Anarchy in Somalia?

[ArchonAlarion]

I just watched a video that prompted me to do a bit of research.

I'd always brushed off Somalia, cuz I thought it was just a factioness, barbaric chaos, but it seems that it (*edited for clarity) resembles anarchy in many ways! This really took me by surprise. Somalia's doing pretty damn good!

I mean Free market anarchism btw.

From what I'm reading now, its doing very well considering it is reeling from a socialist government, traditional poverty, and invading states currently. The free market will always triumph, even where thought impossible.

From wikipedia:

[edit] Social organisation in the absence of government
See also: spontaneous order
In the absence of functioning governmental institutions and regulations, voluntary non-coercive alternatives emerged to a limited extent. Commentators identify evidence of areas where the private sector adapted to the stateless environment. A 2004 World Bank study of the Somalian economy concluded that "it may be easier than is commonly thought for basic systems of finance and some infrastructure services to function where government is extremely weak or absent."[15] The New York Times referred to post-state Mogadishu as "the ultimate example of deregulation,"[16] noting that "[g]utsy entrepreneurs, including some women, opened their own hospitals, schools… telephone companies, power plants and ports."[16]


[edit] Communications

Private media enterprises – such as Haatuf newspaper from Hargeisa shown here – mushroomed in the aftermath of state collapse.Journalist Kevin Sites, after a trip to anarchic Somalia, reported that "Somalia, though brutally poor, is a kind of libertarian's dream. Free enterprise flourishes, and vigorous commercial competition is the only form of regulation. Somalia has some of the best telecommunications in Africa, with a handful of companies ready to wire home or office and provide crystal-clear service, including international long distance, for about $10 a month."[17] Abdullahi Mohammed Hussein of Telecom Somalia stated that "the government post and telecoms company used to have a monopoly but after the regime was toppled, we were free to set up our own business",[18] The World Bank reported in 2007 that only about 1.5% of the population had a telephone[15] resulting in the emergence of ten fiercely competitive telephone companies.[19] According to the CIA World Factbook, private telephone companies "offer service in most major cities" via wireless technology, charging "the lowest international rates on the continent",[3] while The New York Times has noted the private provision of mail services.[2] The Economist cited the telephone industry in anarchic Somalia as "a vivid illustration of the way in which governments…can often be more of a hindrance than a help."[20] Gaalkacyo, a desert town in the central Somalia, was provided with streetlights by local entrepreneur Abdirizak Osman, who expanded his enterprises from telecommunications to power generators, not only lighting the town but also supplying free electricity to the local hospital.[19] Since the fall of the government, dozens of private newspapers, radio and television stations mushroomed (Mogadishu has two fiercely competing TV stations[19]), with private radio stations or newspapers in almost all major towns.[4]


[edit] Transport
In 1989, before the collapse of the government, the national airline had only one airplane. Now there are approximately fifteen airlines, over sixty aircraft, six international destinations, and more domestic routes in Somalia. Private airlines, including Air Somalia and Daallo Airlines, serve several domestic locations as well as Djibouti, the United Arab Emirates, Paris and London. According to a 2005 World Bank report, the "private airline business in Somalia is now thriving with more than five carriers and price wars between the companies."[21] Mohammed Yassin Olad, owner of Daallo Airlines, has stated that the absence of government has led to both difficulties and benefits, and commented that "corruption is not a problem, because there is no government…We build the airports and we service the airports and we only fly when we are sure it's safe".[21] A small fishing village prior to the fall of the state, Bosaso developed a lucrative import/export trade of U.S. $15 million per year out of its port during the 1990s.[22] The population grew in eight years from 5,000 to 150,000, sustained by public services provided on a competitive basis by private enterprise, and court systems, schools and a university founded by the local community.[22]


[edit] Education

The number of primary schools in Somalia have nearly doubled since 1991, without the involvement of central government.In a 2007 study of the current state of education in Somalia since the collapse of central authority in 1991, Abdullahi Sheikh Abdinoor found that "the Somali people have adapted rather well, under the circumstances, to the absence of the state, despite continuing insecurity and lawlessness prevailing in the country."[8] Following the destruction of educational systems and infrastructure during the civil war, nascent educational institutions have emerged in anarchy; teachers and other educators who saw the need for education "quite spontaneously" opened their own institutions.[8] For-profit educational institutions were established simultaneously by entrepreneurial businessmen.[2]

