11-14-2016, 05:33 PM
(11-14-2016, 10:09 AM)Warren Dew Wrote:(11-14-2016, 08:05 AM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote: I am happier with saying the capitalist class -- the owners of the means of production -- still exist and that the computer folk are a subgroup of the robber barons as a whole. They will be pushing somewhat different agendas than those invested in oil, armaments, automobiles, or any other industries, but computer industry robber barons are not basically different from other robber barons.
By that definition, the "robber barons" are roughly equally split between the two major parties, so your relevant definition of "progressive" is largely unaligned with political party.
Of course, the elites just before the Civil War included the large plantation owners of the South. Were they robber barons too? They were certainly among the elites. If they fit your definition of "robber baron", the Republicans were never the party of robber barons.
The robber barons today are the Republicans. The only issue is which party supports the barons, and which does not? The 5-4 vote on Citizens United makes the case; case closed.