#the power elite

[evilhorse]

Starman #6

[science-criticaltheory]

C. Wright Mills – The Power Elite

During most of human history, historical change has not been visible to the people who were involved in it, or even to those enacting it. Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, for example, endured for some four hundred generations with but slight changes in their basic structure. That is six and a half times as long as the entire Christian era, which has only prevailed some sixty generations; it is about eighty times as long as the five generations of the United States' existence.

But now the tempo of change is so rapid, and the means of observation so accessible, that the interplay of event and decision seems often to be quite historically visible, if we will only look carefully and from an adequate vantage point "As the circle of those who decide is narrowed, as the means of decision are centralized and the consequences of decision become enormous, then the course of great events often rests upon the decisions of determinable circles.

There is nothing in 'the nature of history' in our epoch that rules out the pivotal function of small groups of decision-makers. On the contrary, the structure of the present is such as to make this not only a reasonable, but a rather compelling, view There is nothing in 'the psychology of man,' or in the social manner by which men are shaped and selected for and by the command posts of modern society, that makes unreasonable the view that they do confront choices and that the choices they make--or their failure to confront them--are history-making in their consequences.

Accordingly, political men now have every reason to hold the American power elite accountable for a decisive range of the historical events that make up the history of the present. The view that all is blind drift is largely a fatalist projection of one's own feeling of impotence and perhaps, if one has ever been active politically in a principled way, a salve of one's guilt. The view that all of history is due to the conspiracy of an easily located set of villains, or of heroes, is also a hurried projection from the difficult effort to understand how shifts in the structure of society open opportunities to various elites and how various elites take advantage or fail to take advantage of them. To accept either view--of all history as conspiracy or of all history as drift--is to relax the effort to understand the facts of power and the ways of the powerful.

To say that a historical event is caused by fate is to say that it is the summary and unintended result of innumerable decisions of innumerable men. These men are not socially compact enough to be identifiable, and such decisions as each of them makes are not in themselves consequential enough for the result to have been foreseen. Each decision that each man makes is one among many, and the results of each decision are minute. All these decisions--coinciding, colliding, coalescing--add up to the blind result: the historical event, which, as it were, is autonomous. There is no link between any one man's intention and the summary result of the innumerable intentions. Thus, in the classic model of the capitalist market, innumerable entrepreneurs and innumerable consumers by ten thousand decisions per minute shape and reshape, in the longer run, the structure of the economy. And in like manner, the causes of such historical events as war are not under human control.

This sociological conception of fate, in brief, has to do with events in history that are beyond the control of any circles or groups of men (1) compact enough to be identifiable, (2) powerful enough to decide with consequence, and (3) in a position to foresee the consequences and so to be held accountable for historical events.

The power elite is composed of men whose positions enable them to transcend the ordinary environments of ordinary men and women; they are in positions to make decisions having major consequences. Whether they do or do not make such decisions is less important than the fact that they do occupy such pivotal positions: their failure to act, their failure to make decisions, is itself an act that is often of greater consequences than the decisions they do make.

For they are in command of the major hierarchies and organizations of modern society. They rule big corporations. They run the machinery of the state and claim its prerogatives. They run the military establishment. They occupy the strategic command posts of the social structure, in which are now centered the effective means of power and wealth and the celebrity which they enjoy.

The power elite are not solitary rulers. Advisers and consultants, spokesmen and opinion-makers are often the captains of their higher thought and decision. Immediately below the elite are the professional politicians of the middle levels of power, in the Congress and in the pressure groups, as well as among the new and old upper classes of town and city and region.

Behind such men and behind the events of history, linking the two, are the major institutions of modern society. These hierarchies of state and corporation and army constituted the means of power; as such they are now of a consequence not before equaled in human history--and at their summits, there are now those command posts of modern society which offer us the sociological key to an understanding of the role of the higher circles in America.

Within American society, major national power now resides in the economic, the political, and the military domains. Other institutions seem off to the side of modern history, and, on occasion, duly subordinated to these.

[arkangelo-7]

I think the scariest part about Batman is the loyalty he inspires. Like this motherfucker has an army of children who might at any given time hate his guts, but are still 100% willing to throw hands for him if Bruce needs them to. And then there’s the Justice League, who also at any given time might hate his guts or find him insanely irritating and/or weird, but will also fall in line and listen to his plans if the need arises. And that’s like the most intense form of power someone can wield—voluntary obedience from people physically more capable than them.

[bigfatbreak]

For the Viceroy AU, how does Tom figure out Gabriel was the one responsible?