For centuries, the Somali community, as opposed to the state, has been in charge of Islamic education in all aspects, providing financial and administrative support.[8] The majority of the schools are provided by the free market, sustained by school fees (typically $10 per month[16]); in cases where there are state-supported public schools, private schools are often coveted for their academic excellence, outperforming their public competitors in academic achievement tests.[8] The number of primary schools have risen from 600 before the civil war to 1,172 schools today, with an increase of 28% in primary school enrollment over the last 3 years.[23] Enrollment in secondary schools has also increased since 1998.[14] In Mogadishu, the Benadir University, the Somalia National University, and the Mogadishu University are three of the eight universities providing tertiary education in Southern Somalia.

[edit] Currency
Money changers in Somaliland in 2005 with large quantities of Somali shillings, whose exchange value moved into equilibrium with its commodity cost following competition among providers.

Rival producers of Somali shillings emerged after 1991. These included the Na shilling, which failed to gain widespread acceptance, and the Balweyn I and II, which were forgeries of pre-1991 bank notes. A competition for seigniorage drove the value of the money down to about $0.04 per SoSh (1000) note, approximately the commodity cost. Consumers have refused to accept bills larger than the 1991 denominations, which has helped stopped the devaluation from spiraling further. The pre-1991 notes and the subsequent forgeries are treated as the same currency. It takes large bundles to make cash purchases.[24]



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I'm excited. Sorry for the enthusiasm btw.

[Lights]

Well I'm happy to hear that damn ideology can take fruit somewhere, even if it is just a brutally poor and isolated nation. I anticipate all the capitalistic libertarians hopping aboard planes and moving their at once.

[ArchonAlarion]

Well Lights give it some credit. It has some obstacles to overcome. The process isn't an overnight thing. Its amazing though how even somewhere that barbarism has reigned people will try to make the best of it. I can't stop smiling I'm so happy. I didn't know.

of course someone's probably gonna burst my bubble now.

[Synamon]

Somalia is doing great? No health care, civil war and hundreds of thousands of displaced people is great? Not to mention practically non existent infrastructure, oh wait, governments care about things like that, not anarchists. Who needs electricity and water and sewage anyway, or food, these things are just luxuries that create opportunities for corruption right?

[ArchonAlarion]

Did you read anything I posted at all?

Those things are being provided.

You obviously understand nothing about supply and demand, do you?

Governments get their money no matter what with no competition. Where's the incentive to adequately provide services? I give you any communist country.

I didn't say the place is perfect. Yet.

[Tocsin]

Oh yeah...

Somalia is a Libertarian's dream world alright...

Since January 2007, Ethiopian forces deployed in Mogadishu have become increasingly embroiled in a violent counter-insurgency campaign. In one of the world’s most ignored human rights and humanitarian crises, residents of Mogadishu have been indiscriminately attacked by all of the warring parties, leaving hundreds dead and more than 500,000 displaced according to UN estimates. Escalating attacks on Ethiopian and TFG forces precipitated a massive Ethiopian bombardment of residential neighborhoods in the capital in March and April 2007 that failed to quell the insurgency, but took a heavy toll on civilians. As part of the crackdown, Ethiopian and TFG forces also harassed and arbitrarily detained civilians. Tens of thousands of people suffered widespread looting, sexual violence, and lack of access to humanitarian relief while fleeing the clashes in Mogadishu, which escalated again in November and show no sign of abating...

Violations of International Humanitarian Law in Mogadishu
Since January 2007, a coalition of insurgent groups including the extremist Al-Shabaab militia has waged almost daily attacks on Ethiopian and TFG forces, including several suicide bombings, and killed TFG civilian officials. In March, members of the insurgency summarily executed and mutilated the bodies of several captured TFG soldiers. Hit and run attacks by insurgency forces using remotely detonated roadside devices, small arms, and heavy weaponry have also killed and injured many civilians. The insurgency has repeatedly launched mortar attacks from urban neighborhoods, further jeopardizing civilian security.

