"They" )the banking cartel (better known as the Federal Reserve System [The FED]) is doing the same thing today, most lately in the housing market.

This condition was not called socialism until after Tocqueville's time. Moreover, America was not a democracy then either. It has only become one following the passage of the 17th amendment and the rise to dominance of poll-driven (federal) government.

The real shame is that they no longer teach ths in the government skools {read brainwashing centers}. This fact may explain the reason for the comment by Anon. We are a society that has been INTENTIONALLY DUMBED DOWN. See 'the intentional dumbing down of america' by Charlotte Iserbyt