Dakota Beacon

Words mean things. The 2020 elections dubiously swept Democrats into total power now controlling all branches of government (one party rule). What better reason to generate an amended lexicon for the 21^st century (not to be confused with Ambrose Bierce’s “The Devil’s Dictionary”)? These are old words revived. Here we go.

OLIGARCHY – A group or class of people controlling government. This group defines the pseudo-elite and privileged individuals and may or may not include the wealthy. Classic constituents include high ranking individuals from the President’s cabinet and their staffs; the administrative state or bureaucracy including political appointees and the Senior Executive Service; and legislative and judiciary staffers. Collectively denoted most recently as “the swamp.” Often indicative of corruption. So, do we have an American oligarchy or an American…

PLUTOCRACY – Government by the wealthy. This class or group exercises power and influence by virtue of their wealth as well as the wealth of their supporters.

Start at the top. Joe Biden’s net worth is in the multi-millions. How did that happen on a senator’s salary? Luck of the draw with cattle futures? FBI investigations continue into the financial influence-peddling of then-VP Biden into the Ukraine and China affairs along with his son Hunter.

Next, the five wealthiest House Democrats (in millions): Don Beyer (VA), $125; Nancy Pelosi (CA), $115; Suzan DelBene (WA), $79; Scott Peters (CA), $61; Joe Kennedy III, (MA), $46. Then come the five wealthiest Senate Democrats (in millions): Mark Warner (VA), $214; Dianne Feinstein (CA), $88; Richard Blumenthal (CT), $70; Michael Bennet (CO), $16; Bill Foster (IL), $14.

Wealthy politicians in our American plutocracy include Republicans as well. However, the Democrats now control the House, the Senate, and the Executive Branch.

Round out our American plutocracy with multi-billionaires aligned with the Democrats. Jack Dorsey (Twitter), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Sundar Pichai (Google), and Tim Cook (Apple) walk hand-in-hand with legislators in symbiotic relationship. These monopolists exercise overwhelming influence in legislation and political campaigns. The US House and Senate held five hearings in 2020 into monopolistic practices by these plutocrats but with no results.

PANDER – To act as a go-between to gratify one’s desires. Candidates pander to “Big Tech” for money with which to sell themselves to the public for votes. To pimp.

BIPARTISAN – Defines unity of two factions. In a two-party system this term applies to two opposing political parties finding common ground. A one-party system negates the need for bipartisanship except to use as propaganda to fool the public.

UNITY – Continuity without deviation. A condition of harmony and of being in one accord. The Ruling Class in a state of being made one regardless of party affiliation. Unity is doublespeak for consolidation under one-party rule.

CENSOR – To examine in order to delete or suppress anything considered objectionable.

SUPPRESS -- To keep from public knowledge. To put down by authority or force. To silence.

SILENCE – To cause to cease hostile criticism. Prohibit or prevent from speaking.

PURGE – The final phase beyond silence. To expunge a record or person at the whim of another. To remove a person considered undesirable from social media – or from the general population.

SINGLE PARTY GOVERNMENT -- Control of three branches of government consigned to a single political party and heralding dire consequences. Democrat leaders in the Senate propose expanding the number of justices on the Supreme Court and then filling those vacancies thereby shifting the balance of the court. Statehood for Washington DC will ensure the Democrats perpetuate single party government into the foreseeable future. Eliminating the Senate filibuster ensures arguments of the minority party will never be heard.

TOTALITARIAN – The logical progression of an oligarchy or plutocracy controlled by a single party. A form of government in which political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life, the individual is subordinate to the state, and opposing political and cultural expression is purged. Characteristic of a one-party system as seen in the rise and imposition of doublethink, doublespeak, and the attempt to rewrite history.

TRILLION – The now-customary dollar denomination of the national debt. It is a magical or paranormal measure of value understood and appreciated by no one.

Election reform cannot happen in a one-party system because oligarchs and plutocrats will not tolerate their removal from power. And, without reform elections become meaningless.

President Ronald Reagan warned, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction... It must be fought for, protected, and handed on…[to our children]… or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children…what it was once like in the United States where people were free.”

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).