The Power of the Rich Black Hole of the Social Sciences?

1. The Power of the Rich Black Hole of the Social Sciences? H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

2. Between 1979 and 2003 the share of overall income received by the bottom 80 percent of taxpayers fell from 50 percent to barely over 40 percent. The main winners from this upward redistribution of income were a tiny, wealthy elite: More than half the income share lost by the bottom 80 percent was gained by just one-fourth of 1 percent of the population, people with incomes of at least $ 750,000 in 2003. (Recent study by the IRS) H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

3. Wealth in Capitalist Societies Mechanisms of power Types of wealth Effects Class relations The (super)-rich Functional elites Economic capital Profiting by putting pressure on income distribution and social standards Wealth in terms of money Capital accumulation in financial markets Redistribution in favor of large creditors, milking of tax payers Power of large creditors vis a vis indebted states Turning financial power into socio-cultural capital Filling elite positions, pushing interests, defining reality Influencing political decisions, legislation Lobbyism H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

4. Mechanisms of power Types of wealth Effects Influencing decision-making, destroying the democratic process Wealth in terms of money (ct‘d) Corruption Sponsoring biased socio-cultural projects, eroding the realm of public goods Foundations Buying private security, hiring mercenaries Privatization of foreign policy and internal security systems Controlling all options of development Capital accumulation through production and services Industrial wealth Social inequality between owners and wage-earners Exploitation Pressuring unions Global outsourcing of production and services H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

5. Mechanisms of power Types of wealth Effects Extorting public services for private investors Industrial wealth (ct‘d) Privatization of public services Eroding the welfare state, footloose markets City planning dependent on real estate owners, urban sprawl Real estate property Private profiting in real estate Redistribution of wealth through rent, mortgage payments etc. Expropriation of farmers in developing countries Increasing social distances between the classes Consumptive wealth Conspicuous consumption Favoring networking among the rich H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

6. Mechanisms of power Types of wealth Effects Cultural capital Internalized cultural capital Elitism and cronyism Privatization of knowledge Reproducing the power elite via elite education Mythologizing meritocracy Legitimizing the power of capital by cultural means Re-ified cultural capital Defining cultural heritage Selective preservation of culture Control of public access by representation Demonstrating elitism, distance, power Incorporated cultural capital, titles etc. Control of upward mobility Symbolizing social status H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

7. Mechanisms of power Types of wealth Effects Social capital Mutual support in attaining privileges, benefits etc. Resources based on stable social networks Preserving elite status Reproduction of power elites Exclusion of outsiders Informal power structures, erosion of democracy H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

8. Mechanisms ofPrivatization Mechanismsof power • Conspicuous consumption • Demonstration of status• Mutual guarantee of privileges• Privilege to fill elite positions• Control of cultural heritage•Network of foundations etc. •Capital accumulation through production and services • Capital accumulation through financial transactions• Economizing real estate• Outsourcing production•Dependency of debt-ridden states on major creditors etc. •Lobbyism •Corruption• Public responsibilities vs. privatization • Privatizing internal and external security etc. Mechanisms of Distribution Mechanisms ofValorization • Conversion of financial power into social and cultural capital • Private control of public sphere • Control of cultural experience • Mythologizing plutocracy• De-temporalization etc. Mechanisms ofInformatization H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

9. Mechanisms ofPrivatization Actors Functional & Knowledge Elites(millions) Political Elites(ten thousands) Corporate & Financial Elites(thousands) Mechanisms of Distribution Mechanisms ofValorization The SUPERRICH(hundreds) Mechanisms ofInformatization H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

10. Mechanisms ofPrivatization Net-worth Functional & Knowledge Elites 100 thousand – 3 million $$ Political Elites 100 thousand – 10 million $$ ... and more Corporate & Financial Elites 10 million – 200 million $$ Mechanisms of Distribution Mechanisms ofValorization The SUPERRICH 200 million – 50 billion $$ Mechanisms ofInformatization H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

11. Mechanisms ofPrivatization TheSovereign Think tanksElite universitiesInterlocking directoratesDiscussion groupsFoundations Functional&KnowledgeElites CommissionsPlanning groups Pol. directoratesLobbyists Business councilsInterl. directoratesSuperlawyersFixers CLUBS MICRO-NETWORKS Corporate&FinancialCEOs Mechanisms of Distribution Mechanisms ofValorization PoliticalClass Think tanks Elite mediaElite universitiesFoundationsElite institutions Mechanisms ofInformatization H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

12. A global power elite? H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

13. Some Visuals H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

14. Universitè tangente H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

15. Corporate Community / Upper Class trustees $ trustees $ $ Universities Foundations $ trustees $ members $ ideas $ Think Tanks Policy Discussion Groups PolicyFormationNetwork(William Domhoff) ideas,members Blue Ribbon CommissionsTask Forces testimony,reports testimony,reports appointees reports Government H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

16. Policy planning network Big Business Moderate Conservatives:Business RoundtableBusiness CouncilAmerican Enterprise Instituteetc. Ultra-conservative Groups:Hoover Institution Heritage Foundation ‘Eastern Establishment’:Council on Foreign RelationsTrilateral Commission, Brookings Institution H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

17. http://www.theyrule.net/ H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

18. http://www.mediachannel.org/ H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

19. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Lombardi H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006

20. http://www.fas.at/business/en/galery/05.htm H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006