global monopolies swell: where's the backlash?

http://www.nationofchange.org/global-monopolies-swell-where-s-backlash-1401624890

Considering the freewheeling surge of monopoly systems – beyond big business grabs to geo-political hegemony and government intrusions, plus technology, resource and media dominance – why isn’t this historic escalation on more political radars? What burgeoning powerhouse isn’t getting too big for its britches, too big to fail, too big even to derail? By “monopoly systems,” I identify autocratic, controlling enterprises run by non-transparent super-elites. If I were prone to conspiracy thinking, I’d posit that some secret oligarchic club has hypnotized our savviest gadflies from framing all the convergences.

Perhaps that’s because we focus more on symptoms than causes. To understand global phenomena – not just growing income inequality, booming billionaires and record stock prices, but also climate change and international tensions – study the first step in world’s industrial production line: mastery of resources, like oil, land, water and raw minerals. The rich get richer because the big are getting bigger. Despite the middle-class collapse, and huge disruptive fiascos, where are significant corporate bankruptcies since ’08? Not BP, despite forking over up to $80 billion in fines and penalties. Not News Corp., despite its self-mortifying, criminal media scandal. Not banksters paying record criminal penalties.

Thus with hegemony: with only small fry competition in the Americas, the USA early on established supremacy. Then, riding the Monroe Doctrine, we went on an imperial buying spree, absorbing the southwest with a trumped up Mexican invasion. Yes, 10K Yankee soldiers invaded Mexico City as manifest destiny anointed California, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada the next American prizes. Bingo, the Gold Rush, setting off torrential exploitation to this day for every mineable western treasure. For two centuries, “drill, baby, drill” was the non-controversial order of western business.

The Reigns of Power

On tap China rapidly wakes up to consolidate massive regional power, scooping up key global resources (oil, copper, coal, and everything moveable) to fuel its industrial, military and surveillance prowess. Asia will never be the same as tensions with Japan and Taiwan increase (one empire up, others down). Likewise, one ex-heavyweight contender makes a comeback as the Russian empire flexes what's left of its economic and diplomatic muscle. South of our borders Brazil and Argentina expand as economic powerhouses, and South America will never be the same. Watch out for India, bouncing off a weak spell, but uplifted with a new growth-friendly election. This batting order sets up the next century.