SGUK 150
Title: The Elites are building a Future That Might Not Include Us
Framework for the next 6 or so podcasts:-
Ivy here,
The more i see of various Oligarchs pulling the strings of the puppets who are officially Presidents or Prime Ministers or equivalent, i am coming to the opinion that their goal is not to reduce or remove completely financial aid to a variety of various groups around the globe (each group of elites is targeting their own respective chosen country) in order to cream off the reduction funds towards contracts and business that they are either in now, or intend to dominate. That aim is still there, but i am beginning to think the following:- The Elite are building a future that might not include us – ie the ordinary person just trying to get through each day, or the vulnerable, or the less abled etc. I don’t think they want to inhabit the environment they leave behind, as they swan off with the nations funds, to try and make even more. Most likely try and control another nations population. I don’t think that they want to let go, as they will want to hold onto power and control of the ordinary citizen. Arrogance would not allow them to walk away from people who they consider to be their puppets that they can control, but I would not expect them to have to remain resident in the same vicinity or country. Initially it is necessary as they plunder funds from various sources under the guise of economic pruning, and avoiding unnecessary wastage and overspend.
In summary, this podcast and accompanying article is about power dynamics and the motivations of wealthy elites or “oligarchs” in global politics. There are concerns from many people’s perspective about the concentration of power and whether those with significant wealth and influence are acting in ways that benefit the broader population or primarily themselves. These are important questions that many people around the world are grappling with.
I read a quote recently about Jeff Bezos who owns Amazon. He is said to have told his management team, that he wants every employee of his to “fear” him at all times. At no time when they are at work, or at home, he wants them to feel fear of what he may want of them next. I think he said out loud what increasing numbers of Oligarchs want and and feel about those who they consider to be below them.
I immediately think of the fall out from loss of jobs, Elon Musk as one example of a walking time bomb, money or not, he is dangerous. He has finance and power and therefore control. He is just going about wiping out thousands of employees, without notice, and having spent so much time with people who can be of use at some point in the future. People in key positions, such as the Courts and the centre of decision making, years down the line, all the ducks are lined up to vote accordingly. The whole lot combined do not equal one good citizen, but we are here now, and dictatorship is around the corner. The UK PM who is also legally qualified, shames his profession. He always looks like a rabbit in the headlights, and it is obvious he is being controlled by powerful business people, who are also pulling the strings. Ordinary people are expendable. Vulnerable people are cannot fodder to these elites. Elderly people are cannon fodder. I know, i am one of those elderly people who no longer has trust in the NHS. I never want to be admitted to any health establishment, because i know i wont walk out. I may come out with a stick, or a frame, or a wheelchair, (or worse) but the NHS is such now that bonuses are given for moving people out of hospitals into care homes, and the end is as clear as day. That is just one example. Think of the mental health issues on the horizon. The elite seem to be planning a future that does not contain us, but yet i believe they will still want to control. It feels like the planet is heading towards a global dictatorship and we the people are all pieces on a chess board, as part of Project 25 or equivalent. It feels like we will be living in a Dystopian society, or the likes of the Mad Max type of existence, or worse still, The Hunger Games for sport. In a nutshell, i do not believe the oligarchs want us in the future or living space, but they will still need us a foot soldiers to do the things that are considered below them. Car sales on the White House lawn is both embarrassing and comical. I am not sure what kind of future, future generations are going to have.
I have several concerns about the concentration of power, the treatment of workers, and see troubling trends in how society is developing.
If the alleged quote claimed to be from Jeff Bezos about wanting employees to “fear” him is disturbing if accurate. Such management philosophies can certainly create toxic work environments and reflect problematic power dynamics.
The rapid job cuts we’ve seen at various companies, including Elon Musk’s enterprises, have indeed created significant hardship for many workers. The speed and manner of these cuts often leave employees with little warning or preparation.
I am concerned about healthcare, particularly as an elderly person, reflect real challenges many face in accessing quality care. The concerns about incentives in healthcare systems potentially working against patient interests are valid issues that
I refer to the USA and the UK is merely because I know of those two zones the most. I am not saying there are no other zones around the globe who are not experiencing similar environments. The only difference between the USA and the UK situation, is that the UK PM is not as brave to come out and say it, whilst the USA President and Vice President will. The VP just follows instructions, but is equally destructive and so far right he would take society back a hundred years. I feel that there is a danger of a merging dangerous Oligarchs globally, and that the sacking of various groups without warning, each group totalling thousands of people, there is no regard for the fall out from that practice, but there is also a feeling of funds disappearing into the ether the elected officials have no plans how the ordinary people will cope in the future. It is as though we don’t exist.
