The oligarchs were terrified by the mobilization of the left
in the 1960s: Huntington's so-called “excess of democracy”.
They planned counter-institutions to delegitimize &
marginalize critics of capitalism & imperialism.

They bought the allegiances of the two ruling political
parties. They imposed obedience to neoliberalism within
academia, government agencies & the press.

They neutered the liberal class & crushed popular
movements. They set the FBI on anti-war protestors, civil
rights, Black Panthers, American Indian Movement, Young
Lords & other groups that empowered the disempowered.
They broke labor unions, leaving 90% of the workforce
without union protections. Critics of capitalism &
imperialism, eg, Chomsky & Ralph Nader, were blacklisted.
The campaign, laid out by Lewis Powell Jr in his

1971 memorandum titled “Attack on American Free
Enterprise System,” set into motion the creeping corporate
coup d'etat, which five decades later, is complete.

The differences between the two ruling parties on
substantive issues — such as war, tax cuts, trade deals &
austerity — has become indistinguishable.

Chris Hedges Nov 04, 2025
https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/trumps-greatest-ally-is-the-democratic
The oligarchs were terrified by the mobilization of the left in the 1960s: Huntington's so-called “excess of democracy”. They planned counter-institutions to delegitimize & marginalize critics of capitalism & imperialism. They bought the allegiances of the two ruling political parties. They imposed obedience to neoliberalism within academia, government agencies & the press. They neutered the liberal class & crushed popular movements. They set the FBI on anti-war protestors, civil rights, Black Panthers, American Indian Movement, Young Lords & other groups that empowered the disempowered. They broke labor unions, leaving 90% of the workforce without union protections. Critics of capitalism & imperialism, eg, Chomsky & Ralph Nader, were blacklisted. The campaign, laid out by Lewis Powell Jr in his 1971 memorandum titled “Attack on American Free Enterprise System,” set into motion the creeping corporate coup d'etat, which five decades later, is complete. The differences between the two ruling parties on substantive issues — such as war, tax cuts, trade deals & austerity — has become indistinguishable. Chris Hedges Nov 04, 2025 https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/trumps-greatest-ally-is-the-democratic
The oligarchs were terrified by the mobilization of the left
in the 1960s: Huntington's so-called “excess of democracy”.
They planned counter-institutions to delegitimize &
marginalize critics of capitalism & imperialism.

They bought the allegiances of the two ruling political
parties. They imposed obedience to neoliberalism within
academia, government agencies & the press.

They neutered the liberal class & crushed popular
movements. They set the FBI on anti-war protestors, civil
rights, Black Panthers, American Indian Movement, Young
Lords & other groups that empowered the disempowered.
They broke labor unions, leaving 90% of the workforce
without union protections. Critics of capitalism &
imperialism, eg, Chomsky & Ralph Nader, were blacklisted.
The campaign, laid out by Lewis Powell Jr in his

1971 memorandum titled “Attack on American Free
Enterprise System,” set into motion the creeping corporate
coup d'etat, which five decades later, is complete.

The differences between the two ruling parties on
substantive issues — such as war, tax cuts, trade deals &
austerity — has become indistinguishable.

Chris Hedges Nov 04, 2025
https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/trumps-greatest-ally-is-the-democratic
The oligarchs were terrified by the mobilization of the left in the 1960s: Huntington's so-called “excess of democracy”. They planned counter-institutions to delegitimize & marginalize critics of capitalism & imperialism. They bought the allegiances of the two ruling political parties. They imposed obedience to neoliberalism within academia, government agencies & the press. They neutered the liberal class & crushed popular movements. They set the FBI on anti-war protestors, civil rights, Black Panthers, American Indian Movement, Young Lords & other groups that empowered the disempowered. They broke labor unions, leaving 90% of the workforce without union protections. Critics of capitalism & imperialism, eg, Chomsky & Ralph Nader, were blacklisted. The campaign, laid out by Lewis Powell Jr in his 1971 memorandum titled “Attack on American Free Enterprise System,” set into motion the creeping corporate coup d'etat, which five decades later, is complete. The differences between the two ruling parties on substantive issues — such as war, tax cuts, trade deals & austerity — has become indistinguishable. Chris Hedges Nov 04, 2025 https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/trumps-greatest-ally-is-the-democratic
The oligarchs were terrified by the mobilization of the left
in the 1960s: Huntington's so-called “excess of democracy”.
They planned counter-institutions to delegitimize &
marginalize critics of capitalism & imperialism.

