Reason #41: The Declaration of Corporate Independence

The Declaration of Independence states every American has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our economy is supposed to help us achieve these goals. Ideally, it creates good paying, rewarding careers for us; it allows us to trade with each other and our neighbors; and gives us opportunities to invest in real estate and businesses. All of these should improve our lives, ensure our liberty, and allow us to pursue happiness.

The problem is, our political leaders have forgotten the Declaration of Independence and the rights it grants to every American. Instead, they seem to follow a different document: a Declaration of Corporate Independence that says big business has the inalienable right to make money at any cost. Worst of all, this profiteering often comes at our expense, yet our government does little to nothing to protect us. Instead, it actually works overtime to tilt the playing field even more.

Our leaders have not only allowed companies to ship millions of good-paying jobs overseas in recent years, they’ve greased the skids for more jobs to slide offshore by passing so-called “free trade” agreements. As a result, average wages have barely budged and millions of American households have plunged into debt. Yet our politicians actually encourage us to spend beyond our means. Meanwhile, their foolish faith in the so-called “free market” has allowed Wall Street to go on a thirty year bubble and bust binge. Time and time again, big finance has pushed our economy to the brink of ruin, just as it did in the late 1920’s, and time and time again, our politicians have bailed them out - with our tax money.

NEXT: Reason #42: China and the Myth of Free Trade