Nobody listens

Recently Robert Reich wrote a column about the growing sense in the U.S. about having no power.  The common viewpoint was "They don't listen."  The political and economic systems are less accountable.

He notes that in 2005, the U.S. had nine major airlines.  Now we have four.  He notes that 80% of Americans are served by just one Internet service provider, usually Comcast, AT&T, or Time Warner.  He points out that in 1990 the five biggest banks held 10% of all banking assets.  Today they hold about 45%.

Companies treat workers as disposable, because workers need the work and must take whatever they can get.  They really are disposable.

Over 85% of the congressional districts are considered safe for the incumbents.  Only 3% are rated toss-ups in 2016.  We don't have a democracy.  Workers have no power; 7% of the private workforce is union. The Koch Brothers and their ilk buy elections.  The Supreme Court approves.

I personally feel "they don't listen."  My own example is that the grassroots groups that are fighting the PennEast pipeline are fully aware that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is in thrall to the natural gas drillers.

The reason Reich finds that people are saying "They don't listen," is because that is a truth that those of us on the bottom know all too well.  They (read that as the powers that be) really don't care what we (read that as the common ordinary people) think.  Why should they?