The Ethiopian and Somali government have responded to the insurgency by besieging entire neighborhoods with heavy weaponry and conducting mass arrests and detentions. Ethiopian forces launched two major offensives on large areas of Mogadishu in March and April 2007. Densely populated neighborhoods perceived to be insurgent strongholds were indiscriminately bombarded with “Katyusha” rockets, artillery, and mortar fire, with no apparent effort to distinguish between insurgents and civilians. On several occasions Ethiopian troops have occupied hospitals, looting them of desperately needed medical equipment.

The Ethiopian military was mainly responsible for the bombardment and civilian casualties in March and April, but TFG officials failed to provide effective warnings to civilians in combat zones and also looted property, impeded relief efforts for displaced people, and mistreated dozens of people detained in mass arrests.

Many of those arrested have been transferred to known and secret detention centers where they are held without charge for long periods. The Ethiopian and TFG forces have not disclosed the number of people detained—believed to be in the hundreds—or their whereabouts. Although dozens of people were released in late June 2007 after the TFG offered an amnesty, hundreds more have been detained since then and many people have disappeared.

The ongoing mayhem has crippled the economy. Tens of thousands of displaced people remain in desperate circumstances without sufficient food, water, or medical supplies, and have become easy prey to extortion and abuse by the warring parties and by other armed groups outside the capital.

Full article here:

Essential Background: Overview of human rights issues in Somalia (Human Rights Watch World Report 2008, 31-1-2008) (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)

Pack up your AK-47, some RPGs and plenty of gold bullion and fly off to the worlds greatest free market paradise. Just hope you don't run into any warlords with more guns or gold than you do.

Who knows... you may even find Mad Max, Wes, or the Humongous down there. Have fun!

Happy trails to you... :laugh:

[ArchonAlarion]

Wow, can any of you entertain the the idea of "transitional phase."

That a f'd up place isn't going to be perfect overnight. The fact that a free market could even develop somewhat in a place like that is amazing.

Also your article just tells me how governments in that area are screwing it all up.

[Fridays Child]

Yeah, Tocsin... don't you feel better that people who are "brutally poor" have the comfort of "crystal-clear...international long distance"?

[Tocsin]

This is the best comic farce I've read in ages.

Wow, can any of you entertain the the idea of "transitional phase."

Well, let's see... 1991 to 2008... seventeen years? That's one hell of a transitional phase.

That a f'd up place isn't going to be perfect overnight. The fact that a free market could even develop somewhat in a place like that is amazing.

Where Have I heard that type of reasoning before?

Oh yeah!

"Freedom's untidy, and free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things," Rumsfeld said. "They're also free to live their lives and do wonderful things. And that's what's going to happen here." Looting, he added, was not uncommon for countries that experience significant social upheaval. "Stuff happens," Rumsfeld said.

CNN.com - Rumsfeld on looting in Iraq: 'Stuff happens' - Apr. 12, 2003 (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)

Also your article just tells me how governments in that area are screwing it all up.

So every two-bit thug with guns and goons qualifies as a "government?" Sound to me like they are just living the libertarian ideal.

Sorry, Archon, I'm not laughing with you... I'm laughing at you... you've earned it.

[ArchonAlarion]

Whatever you say Tocsin. You must set your standards pretty damn high then huh?

Please tell me about your ideal society. I never said this place is pefect. I had just underestimated the amount of free-market activity there.

Let me guess, socialist?

Oh but states have such a better record, right?

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Don't know why you're laughing at me when you're the fool. I'm sure all those dead people are congratulating you on youre hypocrisy. They're laughing it up right with you, I'm sure!

Good job, you've earned it.

*jeez do all you commies set your alarm clocks to the same time or something?

[Lights]

Well Lights give it some credit. It has some obstacles to overcome. The process isn't an overnight thing. Its amazing though how even somewhere that barbarism has reigned people will try to make the best of it. I can't stop smiling I'm so happy. I didn't know.

of course someone's probably gonna burst my bubble now.

I would say that Somalia is a good example of the sacrifices that need to be made to attain this level of freedom. Ultimately, I imagine that Somalians don't really care either way. They are just like any other human being in this world, and they are making the best of their situation. I'm happy that this system is working for them and I guess we shall see in time whether such a system can withstand the effects of globalization. To be honest though, I don't see Somalia ever becoming a truly developed nation by following this path. It may only be because of Somalia's poverty that such a system is possible. Once the nation reaches a certain point of wealth, then things may topple. Of course, I would be delighted to be proven wrong in this case. Anything that promotes liberty while improving people's quality of life is not something to scoff at, even if it may only be temporary.