[reality-detective]

Mark Zuckerberg, an outspoken critic of "man-made climate change", shows off his new $300 million, 287-foot mega yacht, powered by four gigantic diesel engines.

Yet another stark reminder that Net Zero is only for the peasants. The mega-wealthy and powerful will continue to enjoy lives of excess and opulence, while you subsist on bugs in your 15 minute eco-prison. 🤔

[awesomecooperlove]

“BLACK EYE CLUB” (DEEP STATE PUPPETS AND CLOWNS) AKA “ELITES” / FAMOUS DEVIL WORSHIPPERS, PAEDOPHILES AND CRIMINALS

👹☠️👹

[pocasu]

🐺 pose studies with J3 🍩

[lunarharp]

shirahama-sensei reminded me she has a thing for the teacher from pokemon s/v so i randomly went off on an au where qifrey is the professor. etc

[reality-detective]

EXPOSED: Secret Underground Tunnels Beneath Florida! The Hidden Network Under Ybor City You Were Never Meant to Discover

Uncover the shocking truth about Florida’s secret underground tunnels! Hidden beneath Ybor City, these passageways are linked to human trafficking, organized crime, and smuggling. These sinister tunnels stretch to the Port of Tampa, hiding chilling secrets. The truth is darker than you think—expose the horror beneath your feet!

Ybor City, known for its colorful streets and Cuban heritage, hides a gruesome secret beneath its surface. Below the brick-paved roads lies a network of secret tunnels, stretching into the shadows, unknown to most. With no official maps, how could these tunnels remain uncharted? Some say they connect to the Port of Tampa, making them a smuggling highway.

This isn’t fantasy. Investigators have confirmed these tunnels’ existence, raising unanswered questions. What if these tunnels are still being used for horrific crimes? The silence from officials only fuels the theory that something seriously wrong is happening beneath our feet.

Ally Carter, a survivor of human trafficking, exposed a nationwide tunnel network connecting cities like Tampa, used to traffic humans. According to Carter, this underground system allows traffickers to move their victims unseen and unnoticed. It’s happening while the world turns a blind eye.

If you think this is just a conspiracy, think again. Law enforcement has uncovered similar networks along the U.S.-Mexico border. This isn’t a nightmare—it’s real. And it’s happening in Tampa. How long will we ignore the red flags?

A History of Crime: From Prohibition to Trafficking During Prohibition, Ybor City’s tunnels were a haven for bootleggers and smugglers. These tunnels allowed criminal activity to thrive undetected. But what if they never stopped being used? Today, narcotics, weapons, and human trafficking could be passing through these same tunnels.

The Port of Tampa is one of the busiest in the U.S. If these tunnels connect to the port, what’s stopping traffickers from using this hidden network to move goods and people undetected? This should send shivers down your spine.

Why the Silence? Authorities Look the Other Way Why hasn’t there been a full investigation? These tunnels are impossible to track, with no official records. But criminals know how to use them. Corruption could be stopping investigations before they begin.

The lack of action is telling. When there’s this much silence, it’s because someone doesn’t want you to know the truth.

Human Trafficking: The Darkest Truth The most disturbing use of these tunnels is human trafficking. Victims are moved like cargo, hidden beneath our feet. It’s the perfect cover for the modern slave trade, thriving on secrecy and fear.

The tunnels are real, the crimes are real, and unless we demand answers, this underground hell will continue to operate.

The Unseen Threat Beneath Our Feet It’s time to shine a light on these tunnels. Law enforcement must map them out and shut down the criminal activities. The truth must be exposed, no matter how horrifying. These tunnels represent a hidden danger we can’t ignore.

The Underground network is EVERYWHERE and the evil satanic shit that is done down there... IS far below human.

[eddiegettingshot]

this is mean but. the thing is that nothing about 911 on abc is that deep because it’s 911 on abc but i do have to say that being in this fandom alone has wholesale lowered my expectations for the general capacity of people to engage not just critically but base-level logically with the world around them. like i kind of thought we were all on the same page here but i was wrong

[xomegaman]

"I'm a full-time member of AEW, but if it's okay, I'd like to come back to this ring... in a New Japan Wrestling ring." - Kenny Omega

[anetherealpoetess]

it absolutely tickles me that the show is hyper-concerned with how galadriel sees sauron. she's the one talking about him with elrond. she's the one talking about him with gil-galad. she's the one remembering her moments with halbrand. she's the one discussing with adar what sauron may or may not have promised her. but the fandom is hyper-concerned with how sauron sees galadriel. it is the complete inverse of the writers. it's like we decided, 'obviously she's not the problem child. he is. (he is the dark lord after all). and let's hash that out.'

