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Government Of the Corporations, By the Corporations...
Author: BobR Date: 09/16/2009 12:25:26

Anyone who has seen video of the 9/12 protesters knows that they seem to be using the terms socialism, fascism, and communism interchangeably. They push the notion that America is becoming socialist (an economic term) as well as communist (a political term). Facism means different things to different people. Some people think of it in the classical Italian sense where "a 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." Other definitions include "corporatism", where corporations take over government. It is in that latter sense that it completely contradicts communism (where government takes over and owns businesses).

This is way more relevent than one might think. Let's look at two articles... First - Monsanto - Public Enemy No. 1:

Through lies and total lack of concern for the final outcome, they insert their hired crooks, their representatives, in top positions everywhere, make deals with corrupt governments all over the world, deals that make farmers the innocent victims of a world-wide scam. The result is disaster for the farmers and the poor people all over the world and enormous power for the Biotech Companies that suck the blood out of the earth and out of the people who used to cultivate it with their own millennia-old and environmentally safe methods.
[...]
Michael R. Taylor's appointment by the Obama administration to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 7th sparked immediate debate and even outrage among many food and agriculture researchers, NGOs and activists. The Vice President for Public Policy at Monsanto Corp. from 1998 until 2001, Taylor exemplifies the revolving door between the food industry and the government agencies that regulate it. He is reviled for shaping and implementing the government's favorable agricultural biotechnology policies during the Clinton administration.

Second - World food aid at 20-year low, 1 billion hungry:

Food aid is at a 20-year low despite the number of critically hungry people soaring this year to its highest level ever, the United Nations relief agency said Wednesday.

The number of hungry people will pass 1 billion this year for the first time, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) said, adding that it is facing a serious budget shortfall.
[...]
"Millions have been buffeted by the global financial downturn, their ability to buy food is limited by stubbornly high prices. In addition, unpredictable weather patterns are causing more weather-related hunger," the WFP said.

Why are we seeing unpredictable weather patterns? This is the result of Global Climate Change, the predicted result of Global Warming. And who have been the most vociferous critics of global warming science? The coal industry, the oil industry, and the power companies that use those fossil fuels.

This is bad enough as it is. The power of corporations to influence policy is already nearly unchecked. With millions of dollars to pay lobbyists, with corporate leaders taking positions in government, the lines between government and business are already very blurry. How much worse can it get?

We may soon see. A case coming before the Supreme Court will decide whether campaign finance laws limit freedom of speech. The law prohibits corporations from overt campaigning. Due to a faulty interpretation of an old Supreme Court case, corporations have been considered to be "persons". They are trying to leverage this interpretation to be granted 1st amendment rights with regards to this campaign finance law restriction.

What happens if they win? We'll see an enormous increase of influence over elections by corporations. The most powerful people in America will be the lheads of the corporations, as they essentially pick the politicians for us. The America as we know will cease to exist. Communist? Hardly... it will be the exact opposite.

71 comments (Latest Comment: 09/17/2009 02:03:34 by livingonli)
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Comment by

wickedpam on 09/16/2009 12:49:19

Morning

Hope ya feel better soon!

So what did I miss yesterday?

Comment by

m-hadley on 09/16/2009 13:08:21

Hope you feel betters very soon, BobR

I'm home this morning - don't head to work until 11:00am cause I work til 8:00 tonight. Let me know if I can help.

Cheers,

mfaye

Comment by

BobR on 09/16/2009 13:21:03

Bloggie is up.

Comment by

Will in Chicago on 09/16/2009 13:24:22

Good morning, bloggers!

BobR, I hope that you feel better.

I may have to head out a bit latter -- I will know soon.

While we are waiting for the blog, here is something from a guest who was on the Jeff Farias Show yesterday.

Manuel Rivera-Ortiz is a photographer whose work focuses on the poor in several countries -- here is a link to his site:

http://www.rivera-ortiz.com/

Comment by

Raine on 09/16/2009 13:53:21

Good Morning..

Comment by

Raine on 09/16/2009 13:58:36

Ken got confused and was tossed off his talking points memo.

Comment by

Will in Chicago on 09/16/2009 14:13:14

Excellent blog, BobR!

Too often, I worry about this country and its future. There are times when I feel that we are on the edge of an abyss. While I doubt that we will have a civil war, I fear that we may see domestic or political violence beyond what we have seen. (In the past few years, we have seen incidents at a Unitarian-Universalist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee by a man who said that he hated liberals, the murder of George Tiller, and the murder of a security guard at the National Holocaust Museum.)

