Special Interests Shape Policy Beyond Public Reach

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The political system is heavily influenced by special interests, leading to skewed regulations and policies. Financial regulations are dictated by Wall Street, agricultural policies by the ag industry, and healthcare costs are inflated by big health insurance companies. Foreign policy is predominantly controlled by the military-industrial complex, with limited public awareness or truthful discourse. This lack of transparency is compounded by classified information and mainstream media's failure to act as a check on government, often acting instead as a conduit for government narratives through unnamed sources.

(Conversation recorded on September 3rd, 2024)

As the United States continues to play a major role in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the risk of a direct engagement, possibly leading to a nuclear exchange, may now be higher than ever.

In this episode, Nate is joined by Professor Jeffrey Sachs to discuss the escalating tensions between the United States and other world powers - and whether there are possible avenues towards a more peaceful world order.

Has the U.S. taken on the characteristics of an imperial state - under the pretenses of security at all costs? As the world continues to become more globalized, how should we change the way we govern within and across borders? Is it possible to transition from foreign policies focused on dominance and control to those emphasizing interconnectedness and the sovereignty of all nations?

About Jeffrey Sachs:

Jeffrey Sachs is widely recognized for promoting bold and effective strategies to address complex challenges including the escape from extreme poverty, climate change, international debt and financial crises, national economic reforms, and the control of pandemic and epidemic diseases.

Sachs serves as the Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, and was also Director of the Earth Institute there from 2002 to 2016. He is President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and Co-Chair of the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition, Commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Development.

Based on his success in advising Poland’s anti-communist Solidarity movement away from central planning, he was invited first by Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and then by Russian President Boris Yeltsin to advise on the transition to a market economy.

He spent over twenty years as a professor at Harvard University, where he received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees.

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