Billionaires have taken over the financial system, social discourse, and now the political system. It's an unannounced coup. Co-authors Neil Brooks and Linda McQuaig on their new book, and what we can do.
Recorded by Alex Smith for Radio Ecoshock at the Vancouver Public Library, November 3, 2010. Edited for radio.
Presented by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives at policyalternatives.ca
In the Affiliates version there is a break and re-intro at 28:47 for stations needing to insert station ID or announcements.
Although some of these speeches are about Canada, most examples of billionaires, and studies of what people really want, are American. You'll hear plenty about Wall Street, the greedy Hedge Funders, and why Bill Gates doesn't deserve his exaggerated fortune.
As Alex goes down with the flu, this show seems very current. In-coming President Trump has appointed more billionaires to his cabinet than ever seen before.
Our financial system has distorted a former Democracy into a Plutocracy. And the economy does WORSE when all the money goes to the top. Examples of better times, and better places, with ideas of what we can do.
Professor Neil Brooks has taught tax law at the University of Toronto, Osgoode Hall, for 35 years.
Linda McQuaig is a well-known business writer, and author of best-selling books.