If the Roberts Court grants corporations unlimited power to make campaign contributions, it will be a return to the 1890s. However, the excesses of the Gilded Age did provoke a public response in populism and progressivism. So, we may see a backlash from further power being granted to corporations.

Comment by

wickedpam on 09/16/2009 14:21:40

liberal press? Doesn't Fox say that its the largest newsource in the country? Isn't it really the true mainstream media? Doesn't that make the mainstream conservative?

Comment by

Raine on 09/16/2009 14:21:57

And for your Awww moment of the day....

He may be a Phillies Fan, but damn -- that is a great Dad right there.

Comment by

Raine on 09/16/2009 14:22:48

Quote by wickedpam:

liberal press? Doesn't Fox say that its the largest newsource in the country? Isn't it really the true mainstream media? Doesn't that make the mainstream conservative?

And Teabaggers heads espoded everywhere when Mala tried to explain this to people around her.

Comment by

wickedpam on 09/16/2009 14:27:37

Quote by Raine:

Quote by wickedpam:

liberal press? Doesn't Fox say that its the largest newsource in the country? Isn't it really the true mainstream media? Doesn't that make the mainstream conservative?
And Teabaggers heads espoded everywhere when Mala tried to explain this to people around her.

Comment by

wickedpam on 09/16/2009 14:29:40

Quote by Raine:

And for your Awww moment of the day....

He may be a Phillies Fan, but damn -- that is a great Dad right there.

aaawwwwwwww

Comment by

Raine on 09/16/2009 14:31:36

Ok, I am really sick of these people calling in and making excuses for Joe Wilson--

Comment by

wickedpam on 09/16/2009 14:57:02

Raine!!!!!

Comment by

wickedpam on 09/16/2009 14:58:25

Way to go with the info tip in!

Comment by

BobR on 09/16/2009 15:01:06

Raine with the facts on the SMS!

Comment by

livingonli on 09/16/2009 15:04:12

Good morning everyone.

If only I got up a few minutes sooner it seems. I missed Raine's call.

Beat after 4 long days of work.

Comment by

Raine on 09/16/2009 15:06:15

And I got to be the First to congratulate Momma and Randi nuptuals!

Comment by

BobR on 09/16/2009 15:07:18

Science rocks!

Comment by

livingonli on 09/16/2009 15:08:36

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Raine:

Quote by wickedpam:

liberal press? Doesn't Fox say that its the largest newsource in the country? Isn't it really the true mainstream media? Doesn't that make the mainstream conservative?
And Teabaggers heads espoded everywhere when Mala tried to explain this to people around her.

Facts are so confusing to teabaggers because their brains are so tiny.

Comment by

wickedpam on 09/16/2009 15:14:05

Yatzee could be a horror movie - I could see how that would work

Comment by

livingonli on 09/16/2009 15:23:04

Quote by wickedpam:

Yatzee could be a horror movie - I could see how that would work

Don't give the movie industry any ideas. There are already too many movies based on licensed products. It should just be limited to comic book characters and even then, they should pick and choose carefully.

Comment by

Raine on 09/16/2009 15:23:34

Going to see Hal Sparks tomorrow nite!

Comment by

wickedpam on 09/16/2009 15:34:07

Quote by livingonli:

Quote by wickedpam:

Yatzee could be a horror movie - I could see how that would work

Don't give the movie industry any ideas. There are already too many movies based on licensed products. It should just be limited to comic book characters and even then, they should pick and choose carefully.

Hey I know someone writing a comic/graphic novel now - I could suggest that idea to her ;)

Comment by

Scoopster on 09/16/2009 15:59:31

Salty salt salt..

Ohi guys.. morning/afternoon yadda yadda, healing vibes for the Bobber! ~~

Comment by

Scoopster on 09/16/2009 16:21:28

Baucus plan unveiled in summary form, Cost estimates reduced by $15bil/yr over ten years.

Comment by

Mondobubba on 09/16/2009 16:39:15

Mhhhjnnngggg! Feel better Bobber.

I got my spiffy "uninsured" medic alert/protest wristband in the mail today.

Comment by

Mondobubba on 09/16/2009 16:41:31

Quote by BobR:

Science rocks!

What? No verse about the stellar nuclear fuel cycle from hydrogen to iron? Harrumph I say. Harrumph. :staggers to fainting couch appalled by this omission:

Hey Raine what did you call Mamma aboot?

