corporatism reaches the third branch
long ago, i started talking about this as a new american facist regime, and i meant that in a very literal way. i’m not trying to invoke the ghosts of evil people to discredit our current leaders… they are doing just fine on their own.
today, a major plank of fascism reached the third branch of american government.
Justices, 5-4, Back Seizure of Property for Development [ny times, 2005.06.23]The Supreme Court ruled today, in a deeply emotional case weighing the rights of property owners and the good of the community, that local governments can sometimes seize homes and businesses and turn them over to private developers.
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Writing for the majority, Justice John Paul Stevens said, “Promoting economic development is a traditional and long accepted governmental function, and there is no principled way of distinguishing it from the other public purposes the court has recognized.” The court’s ruling is certain to be studied from coast to coast, since similar conflicts between owners of homes and small businesses and development-minded officials have arisen in other locales.
in my america, the government protects me, as an individual, from private corporate interests, where i cannot protect myself. it protects my personal data from being mishandled and misused, it protects my personal property and civil rights.
this is not my america.
dictionary.comA system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.
The term fascism has come to mean any system of government resembling Mussolini’s, that in various combinations:
* exalts nation and sometimes race above the individual.
* stresses loyalty to a single leader.
* uses violence and modern techniques of propaganda and censorship to forcibly suppress political opposition.
* engages in severe economic and social regimentation.
* engages in corporatism.
* implements totalitarianism.
not a bad list, actually. just one step left…