They bought the allegiances of the two ruling political
parties. They imposed obedience to neoliberalism within
academia, government agencies & the press.

They neutered the liberal class & crushed popular
movements. They set the FBI on anti-war protestors, civil
rights, Black Panthers, American Indian Movement, Young
Lords & other groups that empowered the disempowered.
They broke labor unions, leaving 90% of the workforce
without union protections. Critics of capitalism &
imperialism, eg, Chomsky & Ralph Nader, were blacklisted.
The campaign, laid out by Lewis Powell Jr in his

1971 memorandum titled “Attack on American Free
Enterprise System,” set into motion the creeping corporate
coup d'etat, which five decades later, is complete.

The differences between the two ruling parties on
substantive issues — such as war, tax cuts, trade deals &
austerity — has become indistinguishable.

Chris Hedges Nov 04, 2025
https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/trumps-greatest-ally-is-the-democratic
The oligarchs were terrified by the mobilization of the left in the 1960s: Huntington's so-called “excess of democracy”. They planned counter-institutions to delegitimize & marginalize critics of capitalism & imperialism. They bought the allegiances of the two ruling political parties. They imposed obedience to neoliberalism within academia, government agencies & the press. They neutered the liberal class & crushed popular movements. They set the FBI on anti-war protestors, civil rights, Black Panthers, American Indian Movement, Young Lords & other groups that empowered the disempowered. They broke labor unions, leaving 90% of the workforce without union protections. Critics of capitalism & imperialism, eg, Chomsky & Ralph Nader, were blacklisted. The campaign, laid out by Lewis Powell Jr in his 1971 memorandum titled “Attack on American Free Enterprise System,” set into motion the creeping corporate coup d'etat, which five decades later, is complete. The differences between the two ruling parties on substantive issues — such as war, tax cuts, trade deals & austerity — has become indistinguishable. Chris Hedges Nov 04, 2025 https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/trumps-greatest-ally-is-the-democratic
The oligarchs were terrified by the mobilization of the left
in the 1960s: Huntington's so-called “excess of democracy”.
They planned counter-institutions to delegitimize &
marginalize critics of capitalism & imperialism.

They bought the allegiances of the two ruling political
parties. They imposed obedience to neoliberalism within
academia, government agencies & the press.

They neutered the liberal class & crushed popular
movements. They set the FBI on anti-war protestors, civil
rights, Black Panthers, American Indian Movement, Young
Lords & other groups that empowered the disempowered.
They broke labor unions, leaving 90% of the workforce
without union protections. Critics of capitalism &
imperialism, eg, Chomsky & Ralph Nader, were blacklisted.
The campaign, laid out by Lewis Powell Jr in his

1971 memorandum titled “Attack on American Free
Enterprise System,” set into motion the creeping corporate
coup d'etat, which five decades later, is complete.

The differences between the two ruling parties on
substantive issues — such as war, tax cuts, trade deals &
austerity — has become indistinguishable.