[Tocsin]

Whatever you say Tocsin. You must set your standards pretty damn high then huh?

Please tell me about your ideal society. I never said this place is pefect. I had just underestimated the amount of free-market activity there.

Let me guess, socialist?


*jeez do all you commies set your alarm clocks to the same time or something?

Yeah, those wacko socialist nations like Norway, really suck. High standards of living... low infant mortality... repeatedly being voted the "best place in the world to live" (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)... who needs all that nanny state crap... just give me a gun and let me take whatever I want from anyone weaker than me... now THAT'S an ideal worth living for. :p :laugh:

[Dreamer]

Problem I see with this is that well, without the state, one group will simply take over and everything will go back to status quo.

None of the militia groups in Somalia right now actually have libertarian leanings. The current state is fueled exclusively by war and as soon as one group wins some kind of Islamic dictatorship will take over.

What this shows is that the free market is so efficient that it will adapt even to a state of civil war and better than its more stable state counterparts. This does not however precludes the need for a state for security functions of the armed kind.


Yeah, those wacko socialist nations like Norway, really suck. High standards of living... low infant mortality... repeatedly being voted the "best place in the world to live"... who needs all that nanny state crap... just give me a gun and let me take whatever I want from anyone weaker than me... now THAT'S an ideal worth living for.

Add to this high taxes,standard bureaucratic clusterfucks and SNAFUs, the apparently impossible task to replicate it elsewhere successfully (chronically high unemployment in France compared to the US for example), lower participation rate in the marketplace, lower GDP per capita, slower growth...

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[Tocsin]

Add to this high taxes,standard bureaucratic clusterfucks and SNAFUs, the apparently impossible task to replicate it elsewhere successfully (chronically high unemployment in France compared to the US for example), lower participation rate in the marketplace, lower GDP per capita, slower growth...

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Sorry, I make it a habit not to form my opinions based on slick misinformation peddled as facts by corporate and tycoon funded propaganda mills (a.k.a. "think tanks."), and the Cato Institute cetrainly qualifies.

[Dreamer]

I see. The world is run by corporations and nothing but Pravda is disinformation.

[ArchonAlarion]

I would say that Somalia is a good example of the sacrifices that need to be made to attain this level of freedom. Ultimately, I imagine that Somalians don't really care either way. They are just like any other human being in this world, and they are making the best of their situation. I'm happy that this system is working for them and I guess we shall see in time whether such a system can withstand the effects of globalization. To be honest though, I don't see Somalia ever becoming a truly developed nation by following this path. It may only be because of Somalia's poverty that such a system is possible. Once the nation reaches a certain point of wealth, then things may topple. Of course, I would be delighted to be proven wrong in this case. Anything that promotes liberty while improving people's quality of life is not something to scoff at, even if it may only be temporary.

Thank you Lights for being reasonable. I am doubtful Somalia will last, as it is in the rest of the world's states' interests to make sure it doesn't.

Problem I see with this is that well, without the state, one group will simply take over and everything will go back to status quo.

None of the militia groups in Somalia right now actually have libertarian leanings. The current state is fueled exclusively by war and as soon as one group wins some kind of Islamic dictatorship will take over.

What this shows is that the free market is so efficient that it will adapt even to a state of civil war and better than its more stable state counterparts. This does not however precludes the need for a state for security functions of the armed kind.

I agree. The lack of a philosophical anarchism there may spell its doom. The populace is more traditional and religious than actually intellectually driven.

[Tocsin]

I see. The world is run by corporations and nothing but Pravda is disinformation.

Pravda is no more, and most "think tanks" are nothing more than private enterprise Pravdas.

All you have to do is follow the money...

For example: the Cato Institute receives corporate funding from Walmart, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., ExxonMobil, Microsoft, FedEx, Comcast, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Verizon, and Visa, among others, and private funding from the former Coors foundations and the Sciafe Foundations.

Rupert Murdoch is a former member of the Board of Directors

Cato Institute - SourceWatch (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)

The people who fund this (and other) groups do so for no other reason than it serves their interest by promoting their interests, and their interests are greater profit and power for themselves.

