Op-ed: Socialism versus the Gilded Age, unbridled capitalism
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A note on Sept. 13 explained aspects of socialism. It alluded to a piece about politicized socialistic myths in the News and Sentinel Aug. 23. The writer inferred a relationship to the Gilded Age.
This column will describe the Gilded Age that Trump wants to return us to, and why we should not go there. There is a museum for the Gilded Age in Newport, R.I. There was an extraordinary concentration of wealth in the upper class, which led to political corruption on an unprecedented scale. A today example is Trump's reflecting pool "repairs." It started out with a no-bid contract for $1 million and the project grew to $12 million-plus. The end result is worse than before.
A few basic facts might be helpful. The Gilded Age ran from 1870-1890. The army was fighting native Americans and the navy consisted of Civil War relics and a few Coast Guard cutters. All this was supported by tariffs, a regressive tax. Contrary to Trump's thinking, this would not support a modern armed force with the necessary bells and whistles to constrain the likes of Russia and China. Average wage was $1.20/day.
This was averaged over men, women and children. Working hours exceeded eight. Jobs were frequently dangerous, and there was no worker's compensation. Working families lives in one-room tenements that were almost slums.
The Gilded Age saw the advent of electric lights and motors and telephones, which would become hallmarks of the 20th Century. Most of what happened in this age involved people with financial prowess vertically integrating the basic industries: railroads, oil, steel, coal, banks and etc. with one person controlling each industry. These were called trusts or monopolies. They undercut prices when competition tried to enter their markets. When the competitor business failed, they would buy them at fire sale prices and then raise product prices. The owners were referred to as "robber barons," and they lived comfortably in New York City.
When city temperatures and the stench of horse manure in the streets became unbearable, they called the caretakers of their "summer cottages" in Newport to staff up with maids, butlers and chefs. Summer cottage construction consisted of first floor for servants, kitchen, a reception room for uninvited guests and etc. The second floor was a ball room and formal dining area. Where do you think Trump got the idea? Third floor was for living and sleeping, to benefit from ocean breezes. A coal baron's "cottage" took up a city block. "The Breakers," the cottage of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the railroad baron, took up three city blocks on 2.5 acres of beachfront property. In today's money, he was wealthier than Bill Gates. Gloria Vanderbilt was his only heir that was a millionaire.
She made her money in the fashion world.
A formal garden and outbuilding, larger than a three-bedroom ranch, occupied the rest of the property. The outbuilding was not for guests; they stayed in the cottage. The governesses would take the Vanderbilt daughters there to show them the fine points of serving tea. With all the butlers and maids, I cannot imagine the need. Perhaps the only purpose was if the service was less than perfect, the daughters could say "You're fired!" Where have I heard that before?
Life was tough for the 70 days robber barons occupied the summer cottages. Every evening there was a party at a different cottage. There was a formal dinner and perhaps dancing. After this, the women spent time discussing how much better their party was than the one two weeks earlier. The men sipped brandy and lit cigars with $5 bills. (Someone told me $50 bills were used. Perhaps C. Vanderbilt did that.)
A robber baron smoking two cigars would burn through a day's wages for eight workers. All the while, they were discussing labor cost reduction.
This is the lifestyle Trump wants to return America to, where wealthy people like myself don't pay their fair share of taxes.
If you don't mind reducing your standard of living to a Gilded Age worker and requiring help from people like myself that share their treasure and time to supplement your grocery and utility bills, vote Republican.
If you want to make the United States better for everyone, vote Democratic. When the Democrats control Congress, there will be time enough to debate the differences in the party and resolve them to the benefit of the majority. Congress will also corral Trump and prevent the country from moving closer to fascism.
There are additional examples of Trump corruption besides the ones I mentioned in paragraph 2. These will be covered in future notes.
For fact-checkers, this information comes from the internet and three trips to the "museums" at Newport, which included conversations with the docents.
Gregory Cigal is a resident of Parkersburg.