It’s true. An unelected, unaccountable oligarchy does wield enormous power in America, and must be overthrown if the US is going to survive as a free society. But it’s not the oligarchy Sam Mehdi Torabi has in mind.
“Iranian Researcher Dr. Sam Mehdi Torabi: Iran Would Be Willing To Help The Americans In Their Revolution; The American Oligarchs Must Be Annihilated,” MEMRI, May 30, 2020:
Dr. Sam Mehdi Torabi, the Director of Iran’s Risalat Strategic Studies Institute, said in a May 30, 2020 interview on Channel 2 (Iran) that the United States is an oligarchy in which the power and wealth are controlled by one percent of the society, and that the legal processes and constitution in the U.S. cannot lead to reform. He said that the way to reform the United States, which he referred to as “Satan,” is through a revolution that would annihilate America’s oligarchs. Dr. Torabi added that Iran would help the American people if they have the courage to start a revolution, but that if they don’t have the courage, someone from the outside will have to finish off the American oligarchs. For a related statement in which Dr. Torabi discusses the current unrest in the United States, see MEMRI TV Clip No. 8033.
Dr. Sam Mehdi Torabi: “The reality is that there is an oligarchy in America. There is no democracy. The existing legal process and the American Constitution are not supposed to reform America. Don’t pin your hopes on reforms through the existing legal methods in America. So long as the power and the wealth are held by one percent of society, America will remain the same. If we want America to change, we must deal with those people – not in legal ways but through a revolution. I’ve said before that I don’t pin much hope on the Americans carrying out a revolution, but the only solution that will bring an end to this Satan, in the words of Imam Khomeini, is for those oligarchs to be annihilated. If the Americans have the courage to do it – by all means. We will help them, too. If they do not have the necessary courage, someone from the outside must finish those [oligarchs] off.”
CogitoErgoSum says
I say anyone not satisfied with the U.S. should immigrate to Iran … immediately. I’m sure they will be glad to make sure you are not part of the “1%” in their society.
James Lincoln says
CogitoErgoSum,
I agree.
The United States government could save a lot of money in the long run if they offered free one-way airline tickets to countries like Iran for all of our muslims – and their leftist apologists.
Westman says
I’m sure there are members of the so-called 1% who would unselfishly contribute to the annihilation of Dr. Sam Mehdi Torab and Ayatollah Khamenei.
The lie imbedded in references to the 1% is that the US 1% owns all the wealth and no one else has opportunity.
The size of the US economy is beyond Sam Torab’s comprehension: $21 Trillion, overwhelming Iran’s paltry $450 Billion. That’s a ratio of 46:1. The US pie is 46 times larger than the one looted by the Mullahs. There are about 320 Million US citizens and 80 million citizens of Iran, a ratio of 4:1. The US citizen is 9 times more productive than the Iranian citizen. Islam?
1% of 320 Million US citizens X $1.3 Million average income of the 1% ownership is $4.16 Trillion. That is 19.8% of the US economy(NOT 99%). However, one should keep in mind that the 1% ownership provides the majority of the jobs and that a great many US workers, perhaps a majority, are also owners through 401(k) investments.
The average US household income is $63,000 and the average Iranian household income is $10,000. Are there any volunteers to go to Iran and share the great wealth brought by the 1979 revolution? How much do you think is extorted through Zakat?
What would happen if the US actually allowed its street protestors and brawlers to revolt and annihilate the corporations and their owners? Even the sustained adolescents screaming in the streets cannot afford to learn the results. History is full of examples.
Even Obama got it wrong, saying, “The US was built on protest”. No, Barak, it was built on the Constitution that gave everyone certain rights and the freedom to compete and keep the benefits of their work. You are a part of the problem, badmouthing and running down the success of the US.
Quazgaa says
Love the upper half of your post.
Nothing wrong with the second, but the first speaks numbers, a language I understand.
Kindly thank you for this.
James Lincoln says
Westman,
I am a licensed financial professional, like numbers, and did not know this – or didn’t take the time to figure it out.
Suggest that you submit this to a leading financial publication.
Excellent analysis, my compliments.
gravenimage says
Iranian researcher: US ruled by oligarchy, needs a revolution, either from within or from the outside
……………..
Ah, yes–because every American would prefer to live under the totalitarian Mullahs…sarc/off
Joe Dokes says
I think this applies to every country.
gravenimage says
Really? Every country–even democracies? It appears you prefer violence and anarchy.
tgusa says
Back in the 80s in a revolutionary act and for nearly 10 years Iran and Iraq fought each other to a stand still. Not the worlds greatest revolutionaries over there.
tgusa says
Which side were we on back then? The answer is neither.
Giacomo Latta says
And Iran is run by a what exactly?
OLD GUY says
Awe yes and the islamic rule would be the best thing to happen to America, it would bring an islamic “religious” dictatorship style of government that would do away with free speech and most other freedoms. Islam sucks!