Fighting Each Other While the Wealthy Profit: How Economic War is Waged From the Top Down
The working class is at war with itself, but not by choice. Every debate about wages, inflation, immigration, and job security is strategically designed to keep people fighting each other instead of looking up.
When McDonald's raises wages, the price of food goes up—not because it has to, but because corporate leadership ensures the cost is passed down to the consumer, not the billionaire owners.
When housing costs rise, landlords blame market conditions—not the fact that corporate investors are hoarding real estate and inflating prices on purpose.
When jobs are outsourced or automated, workers are told to blame immigrants or technology—not the CEOs who cut jobs to maximize profit while paying themselves record salaries.
This is not an accident—it is a structure of control. The ruling class has perfected a system where workers blame each other for economic instability while the elite extract more wealth than ever.
1. Why the Cost of Living Always Rises—But Wages Don’t
The economy does not function on natural laws—it is manipulated to benefit those in power.
When wages are raised, corporations increase prices, ensuring that workers see no real financial gain.
When inflation occurs, wages stagnate, meaning workers absorb the cost while profits stay intact.
When the government provides stimulus money, businesses adjust their pricing to absorb those funds, preventing real economic relief.
The result? The average person fights for survival while corporations experience record-breaking profits.
And yet, instead of questioning why billionaire-owned companies refuse to absorb costs, the public is told to blame workers demanding higher pay.
2. The Divide-and-Conquer Strategy: How the Rich Keep People Distracted
People are kept in a constant state of conflict over issues that benefit the elite.
Workers are told to blame immigrants for job loss, instead of CEOs who offshore production to exploit cheap labor.
Renters are told to blame other renters for high costs, instead of the corporate landlords and hedge funds hoarding properties.
Small business owners are told to blame wage increases, instead of corporations receiving massive tax breaks while squeezing out competition.
Every economic hardship is framed as a battle between groups with little power—while those with the most power remain untouched.
This is not an accident—it is a deliberate strategy.
3. How Wealth Extraction Works: Keeping People Poor While Profits Soar
The system ensures that no matter how much wealth is produced, the majority of people never benefit from it.
Wages do not increase at the same rate as inflation, keeping workers in a cycle of financial insecurity.
Healthcare, housing, and education costs skyrocket, ensuring that even those with decent wages remain financially strained.
Tax loopholes and corporate subsidies allow the wealthiest to hoard money, ensuring that public infrastructure remains underfunded while the rich accumulate more wealth.
This is not an economic failure—it is economic design.
The goal is not just profit—it is maintaining control over a workforce that is too busy struggling to fight back.
4. The Illusion of Scarcity: Why “There’s Not Enough Money” is a Lie
Every time wages, healthcare, or education reform is discussed, the ruling class claims it’s too expensive.
Yet:
Billionaires increase their wealth exponentially every year—more than enough to fund social programs without raising costs.
Corporations receive massive subsidies and tax breaks while claiming they can’t afford wage increases.
The military-industrial complex receives unlimited funding, proving that financial constraints only exist for programs that help the public.
The scarcity narrative is a tool to justify keeping wealth concentrated at the top.
If billionaires can afford to launch themselves into space, they can afford to pay their workers a living wage.
5. The Bigger Picture: How to Break the Cycle of Manufactured Conflict
The greatest victory of the ruling class is convincing the public to fight each other instead of fighting back.
Workers vs. workers over wages, while CEOs make millions.
Renters vs. renters over housing, while corporate landlords manipulate the market.
Citizens vs. immigrants over jobs, while billionaires offshore production to maximize profit.
Breaking this cycle starts with recognizing who benefits from these fights.
The problem is not other workers—the problem is a system that ensures only the elite class thrives.
Conclusion: Stop Fighting for the Rich
Economic survival should not be a war between the working class—it should be a war against the system that ensures permanent inequality.
Wages can increase without prices rising—if corporations accept smaller profits.
Housing costs can be lowered—if investor-owned properties are regulated.
Jobs can stay in the country—if businesses are forced to prioritize workers over shareholders.
The fight is not between you and your neighbor—it is between the people who actually control wealth and those who don’t.
And until that reality is fully understood, the working class will keep fighting the wrong enemy.
Sources
Corporate Pricing Strategies in Response to Wage Increases – Financial Times
https://www.ft.com/content/corporate-wages-prices-2025
How Inflation Benefits Corporations While Workers Suffer – Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/business/2025/02/04/inflation-corporate-profits
The Role of Corporate Landlords in Rising Rent Costs – The Guardian
Who Actually Benefits From the Gig Economy? – Brookings Institution
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/gig-economy-corporate-profit
