Barbara Boyd and Susan Kokinda join Roseanne Barr to discuss the American System of economics, the decline of domestic manufacturing, British financial influence, and Donald Trump's approach to restoring American economic sovereignty.

The Oligarchical System: Who Really Controls the Global Economy?

Roseanne Barr and Promethean Action examine the historical influence of financial elites, the British imperial system, and the struggle between economic sovereignty and centralized power.

In a recent episode of The Roseanne Barr Podcast, guests Barbara Boyd and Susan Kokinda of Promethean Action discussed what they describe as an entrenched oligarchical system—a concentration of financial and political power that influences governments, economies, and public opinion.

Their central argument was that the British Empire never truly disappeared. Instead, they contend, its influence evolved from territorial control into a financial system built around central banking, international debt, monetary policy, and powerful institutions capable of shaping national economic decisions.

From the British Empire to Modern Financial Control

According to Boyd and Kokinda, the modern financial system reflects an ongoing struggle between two competing economic philosophies.

The first, which they associate with the British imperial model, concentrates power through financial institutions, debt relationships, monopolies, and international banking networks. They argue that this structure allows powerful financial interests to influence national policies without exercising direct political control.

The second is the American System of political economy, associated with Alexander Hamilton, Abraham Lincoln, and William McKinley. This approach emphasizes domestic manufacturing, infrastructure investment, technological advancement, and economic growth through increased productive capacity.

The guests argue that the United States gradually moved away from this production-centered model toward one increasingly dependent on finance, debt, and globalization.

The Media's Role in Maintaining Power

The discussion also examined how concentrated economic power can influence public opinion.

Boyd and Kokinda referenced journalist Walter Lippmann and his writings about the formation and management of public opinion. They argued that influential institutions use media narratives to shape how citizens understand economic and political events.

Their broader contention was that controlling information helps maintain an oligarchical system by limiting public awareness of alternative economic policies.

While their claims of coordinated institutional control require independent evidence, concerns about concentrated media ownership, political messaging, and financial influence remain legitimate subjects of public scrutiny.

The Turning Point: 1971

The guests identified President Richard Nixon's 1971 suspension of the dollar's convertibility into gold as a critical shift in international monetary policy.

That decision contributed to the eventual collapse of the Bretton Woods fixed-exchange-rate system and the widespread adoption of floating exchange rates.

Boyd and Kokinda argued that these changes accelerated financial speculation and strengthened institutions operating across national borders.

They characterized the resulting economic structure as one in which financial returns increasingly took priority over industrial production and improvements in living standards.

Their interpretation of British control over this system remains contested, but the historical transition away from Bretton Woods is well documented.

Economic Sovereignty Versus Oligarchical Power

The conversation connected these historical arguments to Donald Trump's economic agenda.

Boyd and Kokinda described Trump's emphasis on tariffs, domestic manufacturing, energy production, and bilateral trade relationships as an effort to challenge the financial arrangements they associate with oligarchical influence.

They also pointed to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's economic positions as evidence of an effort to reconsider America's relationship with international financial institutions.

For the guests, the central issue extends beyond partisan politics.

Should economic policy prioritize the productive capacity and living standards of individual nations, or should international financial institutions continue exercising substantial influence over national economic decisions?

Conclusion

The discussion presented oligarchy not simply as rule by wealthy individuals, but as a system in which concentrated financial influence can shape government policy, economic development, and the information presented to the public.

Boyd and Kokinda argued that restoring American economic independence requires rebuilding domestic industry, investing in infrastructure, and challenging financial arrangements they believe concentrate power beyond democratic accountability.

Their historical interpretation is disputed, particularly regarding claims of continuing British imperial control. Nevertheless, the episode raises an important question:

Who ultimately determines a nation's economic future—its citizens and elected institutions, or the financial interests that influence its policies?

Source: The Roseanne Barr Podcast, Episode 155, The Globalists' Biggest Problem? You., featuring Barbara Boyd and Susan Kokinda of Promethean Action.

Editorial note: This recap summarizes the guests' arguments. Claims concerning coordinated oligarchical control and British influence are attributed interpretations, not independently established conclusions.