Signs of Late Stage Capitalism. It’s not just Anthem. Tech oligarchs are sitting on Trillions of dollars (larger than most countries), while policing speech and weaving a web through every aspect of our lives. Until the middle class decides to stop thanking the top 2% for their scrapes, not much will change.
“Late stage capitalism describes the unrealistic perspectives of the wealthiest 1%. In the same vein, it highlights how the middle class is largely oblivious to the struggles of the poor.
It's the sense that monopolies, and the oligarchs that run them, have rigged the system in their favor. They hired well-paid lobbyists to influence politicians. They won Supreme Court cases, such as Citizens United v. FEC (2010), that give corporations the same rights as people.3 This allows them to spend untold millions on political ads that benefit them.
Many feel that capitalism's winners may even favor inequality. With it, they have fewer competitive threats. They "rig the system" by creating barriers to entry. They send their children to private schools while cutting funds for public schools.
There is a sense that the U.S. income inequality created by capitalism is unsustainable. It's a prelude to a more equitable way of life. That includes animals, plants, and the natural world as well.”