Comment by

Raine on 09/16/2009 16:43:50

this guy is an assknob.

Comment by

Raine on 09/16/2009 16:46:25

Quote by Mondobubba:

Hey Raine what did you call Mamma aboot?

This. The Republican Committee rules in the House. In particular THIS: The precedents of the House allow a wide latitude in criticism of the President, other executive officials, and the government itself. However, it is not permissible to use language that is personally offensive to the President, such as referring to him as a “hypocrite” or a “liar.” Similarly, it is not in order to refer to the President as “intellectually dishonest” or an action taken by the President as “cowardly.” References to the Vice President, in spite of his role as President of the Senate, are measured against the standard used for the President rather than prior standards used to govern the Senate.

Comment by

livingonli on 09/16/2009 16:49:22

Is Jerome Corsi a giant douchebag?

Comment by

Raine on 09/16/2009 16:53:33

Oh NO! It's CRAZY Jew hater Scott on Thom!!!

Comment by

Will in Chicago on 09/16/2009 16:54:15

Lovely, Thom Hartmann is getting the Neo-Nazis on the air who can't tell Communism from what comes out of their butts.

Thom, I doubt that this man could read "My Pet Goat." Although, I would not leave a pet of any sort, including a goat, alone with this caller.

Comment by

livingonli on 09/16/2009 16:55:04

Oh, god. Scott the anti-semite is calling into Thom.

Comment by

Will in Chicago on 09/16/2009 16:56:17

Quote by Raine:

Oh NO! It's CRAZY Jew hater Scott on Thom!!!

Now you know why part of me wishes that I had made aaliyah to Israel -- besides the fact that they have more diverse political parties.

Scott and those like him will never accept anyone who differs from them in any significant way as an equal or fellow American.

Comment by

Mondobubba on 09/16/2009 17:01:33

Quote by Raine:

Quote by Mondobubba:

Hey Raine what did you call Mamma aboot?
This. The Republican Committee rules in the House. In particular THIS: The precedents of the House allow a wide latitude in criticism of the President, other executive officials, and the government itself. However, it is not permissible to use language that is personally offensive to the President, such as referring to him as a “hypocrite” or a “liar.” Similarly, it is not in order to refer to the President as “intellectually dishonest” or an action taken by the President as “cowardly.” References to the Vice President, in spite of his role as President of the Senate, are measured against the standard used for the President rather than prior standards used to govern the Senate.

I had kinda inferred that it was about the Gentleman from South Carolina. Wow! So even though the GOP has rules, and a website to disseminate them, it is okay for a race baiting ass nob to break 'em to make a political hay? What a bunch of enormous self-serving hypocritical douche nozzles. Unbagable speakhoses as it were.

Comment by

Raine on 09/16/2009 17:08:13

Quote by Will in Phoenix:

Quote by Raine:

Oh NO! It's CRAZY Jew hater Scott on Thom!!!

Now you know why part of me wishes that I had made aaliyah to Israel -- besides the fact that they have more diverse political parties.

Scott and those like him will never accept anyone who differs from them in any significant way as an equal or fellow American.

You know will -- that guy scares me. I know the haters are out there- I hold no illusions about that -- but what he says-- with n filter apparently is about the most hateful thing I have heard on the airwaves-- and that says a lot -- I have heard Savage nation.

I expect one day Scott will make the headline news -- and not in a good way.

And pardon my non knowledge.. is 'aaliyah' a pilgrimage?

Comment by

Scoopster on 09/16/2009 17:08:21

Quote by Raine:

Quote by Mondobubba:

Hey Raine what did you call Mamma aboot?
This. The Republican Committee rules in the House. In particular THIS: The precedents of the House allow a wide latitude in criticism of the President, other executive officials, and the government itself. However, it is not permissible to use language that is personally offensive to the President, such as referring to him as a “hypocrite” or a “liar.” Similarly, it is not in order to refer to the President as “intellectually dishonest” or an action taken by the President as “cowardly.” References to the Vice President, in spite of his role as President of the Senate, are measured against the standard used for the President rather than prior standards used to govern the Senate.

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Comment by

wickedpam on 09/16/2009 17:10:10

hey idiot some 18 years are sick even before they can start saving.

Comment by

Will in Chicago on 09/16/2009 17:16:24

Quote by Raine:

Quote by Will in Phoenix:

Quote by Raine:

Oh NO! It's CRAZY Jew hater Scott on Thom!!!

