For the last couple of months, we’ve covered Vanguard and especially Blackrock extensively. But it’s not enough. The people need to know who’s really pulling the strings. We often join in on railing against entities like the DNC or individuals like George Soros, but both are tiny specks compared to the specters of Blackrock and Vanguard. Here are some of our past stories if you want to explore further: BlackRock: One Company to Rule Them All BlackRock and Vanguard: The Same Shady People Own Big Pharma and the Media Yes, BlackRock’s Home-Buying Spree Should Concern You BlackRock: Same Shady People Who Own Pharma and Media Want Your House In the video below, Observation Deck does a deep dive into the holdings of these two gigantic companies with surprising results. Their reach is almost certainly much wider than most people know, even those who have been looking into their funds. The video itself can get tedious as the punchline continues to repeat for effect. They look at a company, then another, then another, revealing that Blackrock and Vanguard own massive shares in each. If you want to skip past those revelations to get to the meat of the video, go to the 23:12 mark. When you’re done with the video, be sure to read Dr. Joseph Mercola’s article below it as it ties together what we’re seeing happening in the world today with these two gargantuan corporations. Link to video: https://youtu.be/N9RAzCn469E STORY AT-A-GLANCE Behind the scenes of many of the companies that provide the products and services you use each day are two investment firms that own more shares than other shareholders. The list includes social media, transportation, news media, food manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies Blackrock and Vanguard hold large interests in pivotal companies, and Vanguard holds a large share of Blackrock. In turn, Blackrock has been called the “Fourth Branch of Government” by Bloomberg as they are the only private firm that has financial agreements to lend money to the central banking system Blackrock also developed the software used by the Fed to manage financial transactions; one Princeton University lecturer has said Blackrock controls the Federal Reserve and has more power than most governments Ascertaining who owns large portions of Vanguard is more difficult as it is a private company that is not publicly traded. It’s important to think globally but act locally to protect your civil rights, including supporting state legislators who support your right to choose health care Until recently, it has appeared that economic competition has been driving the rise and fall of small and large companies across the U.S. Supposedly, PepsiCo is Coca Cola’s competitor, Apple and android are vying for your loyalty and Pfizer and Bayer are battling for your pharmaceutical dollars. But what is revealed in this video, using publicly available data you can check, is that this has been an illusion. On the surface, all appears to be the same as it always has been. But the growth of a few corporations, beginning in the mid-1970s, has all but destroyed the competitive market on which America’s strength has rested. As demonstrated in the video, a quick look through Yahoo! Finance shows that Vanguard and Blackrock have been the puppet masters behind nearly every large industry that affects your life. As you can quickly discern, the global economy may be the greatest illusionary trick ever pulled over the eyes of people around the world. Without doubt, we are in a new place and facing new challenges. It will take accurate information and local action to continue to have the right to take control of your health. Behind the Scenes, Two Companies Own the Supply Chain As you watch the video, you’ll see that most of the large corporations that supply the food, information, data and drugs used every day are controlled by a select few investment firms whose sole goal is a greater return on their profits. Of course, that’s been the backbone of a competitive economy — to grow your profit margin while competing against other companies for the same market. In theory, this competition drives innovation, advancement and price structures that benefit the consumer. However, when one, two or three large companies own most of what you use, competition becomes an illusion, resulting in a monopoly where companies can set a price and there are no other products from which to choose. As the World Economic Forum1 and United Nations2 collaborate to “build back better,” it is crucial to pay attention to how large corporations across the world may contribute to a societal shift that moves more money into the hands of billionaires and creates a new depth of poverty across the world. One of the mandates for the Federal Trade Commission is to ensure there is competition in the marketplace. For example, in 2000, a federal judge ruled that Microsoft had maintained a monopoly with Windows and tied the company browser, Internet Explorer, to the operating system, thus gaining a greater economic foothold.3 The company barely escaped being split up, until it agreed with a settlement to curb its practices. More than 20 years later, the Department of Justice is now looking at antitrust allegations against Google’s business dealings that have hurt smaller competitors.4 But the two major investors in both these companies appear to have escaped unscathed.