Part 1/10:

Who Rules America? The Power of Wall Street

In dissecting the question of who holds power in America, Wall Street's financial clout is an unavoidable focal point. As a key power center, Wall Street exemplifies the financialization of the economy, where the influence of wealthy individuals and corporate interests often overshadows democratic ideals.

The narrative begins with a corporate executive's pointed observation: in modern America, the affluent are in control. This shift can largely be attributed to globalization and the digitization of business. Professor Stanley Aronowitz echoes the sentiments of sociologist C. Wright Mills, emphasizing that the financial sector is now the forefront of corporate capitalism—much more pronounced today due to the decline of traditional industries.