Corporatocracy and the Modern Gilded Age

This week on the Rabbit Whole Podcast with your hosts Marty and Andie, we dive deep into the murky waters of corporatocracy and its impact on homeowners, particularly in the realm of construction regulation. In this episode, we unravel the tangled web of bureaucratic red tape and corporate influence that often leaves victims of negligence or malpractice stranded without recourse. We begin by dissecting the concept of corporatocracy, examining how it manifests in the regulatory landscape and influences decision-making processes. Our investigation leads us to the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) and their role—or lack thereof—in ensuring accountability within the construction industry. Scrutinizing DPOR's (Virginia’s Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) mission statement and purported commitment to safeguarding the public through minimum competency standards, we uncover discrepancies between rhetoric and reality. Despite ostensibly existing to prevent harm to homeowners, DPOR's actions—or inaction—tell a different story. Central to our discussion is a case study of our own situation. Shielded by the system's loopholes and corporate protection, it's our opinion that the builder in this story evades accountability for shoddy workmanship, at least for now. We recount how the builder, emboldened by the system's failings, is allowed, through legal maneuvers, to further burden us as homeowners with unnecessary legal costs on top of the repair costs. As we navigate through these injustices, we invite the builder to the program and remind him of an excerpt from Matthew 18:15-18, finding solace and strength in its message of seeking resolution and standing firm against wrongdoing. Join us on this thought-provoking journey as we shine a light on the shadowy corners of corporatocracy and advocate for greater accountability and justice for all.