Corporatocracy
1. "A social and economic class of rulers, defined by their involvement
in the ownership and management of large corporations. 2. The social and
economic structures that empower and protect such rulers. 3. The
political culture that serves such rulers.
2. "Rule by an oligarchy of corporate elites through the manipulation of a formal democracy.
3. "A type of government in which huge corporations, through bribes,
gifts, and the funding of ad campaigns that oppose candidates they don't
like, become the driving force behind the executive, judicial and
legislative branches."
Corporatocracy is an important word for our generation and the social
environment we find ourselves in here at the close of the first decade
of this century. We already have oligarchy and fascism and both words
evoke denials and sometimes nervous laughter when mentioned in the same
sentence with America or United States. Individuals who research such
things as language tell me there are subtle differences between these
three words, but those differences are narrowing as we approach 2011.
One might ask what is the real meaning of "Fascism" in the 21st
Century? Are corporatocracy and fascism similar in meaning or
definition? Again, we must look to the Urban Dictionary for a current
definition of fascism. One definition, contributed by Bertie Bumwhistle
Urban Dictionary for the current "Version" of fascism.
Here it is - all 14 points:
Powerful and Continuing Nationalism:
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottoes, slogans,
symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as
are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights:
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in
fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in
certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way
or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long
incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause:
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to
eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or
religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
Supremacy of the Military:
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a
disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda
is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
Rampant Sexism:
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively
male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made
more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and
anti-gay legislation and national policy.
Controlled Mass Media:
Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in
other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government
regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives.
Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
Obsession with National Security:
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
Religion and Government are Intertwined:
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in
the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric
and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major
tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's
policies or actions.
Corporate Power is Protected:
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are
the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually
beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
Labor Power is Suppressed:
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a
fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are
severely suppressed .
Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts:
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher
education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other
academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts
is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.
Obsession with Crime and Punishment:
Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to
enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and
even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a
national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist
nations.
Rampant Cronyism and Corruption:
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and
associates who appoint each other to government positions and use
governmental power and authority to protect their friends from
accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national
resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen
by government leaders.
Fraudulent Elections:
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times
elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even
assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control
voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the
media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to
manipulate or control elections.
"14 identifying characteristics of Fascism by Political scientist Dr.
Lawrence Britt. ("Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page
20)."
I'm college educated but not a scholar by any stretch of imagination
or definition. But as I look around me I've begun to notice that there
are changes that have been taking place for the past 25 years. These
changes have always been subtle, hardly noticeable and cause no
immediate concern or sound an alarm. At 62 I find myself yearning for
the "good 'ol days" as most of us do as we approach our "golden years".
This has allowed me to relive some experiences and compare today's way
of life, government, relationships to the years of my youth.
Suddenly I am concerned and several alarms have begun sounding
between my ears; klaxons, sirens, bells and whistles. The cause of this
alarm is the ever-increasing involvement of private corporations in
another new term we've learned; the
Prison Industrial Complex
(PIC). A sub-culture has evolved over the past three and a half
decades. It is composed of an assortment of influential corporations,
state lawmakers, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)and an
unwitting society. Together they have allowed corporations to devise a
means to profit from incarceration through privatization of: housing,
medical care, commissary, feeding and transportation of state and
federal inmates and detainees. Private interests are now found in all
phases of our judicial system from juvenile holding facilities, jails,
detention centers to adult prisons. In addition incarcerated
individuals, men, women and youthful offenders have been put to work in
prison industries to increase the profits for participating
corporations.
This privatization of prisons and industries began at the same time
that incarceration rates began to climb from our "War on Drugs"
legislation in the 80's. At the same time (1979) the federal Prison
Industries Enhancement Certification Program (PIECP) became law. The
"PIE program" as it is commonly called, allowed a relaxation of federal
laws prohibiting the interstate sale and delivery of prisoner made goods
in the U.S. It also encouraged partnerships between prison industries
and private sector manufacturers so inmates could be trained and
provided skills to enable them to seek gainful employment upon release
and thus avoid recidivism.
Unfortunately, as with any other "capitalistic" endeavor, PIECP was
analyzed by corporate interests with an eye on how to make money through
this program. The first act was to establish private prison facilities
through contracts with state and federal governments. The second was to
initiate a plan to increase the rate of incarceration - and per diem
profits - to provide a steady flow of workers...
Join us in New Orleans on August 5th for the
Protest Alec demonstration! If you can't attend you can donate to the effort at the site.
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