SHIFT TO A FINANCIAL SERVICES-BASED ECONOMY

• The finance, insurance and real estate (FIRE) sector of the US economy swelled to 20 percent of the gross domestic product, jumping ahead of manufacturing, which slipped to 14.5% in 2000, with assets climbing to $45.3 trillion in 2004. (American Theocracy, by Kevin Phillips-2006)
• Between 1990 and 2002, the FIRE sector gave more than $1.3 billion to national elections. (American Theocracy, by Kevin Phillips-2006)