Chris Hedges Nov 04, 2025
https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/trumps-greatest-ally-is-the-democratic
The oligarchs were terrified by the mobilization of the left in the 1960s: Huntington's so-called “excess of democracy”. They planned counter-institutions to delegitimize & marginalize critics of capitalism & imperialism. They bought the allegiances of the two ruling political parties. They imposed obedience to neoliberalism within academia, government agencies & the press. They neutered the liberal class & crushed popular movements. They set the FBI on anti-war protestors, civil rights, Black Panthers, American Indian Movement, Young Lords & other groups that empowered the disempowered. They broke labor unions, leaving 90% of the workforce without union protections. Critics of capitalism & imperialism, eg, Chomsky & Ralph Nader, were blacklisted. The campaign, laid out by Lewis Powell Jr in his 1971 memorandum titled “Attack on American Free Enterprise System,” set into motion the creeping corporate coup d'etat, which five decades later, is complete. The differences between the two ruling parties on substantive issues — such as war, tax cuts, trade deals & austerity — has become indistinguishable. Chris Hedges Nov 04, 2025 https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/trumps-greatest-ally-is-the-democratic
America must limit the education of marginal groups, said Huntington. Prior to
World War Il, only 40 per cent of the population was educated beyond
elementary level; by 1972, that figure was 75 per cent.
The report summed up the threat thus — education raises political
consciousness, which raises demands, which make democratic government
unworkable:
The more educated a person is, the more likely he is to participate in
politics, to have a more consistent and more ideological outlook on
political issues ,and to hold more “enlightened” or “liberal” or “change-
oriented” views on social, cultural and foreign policy issues.
...Black political participation,’ the report said, ‘was the product
primarily... of increased group consciousness.
America must limit the education of marginal groups, said Huntington. Prior to World War Il, only 40 per cent of the population was educated beyond elementary level; by 1972, that figure was 75 per cent. The report summed up the threat thus — education raises political consciousness, which raises demands, which make democratic government unworkable: The more educated a person is, the more likely he is to participate in politics, to have a more consistent and more ideological outlook on political issues ,and to hold more “enlightened” or “liberal” or “change- oriented” views on social, cultural and foreign policy issues. ...Black political participation,’ the report said, ‘was the product primarily... of increased group consciousness.
America must limit the education of marginal groups, said Huntington. Prior to
World War Il, only 40 per cent of the population was educated beyond
elementary level; by 1972, that figure was 75 per cent.
The report summed up the threat thus — education raises political
consciousness, which raises demands, which make democratic government
unworkable:
The more educated a person is, the more likely he is to participate in
politics, to have a more consistent and more ideological outlook on
political issues ,and to hold more “enlightened” or “liberal” or “change-
oriented” views on social, cultural and foreign policy issues.
...Black political participation,’ the report said, ‘was the product
primarily... of increased group consciousness.
America must limit the education of marginal groups, said Huntington. Prior to World War Il, only 40 per cent of the population was educated beyond elementary level; by 1972, that figure was 75 per cent. The report summed up the threat thus — education raises political consciousness, which raises demands, which make democratic government unworkable: The more educated a person is, the more likely he is to participate in politics, to have a more consistent and more ideological outlook on political issues ,and to hold more “enlightened” or “liberal” or “change- oriented” views on social, cultural and foreign policy issues. ...Black political participation,’ the report said, ‘was the product primarily... of increased group consciousness.
America must limit the education of marginal groups, said Huntington. Prior to
World War Il, only 40 per cent of the population was educated beyond
elementary level; by 1972, that figure was 75 per cent.
The report summed up the threat thus — education raises political
consciousness, which raises demands, which make democratic government
unworkable:
The more educated a person is, the more likely he is to participate in
politics, to have a more consistent and more ideological outlook on
political issues ,and to hold more “enlightened” or “liberal” or “change-
oriented” views on social, cultural and foreign policy issues.
...Black political participation,’ the report said, ‘was the product
primarily... of increased group consciousness.
America must limit the education of marginal groups, said Huntington. Prior to World War Il, only 40 per cent of the population was educated beyond elementary level; by 1972, that figure was 75 per cent. The report summed up the threat thus — education raises political consciousness, which raises demands, which make democratic government unworkable: The more educated a person is, the more likely he is to participate in politics, to have a more consistent and more ideological outlook on political issues ,and to hold more “enlightened” or “liberal” or “change- oriented” views on social, cultural and foreign policy issues. ...Black political participation,’ the report said, ‘was the product primarily... of increased group consciousness.
America must limit the education of marginal groups, said Huntington. Prior to
World War Il, only 40 per cent of the population was educated beyond
elementary level; by 1972, that figure was 75 per cent.
The report summed up the threat thus — education raises political
consciousness, which raises demands, which make democratic government
unworkable:
The more educated a person is, the more likely he is to participate in
politics, to have a more consistent and more ideological outlook on
political issues ,and to hold more “enlightened” or “liberal” or “change-
oriented” views on social, cultural and foreign policy issues.
...Black political participation,’ the report said, ‘was the product
primarily... of increased group consciousness.
America must limit the education of marginal groups, said Huntington. Prior to World War Il, only 40 per cent of the population was educated beyond elementary level; by 1972, that figure was 75 per cent. The report summed up the threat thus — education raises political consciousness, which raises demands, which make democratic government unworkable: The more educated a person is, the more likely he is to participate in politics, to have a more consistent and more ideological outlook on political issues ,and to hold more “enlightened” or “liberal” or “change- oriented” views on social, cultural and foreign policy issues. ...Black political participation,’ the report said, ‘was the product primarily... of increased group consciousness.