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January 18, 2017

Democracy for Sale


The implication of the conflicts of interest from the elected - Executive branch maintaining private sector business interests while politically leading the country is the United States becoming more alike the non-democratic countries that the U.S. is trying to influence with Democratic principles of governance. International politics have shown the regional differences in governance systems whereby “family” royalty governance models accumulate resource wealth of a country while their populations struggle in poverty for basic standards of living. In such cases capital wealth accumulates within a small percentage of the population that then attempts to protect such wealth through distribution management. The impact limits the expanse of economic development among the population necessary for a vibrant social development and tax base to support public services.

The attempts to lead the country through the executive branch of government while maintaining private sector business interests create opportunities for non-democratic business norms of “pay to play” accusations where payoffs for favorable policy and regulatory practices to enhance certain industry dynamics of benefit to “family” oligopolies. In such environments, Capitalism is reduced to the exchange of financial capital using industry for wealth accumulation as opposed to constructing social developments. The effect also destroys the network of sanctions designed to support the building of Democratic norms where countries' economic resources are used to further “family” royalty wealth in lieu of building democratic institutions managing society for the betterment of mankind. At risk is the moral authority used by the United States to protect mankind for political influence within international affairs otherwise the Executive Branch of government is viewed as just another oligopolistic business family directing international politics.


The United States economy is also at risk in the current environment of international supply chains supporting American business within a multitude of foreign countries from the arrangement of international trade agreements. Because many of these countries lack all of the democratic institutions of governance, American corporate leaders are negotiating deals with foreign government entities for development of their countries in exchange for resources included in the manufacturing supply chain. Disruptions within any part of the supply chain impacts the availability of goods which impacts corporate earnings which in turn impacts stock prices which impacts corporate leadership compensation and tenure.  Actions creating the Executive Branch conundrum by acting as a CEO instead of leader of a Democracy dependent upon the international recognition of Moral persuasion in international affairs as well as domestic leadership of government.