Billionaire BlackRock CEO: 'Doesn't matter' who wins US election; Trump & Kamala benefit Wall Street
Nov 3, 2024
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Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, claims it doesn't matter who wins the US election, as Wall Street benefits either way. The podcast discusses the stark reality of US politics being dominated by oligarchs, where money dictates policies. Wealth concentration is alarming, with the top 10% owning 93% of stocks. It emphasizes the stagnation of wages amidst rising productivity and a deepening housing crisis, largely influenced by private equity giants. Ultimately, the discussion critiques the complicity of major political figures with elite interests in shaping economic outcomes.
Larry Fink's assertion that election outcomes are irrelevant underscores how Wall Street's interests dominate both major political parties in the U.S.
The podcast reveals alarming wealth inequality, with the top 10% controlling 93% of stocks, highlighting systemic biases favoring the wealthy elite.
Deep dives
The Illusion of Political Choice
The podcast discusses how the political landscape in the United States often presents an illusion of choice, particularly in presidential elections. It argues that whether a candidate is a Republican or a Democrat, their foreign and economic policies tend to remain largely similar, resulting in minimal real change over time. This is exemplified by remarks from Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, who stated that the U.S. president's identity is inconsequential as Wall Street's interests will always prevail. The continuity of policies across administrations suggests that elections are dominated by financial interests, heavily influenced by wealthy oligarchs and corporations.
Inequality and Asset Ownership
The podcast highlights the staggering wealth inequality in the U.S., where the top 10% of the population owns 93% of stocks while the bottom 50% owns just 1%. This growing disparity is attributed to systemic financialization and neoliberal policies that favor capital income over wages, leading to the richest primarily earning through investments rather than labor. The implications of this inequality are profound, as it shapes government policy to favor the wealthy elite's interests over those of average citizens. A significant factor in this dynamic is campaign financing, which allows corporations and oligarchs to effectively 'buy' elections, ensuring their interests are prioritized.
Wall Street's Dominance and Rent Crisis
The podcast examines the increasing dominance of Wall Street in various sectors, particularly in housing, where large asset management firms like Blackstone have become the largest landlords in the U.S. This shift has led to rising rents and housing prices, making it difficult for average working families to afford homes. The discussion emphasizes how these asset managers prioritize profits over community welfare, resulting in widespread evictions and exacerbating the homelessness crisis. Overall, the commodification of housing highlights the detrimental effects of a financialized economy on everyday Americans, reinforcing the podcast's claim that the U.S. operates more as an oligarchy than a democracy.
Billionaire BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said it “really doesn’t matter” who wins the US presidential election, because both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will be good for Wall Street. Ben Norton shows how the United States is not a democracy but rather an oligarchy, in which big corporations buy politicians and lobbyists create policies.
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPfp01rsD0
Topics
0:00 US election season
0:42 BlackRock CEO: it “really doesn’t matter” who wins US elections
2:20 The "Big Three" Wall Street asset managers
3:06 S&P 500 and Nasdaq bubbles
4:35 Richest 10% of Americans own 93% of stocks
5:30 Princeton study: USA is oligarchy, not democracy
6:26 Billions spent buying US elections
7:54 Money buys seats in Congress (90% of the time)
8:50 Crypto industry funds Republicans & Democrats
10:51 Biden promised rich donors "nothing would fundamentally change"
11:59 Extreme wealth & income inequality in USA
15:12 US wages stagnated while productivity soared
15:42 Financialization of US economy
17:09 Inflation & cost of living crisis
18:43 House prices grow much faster than wages
20:48 Blackstone: the world's largest landlord
22:49 Private equity
24:03 Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman funds Trump
24:28 Kamala Harris & Trump woo Wall Street
25:25 Trump tax cuts make rich much richer
27:19 BlackRock makes economic policy for Biden & Harris
28:10 USA is an oligarchy
29:41 Outro
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