Now you know why part of me wishes that I had made aaliyah to Israel -- besides the fact that they have more diverse political parties.

Scott and those like him will never accept anyone who differs from them in any significant way as an equal or fellow American.

You know will -- that guy scares me. I know the haters are out there- I hold no illusions about that -- but what he says-- with n filter apparently is about the most hateful thing I have heard on the airwaves-- and that says a lot -- I have heard Savage nation.

I expect one day Scott will make the headline news -- and not in a good way.

And pardon my non knowledge.. is 'aaliyah' a pilgrimage?

I should have used the more traditional speling of aliyah -- which is a term for Jews immigrating to Israel. As only the second generation of either side of my family to be born here, I have an idea of what life was outside the U.S. a few generations back.

Sad to say, Scott is not as rare as many of us would hope. Let's say that I have the misfortune of being in a state with a disproportionately large number of hate groups according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Comment by

Mondobubba on 09/16/2009 17:39:32

Operation Rescue says it's broke.

Wait for it...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHIHIHIHIHIH!

Comment by

livingonli on 09/16/2009 17:52:02

Quote by Mondobubba:

Operation Rescue says it's broke.

Wait for it...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHIHIHIHIHIH!

Comment by

Mondobubba on 09/16/2009 17:53:28

Glenn Beck, crackpot Mormon, his "intellectual" idol an even bigger crackpot Mormon. Can we start the whispering campaign about Beck being a member of the "non-Christian cult" so his support will drop among hard working white christians?

Comment by

Will in Chicago on 09/16/2009 17:57:46

Quote by Mondobubba:

Glenn Beck, crackpot Mormon, his "intellectual" idol an even bigger crackpot Mormon. Can we start the whispering campaign about Beck being a member of the "non-Christian cult" so his support will drop among hard working white christians?

I would be reluctant to do so, as to avoid seeming prejudiced against Mormons.

Perhaps what we can do is highlight Beck's beliefs and ask people to compare and contrast them with their own.

Comment by

Mondobubba on 09/16/2009 17:58:52

Linda McMahon is running for Senate in CT. In a related story, Chris Dodd slips a banned object into his tights for a smackdown...

Comment by

Scoopster on 09/16/2009 17:59:40

Quote by Mondobubba:

Operation Rescue says it's broke.

Wait for it...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHIHIHIHIHIH!

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/skewpster/136842OperationRescueaborteditssavi.jpg

I'm a baaaaaad boi.

Comment by

Scoopster on 09/16/2009 18:00:53

Quote by Mondobubba:

Linda McMahon is running for Senate in CT. In a related story, Chris Dodd slips a banned object into his tights for a smackdown...

Ugh.. this has to be a friggin' joke.

Comment by

Mondobubba on 09/16/2009 18:01:19

Quote by Will in Phoenix:

Quote by Mondobubba:

Glenn Beck, crackpot Mormon, his "intellectual" idol an even bigger crackpot Mormon. Can we start the whispering campaign about Beck being a member of the "non-Christian cult" so his support will drop among hard working white christians?

I would be reluctant to do so, as to avoid seeming prejudiced against Mormons.

Perhaps what we can do is highlight Beck's beliefs and ask people to compare and contrast them with their own.

Oh sorry Will I forgot the

emoticon. The thing is Will, most evangelical Christians are already prejudiced against LDS. What I said in jest was mild.

Comment by

Mondobubba on 09/16/2009 18:02:31

Quote by Scoopster:

Quote by Mondobubba:

Linda McMahon is running for Senate in CT. In a related story, Chris Dodd slips a banned object into his tights for a smackdown...

Ugh.. this has to be a friggin' joke.

What that Ms McMahon is entering the CT race or that Dodd is shoving pipe down his unitard?

Comment by

Will in Chicago on 09/16/2009 18:21:09

Quote by Mondobubba:

Quote by Will in Phoenix:

Quote by Mondobubba:

Glenn Beck, crackpot Mormon, his "intellectual" idol an even bigger crackpot Mormon. Can we start the whispering campaign about Beck being a member of the "non-Christian cult" so his support will drop among hard working white christians?

I would be reluctant to do so, as to avoid seeming prejudiced against Mormons.

Perhaps what we can do is highlight Beck's beliefs and ask people to compare and contrast them with their own.

Oh sorry Will I forgot the emoticon. The thing is Will, most evangelical Christians are already prejudiced against LDS. What I said in jest was mild.