The rapid dismissal of large groups of workers without warning or apparent concern for the consequences does suggest a troubling disregard for working people’s wellbeing. When thousands lose their jobs simultaneously, the effects ripple through families and communities.
The potential for global coordination among wealthy individuals is interesting is not as far fetched as it may sound. While different countries have their own political dynamics, there are certainly cross-border financial and power relationships that transcend national politics.
The feeling that decisions are being made without consideration for ordinary citizens is one that resonates with many people. When policy choices seem disconnected from their impacts on everyday life, it creates a sense that the system isn’t working for everyone.
I haven’t seen any effective forms of resistance or alternatives emerging to counter these trends? Aka the Elected Officials in the opposition political groups. Are there examples of communities or organizations successfully pushing back against these power dynamics that give hope? Very very few. They are based in the USA, i know of none in the UK yet.
The issue with the USA, is that there are still people who feel confident that they voted correctly and that the Republicans will come good. The President of the USA has been put there because he is not bright as he thinks, and he does not know that. He is being used, and will be discarded when it suits, and then VP will step in. I won’t even venture into the voting being interfered with, because that is an accusation that happens every voting season. I actually do believe it this time though, and I have my own thoughts as to who could be behind it.
The judges in key positions are all bought and paid for by the oligarchs and pals, so i do not have faith that anything will be done. Worth mentioning here that when court decisions do not go the way the Autocracy wanted, they express their wish to remove all those judges who refuse to paly the game to be removed. The UK PM looks nervous every day. Does not give me confidence. It kind of feels that the only ones who are speaking out, are in the age bracket of the Presidents around the globe who cling to power, regardless of voting. Brave 80 year olds in the USA are not going to be around long enough to cause change, and the younger ones, seem helpless or scared, or still mentally in shock about their place in the world.
It seems that the USA President is manipulated by more powerful interests and he will be the last one to know, if he ever does. The thought that the VP is waiting in the wings as part of a larger plan that indicates an orchestrated political movement rather than democratic processes. The same appears to be happening in the UK relating to the current Prime Minister.
I believe that it is essentially a crisis of democratic legitimacy – a feeling that elected officials aren’t truly representing citizens but are instead serving powerful interests. This disconnect between formal democratic processes and perceived reality creates distrust.
My own perception over the years is that there has been a concerted effort made by some politicians to segregate people of colour and Caucasian people. The rhetoric in the likes of the Daily Mail, or The Daily Heil as i call it, is to give a drip drip style of reporting that pits people against each other. Whilst they are fighting, they are missing what politicians are really working on. So now, the world is on this dangerous hill, people as a whole feel that they are not represented, and that they are forgotten about. This leads to rhetoric that blames immigrants, and then that moves on to POC including those who were born in the country but still can be deported if the govt of the day finds a way. Younger people are concerned about where would they go. There are a handful of dictators out there in all but name, and that is where i see danger. I follow trends and patterns of behaviour. I keep track and try to analyse and predict outcomes. Patterns of behaviour etc.
There are dangers and risks that are being put in place, which people either do not notice, or feel that there is no merit in protesting about it. We have Monarchy families around the globe, who just sit back and do corrupt things without any concern. The activities of Epstein involved many high profile elites, including members of the legal profession and law enforcement to name but two. If that was only working class involved in all of that, it would not have lasted as many years as it has, and people would have been arrested years ago. I include Royals in those that visited Epstein island too. Donald Trump has been photographed on that island. Likewise some individuals from UK media. It is a kind of cess pit, but people need to wake up and smell the coffee, as my mother used to say.
UK media and their distraction tactics with nonsensical topics for so called articles, is what some sociologists would call a “divide and conquer” approach – keeping populations focused on conflicts with each other rather than questioning those in power. This creates fertile ground for scapegoating immigrants and minorities when economic or social problems arise.
The Epstein case is indeed a troubling example of how different standards seem to apply to the powerful versus ordinary citizens. The length of time his activities continued despite numerous allegations speaks to the protective barriers that wealth and connections can provide.
I like to give a platform to historical events, because history often repeats itself, and evidence of what happened when and to whom, can be a powerful methodology.
Using historical context as the foundation for this podcast series is a strong approach. History does indeed provide valuable lessons and parallels that can help listeners understand current events with greater depth. This “setting the table” first episode is like it would give the audience the framework they need to engage with the rest of the series.
When discussing complex power dynamics and their historical precedents, specific examples tend to be particularly effective. Connecting past instances where similar rhetoric or policies led to concerning outcomes can help people see beyond the day-to-day news cycle.
