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Who's in the ruling class? Gimme names!

Thom Wong 9 Jan 2006TheTyee.ca

Thom Wong writes regularly about music for The Tyee. He has also been a teacher and contract specialist. With eight years of education and three bachelor degree, Thom focuses mostly on marketing writing.

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If you watched The Corporation and were nodding your head in constant agreement, then They Rule might quickly become your favourite reference site.

Using a somewhat dense but easy to read flash interface, the site starts by teasing the viewer with this message: "They sit on the boards of many of the largest companies in America. Many sit on government committees. They make decisions that affect our lives. They rule."

They Rule aims to "provide a glimpse of some of the relationships of the US ruling class. It takes as its focus the boards of some of the most powerful U.S. companies, which share many of the same directors. Some individuals sit on 5, 6 or 7 of the top 500 companies."

Watch with feigned surprise as Halliburton links to almost every other listed company, like the body of a 30-headed Hydra.

The site hasn't been updated since 2004, but there are current links on their weblog.

Thom Wong is a law student who spends an unreasonable amount of time online. His 40 bLinks column runs every Monday and Thursday on The Tyee. What's he all about? Click here.

For previous 40 bLinks, click here.  [Tyee]

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