Excuse me Obama could you spare a little social change?

Last night at a bar in uptown that sported dollar beers through some of the election coverage people were cheering harder then the vikings vs falcons circa 1999. The thing about politics, about systems in general that I despise, is the Us V. Them attitude that emerges. There is only us, there is no them. Presidents are heads of state, they influence policy, but what good is policy when the system that implements that policy is broken and bastardized.
When quotes from Thomas Jefferson are used by supposed 'fringe' candidates like Ron Paul, does that make the founders words irrelevant? Our country took it's initial steps against the power of companies and corporations when it dumped the tea of the British East India Co. (the largest most powerful company at that time)into the harbor of Boston. This was an act of rebellion against the British Government, but more importantly a statement by businessmen like Sam Adams that a monopolistic company would not disrupt the markets by dumping excess tea upon the colonies, after just passing the Tea Act.
Companies were thought to control the people almost as much as corrupt and abusive governments at the time. Business in the United States after independence was kept at a small level until the civil war. The civil war saw the railroads rise in prominence and importance, and once such company just happen to have it's high ranking member pose as Assistant Secretary of War during the national bloodshed. Thomas A. Scott was second in command at the Pennsylvania Railroad company, he was considered a hero as he tirelessly orchestrated troop movement over the rails to provide the front lines with a strategic advantage. He of course did a courageous thing, yet his company also grew it's profits during this time of crisis. Scott after the war began to expand his railroad ownership like any good industrialist would.
Now here is the catch, the charter. What is a charter ? Is used to be that business asked Govt for permission to conduct their enterprises. As railroad expanded they wanted to grow and have ownership all across the country.
Today this seems like a legitimate and reasonable idea, but within the 19th century corporations were looked at as possible brokers of power, limiting the people and their representative government. But Pensylvania in 1870 allowed for the establishment of a holding company.
Berkshire Hathaway, one of the largest companies on the fortune 500 list that dosen't acctually produce any goods or service and merely owns things is run by the richest man in the world Warren Buffett. Well the Pensylvannia railroad with it's political connections of Thomas A Scott was able to won a whole lot more then would have normally been legal. These loopholes in business were then exploited by Standard Oil (What is now Exxon) and mass profits were reaped.

An interesting tid bit about the power of the Railroads back then, they created what is known now at the countries 4 time zones. The lines were drawn not by our government by by the railroad companies so that they could organize their routes/departures/arrivals in a better fashion.

The point is that the US and Them lies more in us the people and them the companies and corporations that exert their control on the world. Take a gander at the fortune 500 and you might notice that Oil Companies as well as vehicle manufacturers tend to be listed. It's probably just coincidence, nobody should look back to great american streetcar decline and wonder if it was any companies fault. Companies are made up of people, so where is the Us Them line blurred. Is it blurred when Coca-Cola bottling companies in third world companies murder union organizers. Does it Matter if Warren Buffett is the largest single shareholder in Coca-Cola?

Obama counts Warren Buffett as one of his economic advisers. The money raised by Obama almost touches 700 million, is that money from the people or corporations. Will the new president take notice of how the world is run, how military activity by our country tends to injure and kill more civilians then opposing soldiers. Will he recognize the US in the poor of other countries workers who don't have the chance to vote, who work for pennies to create goods cheaply for american consumption. There is no them, but this election will not change the perception of those hooting and hollering at the bar last night. The hope for change will die when companies profits shrink, when jobs are scarce. Will Obama hope to change this http://www.worldproutassembly.org/archives/2007/02/fed_chief_issue.html

Could you spare some Social Change?
Saw this video recently, besides making a good point it just looks cool
I met the Walrus