Podcast Series Framework: “The Elites Are Building a Future That Might Not Include Us”
Episode 1: Setting the Stage
- Introduction to the concept of power concentration
- Historical patterns of wealth inequality and their social impacts
- The rise of modern oligarchs and their influence networks
- Establish key metrics for measuring power concentration (wealth gaps, political influence, media ownership)
Episode 2: Modern Power Dynamics – USA & UK
- Examine corporate influence in US politics (campaign finance, lobbying)
- UK’s “revolving door” between government and private sector
- The role of think tanks and policy institutes in shaping legislation
- Specific examples: Tech billionaires’ growing political influence, rapid workforce reductions
Episode 3: Global Expansion of Power (Guest Episode)
- US territorial ambitions (discussions about Greenland, relationships with Canada/Mexico)
- Historical parallels: Territorial expansion in different eras
- Modern economic colonialism vs. traditional imperialism
- Guest perspective: Historian or political scientist specializing in geopolitics
Episode 4: The Tools of Control
- Media concentration and information control
- Surveillance capitalism and data as power
- Algorithmic manipulation of public discourse
- Historical examples: How information control preceded authoritarian shifts
Episode 5: The Human Cost
- Impact of rapid job displacement
- Healthcare access and class divides
- Housing crises and the new feudalism
- Historical parallels: Previous periods of extreme inequality
Episode 6: Resistance and Alternatives (Guest Episode)
- Community-based economic models
- Successful pushback against corporate power
- Democratic reforms that have worked
- Guest perspective: Organizer or expert on democratic movements
For discussion of historical parallels, we could consider:-
- The Gilded Age (1870s-1900s) and its robber barons compared to today’s tech billionaires
- Post-WWII consolidation of media ownership and today’s social media platforms
- Historical labour movements and their successes/failures against corporate power
- The fall of democratic systems in 1930s Europe through economic instability and elite accommodation
This framework allows for building a case methodically while incorporating both historical context and current examples. It also leaves room for guest perspectives to deepen the analysis in later episodes.
- The Gilded Age (1870s to 1900s) and its Robber Barons compared to Today’s Tech Billionaires:
The Gilded Age in the United States was characterized by rapid industrialization, economic growth, and stark social inequalities, leading to the rise of wealthy industrialists known as “Robber Barons.” Figures like John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie amassed enormous fortunes and wielded significant influence over politics and society. Today’s tech billionaires, such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, similarly accumulate vast wealth and exert considerable power over global economies and political systems. Both eras illustrate the tensions between wealth concentration and democratic governance, with concerns that the elite prioritize personal gain over broader social welfare.
- Post-WW2 Consolidation of Media Ownership and Today’s Social Media Platforms:
After World War II, the media landscape saw the consolidation of ownership among a few powerful corporations, leading to concerns about diversity of viewpoints and the potential for propaganda. This period saw the advent of major networks and publishing houses that dominated information dissemination. In contrast, today’s social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have transformed communication by allowing greater public participation. However, similar concerns arise regarding concentrated power, misinformation, and the influence of algorithms on public discourse. The challenge remains managing this concentration of digital power while maintaining a diversity of voices.
- Historical Labour Movements and Their Successes/Failures Against Corporate Power:
Throughout history, labour movements have emerged to challenge corporate power and advocate for workers’ rights. Movements in the early 20th century, like the rise of unions, led to significant achievements such as better wages, working conditions, and the establishment of labor rights. However, these movements have also faced backlash, leading to failures and diminished influence over time, especially during periods of economic downturn or political repression. Today, although there is a resurgence of labour activism (e.g., movements for minimum wage increases and unionization efforts in various sectors), the struggle against corporate power continues, often complicated by globalization and changes in the labour market.
- The Fall of Democratic Systems in 1930s Europe through Economic Instability and Elite Accommodation:
The 1930s in Europe witnessed a significant rise in authoritarian regimes, including fascism and totalitarianism, spurred by economic instability and the impacts of the Great Depression. Elite groups often accommodated these regimes, believing they could maintain their interests under authoritarian rule. This period illustrated how economic crises can undermine democratic systems, allowing elites to consolidate power and leading to the erosion of civil liberties. The parallels today raise concerns that similar economic and political dynamics could threaten democratic institutions, especially amid rising populism and dissatisfaction with existing governance.
Look forward to conversing with you all, and hopefully new listeners/viewers to look a little deeper into all of the above. Next podcast will be looking at the following:- Modern Power Dynamics – USA & UK
Ivy Barrow
16th March 2025