Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter Sounds Off on America – “It’s Just an Oligarchy”

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It violates the essence of what made America a great country in its political system. Now it’s just an oligarchy, with unlimited political bribery being the essence of getting the nominations for president or to elect the president. And the same thing applies to governors and U.S. senators and congress members. So now we’ve just seen a complete subversion of our political system as a payoff to major contributors, who want and expect and sometimes get favors for themselves after the election’s over. … The incumbents, Democrats and Republicans, look upon this unlimited money as a great benefit to themselves. Somebody’s who’s already in Congress has a lot more to sell to an avid contributor than somebody who’s just a challenger.

– Jimmy Carter, 39th President of these United States

You know it’s really, really bad when a former U.S. President feels the need to come out and publicly admit the above. While it’s completely accurate and needs to be said, it’s a truly sad moment, and provides further evidence of the Banana Republic America has become.

Of course, Mr. Carter’s comments come on the heels of former Senator Gary Hart’s blistering critique published in back June, which I covered in the post: Former Senator Opines on the Incredible Corruption in America and the Fourth Branch of Government. Here’s an excerpt:

On a more personal level, how can public service be promoted as an ideal to young people when this sewer corrupts our Republic? At this point in early twenty-first-century America, the greatest service our nation’s young people could provide is to lead an army of outraged young Americans armed with brooms on a crusade to sweep out the rascals and rid our capital of the money changers, rent seekers, revolving door dancers, and special interest deal makers and power brokers and send them back home to make an honest living, that is, if they still remember how to do so.

Our ancestors did not depart Europe and elsewhere to seek freedom and self-government alone. They came to these shores to escape social and political systems that were corrosive and corrupt. Two and a quarter centuries later, we are returning to those European practices. We are in danger of becoming a different kind of nation, one our founders would not recognize and would deplore.

In addition to the rise of the national security state, and the concentration of wealth and power in America, no development in modern times sets us apart more from the nation originally bequeathed to us than the rise of the special interest state. There is a Gresham’s law related to the republican ideal. Bad politics drives out good politics. Legalized corruption drives men and women of stature, honor, and dignity out of the halls of government. Self-respecting individuals cannot long tolerate a system of election and reelection so dependent on cultivating the favor of those known to expect access in return. Such a system is corrosive to the soul.

Now listen to Mr. Carter in his own words. You can hear the man’s obvious devastation and depression in his voice.

In case that wasn’t enough for you. I recently came across data from Syracuse University’s TRAC system (Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse), which showed that “Federal White Collar Crime Prosecutions At 20-Year Low.” Why am I not surprised.

We learn that…

Federal prosecution of individuals identified by the government as white collar criminals is at its lowest level in the last twenty years, according to the latest data from the Justice Department.

The available records show an overall decline that began during the Clinton Administration, with a steady downward trend — except for a three-year jump early in the Obama years — continuing into the current fiscal year.

During the first nine months of FY 2015, the government brought 5,173 white collar crime prosecutions. If the monthly number of these kinds of cases continues at the same pace until the end of the current fiscal year on September 30, the total will be only 6,897 such matters — down by more than one third (36.8%) from levels seen two decades ago — despite the rise in population and economic activity in the nation during this period.

The decline in federal white collar crime prosecutions does not necessarily indicate there has been a decline in white collar crime. Rather, it may reflect shifting enforcement policies by each of the administrations and the various agencies, the changing availabilities of essential staff and congressionally mandated alterations in the laws. 

The decline in federal white collar crime prosecutions does not necessarily indicate there has been a decline in white collar crime.”

That’s for sure.

“It may reflect shifting enforcement policies by each of the administrations and the various agencies.”

Yes, it reflects captured and corrupt agencies and administrations, which intentionally perpetuate a crony parasitic economy that thrives on backroom deals and fraud.  

Currently, fraud by wire, radio or television under 18 USC 1343 tops the list of lead charges. This also topped last year’s list. In second place are frauds involving public money, property or records under 18 USC 641. Bank fraud, which as mentioned above was in first place ten years ago, has fallen to third place.

Freedom.

For related articles, see:

Charting the American Oligarchy – How 0.01% of the Population Contributes 42% of All Campaign Cash

When Asked if the U.S. is a Capitalist Democracy or Oligarchy, Janet Yellen Can’t Answer…

New Report from Princeton and Northwestern Proves It: The U.S. is an Oligarchy

The Pitchforks are Coming…– A Dire Warning from a Member of the 0.01%

The 2014 Elections by the Numbers – Who are the 1% of 1% Driving American Politics?

In Liberty,
Michael Krieger

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13 thoughts on “Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter Sounds Off on America – “It’s Just an Oligarchy””

  1. President Carter, you have told me that you do not work on issues that others are working on. That issue is over sixty-five years of the abusive application of the state secrets privilege and related doctrine, act, executive order, regulation and related policy abuses. Just who are the others that are working on this issue?

    Reply
  2. Carter supported the expansion of the federal government and the presidents power. I remember not liking his policies when I did a quick study of him in high school. The Iran situation was a complete mess and effected every day Americans at the gas pumps. Interest rates, Cost of Living Adjustments, and inflation also skyrocketed during his term as President
    P.S I am 19 years old

    Reply
    • “Carter supported the expansion of the federal government and the presidents power.”

      As every single President since him has done with increased enthusiasm.

      I think everyone agrees Carter wasn’t a good President, but neither have any of them been since him.

      The point of the article was that it is significant that a living former U.S. President would publicly call the U.S. an oligarchy, not to debate the pros and cons of Carter while he was in office.

  3. If The Original CFR Man, the elevated, picked, and promoted tool to channel Brzezinski’s foreign policy — and who did these people answer to but the Oligarchs themselves?

    If Jimmy Carter is saying it, it means this idea is being deliberately phased in. Someone’s brewing a power play, and they’re using the magician’s Revelation of the Method to make their moves.

    An old, rooted evil has poisoned the world enough that it thinks safe to come out of hiding.

    Reply
  4. WHO MATTERS. and until someone interviews carter and he exposes his former backers , the rockefellers, and gives up some of their dirty laundry and apologizes for his own actions, and he supported war in south america than it is PRETTY NAIVE of you mike.

    who matters.
    don’t suck out into the carter is a good guy meme.
    it’s sad and occupy wall street socialist garbage.

    Reply
    • I never said Carter is a good guy.

      I said provide proof and links for readers.

      You are being a troll again. Stick to facts and provide links for others. Don’t make this about me. Calm down.

      As I wrote in the comments:

      “The point of the article was that it is significant that a living former U.S. President would publicly call the U.S. an oligarchy.”

      If you want to provide links to question Carter I fully support your right to do so. Please do instead of focusing on me personally so much and getting so angry at me. You only look irrational in the process.

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