The world is not yet run by corporations, but that is the ideal that the backers of places like the Cato Institute are working towards: Greater profits with fewer public impediments (preferably none, as is the case in Somalia). And they are counting on infantile fools to swallow the "free market, free enterprise" pabulum without thought, consideration, or skepticism. Sadly, there are far too many people who are happy to comply.

"How fortunate for leaders that men do not think."
--Adolf Hitler

[ArchonAlarion]

ummm, the free market would only hurt corporations. Then they couldn't lobby the state for privledges, which is what they do now. I really can't see your reasoning.

[Lights]

Thank you Lights for being reasonable. I am doubtful Somalia will last, as it is in the rest of the world's states' interests to make sure it doesn't.

And this is the rub when it comes to anarchy. It has to be in the whole world's interest for it to last.





Lights added to this post, 1 minutes and 4 seconds later...

ummm, the free market would only hurt corporations. Then they couldn't lobby the state for privledges, which is what they do now. I really can't see your reasoning.

You seriously need to read up on some Chomsky. It would greatly elevate your understanding of the flaws to a free market in actual practice. If only things did work in practice as they do in theory.

[Claptonian]

Pravda is no more, and most "think tanks" are nothing more than private enterprise Pravdas.

All you have to do is follow the money...

For example: the Cato Institute receives corporate funding from Walmart, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., ExxonMobil, Microsoft, FedEx, Comcast, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Verizon, and Visa, among others, and private funding from the former Coors foundations and the Sciafe Foundations.

Rupert Murdoch is a former member of the Board of Directors

Cato Institute - SourceWatch (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)

The people who fund this (and other) groups do so for no other reason than it serves their interest by promoting their interests, and their interests are greater profit and power for themselves.

The world is not yet run by corporations, but that is the ideal that the backers of places like the Cato Institute are working towards: Greater profits with fewer public impediments (preferably none, as is the case in Somalia). And they are counting on infantile fools to swallow the "free market, free enterprise" pabulum without thought, consideration, or skepticism. Sadly, there are far too many people who are happy to comply.


Your link says Cato raised $612,000, a measly sum considering the number of hugely wealthy corporations on the list.

It would seem these corporations aren't quite as determined as you imply. :laugh:

[ArchonAlarion]

Corporations are a legal personality btw, so they couldn't technically exist in anarchy although there might be things that resemble the way they are run.

[Claptonian]

Corporations are a legal personality btw, so they couldn't technically exist in anarchy although there might be things that resemble the way they are run.

Right. The difference would be that corporations couldn't use government to ingrain themselves and discourage competition. Of course, one could argue that they could use other means to do the same thing.

[Tocsin]

Your link says Cato raised $612,000, a measly sum considering the number of hugely wealthy corporations on the list.

It would seem these corporations aren't quite as determined as you imply. :laugh:

Just because you choose not to spend a lot does not mean that you still can't afford whores.

There are always people who are "willing to serve" at (relatively) bargain prices!





Tocsin added to this post, 15 minutes and 28 seconds later...

Corporations are a legal personality btw, so they couldn't technically exist in anarchy although there might be things that resemble the way they are run.

The technical and legal classifications of corporations vs. states are meaningless distinctions.

Whether you are talking about the crony-capitalism of the United States or the crony-communism of China, they are both essentially the same thing. They both represent the consolidation of political and economic power in the hands of a few for the purpose of harnessing and exploiting the abilities of everyone else to serve their own power and ambitions.

A condition of "anarchy" may represent the absence of a formal state, but it does not prevent oligarchs, dictators, and robber-barrons from taking advantage of the absence of a statist organization, thereby replacing the authority of the state with their own authority - the new "state," by any other name.

The only way anarchy could form - and be maintained - is in a social system where no one has any competitive drive or personal ambition, or in a situation where the abilities of every person are so comparably matched that none of them could ever use their abilities to gain an advantage over anyone else.

While this certainly sounds nice, I won't be holding my breath waiting for this grand change in human nature.

[Claptonian]

Just because you choose not to spend a lot does not mean that you still can't afford whores.

There are always people who are "willing to serve" at (relatively) bargain prices!

Okay, but according to that link, Cato donated twice as much money to other think tanks as the above mentioned corporations donated to Cato. To me it seems more like those companies needed to make some charitable donations and chose the Cato Institute. It seems rather farfetched to imply that Cato is the tool of some corporate conspiracy.

