Let's call the GOP economic plan for America, and the world for that matter, what it is: An Amway pyramid scheme (scam.) There are so many similarities, in a philosophical, cultural and practical sense, between pyramid schemes like Amway and the GOP economic vision that it's truly frightening.
In the practical sense, the economic structure of both Amway and the GOP economy create pyramids: There are a few wealthy people at the top and the large base, the bottom, consists of millions of struggling participants who are trying to achieve the success those at the top have. Sadly, those at the bottom are unaware that the pyramid deck has been stacked, and that those at the top need those at the bottom to stay there in order to keep the pyramid in tact. If the bottom falls out, the pyramid will collapse. To prevent a collapse of the pyramid, those at the top have to deceive those at the bottom into believing that they too can be successful through dedication and hard work. So the participants of the Republican economy or Amway continue to toil away, with faith, without ever getting to the top. The difference is, with Amway some participants eventually come to understand the scheme and drop out. In the Republican economy people don't have the choice to drop out until a majority of the people choose to vote for a different system.
In a philosophical and cultural sense the Republican economy and Amway are common in that they focus on the success or failure of individuals without considering other factors, such as the obvious fact that they're participating in a pyramid scheme. That's why at Amway parties they don't tell you it's Amway because everyone knows it's a scam. Like Amway recruiters, Republicans like to hide the fact that their plan is a pyramid scheme. Those at the top of the Amway and Republican economy pyramids lull their followers into believing that their success or failure depends totally on them, the followers. So, those at the bottom begin to admire and adore those at the top, who become celebrities. They believe that those at the top have worked hard and deserve to be there, without realizing that their own hard work is helping keep the pyramid from collapsing. For those who fail to succeed, it is believed it is their own fault.
Owning a business in the grocery industry has given me an opportunity to see the side of the industry that operates like a pyramid scheme and the side that doesn't. Kroger, the largest grocer in the industry is a pyramid, and not surprisingly they support the Republican party. They contract only with large distributors who carry products like Campells and Doritos. If they decide to pick up a product from a small food company like mine, they require me to offer them what is called a "free fill" for each store in a particular chain, like Fred Meyer. This can cost a vendor around $15,000. The problem is, Kroger will not guarantee a reorder. If you have a ton of money and can carry the risk, fine. If not, filling such an order can put a small guy out of business and Kroger walks away with $30,000 more in their pocket once the product has moved off their shelves. Basically, the small vendors don't have a chance in the Kroger pyramid, but Kroger wants the small vendor to believe that there is a chance so that the little guy with stars in his eyes will give them thousands of dollars worth of free product.
The other side of the industry is quite different. That's the side where I've been successful at getting into the system. Stores like Whole Foods and New Seasons Markets are non-pyramid chains. Even though they do work with large distributors, they still keep their doors open for the small ones who are local and tend to carry mostly local items, like mine. So if you go to a Whole Foods store in Minneapolis, you'll find a lot of different products on the shelves than you'll find at the one here in Portland. New Seasons Markets buys much of their produce from Northwest farm cooperatives, which are made up of small farmers. The anti-pyramid stores like New Seasons create wealth for more people. We get to be a part of a system that gives us something back for our hard work.
The grocery industry is one case study among many, and it can shed light on the political choices we have before us today. So the next time you find yourself debating a supporter of the Republican economy, just tell them you're not an advocate of Amway style pyramid schemes.
Update (02/06/05) - I just found this interesting website, Merchants of Deception, which is also a book, about how tight those at the top of the Amway pyramid are with leaders in the Republican party. Make sure you take an anti-nausea remedy. Surfing through the Merchants of Deception website will make you feel like puking.
My roommate is a compulsive recycler, almost obsessive. He's progressive in nearly every way. But this label wouldn't work for him because he bought into Amway's non-polluting product theme eons ago.
He doesn't really push it like he once did but he buys their products for his own use. It's a pity as the owners of Amway are also major GOP financial supporters.
Labelling has to use a real scary bogeyman. Commies, terrorists, whatever. Accurate representations or small distortions just aren't effective. The more outrageous and hard to believe it is, the better it works.
Bush's Social Security plan won't work because it will require old people to agree to go to nursing homes at 72 where costs can be shared. Do the math yourself and anyone can see that this is the hidden part of their plan: forced detention of the elderly, after forcing them to sell their homes.
See? It has to rivet the attention, make folks afraid, make them uncertain no matter how Bush defends against such claims.
Little lies get you booted out of office. The Big Lies get you re-elected for life. It's sad, really, but it's how I've come to see voter behavior work.
Posted by: Kevin Hayden | February 03, 2005 at 07:45 AM
Love the Amway-GOP pyrimid parallel. What a great idea.
Posted by: bill | February 03, 2005 at 10:41 AM
I thought of it in the shower ;) They're not exactly the same, but they're similar. In both cases it's a stacked deck... you don't have a chance when wealth becomes so concentrated as it is in the Amway pyramid or Republican economy pyramid.
Posted by: Sid | February 03, 2005 at 11:07 AM
Kevin,
You're right, labeling needs to be scary. The next time you're hanging out with a bunch of people ask them if they would join you at an Amway party and see how they react. To a lot of people, Amway is scary, and to others it's a joke. Either way it's a negative label. Even the phrase 'pyramid scheme' is negative... so we can call it 'the GOP pyramid scheme.'
Posted by: Sid | February 03, 2005 at 11:13 AM