This is one of the reasons that Mitt Romney will likely have an up hill fighte in 2012 if he seeks the Republican nomination. Many of the people who might agree with his positions on several issues see him as not one fo the flock.

Comment by

Mondobubba on 09/16/2009 18:26:03

Susan Korman Race to the Cure a "menace" to women. WTF???

Comment by

livingonli on 09/16/2009 19:21:08

Frangela filling in for Randi today.

Comment by

Raine on 09/16/2009 19:21:30

*sigh* --- that is all, Just *sigh*

Comment by

Will in Chicago on 09/16/2009 19:25:48

Quote by Raine:

*sigh* --- that is all, Just *sigh*

Raine, I generally disagree with Frederich Nietzsche but there is a translation of a quote of his that seems to apply to much of today's political discourse: Against stupidity, the gods themselves contend in vain.

Comment by

BobR on 09/16/2009 19:27:43

Quote by Mondobubba:

Susan Korman Race to the Cure a "menace" to women. WTF???

better link...

Comment by

Scoopster on 09/16/2009 19:30:51

I'm linking this from Redstate because I'm AMAZED at Erick's reaction - Birther lawsuit dismissed, judge LAYS THE SMACK DOWN on Oily Tartz

The comments though are as expected..

Comment by

Raine on 09/16/2009 19:38:33

Quote by Will in Phoenix:

Quote by Raine:

*sigh* --- that is all, Just *sigh*

Raine, I generally disagree with Frederich Nietzsche but there is a translation of a quote of his that seems to apply to much of today's political discourse: Against stupidity, the gods themselves contend in vain.

Thanks for that will.

Comment by

Mondobubba on 09/16/2009 21:00:10

Quote by BobR:

Quote by Mondobubba:

Susan Korman Race to the Cure a "menace" to women. WTF???

better link...

Danke, Bobber.

Comment by

Raine on 09/16/2009 21:15:37

RIP Henry Gibson....

Comment by

TriSec on 09/16/2009 21:36:30

Passing through....heading out on the campaign trail in a few. Getting towards crunch time!

(and I haven't seen nor heard a peep out of the other 3 candidates running, so I think I might be gaining some traction.)

Comment by

Will in Chicago on 09/16/2009 21:47:37

Well, I just spent the past couple hours running errands.

So, I will unwind with The Jeff Farias Show. Any word on why Randi is out today?

Comment by

Raine on 09/16/2009 22:12:30

Quote by Will in Phoenix:

Well, I just spent the past couple hours running errands.

So, I will unwind with The Jeff Farias Show. Any word on why Randi is out today?

she is having a medical procedure today--- She mentioned what it was on air yesterday -- I think it was a colonoscopy.

Comment by

Mondobubba on 09/16/2009 22:19:02

There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life:The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged.One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading ...to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.--John Rogers

Comment by

Raine on 09/16/2009 23:39:42

Kanye!!! Get off Our Blog!!!

Comment by

Mondobubba on 09/16/2009 23:55:59

Quote by Raine:

Kanye!!! Get off Our Blog!!!

Comment by

livingonli on 09/17/2009 00:12:38

Quote by Mondobubba:

Quote by Raine:

Kanye!!! Get off Our Blog!!!

Second that.

Comment by

TriSec on 09/17/2009 00:18:27

Heh.

Comment by

Will in Chicago on 09/17/2009 01:26:49

Quote by Raine:

Quote by Will in Phoenix:

Well, I just spent the past couple hours running errands.

So, I will unwind with The Jeff Farias Show. Any word on why Randi is out today?

she is having a medical procedure today--- She mentioned what it was on air yesterday -- I think it was a colonoscopy.

I hope that everything will be well with Randi.

Comment by

clintster on 09/17/2009 01:42:10

Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary dies at 72.

Comment by

TriSec on 09/17/2009 01:59:56

TriSec is sad. I wonder when I might see my "second city" again. It's been 9 years...

http://files.myopera.com/themugs/albums/691394/Halifax,NS-06.jpg

Comment by

livingonli on 09/17/2009 02:03:34

I haven't been to Canada in 4 years myself. I miss visitiing Toronto, Ottawa, or Montreal.

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Government Of the Corporations, By the Corporations...
Author: BobR Date: 09/16/2009 12:25:26

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Government Of the Corporations, By the Corporations... Author: BobR Date: 09/16/2009 12:25:26

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Government Of the Corporations, By the Corporations...
Author: BobR Date: 09/16/2009 12:25:26