Furthermore, some of Cato's stances conflict with positions that people often take to demonize some of those corporations. For example, people demonize Wal-Mart for "taking advantage" of illegal immigrants. Cato's stance on immigration is quite liberal, and if their philosophy was reflected in policy, corporations would be unable to take advantage of illegal immigrants in such a way.

You tried to make Cato look like a corporate lapdog by listing some "evil corporations" that have donated money to the institute. The truth is that only 2% of Cato's income comes from corporations, while 77% comes from individuals. (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. p.46)

[Tocsin]

It seems rather farfetched to imply that Cato is the tool of some corporate conspiracy.

I never even hinted that there was a corporate conspiracy involved.

It is not a crime to promote your own interests, or to cherry-pick or even distort facts to back up your claims.

The Cato Institute is simply a libertarian oriented publicity machine, which is funded by people who those policy positions serve best, which happens to be large corporate interests and big business tycoons.

...some of Cato's stances conflict with positions that people often take to demonize some of those corporations. For example, people demonize Wal-Mart for "taking advantage" of illegal immigrants. Cato's stance on immigration is quite liberal, and if their philosophy was reflected in policy, corporations would be unable to take advantage of illegal immigrants in such a way.

What people are you talking about? People within the Cato Institute? Supporters of the institute? If you're talking about people in general then your argument is completely non-sequiter. Claiming that position of people who have nothing to do with the Cato Institute hold positions that differ from the people within the Cato Institute doesn't prove that there is no collusion, it simply doesn't prove anything other than the fact that there are two different groups in question.

As for Cato having a "liberal" policy on immigration, of course it does - as do most business interests. A large supply of desperately poor workers, especially workers whose immigration status means they will be less likely to initiate litigation, increases the labor supply and makes it possible to keep wages low. More peons... lower wages... higher profits.

[Claptonian]

The Cato Institute is simply a libertarian oriented publicity machine, which is funded by people who those policy positions serve best, which happens to be large corporate interests and big business tycoons.

Read my post. Corporations account for a very small amount of Cato's income. It's possible that "big business tycoons" make up some of the individual donations, but I seriously doubt they make up a majority or even close to it.

As for Cato having a "liberal" policy on immigration, of course it does - as do most business interests. A large supply of desperately poor workers, especially workers whose immigration status means they will be less likely to initiate litigation, increases the labor supply and makes it possible to keep wages low. More peons... lower wages... higher profits.

You're missing the point. Cato is for open borders, I believe, or at least relatively easy legal immigration. Legal immigrants are perfectly capable of initiating litigation.

A strict, non-liberal immigration policy would mean more illegal immigrants, who are less capable of initiating litigation. So, according to your own statement, a liberal immigration policy does not serve big corporations as well according to most of the people who demonize big corporations (which you are apparently a good example of), which was my original point.





Claptonian added to this post, 2 minutes and 55 seconds later...

Also,

The world is not yet run by corporations, but that is the ideal that the backers of places like the Cato Institute are working towards: Greater profits with fewer public impediments (preferably none, as is the case in Somalia). And they are counting on infantile fools to swallow the "free market, free enterprise" pabulum without thought, consideration, or skepticism.


I think this hints at a corporate conspiracy. :laugh:

[Tocsin]

You're missing the point. Cato is for open borders, I believe, or at least relatively easy legal immigration. Legal immigrants are perfectly capable of initiating litigation.

Legal immigration or illegal, it still serves to increase the labor pool, and drive down wages. Illegal immigrants may be more pliant, but even legal immigrants will do - if they are desperately poor enough to settle for working for peanuts.

I think this hints at a corporate conspiracy.

White Southerners maintained institutions of slavery and racial prejudice for centuries. Was that "a conspiracy?" Did all the white folks in the south get together in secret and whisper to each other how they were going to stick it to all of the black folks? (The answer is no, in case you needed to be told.)

You don't need secret societies where people meet wearing robes and black hoods and mutter evil plots after giving each other the secret handshake.

If it perfectly possible for people of wealth and influence to collude for their mutual benefit, and with their political influence, they don't need to even be secretive about it, they simply label their agenda as being pro-competitive free enterprise capitalism, and the political establishment will still applaud as the donations roll in.

"This is an impressive crowd -- the haves and the have-mores. Some people call you the elite; I call you my base."
-- George W. Bush