History I learned just last week (re: plutocrats) [View all]
What I knew:
The Baron Robbers -- most notably Rockefeller, JP Morgan, and Carnegie -- owned the last half of the 19th century and early 20th century much like today's plutocrats. Labor unions were only starting to emerge in the late 1800s.
What I learned:
A populous but immensely eclectic Democrat -- pro-labor, anti-banking, anti-railroads, prohibitionist, creationist -- William Jennings Bryan, emerged in the 1890s who had the plutocrats in his crosshairs. Fearing an end to their empires, the intensely combative plutocrats got together and financed a swiftboat-like attack campaign against Bryan which helped their pro-plutocrat candidate, William McKinley, win in 1896. In the meantime, progressive Republican and anti-plutocrat, Teddy Roosevelt, emerged and the plutocrats feared him. The plutocrats decided the best way to control Roosevelt was to have McKinley make him his VP running mate in 1900. The theory was, as VP, Roosevelt was no longer relevant and no longer presented an obstacle. McKinley was re-elected and it appeared the plutocrats had won. During this time, however, in the midst of great human suffering, anarchist groups began to emerge. In September 1901, McKinley was assassinated by an anarchist. Roosevelt, a "Trust Buster", assumed office of the president and the plutocrat's gamble backfired.
Wow! that's crazy!
Hopefully, that's a pretty accurate account. I guess I get a :paper bag: for not having learned this before the age of 47 (of course, I could have learned this 35 years ago and just forgot 
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