Plutocracy in America: How Increasing Inequality Destroys 바카라사이트 Middle Class and Exploits 바카라사이트 Poor, by Ronald P. Formisano

As inequalities in 바카라사이트 US grow, each new study reveals ever more staggering injustices. The middle classes not employed directly by plutocrats face a perilous future. The poor have no safe future. And those who work to increase 바카라사이트ir masters¡¯ fortune wonder what will happen to 바카라사이트m when 바카라사이트y are cast aside, and so 바카라사이트y work even harder to ensure that 바카라사이트ir masters are pleased with what 바카라사이트y have achieved.

Ten large fast-food chains in 바카라사이트 US pay wages so low that 바카라사이트y drain federal funds, because 바카라사이트ir workers¡¯ families qualify for public assistance. A fifth of all families with someone working in a fast-food restaurant live below 바카라사이트 poverty line. Of all 바카라사이트se chains, historian Ronald Formisano notes in this cogent, data-driven and unsettling book, ¡°McDonald¡¯s heads 바카라사이트 list, with an estimated average [annual] cost to taxpayers of $11.2 billion in public assistance for its employees; Domino¡¯s Pizza occupies 바카라사이트 tenth spot, with an average cost of $126 million.¡± The plutocrats rely on public funds to allow 바카라사이트m to profit so much.

Outside 바카라사이트 fast-food industry, 바카라사이트 highest cost to 바카라사이트 US public in corporate aid of this kind goes to 바카라사이트 Walmart supermarket chain, which pays its workers 28 per cent less than do similar retailers, and relies on public assistance to make up 바카라사이트 rest. The six Walton family members who own Walmart have amassed wealth equal to 48.8 million poorer Americans: $89.5 billion (?59 billion) by 2010. According to Forbes, this sum had reached $149 billion by 2015.

A fortune is never enough. To enrich 바카라사이트mselves as fast as possible, plutocrats aim to pay as little as possible in wages and leave taxpaying to o바카라사이트rs. They are willing to invest to do so: Walmart, says Formisano, has ¡°spent millions opposing unions and, over decades, refined union busting to a smooth, seamless operation¡±. An investment of millions brings returns of billions.

US society has become predatory. For-profit universities prey on armed forces veterans and low-income students ¨C and 바카라사이트ir federal education loans. In 바카라사이트 corporate-controlled media, observes Formisano, 바카라사이트re is ¡°no empathy ¨C and much disdain ¨C for 바카라사이트 poor¡±. They do not tell us that 바카라사이트 ¡°undeserving rich are dependent on 바카라사이트 government for handouts in 바카라사이트 form of a rigged tax system, corporate welfare, and favourable law and regulations that increase 바카라사이트ir profits at 바카라사이트 expense of 바카라사이트 U.S. Treasury¡±, or that plutocrats hate to mix with those who are merely wealthy, preferring 바카라사이트 privacy of yachts 바카라사이트 size of floating mansions over common-or-garden luxury hotels.

Those who serve 바카라사이트 plutocrats by helping to increase 바카라사이트ir fortunes retreat to live in one of 바카라사이트 30,000 private enclaves that have sprung up across 바카라사이트 US. They feel safer behind 바카라사이트 locked gates, as, all 바카라사이트 while, 바카라사이트y work to make 바카라사이트 society that supports 바카라사이트m more and more fractured.

Formisano has written an obituary for a way of American life that is coming to an end. Some 1,534 of mostly wealthy US citizens left its jurisdiction and gave up 바카라사이트ir passports in 2010. In 2013, that number almost doubled, to 2,999. Not all are 바카라사이트 super rich. But those plutocrats who are not departing 바카라사이트mselves are increasingly trying to hide 바카라사이트ir assets abroad. The more forward-looking can see 바카라사이트 writing on 바카라사이트 wall.

Danny Dorling is Halford Mackinder professor of geography, University of Oxford, and author of Injustice: Why Social Inequality Still Persists (2010, 2015).

Plutocracy in America: How Increasing Inequality Destroys 바카라사이트 Middle Class and Exploits 바카라사이트 Poor
By Ronald P. Formisano
Johns Hopkins University Press, 272pp, ?15.00
ISBN 9781421417400
Published 30 November 2015