[stylerenders]

[factsilike]

Really tired of constantly seeing posts declaring that everyone in MXTX novels is complicated and 'morally grey' and that's what makes her works wonderfully written, and that everyone else who doesn't see that is stupid, or is 'demonising' characters and bashing them for rightfully criticising their shitty, very much unjustified actions.

And ironically it seems so simplistic to just declare that, because yes her stories are wonderfully written and complex, but not for that reason. You're clearly not reading her works and only spouting what you think her stories say. There are many morally grey characters in morally complex stories out there, but MDZS IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

NONE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS (i.e protagonists and their male leads except for LBH maybe) ARE MORALLY GREY OR MORALLY COMPLEX.

THEY ARE ALL MORALLY RIGHTEOUS.

Just take a closer look at their actions compared to the actions of literally everyone else around them, it's not that hard to see.

Not to mention that MXTX herself literally says that WWX and LWJ are both morally ideal and that ahe hopes her readers can be like them, but people seem to have no respect for the word of authors in the name of their self projection onto the characters being contradicted nowadays 😒

(also saw someone dismissively say that HC may think that the world revolves around XL or whatever, but others don't and they're right??

First of all, did you even read the novel? HC made his judgement based on how others treated him versus how XL did when he was a CHILD. And how XL continues to treat others to this day. He is well within his rights to think the world of XL, especially since XL suffered more than every other person and still doesn't succumb to evil, despite having every right to do so, miles more than others. He all but regards XL as his moral compass, because he's proof that truly good people do exist in this world, and not ONE other person in the novel is shown to be as good as him.)

One of the reasons why I really don't like the Xianle Trio is this; neither FX nor MQ seem to regard XL as his own person with his own agency, who is capable of making his own decisions initially as HC does, and only near the end of the novel do they let up a bit when their asses had to be saved by XL multiple times. (especially considering what fools they made of themselves in that spiderweb cave lmao)

Both of them try to enforce XL ALL THE TIME ("Your Highness don't do this or don't do that or don't say this or don't go there or don't talk to him"), as if XL has not survived perfectly well on his own without them FOR 800 YEARS.

The difference between them and HC is clearly spelled out when FC asks HC about why he is not stopping XL, and HC replies that while he may not agree with some of XL's decisions, he would never force him to do what he thinks is correct, something both MQ and FX are CONSTANTLY shown to try to do.

Like please. Xianle Trio who? More like suffering XL and his pair of nuisances who think themselves to be his babysitters. And most of the time he's the one babysitting them.

Another thing that irks me is that their frequent arguments are often played off for laughs, but XL is truly a saint, because if my friends were constantly bickering over petty things all throughout our dangerous journey and giving me nothing but headaches, especially in survival situations, I'd given them the boot a long time ago.

[dontworryibite]

"Your fight really turns me on, little monster."

[mmelolabelle]

I am a ‘Snow 100% murdered Dr Gaul the instant he didn’t need her anymore’ truther. I will hear no different.

Firstly because Gaul is a sadistic murderous sociopath who knows entirely too much about Snow - Gaul knew about Lucy Gray, about the way Snow had once been weak for a girl from Twelve - there is no way Snow would ever be able to feel safe or like he actually held absolute power and had complete control while she was alive. Infamously, Snow isn’t wasteful, so he would keep her around until he was sure there was no further political, social, or scientific advantage he could get from her, but Gaul would never not be a threat to him (or anyone else unfortunate enough to exist in her general vicinity), and that’s true even before you factor in that Snow is deeply, irrationally paranoid. The same day Dr Gaul stops being useful? Poisoned with extreme prejudice.

Secondly because I love the narrative justice of it. Gaul makes monsters. She engineers them to do as much damage and to cause as much pain and suffering as possible. Coriolanus Snow, President of Panem, Dictator For Life, Official ‘Worst Dude Ever’ is as much her creation as any of the muttations she made in her lab. The man Snow becomes by the end of tbosas is far and away the worst thing she inflicts on the people of Panem.

What does any good literary monster do when it’s strong enough? It turns on its creator. Volumnia Gaul makes a bigger, more dangerous predator and him killing her would serve her right.

(Snow killing Gaul would also be a nice prelude to his role in Coin’s downfall. You know the “if I had a nickel for every time this objectively terrible human being took down someone even worse albeit for his own purposes…I’d only have two nickels, but it’s weird that it happened twice” of it all)