The "Class Ceiling"

“An intangible barrier within the hierarchy of a company that prevents women or minorities from obtaining upper-level positions.” This is m-w.com web site’s definition of a “glass ceiling.”

I propose that our country has had for years a “Class Ceiling,” which I define as an intangible barrier that exists between the extremely wealthy corporations and individuals and the politicians who cater to them, versus the rest of the population. We, the people, are below the ceiling (lower and what’s left of the rapidly diminishing middle class), while the decision making processes that drive us toward poverty and further enrich the top two percent are negotiated above it by the corporations and politicians (upper class).

This duopoly of Democrats and Republicans are products of the same cloth. Look at the “workaround” the multinational corporations are utilizing to throw money at both candidates for President. Tens of millions of dollars are being spent on both conventions by companies like Qwest, Comcast, Xcel Energy (Nuclear Plants) and AT&T, which is providing tote bags with the corporation’s logo emblazoned on them. Some amounts these corporations are “donating” aren’t even being divulged.

All this is being brazenly explained as enhancing and promoting the wonderful cities of Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul. You actually think these are “political” contributions? Nah! And many of the corporate contributors aren’t even based in these cities. In the end, just as in other sponsored events, we will be inundated with corporate logos wherever the cameras are pointing. At least, the logos will tell us which corporations will be further enriched and let off the hook for any “indulgences” they may get caught at in the next four years.

So as we, the people, look up at the impenetrable ceiling, this money/policy tarantella between the multinationals and the politicos continue. Because of this ceiling we are experiencing what is a paraphrase of T. Boone Pickens current environmental comment: “it’s the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of our country.” Transferring, that is, from the lower 98% of the U.S. population to the upper 2%. This has been an ongoing process for decades, and the end is not in sight. The “Class Ceiling” appears to be made of something definitely stronger than glass.