The Predatory Pyramid

If you take a sheet of paper and write American Civics Lesson #1 at the top of the page, then draw a large triangle and divide the triangle into five horizontal layers, you can portray American society in a framework that elucidates the distribution of power. You can choose your own labels, but the ones I have chosen are as follows:

1. Aristocracy
2. Wall Street, U.S. Treasury
3. Political Parties, Media, Universities
4. Churches, Schools, Unions, Associations
5. Wage Slaves, Prisoners, Homeless, Veterans