought. Like I said, I look forward to your comments and I look forward to speaking with you all next week on our third theme. So thank you very much. I hope it has been of interest somewhere along the way and that you found some discussion points to have with other people outside of this forum.
Ivy Barrow
23rd March 2025.
Reference Sources
https://influencemap.org/pressrelease/ExxonMobil-s-Climate-Lobbying-Remains-Counter-to-Paris-Goals-a3635d42cc6585a370558f052da3be3b
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