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Showing posts with label Gilded Age. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gilded Age. Show all posts

Dec 23, 2014

"A Christmas Tree Decorated": America's Second 'Gilded Age'

Decking the Halls as the Gilding of America Continues

by Jude Cowell

In case you missed it, the website of Bill Moyers has published an excerpt from a new book The Age of Acquiescence by historian Steve Fraser.

The book concerns the Robber Baron era of Industrialism, the 1880s into the 1900s (sometimes called the 'Generation of Materialism' or 'The Gilded Age') and relates the era to America's current 'gilded' conditions. The complexity of today's conditions is addressed as the book notes an obvious difference: then the populace rose up against the inequities, oppression, and exploitation perpetrated by the Plutocracy and their political enablers--unlike today's watered down efforts by a largely apathetic public.

Since the founding our nation, America has had a 'materialism v spiritualism' conflict (Saturn v Neptune) and perhaps we may say that Alexander Hamilton and the monarchists have won. And unfortunately for most Americans, the November 4, 2014 mid-term election outcomes in Congress will prove this tragically the case as 2015 proceeds along with SCOTUS' 'Citizens United' treason against the foundation of our alleged democracy.

Now if you're in the mood for a little Astrology concerning such topics, perhaps you'll consider the Robber Baron-Gilded Age era as timed by the Taurus New Moon of April 28, 1881. Here's a view of a previous post concerning the Natal Horoscope of the Robber Barons with a few notes. (No edits have been made so the post includes some then-timely Campaign 2012 content).

Actually, here is the post's horoscope so that a quick peek may be taken:

~:~

Most likely this is my last post until after Christmas so my warm thanks and best regards go out to all Followers, reTweeters, and Google+ers of this and my other blogs and posts as 2014 draws to a close (you know who you are!)

Sending well wishes for a wonderful and joyous holiday season to you and yours!

Jude

@judecowell


Sep 30, 2008

The Cross of Gold: text link from DNC 1896

We may be tempted to think that today's current money crisis is somehow new or unprecedented in America or in the wider world.

Yet William Jennings Bryan, in his address to the Democratic National Convention of 1896, covered many issues which may resound to our current issues such as: "gold Republicans" vs "silver Democrats" and the coining and issuing of money by private individuals (such as the Fed.)

Siding with Thomas Jefferson on the coining and issuing of money being a function of government, Bryan stated that, "banks ought to go out of the governing business."

If the Bush-Cheney-Bernanke-Paulson scheme passes, banks will BE the governing business.

And you know what that adds up to: corporatism + state = fascism. Simple formula, a long time coming.

When he delivered his address, 'Cross of Gold' which denounced the gold standard, Bryan was a young Nebraska congressman who had been chosen as the Democratic party's presidential nominee. His speech mesmerized the convention and Bryan thereafter became a spokesman and devotee of silver. Not all Democrats agreed on the issue, but that's a post for another day.

Yet Bryan and his party members were defeated at least partially due to their silver promotion and the economic crisis of their day. Then, as now, it was the economy, stupid.

Between a major economic depression and the rise of Populism, William McKinley and the gold Republicans were able to carry the 1896 election; Republican control of the White House and both houses of Congress in 1897 serve in hindsight to mark the end of the *Gilded Age, even as the descendants of "the idle holders of idle wealth" whom Bryan railed against so eloquently in 1896 continue to play the trickle-down card upon the working masses to our present-day detriment.

Cross of Gold by William Jennings Bryan, 1896.


*Gilded Age is what is usually referred to on this blog as the Generation of Materialism, marked astrologically by the Great Conjunction Neptune and Pluto, 1892.

You may wish to read Senator Bernie Sanders' statement on the vicious class warfare being waged upon America's middle class (compliments of Pluto-Chiron plutocracy) which is included in a post of mine from January 13, 2008, Plutocrats: Middle Class Warfare going dandily, for the effects of their viciousness have become, with current market meltdowns, socializing of private debts, and naked power grabbing, impossible to hide or ignore.

~:~

W. J. Bryan details from: 'America Interpreted Vol II: since 1865' by R.Woods and W. Gatewood.