Summary Of Parenti Chapter 6 Analysis

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Democracy for the few
In chapter five, Parenti extensively explores institutions and ideologies. He stipulates that America is mainly run by the affluent few. The Nation’s cultural institution such as schools teach students that it is through capitalism that democracy and prosperity are achieved. The institutions, however, fail to mention the thin relationship between democracy and a free market owned by the few, but thrives at the expense of the majority. The institutions concentrate on informing the public on the importance of wealth acquisition and profit making. Issues that affect the majority such as justice, health, occupational and consumer safety, accountability in
The institutions inculcate that one’s worth can only be measured using material success. The economically deprived are perceived to have a lower value in the society and are a threat to the development, because the resources spent on them do not measure to their contribution towards the resource generation. Such ideologies have resulted into the increasing disparity between the rich and the economically deprived. The ideologies have also encouraged the existence of a government that continues to enrich the wealthy while oppressing the population with the greatest needs.
In chapter six Parenti talks about the gainers and the losers in politics, he states that America has become a corporate state, whereby majorities are taxed to raise funds for subsidies for the rich corporate. The practice dates back to Dwight Eisenhower era when public property such as public lands, off show oil reserves, atomic installation and major media spectrum were given to the private corporations. Parenti further highlights that the government uses the public money to expand infrastructure for corporate companies, which extract resources from public land without paying any substantial
Another area that touches on how greed has overruled the welfare of the people is the insurances companies, schemes owned by the corporate to exploit the public. Most insurance companies fail to honor contracts. The government has also failed to implement regulations and standards on areas of healthcare such food additives, food and drugs, occupational safety, untested chemicals and pollution. Education and housing sectors have also been affected by the greed of the elites. Schools from poor populations have experienced reduced funding; this has translated to dwindling education standards. Low-cost housing program is on the brink of disappearing, this means those with less earnings will strain to afford a decent